A Wargamer's Journal: July 2020

Another engagement from my Fescennia campaign: the Battle of Delphin between Nemea and Arcadia, the latter being the attackers, the former the defenders. The Nemean side have to hold the bridge and town; the Arcadians have to capture them.

An aerial view of the battlefield, with the bridge and town (Delphin) to the bottom left

the redoubts on the hills, woodland to the top and more just in view to the right.

A view along the battlefield,

The Arcadians enter the table from the nearest edge; the Nemeans are already in position.

The Arcadian force enters the table, light infantry, line infantry, dragoons and artillery,

led by their general and his ADC.

Figures are mostly metal Hinchliffe 25mm French, although the cavalry are Perry Miniatures

28mm hard plastics.

The Arcadians open out for their attack, cavalry to the left, heading for the bridge

with some infantry support, the rest marching on the closest of the redoubts.

The 1st Light Infantry in the foreground deploy into open order.

The 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Dragoons) advancing on the Arcadian left wing.

The 3rd Foot Battery deploys to support the attack.

The 7th Line Regiment.

A view of the town (Delphin), with the Nemean camp.

No.1 Musketier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss in column ready to advance.

Buildings are Sarissa, painted by my fellow wargamer and talented modeller Steve

(see his website Tunnies Terrain), with tents from Renedra Ltd.

Another view of the town. The bridge and river sections were bought many years ago, I no longer remember who produced them! The unit in the foreground is Rotkehlchendorf Musketier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss. The Nemean figures are metal Prussian Hinchliffe 25mm.

One redoubt held by two companies of the

Zaunkonigburg Musketier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss.

The other redoubt held by one company of Zaunkonigburg Musketier

Infanterie Regiment zu Fus and No.2 Foot Battery.

Firing begins!

An aerial view as the action unfolds, with Arcadian light infantry closing on the first redoubt,

while to the north of the road the two sides are close to engaging.

More Arcadian troops arrive on the battlefield, line infantry and artillery.

The Rotkehlchendorf Musketier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss deploys into line

to defend the town. The unit did not perform well during the battle, losing its colour!

Another aerial view as the defenders of the redoubt fire on the light infantry

and the other units continue to manoeuvre.

The 4th Line Regiment's column advances to the attack, with

the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (Dragoons) in support.

The Nemean infantry regiment gives a volley!

The 1st Light Infantry Regiment skirmishing with the Nemean troops.

The Arcadians close in on the first redoubt.

More skirmishing by the 1st Light Infantry Regiment,

this time with the No.1 Reserve Musketier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss.

The No.1 Reserve Musketier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss gives a volley!

The Arcadian assault columns move up to the attack.

The first redoubt is under attack, while in the background, the Nemean infantry unit

has broken and fled, pursued by the Arcadian cavalry.

The assault on the first redoubt: the 2nd Grenadier Regiment on the left, the 7th Line Regiment on the right with 1st Light Infantry skirmishers around the rear of the defence as the garrison fires furiously!

The Arcadian artillery deployed to support the attack: 3rd Battery (6 pdr) and 4th Battery (howitzer).

All Hinchliffe 25mm metal figures and guns, the crews a mixture of French and Austrian figures.

An aerial view of the battle - the initial Arcadian attacks on the first redoubt have been repulsed,

but in the distance their infantry are about to reach the town.

Arcadian artillery firing in support of their troops.

The 1st Light Infantry skirmishes with the No.1 Reserve Musketier Infanterie zu Fuss

as the 1si Line Regiment advances to the attack.

The skirmishers fall back rather depleted as their line troops come up in support.

The town is about to fall to the Arcadians as an ADC attempts to rally the fleeing

Rotkehlchendorf Musketier Infanterie zu Fuss.

The 1st Line Regiment has charged home in the centre of the picture, while fresh regiments advance to attack the first redoubt on the upper left and the bridge is seized at the upper right.

The 1st Line Regiment is victorious, the No1. Reserve Musketier Infanterie zu Fuss fleeing past the second redoubt. Reinforcements for the Nemean side appear through the woods at the bottom right.

The garrison abandon the redoubt, pursued by skirmishers of the 1st Light Infantry Regiment.

The first redoubt is captured and the Arcadian line surges forward,

although in the upper right Nemean reinforcements have begun to deploy:

the Ostenprovinz No.1 Fusilier Infanterie Regiment zu Fuss.

The fleeing Nemeans are chased through the orchard.

The Arcadians realign to meet the new threat from the woods.

Arcadian reinforcements: the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Foreign Legion.

The figures in the foreground are Essex Miniatures 25mm metal Austrians; in the background are more 25mm Austrians, but I do not know the manufacturer, they were purchased decades ago!

Possibly Eagle Miniatures?

The Arcadian howitzer battery is bombarding the second redoubt,

while the 6 pdr battery fires on the Nemean troops emerging from the woods.

The Arcadians manoeuvre to deal with the Nemean reinforcements while the rest of their army advances to attack the second redoubt from the left and top right.