015 Waterloo (18 June 1815)

It's too bad this scenario seems unbalanced as there are so many goodies to play with here.

Yes, Evert's and my journey through the base game scenarios has reached its climax. As usual, Evert took the French first.

Facing each other across the valley, both armies moved troops forward while exchanging artillery fire. Marshal d'Erlon pulled his men off the hills after they took casualties, while Marshal Ney joined the French Line infantry on the hills in the centre. The first real action came with infantry and horse artillery on the French left moving through the woods to engage the British Light infantry in Hougoumont. The wounded Lights were replaced by the Grenadier Guards, backed by Dutch-Belgian Line infantry, while damaged French infantry retired.

As the fighting around Hougoumont continued, the Allies got the worst of it, losing the British Light infantry and Dutch-Belgian Line while the Guards took a pasting. Mind you, the French infantry knew they'd been in a fight, their own Light infantry falling to the muskets of the Guards. {And the score's 1:2 in favour of Evert's French.}

An initial demonstration by French Light cavalry through the gap between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte was followed by a charge from them and the Cuirassiers. At the same time the French Guard cavalry attacked the forward Dutch-Belgian infantry in the centre. And French Light cavalry hit the Dutch-Belgian Light infantry holding Papelotte on the French right. Already depleted by musket fire from the Young Guard, the Dutch-Belgians were eliminated in Papelotte, allowing the cavalry to take it. The other infantry formed square. {A "Cavalry Charge" from Evert took the score to 1:3 with another victory banner to come from holding Papelotte.}

The Allied cavalry charged their opposite numbers. Dutch-Belgian Light cavalry came off the hills behind Hougoumont (French left) to destroy the French Lights (!) and hurt the Cuirassiers. The French Guard cavalry on their right was hit by the British Heavies and more Dutch-Belgian Lights, but survived. {I had a "Cavalry Charge" too - 2:4.}

The battered French cavalry retired, allowing the Allied infantry to come out of square. Then the Cuirassiers attacked again, putting a British Line into square for the advancing Old Guard to shoot at. However, this provided targets for the fresh British Guard cavalry. First they demolished the remaining Cuirassiers, then they all but destroyed the Old Guard, who disdained to go into square. French Foot artillery backed off the central hills after being badly shot up by the Rifles occupying La Haye Sainte. {3:4}

Marshal Ney's infantry advanced in support of the Old Guard and the British Guard cavalry withdrew only to return, finish off the Old Guard and put what was left of Ney's unit into square. Fine shooting from the Rifles also put paid to the remnants of the French Guard cavalry as they tried to retreat across the hills. {5:4}

On the French right, the Young Guard opened up and inflicted casualties on the Dutch-Belgian Light cavalry. The Allied response was for the British Heavies to hit the Young Guard, who formed square, while the British Foot artillery and Dutch-Belgian Line infantry shattered the French Light cavalry holding Papelotte.

Time for the French artillery to act. The Horse artillery inflicted further damage on the Grenadier Guards in Hougoumont, the guns in the centre finished off the Dutch-Belgian Light cavalry and the Guard artillery rumbled forward into the woods alongside the Young Guard. {Evert used a "Bombard" to tie the score again at 5:5}

Faced with a close range barrage from the French Guard artillery, the surviving British Heavy cavalry in front of Papelotte scampered to the rear of the battlefield. Meanwhile, on the other flank, Dutch-Belgian Line infantry replaced what was left of the Guards in Hougoumont. Just through the woods, British Line under General Hill finished off Ney's Line infantry, the Marshal high-tailing it into the woods behind him. {6:5}

In return, French muskets completed the destruction of the British Guard cavalry. {6:6} British guns eliminated the French Light cavalry in Papelotte and reduced the Young Guard to a very small square. {7:5 as the French lose the victory banner for Papelotte.}

General Hill led his right flank Line infantry to attack General Reille's much-reduced Line infantry, what was left of the Grenadier Guards popping out of the woods to support him. This wiped out the French troops, Reille falling with his men. {8:5}

That was a good fight, the Allied defensive positions held off the French attacks and the cavalry largely wiped each other out. Interestingly, as in the previous times I played this scenario, most of the fighting was around Hougoumont and the gap in the hills between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte.

And the return match is my turn to take the French.

