Jackson Gamers' 18th Century War Game
Battle in Mittle-Land
Using Rules concepts derived from those of Fr. Aelred Glidden, published in MWAN
We Played this game at HOBBYTOWN in Flowood Mississippi on August 18, 2007. Our rules were derived from a set printed in MWAN many years ago and found on MAGWEB. The Prussian army was painted by Mark Gilbert and the French army by Jay Stribling.
You can see our version of the rules that we used here at: Quick Tricorne.
The Reason for the Struggle!
The French army, led by the Marquis de Florida, has moved into Mittle-Land (roughly corresponding to the Western part of modern Germany. Their intentions were to attack, but they have apparently lost their nerve and have halted, awaiting a Prussian attack. The army is composed of five brigades of infantry, and five of cavalry.
The Prussian army, dispatched by King Frederick, is commanded by a trusted veteran "Der Alte Hund" (The old hound dog). It is composed of four brigades of infantry and four of cavalry.
Photo by Jim Pitts
The French center, massed on the central hill. One brigade in line on the flat serves as a "Trip-wire" with the majority of forces in column behind them.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Ed Sansing's French troops (light units every one) are the infantry force on the French left. There are also a number of cavalry units here.
Photo by Jim Pitts
The Prussian cavalry moves forward on the French extreme left. The light troops shown in the photo above are located just to the right of this photo's view.
The objective for the Prussian army was to cut one or both of the roads to the rear behind the French army. The game would end at that point. Victory points would be awarded on the basis of ownership of the roads (15 points each) and enemy forces destroyed (1 point for each unit or officer eliminated).
Photo by Jim Pitts
The Prussian and French cavalry are in a vicious melee on the southern part of the field. The French cavalry had three brigades, two of heavy line cavalry, and one of hussars. The Prussians with one brigade of hussars and one of dragoons were outnumbered and eventually were swept from the field.
The Prussian had 6 elite infantry units and 4 elite cavalry units. The French were only allowed 6 total units as elite. Neither side concentrated the elite units to create a solid elite brigade. Elite units are shown marked with yellow rings.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Two brigades of Prussian infantry, including grenadiers and two brigades of cavalry are moving over the stream on the Prussian right.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Two turns further on, the Prussians are bending back the French line in a counter-clockwise wheel.
The French Players
Here are the remarks of the Prussian Commander
...the Prussians won on points, some 21 to 9 or 10 for the French.
Although not as a resounding victory as I had planned - Ed's cavalry
was just a little tougher than expected.
We did envelop and crush the French left flank. Sean was screening our left flank with just two
brigades of cavalry and delayed the French cavalry and distracted the French artillery enough for Phil and me to launch our attack.
All in all it was an interesting game, especially as the Prussians
tried to "Leuthen" the French and almost succeeded.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Another view of the Prussian right, taken at the same time above. Note that the French have been moving troops off the central hill, building a new line to defend the exit-point of the road shown under a knot of Prussian troops in the center.
Photo by Jim Pitts
With only one turn left, Prussian infantry battalions are threatening the the road exit-point. French battalions have just force-marched in column to relieve their cavalry.
The Prussian Players
Photo by Jim Pitts
An aerial view at a similar location and time of the previous photo, but taken from a Montgolfier balloon.
Are you certain that you played this correctly?
We still had problems with the rules. They are so different from most of our rules, that we cannot remember them. Hopefully our next game will avoid the problems.
We did remember to apply the following rules this time:
The blue "Zig-Zag markers shown are "Disorganized" markers. We purchased these from Litko Aerospace.
Photo by Ed Sansing
A close up of some of the troops of the French commander (Fred Diamond) troops observing one of the stream crossings.
Photo by Ed Sansing
Fred Diamond massed most of his troops on a central hill, ready to respond in any direction. He also massed several batteries of artillery in front of the hill, this proved very hard on the infantry and cavalry in the center
Photo by Ed Sansing
Looking from north to south along the French line. Part of Ed Sansing's light brigade in the foreground, Fred Diamond (French Commander) has his infantry massed on the hill in the center, Bill Hamillton's French cavalry is occupying the far hill. Both sided used only cavalry on that flank.
Sean Pitts, commanding the Prussian left flank is shown dimly in the background.
Photo by Ed Sansing
The Prussian cavalry are shown crossing the stream (a small brook that was only a minor obstacle) and are met by the French 6th and 7th Cavalry brigades.
The blue "Zig-Zag markers shown are "Disorganized" markers. We purchased these from Litko Aerospace.
Photo by Ed Sansing
Remnants of the French 6th and 7th brigades give ground. The 5th Infantry brigade, composed of the army's light troop fall back to the woods. The Prussian forces put overwhelming pressure on this flank. They placed a lot of troops and the majority of their elite units on this flank.
Photo by Ed Sansing
Jim Pitts' Prussian cavalry sweep around the now open French left flank
Photo by Ed Sansing
This is almost an image of the entire game table. The French under Bill Hamilton have won cavalry supremacy on their right and are moving masses of cavalry across the stream. In the Distance, Jim Pitts' Prussians are "turning the corner." All you can see of them is his hands moving formations. Fred Diamond's French reserves are moving to guard the line of retreat from the Prussian threat to his left.
Photo by Ed Sansing
Fred Diamond (French Commander) has deplyed infantry, backing up the last remnants of Ed Sansing's French Cavalry. This is the road to the French rear. The Frogs MUST hold this road. They did, by the narrowist of margins. If we had been prepared to play 3 or 4 more turns, all the players agree that the Prussian infantry would have driven these defenders away from the French line of communication
Photo by Ed Sansing
An overview of the same position about 1 turn later. Jim's Prussian infantry has deployed in front of Fred's men. The cavalry on both sides has been moved to the rear of the lines of battle.
Who Won this Battle?
The French army did - Barely. The French held the central hill (which was not worth points), and by the thinnest of margins both of the roads to the rear (which were worth 15 points each.) In the first half of the Next-to-last turn Prussian cavalry cut the road, but were driven off by infantry fire in the last half of the final turn.
The French held both roads at 15 points each. Even if one road is not awarded because it was disputed the points still would be either 24 or 25 points for the French vs 21 or 22 points for the Prussians. The Prussian commander disputes this, feeling that it was a win for Fritz's troops.
You can see the background of our campaign here Background of Mittle-Land.
Go to the "Quick Tricorne" rules that we used for this game.
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