Rob G, figure painter extraordinaire and a frequent commentator on this blog, was the first to invite me to put the CEF through it's paces. The scenario he proposed was based on Napoleon's march from Cannes to Paris following his escape from Elba in 1815. What would have happened, he said, if General Marchand and the 5e de Ligne had put up a fight instead of joining the Corsican fugitive? We set up the table to find out.
Rob's wargaming surface is a large sheet of coloured lino which is altogether smoother, greener, lighter and in every sense more practical than the half a ton of former ping pong table I have at my house. Rob also supplied the exquisitely painted Hinton Hunt Napoleon and ADC needed to lead the Emperor's army.
Into the Gap
It is March 1815, and the Emperor is advancing into a narrow defile near the small town of Gap. All Europe trembled, although only a battalion of the guard (disguised as line infantry, for some reason) and his trusty Guard Chasseurs were accompanying him.
At a bend in the road, however, a Bourbon force was found to be blocking the pass. It was General Marchand (who had a remarkable resemblance to Marshal Soult, or so everyone said) at the head of the 5th Line Infantry. The 3rd Swiss and the 7th Lancers were deployed in support.
The Emperor signalled the Guard to halt. "There is nothing to fear, mes enfants!", he declared, "They've come to join our forces!". Spurring his horse, the Emperor trotted forward towards the 5th Line. Marbot scrambled to keep up. "Sire, I beseech you, let me go before you", he cried.
Waving Marbot to be silent, the Emperor continued his advance until he was but a few paces from Marchand's impassive infantry.
The 5th prepared to fire.
In a trice, the Chasseurs of the Guard were charging straight towards Marchand's line. The 5th held their fire until the very last moment.....
…..and delivered an annihilating volley.
Men and horses crashed to the ground, sending the Chasseurs reeling back in confusion. As the smoke cleared, the lifeless body of Eugene de Beauharnais was seen lying on the stricken field.
As the Emperor dashed back to try to rally has shaken Chasseurs, Davout led forward the Grenadiers of the Guard in an all-out assault.
In the desperate fight which followed, the 5th were gradually overwhelmed by the Emperor's elite veterans. Marchand fell during the melee (or at least that's the story he told afterwards).
The 5th may have been overthrown, but there were still the 7th Lancers and the Swiss to contend with. As the Emperor tried in vain to rally his shattered Chasseurs, Davout was compelled to form square against the coming onslaught.
The fate of Europe hung in the balance as Murat's Lancers charged pell mell into the defiant Guardsmen.....
...while the Swiss charged in column from the rear.
It was too much for the Guard, who fell back and broke, but not before Murat was also toppled. Nevertheless, the Emperor's desperate gamble had failed.
As Davout lifted his hat to signal surrender, the Emperor turned away. Exile beckoned once again.
My sincere thanks to Rob for an extremely entertaining game, particularly as he allowed me to play Marchand.
Since this game, Rob has painted a few more Hinton Hunts, which are illustrated below. I sincerely hope he does a few more. They're absolutely spectacular.
Rob's French Voltigeurs:
Rob's Marshal Junot:
I cannot thank Rob enough for the wonderful welcome and hospitality he showed me when I arrived travel worn and somewhat disorientated in the UK. We also fought another battle, of which more in future posts.
To finish up, and to prove that I haven't been entirely idle in the meantime, here are a couple of shots of the command element for my Lützower Lancers.
They're all finished now and should be appearing on the blog next week.
Salut maintenant,
WM
Rob's wargaming surface is a large sheet of coloured lino which is altogether smoother, greener, lighter and in every sense more practical than the half a ton of former ping pong table I have at my house. Rob also supplied the exquisitely painted Hinton Hunt Napoleon and ADC needed to lead the Emperor's army.
Into the Gap
It is March 1815, and the Emperor is advancing into a narrow defile near the small town of Gap. All Europe trembled, although only a battalion of the guard (disguised as line infantry, for some reason) and his trusty Guard Chasseurs were accompanying him.
 |
Napoleon: Stop worrying, Marbot. The French Army will never fight
for that ridiculous Bourbon beach ball in the Tuileries!
|
 |
Marchand: Vive l'Emp...I mean, Le Roi!
|
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| Napoleon: Nonsense, Marbot, they'll never lift a finger against me! Here, watch this... |
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| Napoleon: Soldiers of the 5th, if there is one amongst you who would kill his emperor. let him do it. Here I am! |
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Marbot: They're raising their muskets, Sire....
Napoleon: You're right, Marbot. Let's send in the Chasseurs instead!
|
 |
| Marchand: Wait for it, wait for it.....fire!!!! |
Men and horses crashed to the ground, sending the Chasseurs reeling back in confusion. As the smoke cleared, the lifeless body of Eugene de Beauharnais was seen lying on the stricken field.
 |
| Napoleon: Oh dear, Josephine isn't going to like that! |
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Davout: The Emperor's eyes are upon you, Grenadiers!
I wish he had something else to give you, but there it is....
|
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| Davout: One down, two to go! |
The 5th may have been overthrown, but there were still the 7th Lancers and the Swiss to contend with. As the Emperor tried in vain to rally his shattered Chasseurs, Davout was compelled to form square against the coming onslaught.
The fate of Europe hung in the balance as Murat's Lancers charged pell mell into the defiant Guardsmen.....
 |
| Davout: Merde! |
...while the Swiss charged in column from the rear.
 |
| Davout: Double Merde! |
It was too much for the Guard, who fell back and broke, but not before Murat was also toppled. Nevertheless, the Emperor's desperate gamble had failed.
As Davout lifted his hat to signal surrender, the Emperor turned away. Exile beckoned once again.
 |
Napoleon: Oooooookay.....Follow mw, Chasseurs. If we head back to Cannes now
we might just catch the last boat.....
|
My sincere thanks to Rob for an extremely entertaining game, particularly as he allowed me to play Marchand.
Since this game, Rob has painted a few more Hinton Hunts, which are illustrated below. I sincerely hope he does a few more. They're absolutely spectacular.
Rob's French Voltigeurs:
Rob's Marshal Junot:
I cannot thank Rob enough for the wonderful welcome and hospitality he showed me when I arrived travel worn and somewhat disorientated in the UK. We also fought another battle, of which more in future posts.
To finish up, and to prove that I haven't been entirely idle in the meantime, here are a couple of shots of the command element for my Lützower Lancers.
They're all finished now and should be appearing on the blog next week.
Salut maintenant,
WM
