Brigade vs Brigade

While reloading old files to the new hard drive I came across pictures of a small skirmish, a French and British Napoleonic battle. Each commander was ordered to occupy two small hills to their front securing an observation post for further actions.

General Airfix commanded the French forces. His command consisted of 2 regiments, each of 3 battalions. There was a foot battery assigned to the brigade. The forces lined up and observed the field of battle.

The British brigade of General Scruby consist of 4 line battalions. There was a battery of foot guns attached to provide close support. General Scruby and his brigade are fresh from the recruiting depot.

From General Airfix's view of the battle, you can see the 2 hills to be fought over. The hill on the right is the Northern hill, while the hill to the left is the Southern hill. Both commanders have placed equal groups of infantry on either side of the guns in the center. The French are closer to the Southern Hill, while the British are closer to the Northern Hill.







The French moved briskly to seize the hills while the British had to spend time getting the troops to advance on the enemy. Both batteries begin to pound the other.










The French occupy the Southern hill and stake a claim to the Northern hill. Both batteries rout their opposite during the artillery duel.

The British near the northern hill have a battalion fall back when their morale fails due to musket fire. The southern group sits and looks on.

The British engage the French on the northern hill.












The British southern group advanced into a firefight with their counterparts.







On the northern hill a British unit would fall back disordered.
The British manage to drive a French battalion off the southern hill. The French are maneuvering around the southern hill to flank
the British.







The final view of the battle.









The French securely hold the northern hill after routing the
British battalion that had stayed to engage in a firefight. The other British battalion is reluctant to close into a close range firefight.







On the southern hill the British contend with the French fire from the hill and a charge from the battalion to the south. The British drove off the charge and withstood the firefight. The southern French battalion fell back after failing to close.

Having lost the northern hill and with the French able to shift fresh forces to the south the British began to pull back dragging their guns. General Scruby will have to answer many questions for this days failure.