Horse and Musket: Retreat from Moscow

Yesterday my friend Michael and I had a quick game of FfoL: Horse and Musket. This time the setting had changed to the cold steppes of Russia, and the retreat of the Grande Armée from Moscow.

The scenario was an adaption of the "On the Way to Richmond" Mostly Monthly Scenario. In this adaptation the French had descended on a farm and was trying to secure supplies and burn down the farm to prevent the pursuing Russians from finding supplies and shelter. I played the French and Michael the Russians. Our forces would be made from 20 pts.

French deployment was in the farm and the Russians deployed in a forest. The French lead by Capt. Le Grand decided to split their force in two. One would take care of getting the supplies and setting fire to the buildings, while the other would attempt to keep the Russians at a distance. Le Grand, Old Guard Auclair and his two sharpshooters the Portuguese Castel and Polish Poniak moved towards the opening in the fence surrounding the farm. It did not take long before the musketry of the Russian Jaegers started to close in on Le Grand and his men. Meanwhile the three remaining Frenchmen each entered a building to search for supplies.

Disaster struck the French when Capt. Le Grand was hit by a Russian Jaeger shot and fell down lifeless. Castel was rather shaken by this and spent the next long time trying to come to grips with losing the captain and retreating further into the farm yard. Both Auclair and Poniak could also not make their musketry count and the Russians moved forward along the edges of the fencing surrounding the fields. The other French group was quick to find supplies and two of them also managed to set their buildings on fire. Now the task was to get away.

Russian advance had been swift and they were on the outskirts of the farm. Shots still rang into the farm and the French were having a hard time getting away. The Pole Poniak was then assaulted by a Russian officer and even though the officer was pushed back from the assault Poniak was shot minutes after.

The French patrol was now down to five men when the retreating Old Guard Auclair was struck down wounded. Bravely but also stupid the fusilier Barnier charged the Russian officer who had previously killed Poniak. But the Russian was prepared and Barnier was immediately struck down. The remaining French surrendered knowing that their mission had failed.

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This was another great game of Horse and Musket. We really love the mechanics of the game, and the games do not take too long, while the game does not seem to simple. Forgot to take pictures from the last three rounds or so, but here are some from our game 

1812 Retreat from Moscow - The Count's Tale

Last night I introduced Rune to Sharp Practice, more specific my 1812 Retreat from Moscow setting. This was the first time that I played the setting with my new minis, table, terrain and with Sharp Practice. I lined up the French, while Rune took charge of the Russians.

The table was 8x4 and we had forces amounting to roughly 85 points, so a large game.

The French led by Maj. Stepháne LeLoup had to find supplies and were acting on a tale told by a Russian count, which had convinced Le Emperor that the count's summer residence and his hunting lodges had a large quantity of supplies.

It proved to be harder for the French than anticipated as a Russian detachment led by Maj. Andrei Maximov would be arriving at the scene to try and prevent the French.

What followed was a great game, with many highlights including:

• Cossacks charging into the rear of the French Light Cavalry, wiping them completely out.
• The French Dismounted Cavalry replusing a charge by the Russian Hussars
• The French Veteran Chasseurs standing firm and laying down fire on the charging Cossacks, before the Voltigeurs added more fire.
• Three groups of Russian Jaegers trying to shoot the French Dismounted Cavalry, but despite their superior firepower did almost no damage.

In the end the Russian decided to retreat as their cavalry was more or less disabled. 

It was a fun game and a great evening in the company of Rune.

Here are some pictures from our game.

1812 Retreat from Moscow - Both armies and board completed

When I decided to return to 1812 Retreat from Moscow, I set myself a target of getting everything completed - both armies, the board, forests and burned down buildings - before 1. December. I have some excellent buildings from Charlie Foxtrot that I am working on, but which has not been part of the plan originally.

Tuesday evening I made the deployment points for Sharp Practice, which was the last things I needed to make.

On Friday the 8th we will have a game, which I am really looking forward to.

Anyway here are some pictures of everything.