Another Episode of NNNG

[Gene]

So today I had a chance to play out a solo Napoleonic game using my NNNG rules. The forces used were the Spanish and British vs the French and Italians.

EDIT: I had meant to explain the formations before signing off last night, but it slipped my mind. So here they are:
March - Used only on a road, this fast-moving column formation is tightly packed so it can't fire effectively if forced to fire.
Column - This is also known as a "battle column", it's most effective in a charge. When firing, this formation fires at 1/2 strength.
Line - A line is a formation that allows 100% of your units to fire. So that CE is used at full strength. It doesn't do well in a charge.
Mixed - A mixed formation is exclusive to the French, and can include any of the 2 formations, line and column, in a group.

Scale: 1 inch = 50 yards
Stands: 4 figures = 1 battalion
1 game turn = 10-15 minutes in real time
15 mm figures

Make-up of the forces (battalions/batteries) is as follows:

Nation	Qty	Unit Type	CE	MR	FL	March	Column	Open	Line	Square
French	6x	Line Infantry (LN)	50	50	4	8"	6"	5"	3"	1"
	3x	Voltigeurs (LT)	55	55	5	10"	8"	6"	4"	1"
	3x	Grenadiers (LN)	65	60	6	8"	7"	6"	3"	1"
Italians	3x	Light Infantry (LT)	45	40	4	9"	7"	6"	2"	1"
	3x	Guard Velites (LT)	50	60	5	10"	9"	8"	4"	1"

Nation	Qty	Unit Type	CE	MR	FL	March	Column	Open	Line	Square
British	3x	Line Infantry (LN)	55	55	4	9"	8"	6"	4"	1"
	3x	Light Infantry, rifles (LT)	60	60	5	10"	8"	6"	4"	1"
Spanish	6X	Line Infantry (LN)	40	35	3	7"	6"	5"	3"	1"
	6x	Guerrilla (LT)	50	45	5	11"	9"	8"	4"	1"

Nation	Qty	Unit Type	CE	MR	FL	Close	Effective	Medium	Long	Canister	Move L/P
French	3x	6-pdr Foot Artillery (6FA)	50	50	5	8"	14"	22"	28"	2"/6"/8"	8"/2"
British	1x	9-pdr Foot Artillery (9FA)	60	65	6	10"	17"	23"	30"	3"/5"/8"	8"/2"
Spanish	4x	4-pdr Foot Artillery (4FA)	40	40	4	6"	12"	18"	24"	1"/3"/5"	7"/2"

Weapon	Close	Effective	Medium	Long
Musket	1"	2"	3" (skirmish only)	n/a
Rifle	1"	2"- 3"	4" (skirmish only)	5" (skirmish only)

* I was using the skirmish rules, which I'll explain another time.

Using tables the objectives were set, the French & Italians had to capture the 3rd hill from the Spanish edge, essentially, they had no choice but to brave the fire to take the hill. The Spanish objective was as simple, avoid losing the 3rd hill. The British objective was also simple, take out as many French units as possible before exiting off the west edge of the table by turn 12.

Set orders for both sides using a table.

T1 - The Spanish set up defensive positions atop some hills, especially fortifying their objective. while the British were forced to set up on the East edge of the table. I did this via event tables I whipped up just for this game. The French & Italians moved toward the Spanish and British positions.
T2 - The French sent new orders which failed to be received and so they kept marching. If they'd gotten their orders, they would have unlimbered the artillery and set it up. The Spanish played dominos and the British played cricket as they waited for their opponents to arrive.
T3 - The French orders from last turn went through automatically and they set up their artillery, careful to not get their infantry in front of the artillery, which continued to march in column. The Spanish considered firing artillery but *YAWN* it was too much trouble. The British had the option to hold off another turn before they started their march to the west, rolling they decided to use that option.
T4 - The French opened fire, rolling a 77, and missed. They're firing at medium range (20"). The Spanish open fire at one of the French LT units and hit at long range (20"). The Spanish rolled a 36, 40-36=(4/10)=0.4, meaning they scored 1 hit. As long as the roll is lower than the CE level 1 hit is always made.
T5 - The British begin their march, in column, toward the west. They see no targets. The Spanish switch targets and fire at a approaching French Grenadier unit, which is now at Effective range. The Spanish roll a 04, 40-4=(36/10)=4. The Spanish artillery scored 4 hits on the French grenadier unit. The French are forced to check morale because the hit was bad, they roll 100 against 60, which is uber bad. The French grenadier unit is routed and flee directly away from the Spanish at 2x their column march, but they are also disordered. Now, because the roll was a 100, the chart table says all units within 3" of the routed unit must check their morale as well. There are three units around the routed grenadier. Two other grenadier units make it, but a French line infantry unit fails it morale check and must retreat.
T6 - The operational order to halt has gone out to the French, and they all received it. The French halted so that the leaders can try to rally the retreating and routed units. The Spanish fire again, hoping to repeat their past success, but they miss with all cannon. The French are still not in sight of the French, as they continue to move east.
T7 - The Spanish fire again, and hit, but it's only a single hit on an otherwise unwounded unit. The French manage to stop the retreat but are having a tough time trying to rally the routed unit. They may have to continue on with what they have, but it hurts to be down one grenadier.
T8 - The French order their units to attack but the order fails to be received, so the French pull out their pots and pans make lunch. Next turn! The Spanish fire their cannon and wow! They rolled a 09 on a French LN. 40-9=(31/10)=3.1 The Spanish managed 3 hits on an unsuspecting line infantry unit just as they were getting ready to poo. With their pants around their ankles, they roll a....71! Not good. The chart says they must flee. I don't blame them, what with poo coming out and being shot at with artillery. At least they didn't cause a mass panic as they slinked off. The British finally see the French, but the table roll doesn't allow them to stop and fight. Not even a little. The British are upset at this.
T9 - I rolled on the chart to see if they French continue the advance with the number of losses, and yes, they keep coming. It was a very small chance they would stop. The Spanish fire again and hit again, a low number is rolled again, 02. 40-02=(38/10)=3.8. 4 hits! on the previously retreating line infantry. This one must flee too. Unfortunately, the French cannon had been blocked for a couple of turns by their own men, so they hadn't been able to fire. They now fire. They roll a 01. 50-01=49/10=4.9 or 5. The French score 5 hits on a Spanish LN. He rolls a 64. With a MR:45 they break, but also the table says that units with 3" must also roll for a morale check. I failed each roll, so 2 Spanish units' route off the battlefield, and 2 flee from the battlefield. Because of so many losses in such a short period of time I'm forced to check to see if I've lost cohesion. I roll and yes, the rest of the Spanish decide that the 3rd hill wasn't important anyway. While the British, cussing out the Spanish, are still a good distance from being able to exit the table.

