The Battle of Ligny: The Netherlands June 16th 1815

 This article is my personal interpretation of the battle. Any mistakes are my own.

After Napoleon's  Abdication in 1814,  the Northern Dutch [ Flemings ] and the French speaking Southern Belgians [ Walloons ] finally gained their independence from France.  In 1815, the two parts of the kingdom were joined becoming The United Kingdom Of The Netherlands.

To guarantee that independence, an Allied army under the command of  Sir Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington was camped in and around Brussels, the Capital of the newly formed country. When news came of  Napoleons return. all the Allied troops were sent orders to make ready in their Cantonments.

Also positioned in the Rhineland and parts of  the Southern Netherlands was the Prussian Army. There were four Corps. 1st Corp under General Zieten at Charleroi.  2nd Corps  under General Pirch 1st in the area of  Namur.  The 3rd Corp under General Thielmann near the Meuse River and finally, furthest north¬east was General Bulows 4th Corp camped around Liege.

Both the Prussian and Allied Command structure worked well together. Unfortunately, neither command knew exactly where Napoleon would begin his attack.  Therefore both armies were strung out along the border facing south,  the Allied Army on the right, the Prussian army on the left.

In the early hours of 14th June, the French Army in three columns started north toward the border. The Prussians were more aware of Napoleons movements so Blucher sent out orders for the army to close up in and around Ligny and Sombreffe.

The plan originally conceived was for the Prussians to delay the French long enough for the Allies to close up and hit the French left flank.  Despite good communication between the two armies, events proved to move faster. When the first  clash came at Charleroi, Zeitens Corps pulled back toward Ligny. a movement that was not initially known to Wellington

Wellington, still waiting for confirmation of the French advance did not know of the loss of Charleroi until the earl evening of the 14th. Finally appraised of the situation, he sent out orders for the Allied Army to make ready but still did not issued any movement orders. He wasn’t sure if the attack at Charleroi was just a feint with the real attack coming through Mons.

Hendrik George Count de Perponcher commanded a Brigade of Dutch¬Belgian troops in the small village of Quatre Bra. In closing up with the main army as ordered, Perponcher would have to evacuate the place. He knew that in doing so, a vital link between the two armies would be broken.  Therefore he disobeyed orders and ordered his troops to dig in.

Wellington had waited until he knew where Napoleon would strike first. However, in doing so he was unable to support the Prussians as previously agreed, because of the time required to bring his army together. To make matters worse, word had come from Perponcher that Quatre Bra was under attack.

Not knowing of events unfolding on  their right flank, Blucher and his ADC  Gneisenau readied the the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Corps he had available around Ligny and Sombreffe , unaware his army would face the full force of the French attack unsupported......

THE PRUSSIAN ARMY:  71.000 = 71 POINTS.

GENERAL ZEITENS 1ST CORP 24,600 = 24.6 pts. = 24 pts r/u.

C-in-C Fieldmarshal Geibhard Von Blucher        @  1pt.

1 General [ Hans Ernst Karl, Graf von Zeiten ]   @ 1pt

6 stands of  Line Infantry  @ 2pts  =  12pts.

2 stands of  Landwehr Infantry  @  2pts  = 4pts

2 stands of  Light Infantry  @ 1pt   =   2pts.

2 stands of  Light Foot Artillery  @  1pt   =  2pts.

1 stand of  Dragoon Cavalry  @ 1pt

1 stand of  Lancer Cavalry  @  1pt

1 stand of  Landwehr Cavalry  @  1pt.

GENERAL VON PIRCH 1ST : 2ND CORP. 25,000 = 25PTS.

1 General  [Georg Dubislav Ludwig Von Pirch ]   @ 1pt.

6 stands of  Line Infantry   @ 2pts  =  12pts.

3 stands of  Landwehr Infantry  ' 2pts  =  6pts.

1 stand of  Light  Infantry  @ 1pt.

2 stands of Light Horse Artillery  @ 1pt    = 2pts.

1 stand of  Dragoon Cavalry  @  1pt.

1 stand of  Hussar Cavalry   @  1pt.

1 stand of  Landwehr Cavalry  @  1pt.

GENERAL VON THIELEMANN:  3RD CORP  21,000  =  21PTS.

