Nap Campaign: Battle of Holbrook 3rd April 1808 - Turns 13 to 18

 Turn 13

On the allied left flank, their artillery firing canister into Piat's brigade were taking a heavy toll.

On the French left, the 3/13th Light battalion of Schmitz' brigade were blown away by a British battery losing 6 casualties to canister fire plus 1 from a blast of musketry. Having lost over 50% of their number they failed their subsequent morale test and fled the field. The fence line to the right of the tree has now been swept clean of French infantry.

The rest of Schmitz' brigade, now joined by Aulard's battalions (middle right), had the better of the firefight with the Bremen Hanoverian battalion suffering particularly badly forcing it to retreat.

Continued -

On the French right flank, although taking heavy casualties from the British artillery, they were inflicting heavy casualties in return particularly from their own guns. An exception being the 13th Cavalry Division's 6pdr horse battery that had been positioned at the far right of their line. A particularly heavy and accurate blast of musketry from a conscript Hanoverian battalion shredded the crew. The veteran artillery passed their morale test but having fallen below 50% in strength they would leave the field, albeit in good order.

Turn 14

The elite 3/1st Foot Guards (upper middle) had held their own well on the line but a combination of musketry from the French infantry, and particularly canister fire from a horse artillery battery, were now taking their toll. Having lost over 1/3 of their battalion their nerve began to fail and they faltered after the latest round of fire.

Ross' battery that had done well countering the French, despite being low on ammo, suffered more casualties from counter-battery fire bringing them down to 50% in strength. they will retreat in the next move.

On the allied right flank, Kielmansegge seeks to plug the gap left by the withdrawal of the Bremen Field Battalion. Elsewhere on this flank the allies have another good turn.

This particularly applied to the arrival of the Brunswick Horse artillery battery who had replaced the battered Lloyds's battery who was also low on ammo. Their opening salvo rolled a double '6' when targeting a French Guard horse artillery battery. The French battery lost a gun and several of their crew forcing the survivors to limber up and retire. Chartrand was also wounded reducing his status from excellent to average. 

Turn 15

The French left continues to struggle dogged by poor dice rolls. The battalions of Schmitz' and Aulard's brigades once again come of worst in their exchange of musketry with the British and Hanoverian battalions. One of their battalions on the far left of the line has faltered which will mean it will be reforming next turn and unable to fire.

The French right flank have more success although two Hanoverian conscript battalions opposite the far right of the French line surprise with effective volleys downing several of their number.

A closer view of the allied left flank. A battery of French artillery has been pouring canister fire into the Hanoverians defending the bridge steadily reducing their numbers. The allies rush to plug the rather disturbing gap in their line left by the retreating artillery battery. Columns of French infantry approach along the road in preparation for their attack on the bridge.

The French have not escaped unscathed this turn. An infantry battalion from Piat's brigade was reduced to below half strength by a British battery (far left of photo) repeatedly unloading canister into their ranks. The battalion passed their morale check meaning they will retire from the field in good order. This has left the gap immediately to the left of the bridge in the photo.

Of particular concern to the allied commanders is the fate of the 3/1st Foot Guards (middle of photo). They have inflicted heavy casualties on the French but likewise has suffered badly, particularly from their deployed artillery battery nearby. The are approaching 50% strength and the elite troops are becoming increasingly shaky. A Dutch horse artillery battery is on the way to give them some support but may be too late. This could be an opening the French were hoping for.

Turn 16

The first attack of the game was launched over the bridge by the 1/82nd Light battalion of Villiers' brigade. Grouchy decided he could wait no longer and on seeing the weakening of the allied line on his right flank ordered the advance. The defending Hanoverian Bremervorde Landwehr battalion fired a volley into the French battalion downing one of their number.

The French battalion continued their charge but the Hanoverians decided they were not going to hang around and shamefully routed. This generated numerous morale checks for nearby allied units which could have been disastrous but fortunately for General Hill they all easily passed remaining steady. 

H Halkett sought to plug the gap moving his brigade to engage the French column. Only one battalion was available to fire on the French, the Quackenbrook Landwehr (middle left) but the conscripts' volley proved to be pathetic.

The 3/1st Foot Guards again sustained heavy casualties reducing the size of their battalion to below 50%. They passed their morale test which would allow them to retire in good order but this left a large gap on the allied left flank.

French columns began to move towards the vulnerable gap vacated by the Foot Guards.

The French left flank continued to struggle, not helped by devastating salvoes from Mercer's battery (middle of photo) which decimated a newly arrived Young Guard artillery battery that had deployed behind the fence line. The survivors retired from the field. 

Schmitz' 1/17th Line battalion also sustained heavy casualties reducing it to below 50% strength and that too retired from the field vacating the French firing line.

Turn 17

Maitland leads a charge by the 2/1st Foot Guards into the French 1/82nd Light infantry in an effort to regain the bridge. The melee was narrower than expected with the Guards only just overturning the French column pushing them back.

The French 1st Division was ordered to attack on their right flank. Seeking to take advantage of the weakened allied line they launched themselves across the river. Only the 2/105th Line of Bourgeois' brigade succeeded in crossing the river charging into the Peine Landwehr battalion (top middle of photo). The unformed French battalion was unable to defeat the Hanoverian conscripts and were pushed back.

More bad news for the French came with the destruction of the 2/55th Line of Charlet's brigade. This lead to a brigade morale test which it failed with the result that Charlet's brigade was now broken.

An overview of the allied left flank with the French desperately trying to exploit the gaps left in the defensive line.

On the allied right flank, Kielmansegge's brigade was beginning to look ragged with the loss of the Verden battalion (middle left of photo). So far though there was no French attack.

An overview at the end of turn 17.

Turn 18

The Brunswick horse artillery battery (upper left) continued to outperform, here rolling a double '6' when firing at a Young Guard foot artillery battery. This devastated the battery with survivors withdrawing from the field. Chartrand also suffered a light wound. His second wound of the battle!

In reply, the Guard light cavalry horse artillery battery in the foreground also rolled a double '6' when firing at a KGL battery (to the left off-camera). This caused the KGL battery to limber up and withdraw to safety.

The French 2nd Division were ordered to attack to exploit the gap left by the retreating Hanoverians. Their battalions moved up to the river's edge allowing them to fire off a volley before making the crossing. Only minimal casualties were inflicted.

For the allies it was a race to plug the gap before the French made their advance.

The area around the bridge remained fairly static with both sides reforming or exchanging fire.

Alarmingly for the allies, their line along the river was shattered on their left flank by an unexpected charge by Dubois' Cuirassiers brigade. Despite the river slowing their charge and unforming them, the two conscript Hanoverian battalions defending this sector immediately routed (middle top of photo). 

Compounding the Hanoverian plight was a double '6' rolled by a French horse artillery battery (middle of photo just below the cavalry charge). This inflicted heavy casualties on a deployed Dutch horse artillery battery forcing it to limber up and withdraw. The Hanoverian brigade commander, Vincke, was killed by the blast of canister.

Vincke's brigade failed their brigade morale check causing the 2 routing battalions to flee the field with the two remaining battalions breaking to the rear. 

The view from behind the allied lines with the Cuirassiers surging across the river to the left. 

Seeing the weakening allied line to the left of the bridge, the entire 4th Cavalry Corps was ordered towards the allied left. In the background of the photo, the 14th Cavalry Division begin making their move to join the 13th Cavalry Division in their assault across the river.

An overview at the end of turn 18. I did not believe the French had much of a chance crossing the river but a real opportunity is now developing on their right flank. They still though have to get forces across in numbers before the allies are able to react.

To Be Continued