Snappy Nappy: Quatre Bras

French Lancers attacking the Dutch Jagers that were driven from Geminocourt Farm

By: Ron Winkler

Although game rooms in other areas of the country may be open, California game rooms are still under lockdown. Consequently, I felt it was time for another solo game just to keep my wrists loose for rolling dice. The choice this time was the Battle of Quatre Bras using Snappy Nappy rules.

Although the rules recommend an infantry stand represents 2000 men, cavalry 750, and a single gun 24 guns a player is allowed to vary from these recommendations. Since my 15mm figures are mounted on a 40mmx30mm stand with eight infantry in double rank and 3 Cavalry in single rank, I decided to have a stand represent 1000 infantry, 375 cavalry, and 12 guns but kept the unit size as recommended at 2-3 stands for infantry, 2 for cavalry and 1 for artillery. Overall, it made the forces a bit larger in appearance.

Research of the battle indicated that Marshal Ney did not commence his attack until 2.00 PM and had only two of his three infantry divisions, a light cavalry division and supporting artillery. However, this far outnumbered the single Netherlands Division available to the Prince of Orange. To start, the French had 13 stands of infantry, 4 stands of light cavalry with one medium and one heavy battery facing eight infantry, and one medium battery available to the allies. Reinforcements were fed into the battle for each side per the information I researched.

A view of the Battlefield below

In the above picture, Quatre Bras is at the top, Gemioncourt farm center left of the road directly into Quatre Bras with Bossu woods on the left together with a stream and scattered crops. It should be noted the Marshal Ney and General Reiille’s Peninsular experience against Wellington made them cautious in their initial attack.

2:00 PM The French Attack Begins

General Foy’s Division advances along and adjacent to the road (7 infantry stands) supported by the 12# battery while the Light Cavalry division has orders to screen Foy’s left flank. General Bauchelu’s Division (8 infantry stands) with an 8# Battery advances on the right. Ney and Reille are in the center. Opposing the attack are 2 stands of Dutch Jagers defending Gemioncourt Farm, 2 stands of Nassau infantry in the woods, 2 stands of Nassau infantry on the left of Quatre Bras, and 2 stands of Dutch Militia on the right of the town. The Prince of Orange and a single 6# Battery are on the road.

Below, the attack on Gemioncourt Farm begins in earnest by two units of Foy’s Division which are screened by the French light cavalry. One of the units assaults the Dutch Jagers and received a point-blank volley as they charge. On the top right, a unit of Bauchelu’s Division assaults the Dutch militia

The French assault on Gemioncourt Farm and the Dutch militia top right. Also shown is the Dutch Jagers volley into the charging French unit which drives thee back.

In the following melees, the Dutch Jagers repel the French infantry attacking Gemioncourt Farm, however, Bauchelu’s attacking infantry drive the Dutch militia from the field and are now in a position to threaten Quatre Bras crossroads. If Quatre Bras is taken by the French, they are in a position to cut the entire 2nd Netherland Division line of retreat.

The Dutch Jagers defeated

Fortunately, it is now 3:00 PM and Picton’s 5th Division enters Quatre Bras together with a unit of Dutch Light Dragoons and a Battery of 9# guns. Picton deploys one British and two Hanoverian units to face off against Bauchelu’s threat and holds a unit of Highlanders in Quatre Bras as reserve support. The 9# Battery joins the Dutch Battery at the south edge of Quatre Bras in position to fire on either of the attacking French Divisions. Meanwhile, the Dutch Light Dragoons enter the road on the Allied right flank with support orders.

The above picture shows the French infantry forced back from their assault on Gemioncourt Farm and the unopposed road to Quatre Bras after the Dutch militia are driven from the field.

As Picton enters the battlefield and deploys his Division, in the center, General Foy swings one of his units in an attempt to attack the Dutch Jagers in the Farm but the Jagers wheel to meet the new threat. The French also deploy a 12# and 8# Battery along the center road and commence counter-battery fire on the Allied guns.

 

French Battery firing in support

Initially, the Allied batteries return the French counter-battery fire causing damage to the 8# guns but then turn their attention to the French infantry threatening the Dutch Jagers in the farm. The French infantry receives a devastating volley in their flank by the Allied batteries and fails a morale test. However, a unit of the French Light cavalry hit the Jagers in the rear driving them from the farm.

It’s now 4:PM and both sides continue to receive reinforcements. Jerome Bonaparte’s Division (7 stands of infantry) arrive together with Kellermann’s Heavy Cavalry Division (2 stands dragoons and 2 of cuirassier) with a Battery of Horse guns. On the Allied side, the British 3rd Division (2 stands British line and 4 stands of Hanoverian infantry) with a battery of 9# guns together with the Brunswick Corps (4 infantry Stands) with a battery of guns and two stands of hussars.

A view of the repulsed French infantry together with the unit attempting to flank the Dutch Jagers in the farm. On the left, the French Light Cavalry continues to advance. Top right Picton’s units deploy to face Bauchelu’s attack. The red dice indicate units that have morale failures.

The arrival of Jerome Bonaparte’s and Kellermann’s Divisions. In the center is the French attack on the farm. While Bauchelu prepares to attack Picton and the Brunswickers arrive.

