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Ruletest E: A Gentlemans War 1848-1861

A Gentlemans War or “Glossy Coats and Tin Bayonets” is a bit different to the previous rules tested. It is much more towards a skirmishing style and is definitely for enjoyment of the game. These rules are aimed at the period 1875 to 1914 so are a bit later than my interest.

The losses are per figure so the units were

  • 12 man infantry brigades
  • 4 man field artillery batteries
  • 6 man light cavalry brigades

I used their 1850-1875 shooting modifications to the rules

Essentially it shortens all the ranges giving you just rifled muskets or smoothbore cannon.

I ran out some new playing cards for this game.

Modern playing cards in a victorian style.

With a normal playing card deck red cards work for one force, black for the other.

  • numbered cards allow singular activitions
  • court cards allow brigaded activations ( I did not use these) or singular activations
  • ace allows double move and cannot be held in the hand
  • cards in the hand are used as hold cards to be used as above
  • cycle ends when every unit on one side has activated
  • first joker end all cycles – with all disorder markers removed
  • both sides start new cycles
  • second joker – cycles end plus all held cards are discarded and packs reshuffled for a restart
Marshall Radetzky squares up to the Rebels led by General Durando. On the left is the Austrian line – Hussars, Benedek Line Infantry, No1 Field Artillery with Erzherzog Albrecht Line Infantry in the distance. On the right the Milan Infantry Brigade with A battery field artillery next then the Bersaglieri di Vignola and finally in the distance the 3rd/6th Line Lancers.

The set up was identical to previous tests and the Orchard was inaccessible to all arms, while the road offered some benefit.

The Empire Forces were

  • left flank – Erzherzog Albrecht Infantry
  • centre left – No 1 field artillery battery
  • centre right – Ritter Von Benedek Infantry
  • right flank – Graf Radetzky Hussars

The Republican Forces were

  • left flank – Milan Brigade
  • centre left – “A” battery field artillery
  • centre right – Bersaglieri di Vignola
  • right flank – 3rd & 6th Line Lancers (combined)

The action was swift with the rebel lancers charging first……

The 3rd/6th Line Lancers charged the Erzherzog Albrecht Infantry inflicting alittle damage but taking heavy casualities from the Austrian Firing and then in the melee.

As they charge in the Austrian Infantry fire scoring on 5 or 6 on 1d6

Rebel saving throws on a 5 or 6 mean only 2 hits make a mark. Yet this meant 1/3 losses 2 out of 6 men killed so a morale check was required which said the Lancers were “bothered” but continued their charge albeit “lukewarm”.

In the melee the “advantage factors” were with the Austrians meaning the Lancers needed a 6 to hit against 3-6 for the infantry. 6 hits on the cavalry halved meant the remnants of the cavalry ran away (1 cavalryman!) while the infantry were reduced by 1 man to 11.

I did not do figure removal but either way the Lancers are in full retreat. The Beraglieri are arriving to engage the Austrian artillery in the foreground
Meanwhile an exchange between the Von Benedek Infantry and the Piedmont Artillery resulted in the artillery being “disconcerted” so they ran away. In return the Milan Brigade fired on the Von Benedek Infantry

The Bersaglieri attempted to rush the Austrian artillery but became “bothered” and had to retreat. while a fierce firefight took place between the Von Benedek Infantry and the Milan Brigade.

Eventually the Von Benedek Infantry became “disconcerted” – morale test on 50% losses, and ran away.

Von Benedek infantry flee after firefight with the Milan Brigade
The Austrian left flank is relatively unscathed
In the distance the General Durando returns having failed to rally the piedmont artillery while in the foreground the Austrian Hussars have lost almost all their men to the Milan Brigade firing and then repelling their charge
There is still possibilities of action on the Austrian left flank. Again the Austrian Artillery “bother” the Bersaglieri who run away again only to be rallied by General Durando
Finally the Hussars are destroyed by the Milan Brigade – in this game I used dice to show accumulated damage for a change!
The Milan Brigade now move against the Austrian left flank, getting favorable cards they fire on the Austrian Artillery who are “disconcerteed” and fall back.

With just one infantryman left in the Erzherzog Albrecht Infantry the game is up for the Austrians as the Milan Brigade still numbers 10 men and the Bersaglieri have 8 although they keep running away!

So General Radeztky decides to quit the field. General Durando celebrates a great victory largely down to his Milan Infantry brigade which destroyed the Hussars, routed the Von Benedek Infantry and drove off the Austrian Artillery almost single handedly.

Yes this is Ruletest E so where is Ruletest D?

It will be along in due course.