Red Tide, Coming in Waves!

 No, not an ecological post on the ocean, but a report on our recent Empire (V) game where the armies of Prussia and England combined to take on corps of Danes, Austrians and French in 1813.  Empire of course is a game intended to allow individuals to play the role of corps commander but still enjoy the finesse of battalion level play.  A move-counter move system where command and control are critical to reacting to the changing situation on the battlefield.

A view from the Prussian deployment end.

And then from the Allied table end.

Initially the Prussians in four "brigades" were tasked with
holding the river line, which had no effect on movement.

The allied starting position, with terrain to deal with.

Contact!  The O'Reilly Chevaulegers charge, and charge
and charge...

At the end they had obliterated two battalions caught
unprepared, and broke a hasty square.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, the British arrive on the Danish
flank, who quickly redeploy to face them.

Elsewhere, the Brandenburg Hussars defeated a Danish 
regiment.

The Austrians now arrive to engage all of von Bulow's corps.

The British, led by the Foot Guards, begin the inevitable 
evisceration of the Danish infantry.

The Danes, all crack troops in this game, mass to assault
Yorck's boys.  The Prussians have a Landwehr regiment,
a crack regular regiment, and a Reserve regiment pictured
top to bottom on the right.  The Hussars are shot in the flank 
and quickly flee.

Likewise the O'Reillys were shot in the back and routed away.
But a major force is coming, with the French not far behind.

The combination of hot dice and the powerful British ratings
become a buzz saw ripping great holes in the line.

The Austrians, noting the absence of Prussian cavalry, deploy
into line and begin musketry duels along the front.

Move and counter-move as the Austrians open an avenue
for the French infantry.

Prussian Landwehr hold the center against veteran Austrians.

Danish cavalry forces a "square" that is cannonaded.

The second British division, under Graham, awaits their
opportunity for blood-letting.

A protracted firefight develops in the center with losses
given and taken, but no change in position.

A crushing mass is gathering against the Prussian right.
Blucher joins the fight.

As the British cavalry moved to turn the flank, a division of
previously unknown/unseen cavalry appears and sabres clash.

The crack(sic) Danes press the gap between the British and
Prussians.  A reservist regiment takes up the challenge.

Blucher orders the second division under Yorck to redeploy
to the right.  They comply as the fighting rages in front of them.

In the next hour, the division takes up position to thwart
the French turning action. 

The Danes are valiantly resisting the British onslaught
but it is only a question of time.

The British come to the support of the Prussians and eliminate
the threat to the gap between armies.

The heroic 14th Landwehr regiment not only hold off the
Austrian lines, but even win a melee against a column.

Superior tactical deployment kept the British at bay for a
time but the way is now clear to the allied army rear.

The right-most Prussian "brigade" is shattered, but a 
breather will result and the new troops are fresh.

The French are some distance away for the moment.

As von Bulow's corps is reduced, the Landwehr grudgingly
retire from the edge of the creek.

And the game came to a close.  We originally scheduled many more hours for play but the French suggested we end it.  The Danes were shattered, but von Bulow's corps was also in desperate straights.  The arrival of Yorck's second brigade would stabilize the situation on the Prussian right though.  The game served as a brutal reminder of how tough the British are when they get to fight on their terms and there is no tomorrow.  While the foot guards won the action on their side easily, they wouldn't be a factor for the battle tomorrow with the losses they took.

Till the next one: Vorwärts!