1 General [ Johann Adolf von Thielemann  ]  @  1pt.

4 stands of Line Infantry  @  2pts  =  8pts

4 stands of Landwehr Infantry   @  2pts =   8pts.

1 stand of  Light Foot Artillery  @ 1pt.

1 stand of  Lancer Landwehr Cavalry  @  1pt.

1 stand of  Dragoon Cavalry  @  1pt.

1 stand of   Landwehr  Cavalry @  1pt.

Note; The Heavy Artillery was on the road to Namur.

Note;  Von Bulow's  4th Corp was to far back to take part in the battle.

FRENCH  ARMY: 71,850 = 71.850 pts =72 pts r/u.

DOMINIQUE-JOSEPH RENE VANDAMME :3RD CORP 19 PTS

1 General [ Vandamme ]  @ 1pt.

6 stands of Line Infantry  @ 2 pts  =  12pts.

1 stand of  Line Grenadier Infantry  @ 3pts

1 stand of Light Infantry  @  1pt.

32 Guns x 50 gunners = 1,600 = 1.6 pts r/u = 2 stands of  Light Foot  Artillery  @ 1pt = 2 pts.

ETIENNE MAURICE GERARD  4TH  CORPS 15,500 = 15.5 PTS = 16PTS R/U.

1 General [ Gerard ]  @  1pt

1 stand Line Grenadier Infantry  @  3pts.

4 stands of  Line Infantry  @  2 pts = 8 pts.

1 stand of Light Infantry  @ 1 pt.

.32 Guns x 50 Gunners = 1,600 = 1.6pts r/u = 2 stands of Light Foot Artillery @ 1 pt = 2 pts.

3rd Cavalry Division [ Baron Domon = not represented ] 900 = 0.900 or 1pt  r/u = 1 stand of Light Cavalry @ 1 point.

7th Cavalry Division [General Maurin- not represented ] 900 = 0.900 or 1pt r/u = 1 stand of Light Cavalry  @ 1pt.

GENERAL  GIRARD  7TH DIVISION:  4,000 = 4pts.

1 General  [ Girard ]  @  1 pt.

3 stands of  Light Infantry  @ 1 pt = 3pts.

GENERAL HULOT  14TH  DIVISION  4,000 = 4 PTS.

1 General  [  Hulot ]    @   1pt.

3 stands of  Light Infantry  @ 1 pt    =  3 pts.

Pajols 1st Cavalry Corps: 2,700 = 2.7pts = 3pts r/u.

1 General [ Grouchy ] @  1pt.

1 stand of Cavalry [inc Pajol ]  @  1pt.

12 guns x 50 gunners = 600 = 0.600pts r/u = 1 stand of  Light  Horse Artillery @  1pt.

Exelmann's 2nd Cavalry Corp: 4,100 = 4pts r/d;

2 stands of Cavalry  @ 1pt = 2pts.

1 General [ Exelmann ]  @ 1pt.

12 guns x 50 gunners = 600 gunners = 0.600 or 1pt r/u = 1 stand of Light Horse Artillery  @ 1pt.

THE GUARD:

OLD GUARD 12,000 = 12pts

3 stands of Old Guard  @ 3pts = 9pts

Napoleon Bonaparte  @  3pts.

YOUNG GUARD 6,400 = 6PTS r/d:

2 stands @ 3pts = 6pts.

Reserve  Guard Cavalry [ Baron Guyot not represented ]  1,950 = 1.9 or 2pts r/u = 1 stand of Cavalry @ 2pts

GUARD ARTILLERY:

96 Guns x 50 gunners 4,800 = 4.8 or 5pts r/u = 2 stands of Heavy Guard Foot Artillery @ 2pts = 4 pts

1 stand Guard Light Horse Artillery  @ 1pt.

THE BATTLE.

* The battle will played for 8 Game-Turns. and/or until one side has its Morale total reduced to zero at the end of a Game-Turn.

* The French will have the Initiative Point on the first Game Turn and will Move and Fire first in each phase.

* From Game-Turn 2 until Game-Turn 8, both sides will roll a die for the Initiative Point.

* Both sides will use the Morale rule;

*  Prussia has 36 points rounded up.

* France has 36 points  rounded up.

* As each stand is removed from play its points are removed from the respective morale total. 

