The Battle of Saltanovka 23rd July 1812

Hello There! Here are some photos from the latest game from the New Buckenham Historical Wargamers club. We have been putting on game days in a large hall which helps with social distancing, (so what is UNsocial distancing?).

Here is an over view of the battlefield after a few moves. The Russians were attacking fron the top and right of this picture, as the French forces that were already present on the field were being reinforced fro the lower part of the board. A fordable river ran from the top left to mid way down the right.

The Russians could cross the river but had to dice to see if the suffered casualties or were disordered.

This is part of the green tide that attacked across the river. Some Russian forces had a bridge to cross and were held up by a stoical French battalion which repulsed many attacks.

Further attackers crossed the river further along and joined in the assault.

Some forward French troops tried to stem the tide and others manned a village in the Russian line of advance.

Here is the view of  the village across the bridge which slowed the advance.

The Russian attack was also supported by MORE than adequate artillery!

Here is one stubborn French battalion and its view of the approaching enemy.

A close up of the figures froma club members collection.

French artillery assisted in holding the Russian hordes back while the light cavalry division which had been deployed closest to the river. They were to try and delay the enemy as much as possible.

While this battery repulsed this attack once it was not going to be so lucky next time.

Some heavier French cavalry were available but had a number of moves to complete before making their presence felt.

French infantry arrived and began to deploy for the attack.

The panorama of this battle looked very impressive from a distance.

After the Russian infantry their cavalry started to appear.

Further Russian troop were thrown across the river and while they were delayed the result seemed inevitable.

The forward French cavalry were able to manoeuvre and charge into the advancing Russians but could only move to contact one regiment at a time. While merrily singing 'Lets go die!' the outcome was sadly predictable!

In the middle of the table French forces deployed from the right just in time to face further Russian forces crossing further along the table.

Some better views of this second Russian attack gives a good spectacle of the number of figures involved in the game.

Further French troops were added to stem the Russian hordes.

Here Polish artillery fire into the attack.

Watched on by their commanders.

Eventually the French efforts to stem the Russians, ended and the light cavalry brigade was broken and one of the infantry divisions became disordered and left the field. The Russians made it across the river, despite one of the bridges being broken by the French before the start of the game, and the Russian running the risk of suffering disordered status as they crosssed the river and started to push the French back.

This was a very enjoyable and well run game. It was also a nice change to get back safely to gaming after the long break due to the pandemic.

Further pictures and a battlefield report can be found here.