Again, both armies moved troops forward initially, favouring the flanks over the centre. The French drove the British Light infantry out of Hougoumont, General Reille's units then sending what was left of them to cower behind the advancing Grenadier Guards. On the right flank, the Young Guard backed up the Line infantry that took Papelotte, destroying the Dutch-Belgian Light infantry that had been holding it. {A "Bayonet charge" means it's 1:0 to me, with a second victory banner to come from holding Papelotte.)

The Grenadier Guards and Line infantry under General Hill counter-attacked into the woods around Hougoumont and eliminated one French Line unit, though the Dutch-Belgians took a pasting in the process. {2:1}

The French Cuirassiers got into the fight next, taking on the Grenadier Guards. They stood their ground against the cavalry sabres and gave as good as they got. However, fire from the advancing Old Guard and French Foot artillery inflicted further damage on the Guards, forcing them back.

British Line moved into the woods in front of La Haye Sainte only to be annihilated by the Old Guard with artillery support. {3:1}

The Old Guard were pushed back by the Rifles now holding La Haye Sainte as French Light cavalry attacked what was left of the British Guards and the forward Dutch-Belgian infantry centre-right were eliminated by fire from advancing French Line and the Foot artillery on the hills. {4:1}

The action continued on the left, with the British Light cavalry getting involved and thumping their French equivalents. The battered Cuirassiers got lucky though, escaping the attentions of the British Line infantry in the woods without casualties.

Gen Reille brought more Line infantry to take on the British infantry in the woods as the British Guards (still in square) fell to fire from the Old Guard and Foot artillery, the remnants of the French Light cavalry making a hasty exit. {5:1}

Gen Hill took what was left of his command into Hougoumont where the French Horse artillery finished them off, Hill escaping. The French artillery on the central hills wiped out the British Line infantry that General Picton had led off the opposite hills. Picton also escaped. {A "Bombard" took the score to 7:1}

A final push on the French left saw the Horse artillery into Hougoumont as Reille's infantry took out the last of a Dutch Belgian Line unit. {8:1}

Well, that was a surprisingly one-sided scoreline, given that I felt it was hard work. Evert reckons he was too aggressive as the Allies, which may well have been a factor, and demanded a re-match. I'm up for that, though for now I have a 100% record at this scenario.

After losing 8:1 as the Allies at Waterloo, Evert demanded a re-match and I was happy to oblige.

Initial manoeuvres by the French army on both wings produced a volley from the Dutch-Belgian Light infantry in Papelotte that all but destroyed the approaching French Line. With Light cavalry looming into sight behind Papelotte, the French Line retired, Light cavalry taking their place to deter their opposite numbers. The Young Guard moved into the woods to engage the troops in Papelotte, causing some casualties.

However, the Dutch-Belgian Light cavalry was undeterred by the French horsemen and trotted into the thick of the French troops. They attacked what was left of the Line unit, but the infantry formed a square that the cavalry just bounced off. In contrast, the Light infantry in Papelotte continued their sharp shooting to all but eliminate the French Light cavalry.

The response from a fresh French Line unit and the Young Guard was a concerted volley that drove back the Allied cavalry and finished off the Lights in Papelotte. {And the score is 1:0 to me.} At the same time, the French Horse artillery and Light infantry attacked Hougoumont on the (French) left flank, driving out the British Light infantry.

With Dutch-Belgian Line in support, the British Light infantry countered, all but eliminating their counterparts in the woods next to Hougoumont. In turn, French Line and the Horse artillery engaged the British Lights. The fighting that followed saw what was left of the British Light Infantry make a hasty retreat while Dutch-Belgian Line occupied Hougoumont and wiped out the French Horse artillery. {That's 1:1}

While the skirmishing continued on the (French) left, all the French infantry in the centre advanced under General d'Erlon. After an exchange of fire, the French advanced again. One unit battered the British Line infantry under General Picton while the Old Guard attacked La Haye Sainte, driving out the British troops and occupying it. A fierce attack by British Line (led by Gen Hill), Rifles and artillery eliminated the Old Guard (!), but Gen Picton's men also went down as they tried to see off their attackers. The General retired to the safety of the cavalry in the rear. {Two "Force March" cards got the French centre across the valley to mix it with the Allied infantry. And the score's 2:2}

Fixing bayonets, the French Line charged up the hills, destroying two Line infantry units - one British, one Dutch=Belgian - but losing one unit in the process. {Yes, I had "Bayonet Charge" as well - 4:3 now.}

