Mockern 1813

Last night we played a game of Valour & Fortitude, which I am assured was an action at Mockern in 1813, part of the Battle of Leipzig. This was a rehearsal for a slightly larger game that some members of the club are putting on next weekend. Ralph adjudicated, Caesar and Dave took the small French defending force and Peter, Stuart and I handles the Prussian attackers.

Massed Prussians ready to advance. Off-table was the cavalry reserve, which I was commanding. 

French defenders. They had to hold the two settlements. 

The Prissians begin their advance. Some lurking French light cavalry cause the left flank brigades to advance slowly making use of squares as much as possible. Naturally the squares then suffered badly from long-range French artillery fire. 

The light cavalry reserve came on early and moved forward quickly to get rid of their French counterparts. 

The Prussians attack the first defended settlement, As the main objective this naturally became something of a meat-grinder. The French had a lot less infantry than the Prussians, though, so it would only be a matter of time before they were defeated. 

The French had a little heavy cavalry available and used it to attack a shaken Prussian square, routing that battalion. 

Prussian light cavalry advancing. In the distance is the French horse.

The Prussian heavy cavalry turned up as well. The idea was to use them on our left to roll up the Frenach army. But time was running out. 

The Prussian lights charged and drove off the French. 

Fightng in the centre and on our right was still fierce, with both French infantry brigades in a bad way but at least two Prussian brigades past their best as well. And the French had been able to hold on to the objective. However time ran out and the French won on the basis that they still held both objectives. 

The Prissuan heavy cavalry were disappointed. They should have turned up earlier. 

The actual game will have a wider table and a few more battalions in play, as well as more objectives, forcing the French to make decisions about how much to defend.