The Battle Of Hooke's Farm

 The last attempt to fight a battle against m'colleague Neil was thwarted by Storm Arwen. This week we had Storms Dudley and Eunice in quick succession (with Franklin blowing through as I write) but the routes through the Pennines were sort of clear. So, after a somewhat alarming slalom along the Snake Pass, the Army of The Hesse Kassel Reinforcement arrived in Sheffield ready to fight.

After our last game we decided to reduce the amount of terrain so the battlefield had a more stripped down look.

My infantry, in column, waiting to advance.

On the right flank the cavalry engaged in a ferocious melee. The 2nd Lieb-Regiment cavalry were broken but that just cleared the way for the elite 1st Prinz Wilhelm regiment to charge forward, routing 2 French cavalry regiments. Later on the 3rd Miltitz regiment, seen here on the left and already disrupted by melee with the enemy, were broken by massed artillery fire.

On my left flank my light brigade advanced through the woods and over the hill to Hooke's Farm. The mounted Buckeberg Carabiniers did not advance any further but their presence alone deterred a French line battalion from moving. Unwilling to turn their backs on cavalry, the French line battalion stayed put and took no part in the unfolding drama in the centre of the field. My Jaegers and dismounted Buckeberg Carabiniers fired into the flanks of the French central infantry, mostly causing nothing more than a nuisance. That is, until the end of the battle when the dismounted Carabiniers unexpectedly produced a devastating round of carbine fire and broke a French line battalion in one volley.

As ever though, these flank engagements were mere side shows. The battle would be decided by the infantry clash in the centre. Unlike previous battles I managed to keep my artillery in line with my infantry so they could support the infantry volleys and help offset the French numerical advantage. With my firing line set I waited for Neil's French to advance towards me. After the first few volleys and a French bayonet charge we had both sustained losses so Neil's infantry pulled back slightly to allow his second wave of infantry to come into the line.

Here my elite 6th Grenadier regiment are marching into the line to fill the gap left after the 7th Erbprinz infantry had broken. After that brief pause the volleys ensued before the Hessians fixed bayonets and charged in.

That final bayonet charge was enough to shatter the French front line so General Neil offered the honours of war. My remaining infantry were in bad shape and time was getting on so I accepted and took the minor victory.

Another narrow win for the Hessians but it was a close run thing and, once again, I think that the quality of my trained battalions won out over Neil's mostly conscript force. However, this is a campaign not a battle. Half my infantry and 2 out of 3 cavalry regiments have now been reduced to conscript status after the losses sustained today, severely reducing the qualitative advantage I have. Neil's French remain a mix of trained and conscript battalions and his numerical superiority may prove decisive in the next battle.