FPW Battle of Louvigny (Part 1)

So after a month or so painting up the final figures that I needed and giving Thom enough time to paint up as much of the French I Corps as he could, we were finally ready for the 3rd battle of our club campaign. After the previous battle of Drouville, the French had fallen back northwards towards Cheminot to lick their wounds and await reinforcements. It also gave them a chance to re-organise their army. Reinforcements arrived in the form of I Corps, now up to 4 Divisions of infantry, 2 reserve cavalry divisions had also  arrived. Also IV Corps joined the army, though the battered XII Corps was reformed down to 2 infantry divisions and a cavalry division. Total strength for the french was now 11 infantry divisions and 5 cavalry divisions. Now the army of Alsace felt confident to take the battle to the Prussians.

The Prussian III army though had gone into quarters, exhausted from 2 battles and long marches. After the Battle of Drouville, the army took the opportunity to refit. The weather was preventing any advance. But now the clouds cleared and it was time to hunt down the French army again. A number of reports had come in. From the 25th Division at Solgne, they had already been skirmishing with French infantry and were requesting aid. Scouts had also reported sightings of a large body of French gathering around Cheminot.

In a change from the last 2 games, each Corps commander was tasked, using provided maps to get their Corps to the battle. It helped fill in the time while painting figures. It looked like to columns, one advancing to Cheminot and the other to Solgne, then in an unusual twist, the Bavarian I Corps, decided to swing right before reaching Cheminot and headed towards Louvigny. Rumours of cavalry officers were demoted at their failure to notify the Corps Commander that the French were still in Cheminot. The Bavarians now realised their mistake when scouts came riding back late in the afternoon. French troops were to their front at Louvigny and now the French at Cheminot were advancing onto their flank from Cheminot. We would have our battle on the morning. Riders were urgently dispatched to the other Corps to alert them to their predicament.

Table layout

So we gathered at the club on Saturday to get the game underway. We got through the first 8 moves. So far the Bavarian I Corps has held its ground. The French III Corps moving from Cheminot has been very tardy in its advance, leaving the majority of the fighting to IV Corps, just south of Lovigny. This lack of co-ordination could be costly as the Baden Division from XIV Corps has arrived just west of Eply. and now the Wurtemburg division has started to arrive at Racourt, further strengthening the Bavarians position.

Over on the Prussian right at Solgne, the Hessian 25th Division and the French I Corps got stuck into each other from the 1st move. Hessians gamely held their position, despite the loss of their dragoons in a reckless charge. Meanwhile the Prussian VI Corps has arrived and went straight into action against the French I Corps, helping to even out the odds. 

French on the left, Bavarians to the right

French III Corps moving through Cheminot

Bavarian I Corps anchoring their flank on Eply

French IV Corps moving past Lovigny and Saint-Jure

French IV Corps commenced firing on the Bavarians

French I Corps moving past Vigny

Hessian 25th Division defending Solgne

View from 2nd Bavarian division toward french IV Corps

French cavalry move through Saint-Jure

Bavarians brace for the attack

Timely arrival of the Baden Division

VI Corps supporting Solgne

French I Corps begins their assault on Solgne

Fighting at Solgne

French IV Corps pushes across the stream

The thin blue line

The fighting around Solgne intensifies

Overview of the battle

French III Corps, still tardily moving forward

Baden troops emerge from the woods to engage French I Corps

So after 4 hours including a break for lunch the game looks well poised. The French have seen the arrival of XII Corps and the reserve cavalry divisions to assist in the assault, but has the chance gone? The Bavarians have secured their position and the timely arrival of XIV Corps supporting their flanks has tipped the balance in their favour. However if the French III and IV Corps can coordinate with the support of XII Corps that can still deliver a hammer blow to the Bavarians. Meanwhile fighting around Solgne is looking to be a brutal one.