* Whoever wins the Initiative Point for the Turn also wins any tied results.

* THE RIVERS

* The Ligny and all its tributaries can only be crossed at the bridges or villages. Any stand entering the rivers will be lost.

* THE WHEATFIELDS

* Stands can only move one Square per Game-Turn when moving in the wheatfields. ALL stands within the Wheatfields can only move through the face of a square not a diagonal.

* Stands firing into, or out of the wheatfields have one point deducted from their die rolls on top of any other deductions.

Note: The Prussians only knew the French were advancing toward them because the shako plumes were like moving flowers. The wheat was as tall as a man.

SOMBREFFE AND MAZY.

* Any stands firing at targets within Sombreffe,  Mazy or behind the hedgerow in front of the villages in that area must have 3 POINTS deducted from their die rolls. [ The hedgerow is shown as a thick line on the top right of the map.].

All the other villages have a normal minus 2 on each die roll for those stands firing at targets within them.

* Opposing stands have 2 points deducted from their respective die rolls if both are firing and/or are in close combat within the same village.

MOVING BACK;

* As per the normal rules if any stand cannot move back when required, that stand is removed from play and its point are removed from that Army's morale total.

WINNING THE GAME;

* The side that has achieved these results wins the game.

1) The French win if they hold Ligny and Sombreffe.

2) The Prussians win if they still hold Ligny and Sombreffe

3) If neither side achieves their objectives the side with the higher morale total wins the battle.

THE HISTORY:

This was an extremely tough battle. Napoleon thought it would be fairly easy to defeat the Prussian army. However , Ligny and Saint Armand were choked with the dead in testimony of the bravery of both sides. The villages changed hands several times and combat came with musket butts and bayonets at close quarters.

Von Pirch threw in troops to help Zeiten maintain his position. Thielmann’s Corps held on the left thanks to the close nature of the terrain dotted with stone farmhouses. Grouchy’s troops could not gain an advantage.

Every time the French thought they had gained the villages around Ligny, the Prussian troops stormed in again and drove them out. The ground didn’t help as it was soaked and muddy. This hindered the Cavalry. Napoleon needed the bridges over the Ligny to move his artillery as the River and its tributaries were deep with very muddy banks.

To gain victory, Napoleon had to bring forward the Guard infantry and Artillery to smash their way into Ligny aided by the Guard Cuirassiers. Even General Blucher went down and was rode over by the French Cavalry. Luckily he survived and was rescued.

When the 1st and 2nd Corp finally broke it was Thielmann’s 3rd Corps that performed a strong rearguard action enabling Gneisenau to gather the army. The French Cavalry were to exhausted to mount a pursuit allowing the Prussians an orderly retreat.

Crucially, Von Bulow’s Corps was untouched and although he had the longest distance to  march, he was able to aide Wellington at Waterloo at the critical moment……

CREDITS;

Nearly all the French are from the now departed Irregular Miniatures 15mm range. All the Prussians and some of the French are from Essex Miniatures. some of the standard poles are javelins from North Star Miniature. All the flags are from labels and hand painted.

The square stands are 40 x 40mm square and cut from picture framing card. The round 40mm bases are from Sarissa Precision.

The hedgerow is from Pendraken Miniatures. The trees are from Guagemaster. The “ flat pack villages” are scratcbuilt as are the hill sections and bridges.

The roads and rivers are cut from thin card. The cover is from Deep Cut Studios as a custom mat with 2 inch ( 50mm ) squares printed on.

The board is 3 feet ( 90mm ) x 2 feet ( 60mm).

The Battle of Valverde. New Mexico Territory, February 21st 1862.

 This article is my personal interpretation of events at this time. Any mistakes are my own.

On a cold morning in February of 1862 a watery sun shone through the clouded sky over Fort Bliss. Within, and around its environs 2,500 men went about the business of preparing for conflict: saddling up, checking weapons, storing rations, packing ammunition and receiving orders.

This was no mob of ragamuffins. This was a formation of professional soldiers committed to fighting for the Confederate cause led by experienced officers.

Unfortunately the General with the job with leading this force lacked the Martial Spirit for the task ahead. Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley had grandiose ideas of  bringing all of New Mexico under Confederate control. He said he had sold the idea to the Government in Richmond for this campaign. However there were those in the force who doubted that a General who was permanently drunk could sell anything !!    

