{"id":2601,"date":"2014-03-03T14:34:32","date_gmt":"2014-03-03T14:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=2601"},"modified":"2014-03-03T14:34:32","modified_gmt":"2014-03-03T14:34:32","slug":"battle-of-la-rothiere-at-war-horse-con","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bucksurdu.com\/blog\/?p=2601","title":{"rendered":"Battle of La Rothiere at War Horse Con"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once again, Sam Fuson hosted a day of gaming at his place on the East Cavalry Battlefield at Gettysburg. \u00a0As a play test for the upcoming gaming convention, Cold Wars, Dave and I ran the full battle of La Rothiere.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A long view of the Allied advance on the French center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

La Rothiere, which took place in February 1814 as the Allies were advancing toward Paris to depose Napoleon, is an early battle of the campaign. \u00a0As the forces became more and more depleted throughout the campaign, I think this is the largest battle. \u00a0In the upcoming Last Days of the First Empire<\/em> scenario book, this battle is broken into three scenarios: \u00a0the main battle (French center), the French left flank, and the whole battle. \u00a0Saturday we ran the whole battle.<\/p>\n

\"Russians<\/a>
Russians threaten on of the French-held towns<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The scenario involves Russian, Austrian, Bavarian, and Wurttemberg forces attacking the French, who were greatly outnumbered. \u00a0Marshall Ney had been sent away by Napoleon, but when the Allies attacked, he was recalled. \u00a0His arrival, as well as that of the main Austrian force, is governed by random die rolls.<\/p>\n

\"Planning<\/a>
Planning the Allied attack on the French left flank<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The battle occurred in February amidst intermittent blizzards, so each turn there is a die roll to determine the weather. \u00a0In this game, all but the first turn were blizzard, which worked to the French favor as it delayed the Allied attacks. \u00a0The objective is to seize six towns.<\/p>\n

\"Getting<\/a>
Getting Ready to Start La Rothiere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Other than the blizzard conditions, the battle was a tightly run thing. \u00a0The Wurttembergers captured one of the six towns. \u00a0Decisive victory could only be accomplished by the side that held all six towns, so the Wurttembergers stole a decisive victory from the French.<\/p>\n

\"Feeling<\/a>
Feeling lonely: A small number of French battalions await the Austrian onslaught<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Then the Austrians entered the table on the extreme French right and would almost certainly have captured one or more towns. \u00a0Eventually, when we had to stop the game to set up the next one, the Allies had inflicted more losses on the French than the French inflicted on them, so the game was a marginal victory for the allies. \u00a0The French were poised to get the marginal victory, but a group of light cavalry that had been on a flank attack was forced to retreat. \u00a0Being cut off by the newly arrived Austrians, an entire cavalry brigade surrendered!<\/p>\n

Dave and I were happy with the way the scenario ran and are ready for Cold Wars<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n