Battle of Loubino 1812 - take 2 (Age of Eagles AAR)

A second go at the Battle of Loubino 1812 using Age of Eagles rules and this scenario. The first run through resulted in a victory for the Russians. This time I've increased the chance of Junot moving to a roll of 7-10 and changed the victory conditions to getting any brigade over the river and off the north edge of the board.

Following his defeat at Smolensk, Barclay de Tolly ordered the Russian army to split into three columns and withdraw to the Moscow road. The largest of these columns, commanded by Tuchkov I and Barclay himself, had to pass through a crucial road junction at Loubino. To safeguard the crossroads, a small Russian force raced ahead, where they met Marshal Ney’s corps. 

Set up of the battle of Loubino with the French on the right and the Russians holding the first ridge line. This time the Russians have adopted a supported line formation for most of their brigades despite leaving a few gaps.

Turn 1 (4.30pm)

From the Russian side. The French advance against the ridge. Two brigades roll low and only get half moves. The French artillery decimate the Russian battery on the ridge, but the Russians have brought up their heavy artillery along the road for support.

The French cavalry move to cross the stream and engage their Russian counterparts. Cossacks watch the far left flank for any arrival of Junot's Corps.

Turn 2 (5.00pm)

Ney's French (top pic) begin their assault on the ridge. The streams slows the assault and means most of the brigades have yet to make contact. On the right, the Russian brigade beats back a French brigade which reached the top of the ridge.

On the Russian left flank all is not going well for the Russians. The Russian lancer brigade is heavily defeated in two melees by the French light cavalry and with only half their number remaining they retreat back across the river.

Junot's Corps has arrived as well (top left pic). The Russian cossacks remain stunned in place in front of them.

The first of the Russian reinforcements arrive (bottom left) and they immediately head to the pressured left flank.

Turn 3 (5.30pm)

The Russian cossacks win a surpise melee against Junot's light cavalry and then stand frozen as the rest of the corps threatens to run over them.

In the centre, the French cavalry follow up across the second stream while Russian reinforcements move to fill the hole in the line.

On the Russian right, the Russian infantry retire back off the ridge with the grenadier brigade having lost half it's stands. French reinforcements arrive in the background.

Turn 4 (6.00pm)

The Russians have retired to the other side of the ridge as the French cautiously advance. A French lancer brigade has swept around the right flank and now threatens theh left of the Russian position.

Further Russian reinforcements arrive and set up on the ridge in front of Loubino.

Junot hesitates on the far right flank. Surely it wasn't the cossacks who again fail to move while stuck in front of the French Corps.

A French cavalry brigade has advanced up to the river where the Russians have managed to defend with some reinforcements. The lone Russian cavalry brigade and the cossacks are now hugely outnumbered.

Turn 5 (6.30pm)

The Russians have snared the initiative two turns in a row allowing them to retire back from the French attack without them making contact. They have now established a line at the second stream but are still heavily outnumbered.

On the right flank the French cavalry close up to the river. This had forced the Russian second defensive line to spread out over a wider front.

On the far right (off screen), Junot refuses to move and the cossacks remain rooted to a spot right in front of them.

Turn 6 (7.00pm)

The French cavalry from Junot's Corps unsuccessfully attacks the cossacks (top left) again! The rest of the corps bypasses the cossacks.

Another cavalry melee (bottom right) ends with the Russians pushed back. The French are now desparately trying to find a gap in the Russian line to get to the edge of the board.

Things haven't gone well for the French this turn. Each of their assaults across the stream are beaten back. The Russian artillery also takes out a French battery on the opposite ridge.

Meanwhile the last of the Russian reinforcements arrive and it looks like a formidable defence that the French will have to break. That's if they can get past the first line of defiant Russians.

It looks likely that the French will have to prevail on the Russian left flank to achieve their victory conditions.

Turn 7 (7.30pm)

On the Russian left flank the cossacks remain a nuisance but the real action is now near the river. The French need to cross it and get a unit off the table. A large French cavalry brigade charges over the river at a Jager brigade and narrowly wins. But following fire from the infantry and the battery on the ridge inflicts severe casualties on the French cavalry. The other cavalry melee, to the left, again results in an effective draw. It's going to be a close run thing on this flank as Junot's infantry are approaching fast.

Opposite Loubino, the French have finally taken the stream but the delay has been costly. There are still two Russian brigades that are blocking any attack on the river. The Russian defence of the river now looks formidable with elite grenadiers holding the bridge.

Turn 8 (8.00pm)

Two turns to go and the French launch an assault on the Russian river position. Poor march rolls mean a number of brigades don't quite get to the river. On the Russian left flank the French lancers just fail to beat the Russian infantry in a daring charge across the river. The cavalry are pushed back and the Russians form square.

On the Russian left, Junots fails to activate and the cossacks still hold firm. The cavalry melee near the edge of the table (middle-bottom) ends with the Russians pushed back. The other French light cavalry that assault across the river last turn have now routed off the table.

Russian infantry move to cover the gap on the left flank and it will be difficult for the French to win now.

Turn 9 (8.30pm)

The French assault on the final turn ends up being a savge rebuff by the solid Russian infantry defending the river. Two French and one Russian brigade are destroyed in the attack. Maybe with a fair bit of luck another turn might have seen the French across the river but they would still need to capture Loubino or get a brigade off the board.

On the Russian left, the French attack has beenn all but defeated. The Russian cavalry have been victorious.

Finally the cossack break and retreat back from Junot's corps but Junot fails to activate again and, unbelieveably, it appears that the cossacks have been instrumental in holding them back.

Another victory for the Russians despite the easier victory conditions. The game played out quite differently on the Russian left flank than the first game. However, it still appears that Junot's Corps is too hard to activate to give the French a good chance at victory.