French vs Prussians - battle report (part 2) - Turns 6 to 10

Having read and enjoyed a great many battle reports on the blogs of fellow wargamers, I'm well aware of how tricky it can be following along with someone else's attempt to describe the events of their game. This first attempt of my own is probably no exception, but I hope it's not entirely unclear how the battle is unfolding so far. However, this is proving to be a useful first learning experience and I do have some ideas on how I might make the reports easier to follow next time.

Back to the battle then...

At this point in the battle, four out of the five command cards held by the French are for manoeuvring on the right flank, so they decide it's time to get organised for an assault in this section by continuing to move infantry units forward.

Interestingly, of the four command cards held by the Prussians, three of them are for moving units on their left flank, so the fight on this side of the battlefield really is on!

The Prussians with their hilltop position are fairing better here, managing to hold the French in check and causing some significant casualties. However, a well-timed 'Rally' card from the French sees many of their line infantry units replenished, as well as the chasseurs á cheval, which is restored to full strength. Game on!

On the right, the French 'Rally' and prepare for another assault

How things currently look in the centre

Once again, the French push forward on the right, taking losses, but this time they manage to keep going. Realising that they need to get to grips with the Prussians as quickly as possible, they throw forward their lancer unit, supported by some infantry.

French lancers and infantry finally make contact with the enemy

Simultaneously threatened by both both cavalry and infantry, the centre unit of Prussian landwehr decides (possibly unwisely) not to form square and is promptly ridden into the ground by the lancers. The victorious cavalry keep going and collide with another landwehr unit directly behind the first. This, too, take heavy losses, but one remaining stand grimly fights on.

With the Prussian landwehr annihilated, the French line infantry and their leader decide instead to charge the guns in front of them, but are duly shredded. A victory banner each for this round, and things are getting bloody on this side of the battlefield!

The Prussians respond by counter-attacking the lancers with a nearby unit of line infantry, and the French decide to retire and reform.

French lancers retire and reform further down the hill, while the Prussian line infantry move up to plug the gap in the line

There followed a lull in the action on this side while the French switched their attention to the centre, attacking with both artillery and infantry, but without much effect.

French artillery is pushed back in the centre, but a fresh unit of line infantry now moves up

The Prussian likewise attack in the centre and enjoy more success, managing to destroy one French line infantry unit.

At this point, the French played an 'Elan' card and attacked at various points across the battlefield. On the right, the lancers renew their uphill assault, this time engaging the landwehr unit in front. The wounded landwehr waver for a moment but hold fast with the help of an Iron Will counter.

On the left, the restored chasseurs are feeling confident again and decided to have another go at the Prussian reserve infantry directly opposite them. These two units are really slugging it out in this battle!

The Prussians form square again but this time don't manage to repulse the cavalry, and take a one stand loss.

A fresh unit of French line infantry marches up the centre

Meanwhile, over on the French left, not much has happened since the opening turns

At the end of the 10th turn, the victory banners number two each. The battle feels like it is finely balanced at the moment, with both sides having suffered significant losses. However, the French literally have an uphill fight on their hands. Victory is still possible for them, I think, but the greater Prussian numbers may prove too much. We'll see!