It was the first time my entire French army has taken the field (as Reille's Corps) and the game also saw Archduke Piccolo's forces form Lobau's Corps, Chasseur's French as D'Erlon and a good hodge-podge of others collections. I must mention Napoleon (Our very own Archduke Piccilo) was not there on the days until late as he was ill with a virus so Chasseur truly took over in his role of Ney. Chris Packer was also an excellent help with the finer rule details that we had not encountered in our practice games.
Below - from Belle Alliance to Hougoumont Reille's Corps are deployed.
And in a strange circumstance I ended up commanding the entire Corp while on the other flank one Corp had 4 Divisional commanders. I guess Hougoumont scared them and they would have also been attracted by all the Pretty Cavalry on the other flank. In the end I even took control over Lobau as he arrived as no one seemed to want to take over - So at the end I was controlling 2 French Corps which was very enjoyable and also challenging.
My task was to ignore Hougoumont and attack the British between that stronghold and Le Haye Sainte which I did with gusto. I recommended to Ney that he ignore this flank and send the Guard and Lobau to the right of Le Haye Sainte which did occur though some delay was encountered getting them on the table.
Due to an oversight in the OOB's (Unit strength was reduced by 50% except for guns which seem to have been overlooked) I had to attack in the face of 7 batteries of 4 guns. The overstatement of artillery and smaller units simple meant barely any French could get close. The artillery rules also seemed failry generous to the firer as you could simply point all 7 batteries at one battalion and ping pong around the table doing that.
However this did stop the Reille ! Below the troops brave the cannonade and surge forwards - the table was far too wide and my back is killing me now !.
Into the Foot Guards surged the 61st Line and the Foot Guards ran for the hills,
The Archduke's forces surge onto the Field as Lobau. They did not see any serious action but they did look the part.
Some of my Prussians even managed to sneak onto the field. (Excuse the bases as I did them the night before !). Next to them are Chasseur's Prustrians !
Time ran out here. We could really have played another days worth of moves which I think we have shown the French to be triumphant. It was a good (but long) few days and I am tried and sore - and its Monday tomorrow so not rest for me !.