Two Dutch-Belgian Line infantry came back at the French in the centre, forcing one unit to retreat into La Haye Sainte. From here the Line infantry finished off the British Line under Gen Hill with help from the muskets of French Line advancing on their left, while the French Guard cavalry advanced in the centre. Gen Hill escaped to another British infantry unit. {With a banner for holding La Haye Sainte, that's 6:3}

The Dutch-Belgians pressed their attack in the centre, removing the infantry under d'Erlon - the General withdrew to join the Guard cavalry. {6:4}

With the French infantry hard pressed in the centre, the cavalry charged. The Guards got in amongst the Dutch-Belgian Line infantry on the hills. Light cavalry attacked Hougoumont, driving out the Dutch-Belgians holding it and seizing the farmhouse. And the Cuirassiers hit the British Line under Gen Hill outside La Haye Sainte, eliminating them even as they formed square and killing Hill into the bargain. {Yes, a "Cavalry Charge" finishes the battle 8:4.}

That may well be a victory for the French, but they have been battered, with five of their surviving units having just one block left (three of them carefully retreated to the baseline). Admittedly, the Allies had three one-block units, but they had more full-strength units left on the field.

I certainly had some useful cards there, allowing me to make a full-scale attack in the centre. My previous games have seen most of the fighting on the flanks and in the gap in the hills between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte. The usual artillery duel was missing, too. And the Allied cavalry didn't get into the fight, apart from that initial attack.

Waterloo – 18 June 1815 (11 AM to 3 PM)

Turns 1 – 5: Both sides maneuver. French concentrate in the center and right flank. French horse artillery shell the Hougoumont farmstead. But shortly afterwards, British light infantry force the artillery to limber back up and retreat.

Turn 6: The British light regiment is Short on Supplies and falls back to the rear exposing Hougoumont to Napoleon.

Turn 8: The French commit to a Bayonet Charge on their right and seize the village of Papelotte. French lead two to zero.

Turn 9: Intense fighting taking place around Hougoumont. Allies hold on, but just barely.

Turn 10: The Allies surge forward to keep Hougoumont. Dutch-Belgian light cavalry engage and defeat the French light cavalry near the settlement. They then breakthrough and follow up their success by rampaging through and eliminating the French horse artillery unit. Meanwhile, British artillery and Guard Grenadiers decimate French light troops in the woods near Hougoumont. All tied at two victory banners.

Turn 11: French line troops, led by General Reille, storm Hougoumont, overwhelming the garrison and scattering the Dutch-Belgian forces. French move ahead four to two.

Turn 12: French order a Cavalry Charge; British Guard Grenadiers form square. General Hill moves his line troops up to assist the Grenadiers. The French Heavy Cuirassiers retreat.

Turn 13: French order a Cavalry Charge again! This time they bypass the British infantry and strike the Allied artillery on the heights above Hougoumont. The artillery batteries are overrun; the French Cuirassiers break through and engage the Dutch-Belgian light cavalry. The melee is short and the French Cuirassiers retreat.

Turn 15: The French continue to apply pressure all along the front during the last turns. The Allies are on the defensive and down by five banners. A simple Recon in Force brings a line regiment and the Old Guard right up against General Hill and his depleted regulars. The British haven’t a chance against the two veteran, full strength French regiments and are eliminated. Even General Hill can’t escape; as he falls on the field of battle Napoleon seizes the day by gaining eight banners to three.

Napoleon has won Waterloo?!?! The French had a head start once the captured Papelotte and Hougoumont. And once the British committed to two squares during the struggle around Hougoumont, the Allied options were limited. We’ll have to play this one again! Very intense scenario with all the units available on both sides.

I am not sure why this appears to be so one-sided in favour of the French. he Allied artillery can dominate the ridge on the French side, and placing the Rifle Light unit into La Haye Sainte makes it uncomfortable for the French artillery. In 4 games, Hougemont has proved to be unassailable, so when I won as the French is was through an assault in the centre, carrying La Haye Sainte and the ridge behind it. A really interesting battle.

Solo play - normal mode (not CDG or Power of 3).
French victory 8-5.
I used the walled farms indicated hereabove for Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte.
But Hougoumont, Haye Sainte and Plancenoit resisted.
The weight of the battle was on the French right and the center.
The French had a Grande Manœuvre on their first turn, hugging the Allied left defense, which hit back hard.
But, on the long haul, with cavalry and infantry cooperating well, the French scored 4-3 on theur right and 4-2 in the center.
The Allied seemed at several moments quite close to win. They clearly held a reasonable chance.

French nearly prevail on cavalry charge but bad luck turns it around. Allies win 8-5.