We were back in the Great Northern War this week in a pickup game where “Uncle Albert” Julian (Saxons) and Nigel (Russians) took on “Broken Dice” David and me who were using the Swedes.
While the Saxons and Russians advanced with elan, the Swedes took a more sedate approach with the infantry and slowly advanced (in other words we only just made the command rolls).
The Saxon dragoons had advanced onto the high ground but unlike the Swedish infantry the cavalry had no problems with the command rolls and two units thundered into the Dragoons.
These charges had the expected results with one unit of Dragoons being routed and the other being pushed back. However the Swedish cavalry had also taken damage.
The Saxons soon had their revenge as a unit of Cuirassiers thundered into the Swedish cavalry who were routed.
In the centre and right flank a firefight had developed between the opposing infantry and a lucky shot from the Swedes inflicted an early rout on the Saxons. Also the Russian plot to advance the Dragoon brigade through the woods was not working. A number of failed command rolls meant that the Dragoons were still sat on the other side of the wood not worrying the Swedes at all.
On the Swedish right flank the infantry firefight had intensified with close range canister and musketry taking its toll on both sides.
The cavalry battle on the Swedish left flank had been resolved with both the Swedish and Saxon brigades broken and retreating from the field. The Saxon infantry had also been broken and were withdrawing from the field. This left the Russians to try and hold it together. The Dragoon brigade finally started moving from the right to the left flank and the infantry trying to break the small Swedish infantry brigade to their front.
The infantry battle was getting intense with two of the Swedish infantry brigades teetering on the edge of being broken. All attention turned on the remaining Russian brigades. It was at this stage that the final Swedish cavalry brigade arrived on the field even though it was being led by the king and had the best command rolls!!
On the right both infantry brigades were one unit away from being broken but the Swedes had 2 battalions pouring fire into one Russian battalion while the other was one on one. Now the two to one did not go as expected with the Swedes rolling poorly and not inflicting any casualties. However, the other Swedish battalion made up for it and then poor saving throws by the Russians meant that the battalion was shaken, and the Russian infantry brigade was broken and with it the army.
So again another close game with a win for the Swedes.
The Uncivil Servant 