Half an Hour at Arcis-sur-Aube

This is map of a few photo's taken at Arcis-sur-Aube.  The photos are on the map and show the postion looking out from where the French were - with one exception, which looking  across the ground that the main Allied advance took from St Remy.  

The town has grown since 1814 but the land around is largely unchanged since the battle in March 1814. What did I get from being there?

1 What amazing cavalry country albeit maybe not in March 1814.  Have a click on the photos and they show wide open spaces.   The Cavalry of the Guard fought here against  Austrian and Russian Cavalry.

2 Napoleon fought with back to a river.  Zoom in on the map and since how little space there was for some of his troops to manoeuvre. It was really my first genuine appreciation of why it's such a difficult position to be in. There is almost no room to rally any units before they hit the river - and then they might disintegrate.  The River itself is not easily crossed other than by the bridge. 

Here's a map that matches the one you see above 

I only had this book with me.

A fab diorama of the battle. 

Napoleonic Wargames Blogs I've seen in December

Bavarians, Bavarians, Bavarians!   

Amongst the best looking with amazing flags. The plastic Victrix are now for sale as vonpeterhimself  points out. The breakdown is as follows: 

36 x Marching units

16 x Firing units

4 x Command units

2 x Mounted colonels

all for £30  (just about 50p per figure - when was a quality 28mm figure last that cheap!) and they look amazing.   The balance of marching to firing could be improved - it feels like more skirmishers thane most will need. 

I also spotted some beautiful Perry Bavarians in their pre christmas napoleonic game:

With that fab falling figure from the pack of figures under fire.   The depth of figures now available in plastic 28mm is extraordinary - I was a delighted to see Prussian Reserve Infantry from Atlantic appear in 2021 : £25 for 60 rank and file (buy your command from others.)

Rules 

Dining Table Napoleon has reviewed Lasalle II, concluding:

this is an excellent game system, fully justifying the rave reviews I have seen of it. The turn play system – both sides interact without the use of phases or player-turns – is especially clever and works really well. There are intricacies which you can miss on first play, but generally the rules should be very quick to pick up

Other bits: 

Storm and Conquest blog has added some painted Mamelukes - very clean painting style. 

Cirencester Wargames Club put on a Christmas 1812 game, summer 1812.

Thomas Reviews the Spanish company Campaign Miniatures and their 18mm Austrians 

Chris Greggs review of his gaming year includes some 1806 battles in Gloucestershire. (amazing table)

 

Napoleonic Blogs - some things I found recently.

 

I was frankly amazed at the quality of information and images in the site https://miniatureaddiction.info.

I really good example is this on ... 

Go and gorge on the fab pics of this Battle of Borodino on Dave's One Man His Brush blog... here's a taster 

https://wargamingraft.wordpress.com/  talks us through building an Austrian Farmhouse circa 1809... click to have a nose at it finished. 

 

Valleyboy blogged months ago about Napoleonic commanders. I love the vibrancy of the painting here. 

and ...

Victrix have some British Dragoons in the pipeline....

along with Bavarians.... 

and Chasseur-a-Cheval of the Guard....

Then there is the return of Partizan: 

https://youtu.be/HJ5Wk5GREkM

Salute 2019 - picture review (yes I know I'm late)

Prussian Battle Flag from Leipzig in 1813 - Landwehr? Something Else?

I spotted this flag for sale.  It appears to have been white (or gold?) with embroidery and to have hung vertically.

The seller says it Prussian and from Leipzig in 1813 but doesn't give any explanation of why?  Does this flag ring true? Which service would it be?  More details here.