Catawba Gamers August 2011 part 1

Once again the Catawba Gamers got together for their monthly gaming day. This time ChuckarooBob had brought his Franco-Prussian miniature collection for a game of Chassepot and Needlegun. The game was played at Parker Banner Kent and Wayne in Cornelius, North Carolina. It was my first visit to their new location and it is nice. They have a much larger retail area and tons more gaming room. The table set up was sixteen by six feet and almost the whole amount would end up being used during the game. The scenario was based off of the Battle of Mars-la-Tour, where an outnumbered Prussian force was despatched to stop the French from escaping the city of Metz and joining the French forces ay Verdun. The Prussain started grossly outnumber with 30,000 Prussians facing 130,000 French. The Prussians were soon reinforced and ended the battle outnumbering the French.




A view of the table. The closest village is Mars-la-tour and the farthest village is Vionville. Each box is a French infantry division waiting to be deployed. Unlike most games put on by the Catawba Gamers we actually had the table set up and models waiting to be deployed by the normal game start time of 1pm. Little did we know we would be there for quite a while.

A French division of two brigades deployed in line on the French left commanded by Brian.

Another French Division of two Brigades deployed on the French right commanded by Jody.

The Prussians start to deploy.

An Overview of the table from the French side, showing The French move toward Vionville with the reserves behind the line of advance.

A view of the Prussian battle line, notice the two artillery batteries on the heights behind.

A French Regiment advance behind the Mitrailleuse battery.

First blood to the French, a Prussian Regiment takes casualties.

The French advance into the ruins only to find a hidden Prussian unit. The French charge home anyway.

The Prussians are blooded but withdraw in good order.

The French push toward the village of Vionville in the center to root out the Prussian defenders.

A Bavarian division arrives behind the French right. the Prussians had a lot of reinforcements and brought them on early. The French players didn't really understand exactly where the reinforcements could arrive from and this left us caught flat footed.

The French Heavy cavalry arrives and charge toward the Bavarian reinforcements on the French right.

More French Cavalry race to stop the Bavarians.

The Bavarians charge in and break a regiment of French infantry.

Even more Prussian reserves advance onto the table.

The Bavarian cavalry form up to charge the rear of the French battery.

The assault on Vionville begins with a Regiment of Brian's troops who are halted by defensive fire from inside the Village. Then my two regiment Brigade closes, forces the defenders to withdraw and takes Vionville. I think this was also about the time Brian showed what a true wargamer is made of by refusing to stop playing after taking a bad stab from one of the wire bayonets. Even bleeding he refused to leave the table.

The Bavarians swarm the French right while the French artillery try to stem the tide.

Vionville firmly in French hands, the 8th Chasseurs in the village and 69th infantry to the right reform to clear the corn field of Prussian scum.

As the French Cavalry close the Bavarian Infantry form square and their cavalry prepare to meet the charge.

The 8th Chasseurs and 69th Infantry take the fight to the Prussians.

The reserve Prussian Guards Brigade marches into the ruins on the French left.

Thr 8th Chasseurs and 69th infantry sweep the Prussians before them and a cowardly Prussian regiment marches into the undefended Vionville.

Come back for Part 2 and the conclusion of the game.