Back to LE FEU SACRE
This scenario is adapted from "Scenarios For All Ages" by CS Grant and SA Asquith (CSG
Publications, 1996). An absolute must-have-book for interesting scenarios appropriate for any
gaming genre and period. This scenario is number 2 'Threat to the Flank' and is based loosely
upon Battle of the Boyne 1690. Hence I decided to call it Ebnoy, an anagram of 'Boyne'.
If you know nothing of this interesting battle its worth giving it a look. It presents quite a few
options and I have fought it at least a dozen times, never set in 1690 though, and it has always
proved to be a close run affair.
First a look at the table.....
It is October 1813. The Austrians are resolved to hold a position behind a river line. You must
defeat the enemy causing it to abandon its position and retire south.
Four blinds, one for each command plus one fake represent your force.
The ground rises steadily to the south, away from a loop, which is the only place where the river is
shallow and easy to ford. You must stop initially at the riverbank. The river is crossable to infantry
and cavalry only at half speed, and will cause cavalry to become disordered. On top of the slope
lies a small farm. The other buildings you can ignore, as they are for aesthetic purposes only.
Your main force, which must consist of three blinds, is poised for attack in the position shown as
‘A’. You outnumber the enemy significantly though scouts have reported that there seems to be a
large number of enemy horsemen present.
You have sent a force, of one blind, in column of march, to the west to observe the bridge, in case
the enemy tries an outflanking move. They are located at position ‘B’ 12” from the bridge.
Your scouts have informed you that the main Austrian defensive position is deployed in depth in
the area marked ‘C’, taking advantage of the gradual slope up to the village. Shortly before the
battle started the Austrian Commander was alerted to the bridge. He has despatched a force
obviously to deny you it. They are located at position ‘D’, 20” from the bridge. It is worth noting that
you are nearer to the bridge than the enemy are!
It is entirely your decision whether you attempt to take the bridge and outflank the enemy, or ignore
it and concentrate upon your main assault.
However, you must take the river line and force back the enemy.
Vive L’Empereur!
French - Order of Battle Ebnoy 1813
Corps Commander 1 – SOLID COmmander
Artillery Reserve [ Can be attached to either Infantry Division]
Two Foot Batteries B Class 2 x 8 Medium Guns
Infantry Division – 2 BOLD, SOLID Commander
1 Bde
Three Btns Legere C Class SK1
Three Btns Ligne D Class SK1
Foot Battery B Class 8 x Medium Guns
2 Bde
Two Btns Ligne C Class SK1
Two Btns Ligne D Class SK1
Infantry Division – 3 SOLID Commander
1 Bde
Three Btns Legere C Class SK1
Two Btns Ligne D Class SK1
Foot Battery B Class 8 x Medium Guns
2 Bde
One Btn Legere C Class SK1
One Btn Ligne C Class SK1
Three Btns Ligne D Class SK1
Foot Battery B Class 8 x Medium Guns
3 Bde
Two Regts Chasseurs a Cheval C Class Light Cavalry
Independent Cavalry Brigade – 4 GIFTED Commander
Three Dragoon Regts C Class Line Cavalry
Horse Battery B Class 6 x Medium Guns
Austrian Briefing
It is October 1813. You are resolved to hold a position behind a river line. You must prevent the
enemy from advancing south.
Four blinds, one for each command plus one fake represent your force.
The ground rises steadily to the south, away from a loop, which is the only place where the river is
shallow and easy to ford. The enemy must stop initially at the riverbank. The river is crossable to
infantry and cavalry only at half speed, and will cause cavalry to become disordered. On top of the
slope lies a small farm. The other buildings you can ignore, as they are for aesthetic purposes only.
Your main force, which must consist of three blinds, is deployed in the position shown as ‘C’. You
are outnumbered by the enemy though scouts have reported that there seems to be a large number
of enemy horsemen present.
You have sent a force, of one blind, in column of march, to the west to observe the bridge, in case
the enemy tries an outflanking move. They are located at position ‘D’ 20” from the bridge.
Your scouts have informed you that the main French position is deployed in the area marked ‘A’ in
preparation for an assault upon the river and village. Shortly before the battle started the French
Commander was alerted to the bridge. He has despatched a force to take it, and possibly outflank
you. They are located at position ‘B’, 12” from the bridge. It is worth noting that the enemy are
nearer to the bridge than your forces are!
It is entirely your decision whether you attempt to take the bridge and outflank the enemy, or ignore
it and concentrate upon defending your river line position.
Austrian Orbat Ebnoy 1813
Corps Commander – 1 SOLID
Infantry Division – 2 CAUTIOUS Commander
1 Bde
Four Inf Btn D Class SK0 12 figs
Foot Battery C Class 8 x Medium Guns
2 Bde
One Inf Btn C Class SK1 18 figs
One Inf Btn D Class SK0 18 figs
One Inf Btn C Class SK1 12 figs
Three Inf Btn D Class SK0 12 figs
Foot Battery C Class 8 x Medium Guns
Independent Light Bde - 3 SOLID Commander
Two Grenz Btn C Class SK2 12 figs
One Dragoon Regt B Class Line Cavalry
Two Hussar Regts C Class Light Cavalry
Foot Battery C Class 8 x Medium Guns
Reserve Division - 4 CAUTIOUS Commander
Kurassier Bde
Two Kurassiers Regts C Class Heavy Cavalry
Grenadier Bde
Two Grenadier Btn B Class SK0 18 figs
Foot Battery C Class 8 x Medium Guns
As Austrian C-in-C, I decided to deploy my main Infantry Division, as a fully-deployed blind in
position 'C'. The right flank rested on the table edge the left on the village. The Division was given
HOLD orders to repel the expected assault from the French.
