Jackson Gamers' 1870 battle in 28mm
Using Larry Brom's Chassepot and Needlegun rules.
Sacre Bleu!
(Alternative title: "Too many Germans!")
Photo by Jim Pitts
With the composite regiment of the Foreign Legion in the foreground, the French Army of the Loire stretches into the distance as they advance across the hills and fields on their way to relieve Paris.
This game took place on May 5, 2007 at HOBBYTOWN in Flowood MS. This was a meeting engagement between the advancing French army of Loire (part of it anyway) and a portion of the Prussian/German army. The French were attempting to cut off a fragment and destroy it. To the Frenchmen's horror, it was a very large fragment of the enemy that they found.
The Jackson Gamers remember the great days when Larry Brom lived here with us, and we gamed with his 25mm Franco-Prussian armies. We had a 12' long table in his garage, and many a pleasant Saturday or Sunday was passed there, playing at war with his old Scruby "One-Inch scale" FPW armies and Larry's simple rules set. "One-Inch" scale is a now-forgotten size of miniature soldier, larger than the older 25mm figures, much the size of modern "Large 25mm" or 28mm figures.
When Mr. Brom moved away so did his armies. For years, the Jackson gamers have dreamed of re-creating this army, and several years ago, we began. Robert Whitfield, Jim Pitts and Jay Stribling began to collect and paint figures for this 1870-1871 war. Unlike Larry Brom, who always had a master plan for how many units of each type that he would have in his army, our forces grew, and grew, and...
We had too many troops for this table. Since this was our first game with this army, we HAD to use all our little men and guns. And since we don't have a 12-foot gaming table - we did the best that we could. Jim Pitts was able to bring in extra tables and so we had a 9-foot battlefield, on which we deployed 2-1/2 divisions for each side.
Photo by Jim Pitts
The far right flank brigade of the French Army composed of a battalion of Tirailleurs Algerien (Turcos), a battalion of naval infantry, and a battalion of Zouaves. They advanced bravely against the Bavarians and Wurtembergers opposite them, but were destroyed by the end of the battle. [Note: These troops are part of Jim Pitts' French; the Turcos and Zouaves are Askari Miniatures and the Naval Infantry are Old Glory Boxer Rebellion French sailors.]
Photo by Jim Pitts
The composite Prusso-German division of Robert Whitfield masses against the French. They are composed of a Prussian dragoon regiment, three battalions of Bavarian infantry, a battalion of Wurtemberg infantry, and seven battalions of Prussian infantry and jagers, supported by one Prussian and two Bavarian artillery batteries.
Photo by Jim Pitts
The right wing (Travis Melton) and right center (Bill Hamilton) Prussian commanders contemplate their forces' array, while the left center Prussian commander (Sean Pitts) stands up to overlook the battlefield.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Supported by a mitrailleuse battery, the Foreign Legion regiment of Jim Pitts and the French line brigade of Jay Stribling advance to the top of the ridge.
Photo by Jim Pitts
And this is what they see - three batteries of Bavarian and Prussian artillery, supported by six battalions of Prussian infantry. "Mon Dieu!"
Photo by Jim Pitts
In the foreground, Sean Pitts' Prussian jagers, infantry, and dragoons advance alongside and behind the village, which is occupied by one of Bill Hamilton's Prussian infantry battalions.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Although their morale is abysmal (notice the red - lowest - morale ring on their flag), the Turcos charge a Prussian jager battalion. The fierce Turcos overwhelm the jagers but couldn't stand against the supporting Bavarian infantry battalion flung into the fray. The poor Turcos were eventually sent fleeing from the field.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Advancing confidently to support the faltering right flank a march regiment of French cuirassiers looks unstoppable. Unfortunately they didn't even make it into the fight, routing when a battalion of Zouaves fled through their ranks. Oh well!
Photo by Jim Pitts
A view of the center of the battlefield. A village taken by the Prussians very early in the battle that was never really threatened by the French. This village is a "Brom town" made like a movie set, with exterior walls and a completely open interior for ease of inserting troops. It was made 26 years ago.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Bravely arrayed along the ridgeline, the 1st and 5th Battalions of the Foreign Legion, supporting the mitrailleuse battery (just in front of them on lower ground), await the Prussian onslaught. But the Prussian and Bavarian artillery did all the fighting here, routing the 1st Battalion and throwing the 5th Battalion into disarray.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Further to the right, the 2nd Battalion of the Legion (in the woods) and the naval infantry, supported by a regiment of Spahis, confront the advancing Bavarians. Again, the French bravery was no match for the stolid Germans.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Shot to pieces by artillery and its gunners slaughtered by the fire of the Prussian infantry's Dreyse Needle guns, the abandoned mitrailleuse battery is soon to be overrun by the advancing Prussians.
Photo by Jim Pitts
With their infantry fleeing in disarray behind them, the Spahis gallantly prepare to cover the retreat of the French right wing. Dimly visible behind the trees is the fleeing march regiment of French cuirassiers.
Photo by Jim Pitts
Another view of the masses of Bavarians and Prussians on their left wing as they advance against the retreating French. The Prussian plan had been to hold on the right and center, and throw masses of troops on their left to crush the French right flank. This plan, devised by the cunning veteran, Field-Marshall von Whitfield, worked very well.
Photo by Jim Pitts
One of the French commanders (Jay Stribling) woefully contemplates the debacle as his army breaks before his eyes. There is no glory for La Belle France today! Behind him, Ed Sansing, a subordinate French commander, sadly puts the French troops back in their traveling box.
Photo by Ed Sansing
The French commander in Miniature, contemplating his dead horse and the lost battle. These are Foundry figures from the Franco-Prussian War range, one of the command sets.
SO - Who won this battle?
The North German Confederation won this day. Mainly Prussians, but with signifigant numbers of Bavarians and a few Wurttemburgers, their artillery dominated the field.
The Prussian/German force began the game with 208 stands (17 command, 156 infantry, 14 cavalry, and 21 artillery). At the end of the game, they had lost 44 stands. Had they lost 50 stands they would have gone from "firm" army morale to "shaky" army morale in the Chassepot & Needle-Gun army morale system.
The French had started the battle with 225 stands (19 command, 174 infantry, 16 cavalry, and 16 artillery). At the end of the game the French had lost 56 stands which was 2 more than their army morale could stand, moving them from "firm" to "shaky" morale state. After taking the losses called for by the Chassepot & Needle-Gun army morale system (some units leave the field en masse when morale is shaky), their losses had increase to 84 stands lost. The next cut would have been at 92 stands lost to go from "shaky" to "bad" army morale, which would have seen even more units leave the field.
The French commanders ordered the retreat.
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