Shako shaken

I do not play a lot of Nappys. Lets just say bad experience in the past and leave it at that. But I had a game on Sunday of Shako. I have played these rules about 10 years ago so as you will already have worked out I was totally aware of all the rules and connotations. Also apart from reading and watching "Sharpe" this period is a big black hole in my historical knowledge. So that make me a perfect candidate to act as a subordinate commander as far as the club is concerned.

Anyway Tim was my superior commander and we had the French. Gary, Peter and Colin had the Russians. Gary was more than fluent with the rules and Colin knew them pretty well but Tim and myself lets just say not so much but we had the French. Tim devised a plan and gave me a briefing which made me happy as it meant I did not have to think about tactics or any of that hard stuff. And this is how it all went.

The French line with my troops in the foreground.
The battle was an
Encounter battle.

The Russians had a double line.
It turn out 3/4 of the way through the battle that
Tim had short changed the French
in numbers of troops we were allowed.
Ah well!

The French plan was simple.
I was to hold the Right flank seen as vulnerable
while Tim advanced on the left
and would thus roll up the Russian Line.

My troops move up to the town and then go on defend orders.

My troops hold the town and
 Tim sends his cavalry forward and pivots his infantry.
Taking the battle to the Russians.
 

Tims Cavalry charge.
The Russians form (for the most part) squares.
I think you can guess the result.

The dice were rolled and the
result was just as you expected

Yes you were right! The infantry on in square were trounced
and the follow up charge destroyed another unit.
The Other cavalry died heroically and futility.
Lots and Lots of dead horse
so we all knew what was on the menu that night!
 

Tim wanted a picture of the Russian troops he'd destroyed.

Tim's troops
follow up but have to clamber over
piles of dead horses.
They too get repulsed for the most part.

So as the French Attack had been repulsed.
The Russians went on the offensive.
Firstly with their Cavalry against our reserve cavalry.

The Russians started to advance on the town
 so I brought up my reserve. Yes I was still playing
you cheeky so and so!

Tim brings on some more troops
 as we had forgotten to include them in the army
 at the beginning of the game. I have one more unit to
fill the gap and crest the hill.

From the other side/end of the table.
The Russians having taken the hill
close on Tims Fresh Bavarian troops.

The Russians (under Colin) attack my troops
and the town. The troops on my far right
were driven back. But all others held.
Despite 2 or three columns attacking each of my
Line troops. Yes I got luck with some dice rolls.
 

Eventually the Russians push through the French line.

 

And that's when the French army had taken sufficient casualties to force a withdraw. I think we have to hand it to the other players Gary, Peter and Colin on a good solid game and in Gary's words a Pyric Victory for the Russians.

That's it for today I shall do another post very soon. Thank you for reading. And it has made me want to play some more "Shako" in the future. Take care and I hope you are well.