Battle of Quatre Jambes with Hair Roller Armies and Portable Napoleonics

Nothing like inclement weather to provide an excuse to return to gaming with the Hair Roller Armies (HRA). This time I will be using the "Division rules" in The Portable Napoleonic Wargame by Bob Cordery and testing the efficiency of my Quick Reference Sheets (QRS).

                                       French forces                                             British

                                                    The Battle of Quatre Jambes

The British: General Cordery Division comprised:

 Colonel Crook’s Brigade (3 SPs)

 1st Infantry Regiment (4 SPs;  Average)

 2nd Infantry Regiment (4 SPs;  Average)

 Colonel Alan’s Brigade (3 SPs)

 11th Infantry Regiment (3 SPs;  Poor)

 12th Infantry Regiment (3 SPs;  Poor)

 1st Foot Artillery Battalion (2 SPs;  Average)

 1st Hussar Regiment (2 SPs;  Poor)

 General Cordery (6 SPs; Average)

The French: General Maxime’s reinforced Division comprised:

 Colonel Etienne’s Brigade (3 SPs)

 21st French Infantry Regiment (5 SPs; Elite)

 22nd French Infantry Regiment (5 SPs; Elite)

 Colonel Jule’s Brigade (3 SPs)

 23rd French Light Infantry Regiment (4 SPs;  Average)

 24th French Light Infantry Regiment (4 SPs;  Average)

 Colonel Laurent’s Cavalry Brigade (3 SPs)

 11th French Chasseurs à cheval Regiment (3 SPs;  Average)

12th French Cuirassier Regiment (4 SPs;  Average)

 2nd French Artillery Battalion (2 SPs; Average)

 General Maxime (6 SPs; Good)

 The battle begins at noon. Both the British 12th and the French 23rd fail to activate on turn 1

   French Chasseurs and Cuirassiers under Laurent's command attack the British 1st Hussar on the French right flank. Crook's 1st forms square while his 2nd supports Alan's 12th on the road into Quatre Jambes. French elite infantry attempts to overwhelm the British 12th on the road.

The British Hussars and Crook's 1st push back the French heavy and light cavalry while the British infantry holds firm around the road.

And then on Turn 6. Allen's 12th and Crook's 2nd muskets hit true. The French 24th and 22nd are pushed back from withering musket fire and General Maxime is killed. Sa·cré bleu !

 The battle now becomes the French inability to get orders on their right flank. The French artillery deploys, but fails to fire and the cavalry awaits orders. Hidden British snipers appear to be taking out French messengers.

Alan's 11th Regiment is fortified in Quatre Jambes and the 1st foot artillery deploys and controls the road intersection.

The British hold their left flank secure with Crook's 1st in square and the 1st Hussar and the failure of the French to rally and get orders to their left flank. General Cordery joins Colonel Alan's fortified troops in Quatre Jambes.  Night descends with a fierce thunderstorm on Turn 10. The French troops withdraw.

The Portable Napoleonic Wargame by Bob Cordery is available as an ebook (PDF)  here or here.