Berezina 1812 part 1 - following the French

Last Monday an elite band gathered in London to push some 54mm toys around.  The game was based on the Battle of the Berezina in 1812 when Russian forces finally got stuck into the renmants of Napoleon's Grand Armee.  The playing area stretched for 30 feet of wintry wilderness  Strictly speaking a few trees and buildings on sheets shouldn't look this good.  Toys were provided by Brian (see also his post here), PW and myself.  PW ran the game, the French were Mike S (main army), Anthony M (the convoy) and Mike L (rearguard).  The Russians were Brian C (harrying the French rear), Ian D (flanking force) and Your Humble Correspondent (Cossacks).

The snow of Holy Russia before it was profaned by the French.

Some of (my) Russians ready for deployment.  Figures from Armies in Plastic, HAT, Tehnolog, Supreme, Chsrbens, BMC, Mars and Tradition.

While Brian kept up pressure on the rear of the French column, Ian was to keep the main force from relieving Anthony while my Cossacks and I made a constant nuisance of ourselves.  Every time we could goad the French into deploying slowed the column.

Being Russia, the woods were of course full of bears  You can tell it's winter 'cos he has his jumper on.

The French column straggles through the village.

At the rear a rolling battle was underway.

Clouds of Cossacks swarmed out of  the forests - though they were easily scared off by artillery and wouldn't take on formed troops.

The Cossacks were really after the baggage wagons and picked off a few stragglers.

Fun at the rear continues

The Cossacks were a bit rubbish but there were rather a lot (45 in all) of them!

By now desertions were sapping the French strength