An additional important problem, one that Sibley seems to have overlooked in his grand scheme, was that although New Mexico had some Southern sympathizers it was staunchly Union. Also, the Mexican locals were not enarmoured with their Texan neighbours. Nonetheless the Confederate Brigade set out on the 140 mile ride in rough weather to Fort Craig, the main Union post in the territory.  Sibley’s plan was to take the fort then move further North onto the main Union supply base at Albuquerque.

The Union Commander of Fort Craig was the complete opposite of  the Confederate General. Colonel Edward Canby was taciturn, energetic and a total professional. When he received intelligence that a Confederate force was heading toward his Headquarters he set about organising the defense.

All outlying forces were called in. Additional volunteer troops were sent for from Colorado. The forts defenseworks were strengthened. Eventually, the Confederate army arrived at Fort Craig forming up outside the walls. Sibley hoped to draw out the Garrison, but Canby kept his men firmly within the fort.

After an Officers briefing, having noted how strong the forts defenses were, the Confederates decided to march around the fort.  The grey-clad troops crossed the Rio Grande River from west to east, then marched north intending to recross the Rio Grande upriver from the fort cutting the forts supply line to Albuquerque..

However the Union General Canby, was not one for sitting still. Leaving a small force to guard fort Craig,  Canby mustered every man he could to march north and stop the Confederates from crossing the Rio Grande and realising their mission…

CONFEDERATE ARMY OF NEW MEXICO: 

2,550 Officers and men = 2.550 x 12 = 31pts.

Nominal Command : Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley. (  To quote a phrase from Mr Albert’s book:” the Officers were not sure if Sibley was ill because he was drunk, or drunk because he was ill”!) on a number of occasions he recused himself from Command when battle was imminent.

Actual Command: Colonel Tom Green  @ 1 point

2nd Command: Lieutenant William Read ( “ Dirty Shirt”) Scurry  @ 1pt.

1 Artillery Battalion = 4 Batteries each of 3 guns and 30 gunners = 360 gunners = 0.360 pts x 12 = 4pts r/d = 4 stands of Light Horse Artillery  @ 1pt = 4pts.

The 2nd Texas ( Arizona Militia ) Mounted Regt = 250 Men = 0.250pts x 12 = 3pts = 3 stands of Cavalry @ 1 point = 3pts. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Pyron @ 1 point.

The 4th Texas Mounted Regt = 600 men = 0.600pts x 12 = 7pts r/d = 3 stands of Cavalry @ 2pts = 6 points. + Colonel James Riley @ 1 point.

The 5th Texas Mounted Regt =  600 men = 0.600pts x 12 = 7pts r/d = 3 stands of Cavalry @ 2pts = 6 points + Major Samual Lockridge @  1point.

Note: If you wish to represent the Company of Lancers within the 5th Regiment, the muster would read: 2 stands of Cavalry @ 2 points. Lockridge @ 1 point. 1 stand of Cavalry @ 1 point and one stand of Lancer Cavalry @ 1 point.

On the battle plan the Lancers are shown as a dotted square to the right of the 5th Regiment.

The 7th Texas Mounted Regt = 600 men =  0.600pts x 12 = 7pts r/d = 3 stands of Cavalry @ 2pts = 6pts + Colonel William Steel @ 1pt.

THE UNION ARMY OF NEW MEXICO:

3,800 Officers and men. = 3.8 pts x 12 = 46pts r/u.

C-in-C: Colonel Edward Canby  @ 1pt.

1st U.S Cavalry = 200 men = 0.200pts x 12 = 2pts r/d = 2 stands of  Cavalry @ 1point = 2 points..

3rd U.S. Cavalry = 200 men = 0.200pts x 12 = 2pts r/d = 2 stands of Cavalry @ 1 point = 2 points.

Major Thomas Duncan @  1point.

5th U.S. Infantry = 400 men = 0.400pts x 12 = 5pts r/u = 2 stands of Infantry @ 2 points = 4pts + Captain Benjamin Wingate @ 1pt.

7th U.S. Infantry = 200 men = 0.200 pts x 12 = 2 pts r/d = 2 stands @ 1point = 2pts.

10th U.S. Infantry = 200 men = 0.200 pts x 12 = 2 pts r/d = 2 stands @ 1 point = 2pts.

