A River to be Crossed

As preparations for the Odessinau Grand Ball was being finalized, bodies of men were in action.  The Vanerian advanced guard was tasked with finding fords over the Southern Bug River.  Meanwhile a small brigade of Latverians were on maneuvers with an Austrian brigade.  Mostly out of fear of Ottoman expansion the Austrians have been engaged in an uneasy alliance with Latveria.  So a brigade was sent to "cooperate" with the Latverians and observe how far their military skills had advanced.

Rules as always for our Imagi-Nation games is Batailles de l'Ancien Regimes (BAR) by Bill Protz.  Figure ratio is 1:10 so one of our regiments is typically 48-60 figures and battalions of 24-30.  Squadrons normally are represented by 12 figures in either two or three ranks.

Austrian brigade on the left, Latverians on the right.

The Vanerian horde with some Russian vassals.

Vanerian leadership and regimental pot.

The Vanerians had a slight manpower edge but needed to find fords.  They were not required to secure them if seriously opposed, but each 1' section would only hold a ford on a roll of "6" on a d6.

"Oh buggers, they're on our side of the river!"

Yes, the Vanerians were in fine form, sniffing out a ford on their first try.  Light troops were quickly thrown across in open order as the second (of two possible) fords was also found by them.

We fail to find a ford as they find the second.  Note the cards which
activated each brigade for movement and then shooting.

Forcing a river crossing against opposition is always a challenging task, as events were to prove.

Austrian lights fall back on their formed reserves as Latverian
cavalry routs a Vanerian battalion of lights.

The Russian vassals face off against the Austrians as the Vanerians
mass on their left.

In a stroke of misguided genius the young Latverian commander rashly moved forward to pin the Vanerians in a natural choke place.  Although he would be flanked and eventually forced to retire, the time accidentally bought was critical.

Austrian hussars charge home against Odessenau lights.  And
are promptly routed.  Couldn't roll a save all day.

The Russian vassals are in a tough way and the odds are pretty
even now, with the river against the Vanerians.

Near the end as the Vanerian commander remembers that the
army is coming up behind him and halts.

And so the skirmish ended.  The Vanerian mission was accomplished as the day progressed the far shore became dark with masses of armed men.  The Austrians notified with "ally" that they were leaving and advised he do likewise.  Having also accomplished his mission, if but for a time, the Latverians were content to also retire. 

The next action will likely be between large formed bodies of regulars.  Somewhere in Odessinau.