Combat at Gilly 1815

 

Prussian deployment was optimised to hold the two key road exits to Fleurus which were the French objectives. The 1st Abteilung covered the north western exit between the Abbey and the Bois de Trichevre. Then in the centre the 2nd Abteilung took over on the heights of Trichevre to Pironchamps, with the cavalry covering the open flank to the north east. Pironchamps formed two defensive terrain features, each occupied by a battalion of Landwehr, the key point dominating the objective being the Pironchamps Church.

It was a pretty thin 'Prussian blue line' to be honest, compared to the French hordes opposite, but them's the perks of forming the rearguard!

The French? Oh they came on in their usual style:

Scads of infantry doing the grunt work...

And the cavalry milling around on the flanks looking pretty. Things were already behind schedule so an impatient Emperor had allocated a regiment of Imperial Guard Empress Dragoons to this particular skirmish...

But most of the cavalry brigades, including the Immortals, were very reluctant to activate...So, infantry it was, then...first tackling the initial line of defense in front of Pironchamps...

And also threatening the wooded route next to the Abbey:

The Prussian guns and Jaegers in front of Pironchamps put up a good fight:

But eventually were overwhelmed so that the second line of defences could be assaulted.

Slower progress against the woods though...

Finally the French cavalry got moving out on the flank:

With the Lancers leading...

And the Dragoons supporting:

The Prussian cavalry, outnumbered and outclassed, fought back bitterly and inflicted severe losses on the French lancers. Despite despatching a couple of French regiments, eventually numbers told:

But then the 1st Prussian Dragoons (Queen's Own 2nd West Prussian) bounced back, saw an opportunity and seized it to restore the situation on the flank - secondary consideration though it was:

Back to the main event and the outer and secondary Prussian defences had finally been overcome and it was time to storm Pironchamps Church, which dominated the centre objective:

Bitter fighting ensued in and around the Church...

But finally the garrison was evicted....

The French had taken an objective in their fifth turn; game over; the road to Fleurus was open!

But in cavalry terms, forget the Empress Dragoons who covered themselves in glory in the historical battle - in this game it was the Prussian horse that took the honours!