Game 2
Mike Stanley (scipio1zama) Prussians – 9 banners
Chris McKerron (Mantra) French – 7 banners
Early maneuvering took place on the Prussian left as I moved Light Troops into the woods and started lining up 2 artillery batteries and providing each with a leader. As I was setting this up, the French responded by subjecting my LT in the woods to constant effective fire and by moving their cavalry forward.
The idea was to use my Leader card to pummel the French units in Bleddin with the artillery. Then I got greedy and erred in moving the artillery too far forward. The French cavalry and infantry attacked in melee and in the ensuing kerfuffle, the Prussians lost both artillery pieces, a leader and a LN. This cost the French a LT, LN, and two LC. It also left the Prussians with a couple of 1-block LT to try to move out of harm’s way. While my three cavalry units blocked French access to the weakened LTs, they were also all but useless against the French garrison now ensconced in Bleddin, which the Prussians never took. Meanwhile, the French were also moving 3 infantry units from the center over toward their right to keep the pressure on, one of which soon killed a Prussian LC.
I had been holding a Bayonet Charge for a while, finding little use for it. Then I was able to Counterattack the French use of a La Grande Manoeuvre which gave me the opportunity to move my polyglot Prussian force (LT, GR and 2 LN) into position. Next turn the Bayonet Charge was on, greatly aided by excellent die rolls for my units and lackluster battle backs in return. Eventually this flank cost the French 2 LN and a LT, AND the Prussians were able to occupy both Wartenburg hexes for 2 additional banners (the Prussians losing a LN in the process.). A desperate final attack by the French on their right (which with luck could have cost the Prussians 2 units and a leader) killed just one RI.
Chris has reported on the other game, which he won as the Prussians. These were two long, but action-packed games, rough and tumble, but a lot of fun.