5 May 2009 Scenario 22: Making the Best of a Bad Situation.

 This game was played solo using 40mm 19thC fictional armies and Hearts of Tin.

This is the 1st game played (solo) in my "new", renovations not quite finished, permanent wargames room.

A small division of the Red Queen's troops (3 battalions of line, 1 of light plus a battery of field artillery) are encamped beside the road through the Old Forest. A weary column of Blue troops is making its way down the road, Frontier Light Horse leading with a battalion of infantry, light infantry, guns and dragoons in a 2nd Brigade and 2 foot plus Blue Guards in the final brigade.

Red's artillery quickly brought their guns into action as Blue's lead brigade deployed, cavalry masking the advance of the 3rd infantry down the road. Under a heavy fire the light horse charged, it was nip and tuck but eventually the fencibles repulsed them and musketry and canister sent the remnants fleeing. The Victoria Rifles crested the hill backed by the Green Tigers while the Buffs headed into the woods to block the road. Blue had some problems getting his 2nd Brigade on line but eventually the 2nd Dragoons pushed the rifles off the hill and sat there for the rest of the game eyeing the Red square protecting the flank of the guns.

Blue's artillery finally made it forward and opened a heavy fire on the fencibles driving them back into the woods then turning on the Red guns. These refused to be drawn into counter battery and continued to lash out at Blue's infantry until battered into silence. On the right, a brisk counter attack by the Buffs drove off the 3rd infantry just as the Blue Guards came up. Supported by 2 line battalions, these drove the Buffs slowly back through the woods, both Brigadiers going down in the fight. The rifles fell back and joined the fight but eventually numbers told and General Turner was forced to order his remaining forces to retire leaving Blue the road through the forest.