Sunday, February 26, 2012

Coming up next!


Vive l'Empereur! Our theme for 2012 is 1812, A World at War - Napoleon in Russia, Wellington in Spain and the War of 1812. The campaign began on 24 June 1812, when Napoleon's forces crossed the river Neman. Napoleon aimed to compel Emperor of Russia Alexander I to remain in the Continental Blockade of the United Kingdom; an official aim was to remove the threat of a Russian invasion of Poland. Napoleon named the campaign a Second Polish War; the Russian government proclaimed a Patriotic War. Half a million strong, the Grande Armée marched through the Western Russia, winning a number of relatively minor engagements and a major battle at Smolensk on August 16-18. However, at that same day, the right wing of the Russian Army, under the command of General Peter Wittgenstein, stopped part of the French Army, led by Marshal Nicolas Oudinot, in the Battle of Polotsk. This prevented the French marching on the Russian capital at Saint Petersburg; the fate of the war had to be decided on the Moscow front, where Napoleon himself led his forces.

While the Russians used scorched-earth tactics, and often raided the enemy with light Cossack cavalry, their main army retreated for almost three months. This constant retreat undermined confidence in Field Marshal Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly, leading Alexander I to appoint an old veteran, Prince Mikhail Kutuzov, the new Commander-in-Chief. Finally, on 7 September, the two armies met near Moscow in the Battle of Borodino. Here. where courage and sacrifice was a virture shared by, some 250,000 troops would not only decide the fate of Russia, but of Europe as well.

Think you can handle the rigors of such a campaign? Then down a flask of your favorite libation, pack a Marshal's Baton in your backpack and begin the march to Cold Wars 2012, where this year the convention presents three full days of the best historical miniatures gaming anywhere. To the sound of the guns, forward - for God, the Czar and Holy Russia!


The Style that Ruled the Empires: Russia, Napoleon and 1812!


Hillwood Museum Napoleonic Exhibition Washington DC



Russia’s triumph over the French army in the Patriotic War of 1812, which dealt an arresting blow to Napoleon and his pursuit of European conquest, ignited a collective Russian pride and production of decorative arts celebrating the occasion that persist today. The Style that Ruled the Empires: Russia, Napoleon, and 1812 brings together paintings, porcelain, glassware, metalware, attire, and Napoleonic armor and militaria to commemorate the bicentennial of this dramatic event. Exquisite Russian and French decorative art objects from Hillwood’s renowned collection, as well as items on loan, will also explore how the Empire style, fashionable across Europe in the 19th century, was adopted by Russian artisans, signaling the continued enchantment with French art and culture.


Monday, February 20, 2012

Spring Recruits March 30th - April 1st (KC, MO)!

Help to make recruits one of the main Napoleonic Conventions of the year!



Spring Recruits is fast approaching. If you haven't made plans to attend yet, I would highly recommend it. This is fast becoming the talk of gaming conventions for several reasons. 1: it is only $5 USD for the entire weekend of amazing gaming, flea market, shopping and silent auction. 2: The list of what I consider to be A+ games continues to grow -- including Simulations by the Command and General Staff College; A 25mm Pirate game the size of a tennis court; Flames of War Tournement; 15mm beautifully sculpted terrain board and game of Stanlingrad; and many more. 3: Recruits has partnered with the National WWI museum and will be offering private tours and discounted entry tickets for attendees of Recruits as well as having a mobile WWI display at the convention.
Recruits is raising the bar and I invite you to come and see for yourself.

Images from the Muster!













Sunday, February 19, 2012

MARENGO 1800, REDUX Scenario 2, Conclusion!

Will the First Consul be successful?

When we last left off the Austrian were attempting to press forward along their entire front. While the French were managing to hold out and reinforce with some small surprises such as this cavalry unit on their Right flank!

Meanwhile BUA #2 keeps burning (Unable to be occupied).

And the Austrians tired of the bridge hold up go for broke!

The entire Austrian line emerges! Will it be enough?

The French line prepares to defend and counterattack!

The sneaky Austrians press the seams in the flank!

But the French remain confident in their abilities to resist.

The embattled Left Flank continues to hold out!

Even after the front line cavalry unit recoils!

The battle for supremacy heats up!

A French cavalry counterattack defeats the Austrians and sends them back across the stream.

Overall view of routed (Yellow Puffs) and defeated or embattled units (Red Puffs)!

The French cavalry charges the moving guns on the Right flank as well!

As the Austrian main attack continues!

The units at the seam start to take damage! (White Puffs)

Overall view of the Main objective and French charge board!

Overall view of the battle!

The French even though taking damage continue to hold!

The French Left shores up!

Overall view from the Left!

The Austrians last gasp attacks fail!

As they counter attack and form a mass battery!

Who ultimately will prevail in this test of wills?

The Austrians try again on the Main Objective!

View of the Center as Austrians assault!

French take aim as Austrians best troops still await the magical bridge!

Austrian units routing! (Yellow Puffs)

Overall view!

Our cavalry defeats the only Austrian artillery on their Left and heads back to the cornfield!

As the entire line comes to grips!

Carnage & Glory!

Overview of the Austrians desperate gamble!

And of the whole table!

At Rallying phase.

Some routed units survive from exiting the board! (Yellow to Red)

You can see how far the Austrians advanced in the Center!

But this matters not as the Main objectives are still held by the French.

Scene at Endex! Had there been a few more turns who knows?

The French Left and Main Objective (BUA #1) HOLDS!

Scene from the Left!

Austrian forces left!

The center is still contested!

As some Austrian charges are successful and others fail!

BUA #2 remains free from enemy hands also!

The ever important cornfield has been trampled!

And the FRENCH prepare to counter attack!

And as the FRENCH troops celebrate their VICTORY!

The future Emperor to be dreams of further glories to come!