I deployed the Reserve Division to the left of my Infantry Division, also as a fully deployed blind.
These too were given HOLD orders. My powerful Grenadiers would blunt any assault, whilst the
Kurassiers were to be kept well back in reserve.
To the rear I deployed a blind in column of march, facing west with orders to MANOUEVRE to the
bridge. I hoped that these would cause consternation amongst the French who might decide to
reinforce their flank thereby weakening the forces available for an assault on the river.
The Light Brigade were positioned at 'D' , in column of march with orders to HOLD. I hoped that
this force would ensure that if the evil Cunard (Clive) sent a large force around my flank it would
cause quite a few problems. I realised that if Cunard's Dragoons were sent to the bridge, from
position B, the chances were that their Gifted Commander would be across it before I had the
opportunity to block him. Plus Cunard had the addition the French Grand Tactical chip.
The independent Light Brigade was to buy time for my main defence line. But be in a position to
reinforce it if the enemy looked like breaking through.
Clive deployed his first Division facing my river line position. On its left, eastern flank he deployed
his Brigade of Dragoons. In reserve initially were the what turned out to be a fake blind and his
reserve artillery.
The force at 'B' revealed itself to be his second Infantry Division
The action turned out to be complex and hard fought one, exactly as I had hoped.
The Austrians sat on their hill overlooking the river. As the French deployed into line and began to
cross the river shallows roundshot began to tear chunks out of them.
On the extreme left flank the French 2nd Division managed to cross the bridge with an infantry
brigade, and the light cavalry. Their third brigade however, became stranded on the northern bank,
until Clive had a chance to unblock the bottleneck.
And still the Austrians sat.....
Alarmed at seeing Kurassiers infront of him, Clive formed square and manouevred his Divisional
artillery and Reserve artillery into an excellent firing position protected by the unfordable section of
the river.
These blasted the Kurassiers with grape forcing one Regiment to rout and me to change their
Divisional orders to march to the boggy area to manouevre them out of range of the artillery.
The left saw Clive charge my Dragoons, Grenzers and artillery battery with two units of Chasseurs
a Cheval.
The Grenzers, caught in column by one regiment of Chasseurs, failed to form square and were
routed along with their supporting artillery battery. The second Chasseur Regiment were
countercharged by the better class Dragoons, who were in a column of attack, and routed. This left
the Dragoons very exposed and they were routed in time by French artillery close range fire.
With the threat of the Austrian Kurassiers removed the French assaulted an exposed battery and
captured the guns. The subsequent turn saw French infantry manage to hit an Austrian 18 figure
Battalion in front and flank simultaneously, routing it and forcing back its supporting infantry. The
centre was mortally wounded.
As Austrian Commander I was having massive problems with command and control problems.
Both my Reserve and Infantry Divisions now had orders to attack the first French infantry Division
but both were largely inactive due to cautious commanders. My reserve grenadiers had marched
to the boggy area, turned about and were now marching back to plug the gap which was devloping
in my centre.
Clive had initially crossed the river with his Dragoon Division, become disordered but due to my
cautious divisional commander I had been unable to launch an attack, even though on attack
orders. Clive had had time to withdraw them and manouvre them so that they were in position to
capitalise on my weakened centre
I had somewhat shored up my left as my remaining Grenzer Battalion had charge the blown
Chasseurs a Cheval in the flank and routed them. My Dragoons had been routed by the French
artillery's constant stream of casualties from close range grape. However, the French infantry were
now starting to sort themselves out and were steadily advancing upon my lone Grenzer Battalion.
In an attempt to sort out the centre and slow down the French I launched a charge with my
remaining Kurassier Regt, with attached General, routing an infantry Battalion. As I continued my
pursuit though the second French battalion formed square and I was forced to halt at 4" distance
from them, putting me in range yet again of the French reserve artillery which subsequently routed
my Kurassiers, yet again, but not before they had managed to defeat another French infantry
battalion which had charged them as they were blown AND shaken.
Things were looking incredibly bleak, but at last my Infantry Division commander decided to act.
His chip had at last come up prior to 'Cautious Commander' and he was forced to launch an attack
with his D class infantry into waiting French mutually supporting lines with a skirmish advantage.
Needless to say overlapped and ountmubered the Austrian Battalion routed, forcing their support
back too.
As the Austrians streamed to the rear throwing their reserves into chaos their Hussars arrived in an
attempt to stem the French pursuit. Nevertheless it was obvious that the French had prevailed
everywhere and that the Austrians would have to retreat.
An excellent game won largely by Clive's artillery causing three Austrian cavalry regiments to rout
and his determined and timely attack upon my centre. Attacking one Battalion in the flank and
routing it had undermined my whole centre allowing him to gradually roll up my centre.
The Austrian command system was the real problem for me. I had put things in the right place but
the amount of time it took for me to change orders on a strung out front, and then get cautious
commanders to act on their orders was telling. I really cocked up with my Reserve Division too.
Making my best infantry march to and fro as orders were changed and allowing my Kurassiers to
be shot to pieces by close range artillery which I could not counter due to the unfordable river.
Oh well, next time Cunard......