In the center, Jerome Bonaparte’s Division continues to advance along the central road as Kellermann’s Heavy Cavalry advance along the road toward the Allied right flank.

As can be seen above, Ney continues to press his attack with all French units now on the board. However, Both of General Foy’s infantry units involved in the attack on the farm fail to rally and ultimately will leave the field of battle. This weakens the pressure on the Allies allowing time for their new units to form defensive positions.

In the above picture, you can see the Dutch Jagers that were driven from the farm. Also shown is Foy’s two units that are falling back. Effective Allied counter-battery fire has caused a morale check on the French 8# battery along the center road.

Picton’s British and Hanoverians defending Quatre Bras against Bauchelu’s attack…

It’s now past 6:00 PM and the British Guards Division is on the horizon further tipping the numbers in favor of the Allies. With a few hours of light remaining, Ney seeks to exploit the successful capture of Gemioncourt Farm using Bonaparte’s large Division and Kellermann’s heavy cavalry. Orders are issued for the French Light Cavalry Division to reform then attack the weakened Dutch Jagers as Bonaparte and Kellermann swing left to attack the relatively inexperienced Dutch and Brunswickers holding the Allied left flank.

Since Bauchelu is close to Quatre Bras crossroads he is ordered to maintain pressure on the Allied left to draw as many Allied troops away from reinforcing their right flank. It’s a gutsy play since the retreat of Foy’s Division leaves the French center open to an attack. On the Allied side, the Brunswick Hussars joined the Dutch Light Dragoons heading south on a collision course with the French heavy cavalry. The British/Hanoverian infantry focus on maintaining the crossroads open.

Above is the situation just before Ney swings left. In. the center Foy’s infantry and battery are unable to rally and continue to fall back (marked with red die). Just below the farmhouse, the French Light Cavalry Division reform. Jerome Bonaparte’s Division prepares to swing left. On the extreme left the French Heavy and Allied Light Cavalry. Allied General Sedinitsky moves forward in an attempt to rally the Dutch Jagers. The Nassau infantry which had been holding Bossu Woods starts to withdraw after seen French cavalry approaching both flanks to avoid being cut off.

It’s now around 7:30 PM. A unit of the French Light Cavalry Division charge the Dutch Jagers and cut them to pieces after the Jagers fail to reform or form a hasty square. General Sedinitsky flees to the Allied lines. Seeing the light cavalry charge, the Brunswick infantry form square. The Brunswick artillery turns the tables on the victorious French cavalry with such accurate fire that they retire from the battle. Jerome Bonaparte’s infantry columns move off the road to exploit the success of the French light cavalry and is assigned the horse artillery for support.

The French light cavalry charge. Bonaparte’s infantry is moving on the right as the French heavy and Allied light cavalry converge on the road. The Brunswick squares and artillery are upper right. Below: The French light cavalry is exposed to allied artillery. The Nassau infantry leaves the woods as French and Allied cavalry suddenly face each other.

In previous images we see the remaining French light cavalry charging the Nassau infantry who form a hasty square and drive the French cavalry off. However, Bonaparte’s infantry columns are dangerously close. Also shown is the clash between French heavy dragoons and the Dutch Light Dragoons who miraculously hold the French for 4 turns of melee before being driven from the field.

The lower picture shows the situation on the Allied right. After heavy fighting, the French have driven both units of Hanoverian infantry off, but, have had some units pushed back and one leave the field. The remaining British infantry holds the crossroads providing a line of retreat to Waterloo. At this point, it’s 9:00 PM and darkness halts the battle. In the end counting units that left the table, the French lost three infantry and two cavalry units plus one battery. Allied losses were four infantry units and one cavalry.

Conclusion

My first exposure to tabletop is gaming was with Napoleonic figures. Over the years numerous Napoleonic rules have been published. I’ve played rules where a gamer is moving individual skirmish stands together with large infantry battalions of 24 to 36 figures. Such games allow a single player to command a division plus some attached cavalry. Anything larger often results in a game you can’t finish in a day. Others seem like blocks of figures moving on a game board.

Snappy Nappy offers an opportunity to play big battle games with relative ease. The rules are only 48 pages long including a scenario and index. However, a player must remember he is commanding a corps or larger force and not a battalion or brigade. There are seven orders one can issue to subordinate commanders like attack, probe, or defend. However, the player can independently change the order dependent on immediate conditions without corps approval. The extent of change depends on the quality and training of each army.

Brunswick Hussars engaging French Dragoon after they destroyed the Dutch Light Dragoons.

I mentioned units in the above report. At a ratio of 1 to1000/2000 men per infantry stand a unit of two or three stands represents a brigade and a unit integrity rule requires the two or three stands to operate together. Consequently, six or seven stands of infantry can represent a division of three brigades and four cavalry stands thus equate to a division of two brigades.

Again, there is some flexibility in the ratio you chose. Finally, the rules use d10 dice and it’s not a strict I go you go system. A move starts with an initiative roll with the winner moving/charging then loser fires and winner return fire followed by melees. The second half of the turn has the roles reversed followed by rallies.

If anyone is interested, I suggest you watch Little Wars TV on YouTube for a , and where multiple players fight the on interlocking tables in a day.