Colonel Benjamin S. Robert’s @ 1 point.

1st New Mexico Infantry = 560 men = 0.560pts x 12 = 7pts r/u = 3 stands @ 2points + Colonel Kit Carson @ 1 point.

2nd New Mexico Infantry = 360 men = 0.360pts x 12 = 4pts r/d = 2 stands @ 2pts.

3rd New Mexico Infantry = 360 men = 0.360pts x 12 = 4pts r/d = 2 stands @ 2pts.

4th New Mexico Infantry =  360 men = 0.360pts x 12 = 4pts r/d = 2 stands @ 2pts.

5th New Mexico Infantry = 360 men = 0.360pts x 12 = 4pts r/d = 4 stands @ 1pt = 4pts.

2nd ColoradoVolunteer Infantry = 300 men = 0.300pts x 12 = 4pts r/u = 2 stands @ 2pts.

Graydon’s Independant Cavalry Company = 100 men =  0.100pts x 12 = 1.2 pts = 1 stand @ 1point.

Mc Rae’s Artillery Battery = 6 guns each with 30 gunners = 180 gunners = 0.180 x 12 = 2pts r/d =  2 stands of Light Horse Artillery @ 1point.

BATTLE NOTES:

* Dismounted Cavalry are 1pt less than their mounted selves. If the mounted Cavalry are 1 point then just throw a basic die roll for the dismounted stand.

* Dismounted Cavalry stands can move in any direction.

* All the Infantry in this battle are treated as Line Infantry. Therefore they can only move through the face of a square, not a diagonal.

* The Confederates retain the Initiative Point for the entire battle.

*  The Confederates win any tied results.

MORALE

1)  Add up the points of each army to arrive at a total.

2). That total is then halved to get a final number.

3)  Those numbers are then SWAPPED OVER. In this case ,the Union Army is 31points, The Confederate army is 46 points.

Note: This is because one of the Union Volunteer Regiments panicked which caused other Regiments to waver.

As Stands are removed, the points are deducted from the total of the respective Army.

* The battle will be played for 8 Game Turns and/or until one side’s Morale Total is reduced to Zero.

The Union Player also wins if they stop the Confederate stands from reaching the Rio Grande. ( the Confederates were short of water)

The Confederates also win if they control the crossings at the river and remove all the Union stands from the east side of the river

* This is a regimental sized battle, therefore, stands of a regiment must always remain in squares adjacent to each other even on a diagonal. This rule also applies to each of the regimental commanders present.

* If for any reason the stands of a Regiment become separated, each stand of that regiment will deduct 1 point from its Firing and Close Combat die rolls.

* FIRING:

The Confederate troops were armed with shotguns, pistols and smoothbore carbines therefore the range for all Confederate ( and Union Cavalry ) carbines is 2 squares. The range for pistols is 1 square.

The range for Union Infantry muskets is 3 squares as the Federal troops were better armed.

The Confederates were also hampered with their artillery. They were outranged by the Union guns therefore: Confederate artillery has a range of 4 squares. The Union Artillery is 6 squares.

I’ve put small squares of card with the Regimental number on each stands.

*TREES: 

The trees cannot be moved. They block line-of-sight for shooting and hamper movement.

* THE RIO GRANDE:

The river can only be crossed at the Fords. Any stand being forced into any other part of the river will be lost.

THE OLD RIVER BED:

*The silt from this had gradually built up into an embankment, the river having changed its course by natural means. Therefore, Union troops firing at any stand behind the Embankment must deduct 2 points from all Firing die rolls.

* The Embankment is classed as “Trench” during Close Combat.

* I’m not sure whether the mounted troops were able to go over the embankment or not. Therefore I’ve judged it too awkward for the horses to go into the ditch then up over the embankment. Mounted troops have to go around either end of the Embankment.

* McRae’s Battery: 

These Union Guns became the focus of some intense fighting during the battle and a morale booster for the Confederates. If either of the Union Artillery stands suffers a “ move-back”as a result of Close Combat, that stand is removed by the Confederate Player.

If the Confederate Player manages to capture both Artillery stands, 10 points are added to the Confederate Player’s Morale total.

THE HISTORY.

