Sawyers Bridge: 1814

So hurrah, I managed to get my first Napoleonics game on in double quick time. Now it's not 'In the Grand Manner', but it is a start; me and my opponent Neil, did our best to raise the standard high in terms of presentation, even if the actual figure numbers were low.

I've been writing some rules, for skirmish gaming the period (which once finessed will appear on the blog for one and all to use). The requirements for the game as a consequence were a small table and a handful of models. As can be seen above we used a huge 4 foot square layout of farmland around a critical bridge.

Lt. Blunt of the 60th Rifles (played by Neil) had orders to seize the Bridge to allow a larger attack by the British to develop. The bridge was thought too far from the main lines to be of any importance and so the defences were light, only a platoon of Line infantry, divided into several bodies, not all in the area of the bridge immediately.

However, time was of the essence so only a scratch force could be spared from the 60th too. Blunt's men advanced in pairs toward the bridge, forsaking fire for closing the range and making an early attack on the bridge itself.

The Americans for their part suffered losses in their piquet on the bridge, whilst their relief patrol deployed to the fields south of it.

The American sergeant did a reat deal to stiffent the line, making good use of his Spontoon to run through two riflemen on the bridge. However when Blunt's cavalry sabre met the pike staff, the sergeant came off the worse.

A final fusilade and charge from the field almost carried the surviving rifles; but Blunt was able to hold his men and in the end the remaining Americans scattered. An opportune moment meant at least that they could retreat without being fired upon by the British.

Ah well, so I lost; but I've had several victories lately so that's no problem. As for the rules, well, it's early days yet but their system of command checks to perform different actions and alternate unit nominations seemed to work well enough; only a few tweaks and some clarifications are really needed.

As for the look of the game, I'm glad to say it drew many admiring glances and favourable comments. Hopefully we can keep this up!

Next time it'll be Neil's own French facing the deadly fire of the 60th.