MT18 1809 or 1862

Round 3
107 Alcañiz (23 May 1809)
Gonzo (Spanish) 6 banners
Sansmerci (French) 2 banners
French started with a center assault to rear and focused on left flank. Eventually routed the Spanish there but only able to pick off two of them. Spanish art devastating with 2 bombards, one getting 4 of 9 hits on CU unit for kill, other killing pinned art unit. French now totally fled center and pushed forward on right. However French hand terrible with center probes forever. The Spanish hand rocked however and was able to destroy the French right wing for the game. Thanks to Steve for bearing what must have been a test of patience for him.

Round 2
107 Alcañiz (23 May 1809)
Gonzo (Spanish) 6
Gottoman (French) 3
As French deployed around middle, Spanish advanced their art on right. Engagement on French left swung back and forth, but Spanish losses sent to rear while French losses had nowhere to go. French advance in middle ran into prolonged and accurate Spanish art fire. Bombard was deadly, incl killing French cav next to art . French HA closed and killed Spanish art and leader on last turn, but ready to kill more over there but Spanish range fire got last medal first. Well played to Greg.

Round 3
107 Alcañiz (23 May 1809)
RiverWander (Spanish) 6
toganalper (French) 1
The French infantry advanced in the centre to attack the Spanish artillery. However, their Fire and Hold was frustrated by Guerrilla Action and instead the Spanish were able to play their own Fire & Hold, drawn just the previous turn. As a result, the French were repulsed, the Spanish gained their first banner. The middle game was then mainly on the Spanish right, the French Infantry again attacking but coming under heavy counter-attack with the aid of a couple of Force Marches and a Bayonet Charge. To cap it off, the Spanish were then able to withdraw from the French FA/LC with La Grande Manoeuvre. The final banner was not long behind.

The Spanish had a good run of cards for this scenario and the French had difficulty bringing a decisive force to bear before an attack was dissipated.

Thanks to Togan for the game.

Round 5
318 Wagram - Gross-Enzersdorf (5 July 1809)
RiverWanderer (Austrian) 6
Gottoman (French) 4

The French infantry initially made rapid progress towards and into the town. This was repulsed on the French Right part of the town with separate melees from Austrian Infantry and Artillery, and then kept at bay there by cavalry attack followed by an Inspired Leader infantry double-melee, eventually costing the French a couple of infantry units in return for an Austrian cavalry unit. A French cavalry charge on the same flank left the Austrians down one Artillery unit and with a militia unit in square but the Austrians pushed French cavalry out of a town hex with a combined arms melee, that resulted in the loss of a French leader. By this point, the French had gained two permanent objective banners; four banners in all. The French were pressing hard on the Austrian right flank, aided by an earlier Force March. Things were not looking good for the Austrians, with not a single "Scout" card in sight (and indeed, none were to appear for the whole game).

However, the Austrians had useful command cards to blunt French attacks - an attack centre and a bombard, in particular. At four banners each, the final French turn saw weakened units melee with even weaker Austrian units with a win in sight but Austrian luck held and the result was a lost block for the French. The Austrians now had their chance at better odds and brought the victory home with a infantry melee attack and artillery fire.

Overall, a hard fought encounter which very nearly went to the French at the end.

Thanks to Greg for the game.