Game 1: Scipio O ( Allies ) 4 David I ( French) 6
Game 2 : David I (Allies ) 6 Scipio O (French) 1
In the first round the Allies advanced rapidly in the centre with Forced March, answered by a deep raid of the lone French cavalry to dispatch Allen on the back rank. Cavalry charge from the Brits eventually saw the French horse eliminated but three of the four British horse units on that flank were now depleted. The forward French light outside the Chapel was forced into square by Brock's heavies and then shot to pieces by accurate musketry from the centre. The British advanced further in the centre onto the Calvarisan hills but were met by a bayonet charge with an excessively bloody result ( 9 blocks taken against 2 lost to battle back ). Campbell's infantry on the hill countered superbly destroying a 3-block line and then, inspired, almost knocked out a full-strength Light unit which was forced to retreat. Campbell was exposed but the battle would likely have continued to rage had not the French had a second bayonet charge which saw the French 4:3 and in control of the heights with severely weakened Brits below them. La Grande Manoeuvre rescued the situation in the centre but a plucky French infantry unit forced the Rifles out of the Chapel and installed a garrison. The Rifles were then picked off by artillery fire 5:3. The exact events thereafter are not clear but the final banner score was French 6 to Allies 4.
The second game was a bit more of a grind with a gradual creep forward onto the stream by the British in the centre and garrisoning of the chapel. Ferey's units on the left moved onto the hills but were unluckily subjected to a bayonet charge from the grenadier guards which fortuitously dispatched his foot artillery and his Lights. Elan was unlucky to order only two units which allowed only a foray against the Lights on the bridge who squared up and an inconclusive melee on the far left against the Guards. Cavalry charge from the Brits was outrageously successful destroying the infantry unit which had just attacked the Guards with a perfect roll, capturing a solitary Ferey and then on the other flank knocking the light cavalry down to 1-block with 3 out of 4 dice hitting. Allies 4:1. Things were looking grim for the French and a death or glory Forced March in the centre was beaten back by rifle and artillery fire over two rounds claiming another banner before an assault on the left claimed the last.
Thanks to Scipio for his genial acceptance of my work schedule and his tolerance of my rather exaggerated good fortune in both of these games. Cards and dice were very kind to me.