New Mexico is an unforgiving environment for man and beast. Even the local population were at subsistence level. Therefore everything required for a campaign had to be carried either by the men, or in waggons.

The name for this battle comes from the Spanish for “ Green Valley” so this area must have been one of the few places that was habitable.

There were native tribes in the area raiding both Union and Confederate supply trains if the opportunity arose. The weather also played its part in bringing yet more problems for the soldiers of both sides to cope with.

When the war started there was a change of personnel. Officers resigned their commissions and soldiers left their posts in order to sign up to the Confederacy. Therefore some forts became vacant. Others like fort Craig were strengthened by the remaining Union Command.

Although on the western fringe of the main theatres of conflict, New Mexico could not be neglected by either side. Both sides could use the state to make incursions into each others territories.

This is the first of four battles in what became known as the Glorieta Campaign.

THE LANCERS:

Company B of the 5th Virginia Mounted Rifles carried a lance. During the battle they charged the Colorado Volunteers thinking it was a Green Regiment that would break. That was a deadly mistake. As the Confederates thundered toward them, the Commander of the Union troops coolly ordered a firing line. As the Confederates came up. The Union troops unleashed a massive volley which ripped through men and horses alike.

The survivors of the charge turned and galloped back to their line, where they promptly threw away their useless lances and took up their pistols and carbines. Therefore:

* If the lancers are used they do not get the three points for Close Combat against Infantry on flat open ground.

* Cavalry do not get the three points for attacking Infantry in the open. ( This is because the cavalry don’t have swords and the Infantry are armed with bayonets)

* The Lancer stand cannot fire until it has been in Close Combat at least once. Having done so, the stand must move back and spend one Game-Turn with the Regiment after which it may move and fire.

CAVALRY AND FIREARMS:

These are my personal perceptions of the tactics used. Those with a deeper knowledge of events will have a better understanding.

During this era, American Cavalry fought as Dragoons, very often dismounting to fight. This is because Infantry Muskets were now rifled giving a much greater range and accuracy. Charging formed Infantry or Infantry behind cover could be deadly as proven by the actions of the Lancers..

The weapons of choice being a knife, smoothbore pistols and carbines. ( a smaller version of the musket that the infantry carried.) Swords were carried by Officers and in some Regular Union Cavalry Regiments but not very much by the Confederates.

They were more a badge of rank and very rarely used. The troopers preferred to use their pistols rather than swords.

Now. I don’t know the exact course of events during this battle. Whether the Confederates advanced on foot or used their horses, or a mix of both. There was a thin screen of trees between each of the protagonists which made it difficult for each side to see what was happening. Therefore it could be a mixture of both, so Players have leeway as to how they fight the battle

To cover both events I use mounted figures with dismounted figures and horses:

* figures can ride then dismount within the same movement phase, or vice-versa.The cannot perform this action with enemy stands in adjacent squares. Stands can mount up and ride within the same movement phase but not with enemy stands in adjacent squares.

* Stands may fire within the same Game-Turn that they dismounted.

* Stands may not claim cover from the Embankment when mounted.

* When mounted, all Firing is at PISTOL RANGE. ( one square)

* When dismounted all Firing is at CARBINE RANGE ( two squares).

CREDITS:

The figures are all 15mm and are a mix of Miniature Figurines. Peter Pig and Essex figures. The waggons and mules are from Peter Pig. Nearly all the Command Figures are Peter Pig. The flags are from Peter Pig.

The special Lancer stand is of Essex Miniatures. I cut off the swords and scabbards and added the lances from Pendraken spears. The little flag was cut from a Peter Pig flag. The Pennants were cut from sticky labels.

The trees are from various manufacturers. The hills are made of self adhesive cork tiles cover with Fine Turf from the Woodlands Scenics company. The square outline is  ( I think?) Jarvis Scenics Sand.  The river sections are thin card. The hedging strips are from Pendragon Miniatures.

The dry river sections are from a Wargame Show bring-and-buy. The Embankment is made from Panscrubbers and BlueTack. The cloth covering is from Deep Cut Studios. It’s the “ Iberian Plain” with a Custom 2” square overlay.

As always. The table is 3 feet ( 90 cm) x 2 feet ( 60cm ). The stands are 40mm x 40mm and cut from picture framing card. The 40mm round stands are from Sarissa Precision.