This was a test of some changes I made to the rules, hence no modifiers were used, just to speed up the game.

[Gene]

I received one email, stating, "Columns [were] often used in the attack and did very very well, unlike other formations, why do you penalize columns in rough and broken terrain". This email is referring to a discussion we had in a chat group concerning formations.

First, I'm simply going by historical facts, based on journals written the men who were there, plus several books written by military historians of that era and Napoleonic tacticians. I didn't make any of it up.

1. In the Battle of San Marcial, fought on 31 August 1813, the French columns lost all cohesion as they climbed over the difficult terrain, reaching Freire in a confused mass. The Spaniards welcomed them with a scathing volley and, advancing with fixed bayonets, rolled Soult's leading divisions back down the hill. Soult rallied the broken units at noon and committed fresh troops to a second assault on the heights, but the line of Spanish bayonets held firm against his final assault and the faltering French were badly beaten.
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2. In the Battle of Buçaco or Bussaco, fought on 27 September 1810, French infantry columns under Marshal Massena faced uphill assaults against British and Portuguese forces. The steep, rugged slopes broke their cohesion as they attempted to advance in column. The uneven ground caused disorder, slowing their approach and leaving them vulnerable to musket volleys from the British in line formation.
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3. In the Battle of Borodino fought on 7 September 1812, the Russian infantry defending the Great Redoubt faced French infantry columns attempting to charge uphill through ravines and muddy fields. The rough terrain disrupted the French formations, causing some units to lose cohesion as they advanced under heavy artillery fire.
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4. In the Battle of Eylau fought on 7 - 8 February 1807 the French infantry columns advancing through snow-covered fields lost cohesion due to uneven terrain and poor visibility. The snow and ice caused soldiers to slip, creating gaps in the formation.
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5. In the Battle of Aspern-Essling fought on 21 – 22 May 1809 the French columns attempting to cross broken ground near the Danube River found their formations disrupted by soft, marshy terrain. The loose footing caused some units to lag, breaking their momentum.

Here are some facts about those Napoleonic columns:
Pros-

• The column was the simplest of all battalion formations and the fastest to advance and maneuver, it was an excellent device for bringing men more rapidly into action. The speed mattered as it was important to minimize the amount of time spent under artillery fire while advancing against the enemy.
• Due to its narrow front, a column was able to advance rapidly without problems over "most" dry even terrain. In contrast, the line required 'redressing' - the faster the movement and the more obstacles (bushes, fences, ditches, wounded and killed men and horses) the more disordered the line became. In villages and towns only the infantry in columns were able to move.
• The infantry column was steadier than the hollow square against cavalry. There are multiple examples of columns being more effective against cavalry. As an example, the Austrian landwehr repulsed Napoleon's Guard Horse Chasseurs (Chasseurs-a-Cheval de la Garde Imperiale) in 1809 at Wagram.
• It was much easier and faster to turn a column than line and could veer easily out of the arc of artillery fire.

Cons-

• An infantry column was deficient in firepower, only the front ranks could use their muskets effectively.
• Because of their compactness any column was vulnerable to artillery fire.
• Columns lost cohesion, and were easily disordered, in rough & broken terrain.

I admit I don't know a lot, but I do know a little bit.