A bit of 19th Century gaming

It has been a busy weekend having just returned from a holiday and doing the usual sorting out that goes with returning home. However, I was able to spend Saturday morning at Little Wars Melbourne wargames show. There were approximately 30 wargame tables in action all the ones I looked at were well presented. One participation table took my attention because it had some splendid Franco-Prussian figuresby Spencer Smith along with some simple one-page rules. All very old school and I was able to participate in a quick and most enjoyable game before moving on to have a look at various games in progress and peruse items for sale around the hall.

Franco-Prussian game from the show

After being inspired by Saturday's Franco-Prussian participation game, I dragged out my 19th Century imagination figures (Greater Novia and Ustorian forces) for a quick game.

Having set up the table I used the scenarios chapter from "19th Century Wargaming" by Neil Thomas to determine force composition.

Ustorian Forces

• 4 infantry units
• 1 skirmish unit
• 2 cavalry units
• 1 dragoon unit
• 2 artillery units

Due to traffic congestion 3 Ustorian units would be delayed in arriving until turn 4.

Greater Novia Forces

• 4 infantry units
• 2 skirmish unit
• 1 cavalry units
• 1 dragoon unit
• 2 artillery units

3 units were on a flanking march and would arrive on either flank in turn 5.

The rules I used are a mash-up of "One Hour Wargaming" and Horse and Musket rules from Donald Featherstone's "Tackle Model Soldiers This Way". A link to the rules can be found at the top of the post.

Early game deployments

Ustorian units occupy the town and are engaged by advancing Greater Novia units. Both sides used their cavalry and dragoons to protect their exposed flank.

Ustorian flanking forces arrive and become quickly engaged in the fight.

Greater Novia forces keep the pressure up attacking the town as reinforcements arrive to fill the gaps where units have been lost. 

On the other flank Ustorian units are both engaged and threatened by cavalry.

Casualties were beginning to mount on a number of units on both sides.

Novia cavalry getting the upper hand and have cleared the town as Ustorian units rush  to support their artillery around the town.

In some final desperate fighting Greater Novia forces were able to secure the town. While on the other flank their cavalry  roam the open flank and will create problems for Ustorian forces.

At close of play both sides were down to their last 3 units, but a minor victory was given to Greater Novia forces as they had taken and held the town. It has been quite some time since I had these Spencer Smith figures on the tabletop.