1762 - The Combat at Pumpernickel - what if Zar Peter III survived the coup ...

... not much apparently, as my last battle of this year was a sweet Seven Years War (my rules), 28mm, Russians vs Austro-Saxons, me and Alisdair playing a new division pushing through Poland, while Bart grabbed the last palast guards of Saxons and some Saxon deserters from Silesian garrisons as well as 2 Horse brigades hastily put together from the Austrians to stop that corps entering Silesia at the pituresque but entirely fictional village of Pumpernikeln (dark rye bread hamlet). Who can blame me the Russian uniforms (of that era) look so pretty and they are so many!!!

The plan was, that there wasn't one, we just proceeded to advance in the hope of grinding Barts Saxons to dust with our legions.  Maybe the odd pincer movement after our first clash of the light cavalry in the centre.

We had the first turn and clashed in the middle and achieved nothing and then moved on. Slowly our forces were drifting apart into two battles, Bart kept the middle BUA aka Pumpernikeln and positioned his Austrian sharpshooting guns. On our right Alisdair did very well, almost dashing, destroyed one of Barts Dragoons! And moved forward...

I just spread out and forward and hit nothing, for the rest of the game. Then Barts Austrian Gunnery came to bear down on Alisdair and unit after unit melted down......... this is were we had to end the game, not much of a pincer with our cavalry in shreds and our vast legions nothing better than cannon fodder - clear victory for the Austro - Saxons (one casualty vs  two!) ! Bravo, Bart! 

As Commander in Chief, I probably are responsible for the lack lustre advance of my troops, but I will blame Alisdair (even though he preformed very well) as I am his senior-general, haha! 

Initial set up

The Russian are legion....

Fewer Saxons

The Russian centre

The Russian Hussars hold the hill, but shaken .. a realiability

The Saxon centre

we send their dragoons home, but could not exploit

Alisdair preps a textbook cavalry charge

and does it! wins!!!

The Russians move forward

The Austrian horse is subdued

The Austrian Hussars try to advance but are being blocked

My line has a dent, but it is a line!

The Centre village is a bastion of guns

Alisdairs second charge fails desaterously

I move further forward and shoot ... to no avail

The fire fights are starting ... but I never hit

I advance further .... and hit nothing

but Bart does ....

I couldn't hit and elephant in Saxonian uniform ...