Donald Featherstone's Skirmish Wargaming (1962) - Revised edition (2008)
Napoleonic Skirmish Wargame: Ambush! by Charles King
This article has been reproduced from the Wargamer's Newsletter 185, with the editor's permissionSides
British, 42nd Highlanders
1. Ensign Adams: Average
2. Private Anderson: Veteran
3. Private McLaughlin: Veteran
4. Private Craig: Average
5. Private Grant: Average
6. Private Campbell: Novice.
French, Old Guard. 1/3rd Chasseurs, 2/2nd Grenadiers
A. Lieutenant Fare: Veteran
B. Grenadier Coignet: Veteran
C. Grenadier Gouffier: Average
D. Chasseur Rosselet: Veteran
E. Chasseur Chamans: Veteran
Situation
The small group of Frenchmen have become separated from their units. On the way to the supply depot they are discovered by foraging Highlanders, who give chase. The French come across a deserted inn, and take up their ambush positions. The Highlanders advance down the road, with Grant scouting ahead. Positions at this time are shown on the diagram.
The Fight
Grant advanced to the junction of the roads and stopped to have a look round. He spotted easily the colourful red and green plumes of the Chasseurs and as he turned to shout back this information, both Coignet and Rosselet shot at him. Miraculously, both shots missed and as Grant dived for cover in the hedge to his right, the Highlanders broke into a run. The inexperienced Adams sent his best men, Anderson and McLaughlin on a flanking move.
As the Highlanders came charging down the road, Chamans took aim. Waiting until they were within about 10 paces he fired, and the young officer fell with a severe leg wound. Rosselet, feverishly reloading, was knocked backwards by a well aimed shot from Grant. His arm was badly smashed.
The two Highlanders, Craig and Campbell, stood leaderless in the middle of the road. Both Grenadiers burst from the inn and charged towards them, while Chamans came leaping over the wall in front of them. Craig snapped off a shot which missed Chamans by yards. The novice, Campbell, shakily pointed his musket at the seemingly enormous Coignet rushing towards him.
At this point, the French officer realised he had no reserve. The two veteran Scots were racing towards the melee, and his men were all in the open, with empty muskets. He therefore remained behind the wall and pointed his pistol at the two advancing Highlanders.
Another man feeling rather nervous was Grant. Having shot Rosselet, he was desperately re-loading hoping to get off another shot before the charging Gouffier could reach him. Meanwhile, the quaking Campbell had missed Coignet, and was now engaged in desperately fighting the huge veteran. Craig was also holding his own against Chamans.
Emerging around the bush (x on diagram) both Anderson and McLaughlin were surprised to see any of their men still standing. Not hesitating a moment, they leapt over the hedge to aid their hard pressed comrades. Fare's pistol bullet took McLaughlin in the shoulder in mid-flight, knocking him backwards over the hedge. Following up, Fare leapt over the wall towards the scrummage. Shocked by the wounding of his old mate, Anderson went hurtling into Chamans, who fell before the enraged Scot. However, Coignet, the huge veteran, swung his musket at little Campbell, who reeled over backwards with a badly smashed arm. Grant and Gouffier were otherwise engaged, furiously tearing down the hedge to get at each other.
The situation now was that the two Highlanders, Anderson and Craig, were being advanced upon by Coignet and the wounded Rosselet. Grant and Gouffier continued to tear at each other in the hedgerow.
The badly wounded Ensign, Adams, got painfully to his feet, only to be confronted with a charging Fare, sword drawn. Perhaps under-estimating his adversary, Fare attacked. Using all his strength, Adams swung his old Highland broadsword, and the heavy blade crashed through Fares guard killing him instantly.
Anderson however, was knocked flying by the charging Rosselet, who followed up and dealt a mortal bayonet-wound. Little Craig was still fighting bravely with Coignet. Adams turned his attention on Rosselet, busy bayoneting Anderson on the ground. Again he swung the sword but this time with not so much strength, Even so, the blade hacked a sizeable chunk out of Rosselet's leg, and he crumpled into the dust for a second time. The battle in the hedgerow had now been concluded -- Grant lay on the ground with a severe wound in his shoulder and Gouffier was now advancing to "aid" Coignet. Adams watched helpless as the two huge grenadiers battered little Craig into the ground. The wounded McLaughlin climbed painfully over the hedge towards Adams and they both limped off in retreat.
Conclusion
As the two Frenchmen regained their breath, they surveyed the scene around them. The small area of the cross-roads was littered with seven bodies. In fact out of the original eleven men, these two were the only ones without a serious wound. Fare and Chamans were dead, Rosselet very badly wounded and out of the Highlanders Anderson and Craig were dead with the other two groaning on the ground, clutching badly smashed arms.
Two bad mistakes led to this bloody slog in the road. Firstly Fare and his men should have waited until the Highlanders were closer then let loose with a volley, and then charge into the shaken Highlanders. It was unfortunate that Grant spotted their plumes, but had they been behind the wall and not the hedge, he would not have done.
The biggest blunder was made by the inexperienced and rash young Scottish officer. Upon receiving the information of French positions he should have ordered a slow careful attack spread out over the countryside, with a flanking force sent around to the left. Certainly, he should never have sent his only experienced men on an out-flanking move, while rushing at a veteran enemy with fairly fresh troops. Also he should have used more fire-power. Only one shot was fired by the British which was aimed, the other two were panic actions.
The figures used were the new Foremost Napoleonics. They are larger than many wargaming figures and are absolutely ideal for skirmishing, as they are made in lively positions. The inn started life as "La Belle Alliance." Walls were Bellona and Britairs. I used the rules from "Skirmish Wargaming" by Don Featherstone, with simplified wound categories.