The Battle of Dubice - Napoleopnic Black Powder Battle Report

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Last evening we played our 2nd game of the Black Powder rules. The game was fun and unpredictable until one side stuck a decisive blow and won the game. Here is a narrative report from the right flank of the brittish force. It is in no way trying to be historical accurate whatsoever. Only to capture the mood of the era and game.
So without further delay.
Let me present

The Battle of Dubice 1803

"Colonel Heathcliff Wilward of the 1st foot battallion, early spring 1803

Since the aggressions by the French Emperor Bonaparte, Europe have been ablaze. His troops have been succsessful in every theathre of war from the start of the unprovoced attack on the free peoples. The coalition have not yet been able to stop this oppressionist tide that seeks to engulf everything that is good and holy under its dictatoral regime.

I have been tasked with the command of the 1st foot battalion of the 3rd army Corps and during the winter of 1802 we deployed on mainland Europe. Under my command are the regiments 4th Kings german legion of foot and the 42nd Nottinghamshire of foot as well as a battery of guns.

During the spring we have been manouvering around the Polish countryside trying to force the French to battle and now we finally managed to intercept the vanguard of the enemy. We met outside of the small village of Dubice."

The British 4th and 42nd regiments under Colonel Heathcliff Wilward assemble on the right


"The enemy seemed inferior in numbers and the overall morale in my battallion was good. After my rather firey speach, if I might say so myself the troops braced them selves to vanquish their foe."



"The french deployed in thin lines to screen their cavalary. Fools i thought, as their best troops took position on their far left flank! I would eat my own words."



"I led my troops down the hill and i could see the french line responding with the same. My hopes did become truth. We would have a shootout down in the valley. I ordered my battery to begin softening the cowards up and the bombardment commenced, although failing to do any remarkable impact on the enemy, nor the outcome of the battle."


The frogs move town the hill to face the redcoats


"I ordered my troops to form lines and to hold fire. A unit of dragoons were sent to my flank as support. Further down the field i could see the rest of our troops, the Highlanders move in to occupy Dubice."




The French cavalary awaits orders



So does the Old Guard. Ready to fill in gaps and lend support where they are needed.


"The enemy was upon us and as we were getting in position they unleashed the first volley of the battle. We took a few casualities from the poor shooting and got into position. The French should know that positioning is the key to succsessful shooting. Not rushing to unleash the fire"



"Then it was our turn. For God, King and Country i gave the men the orders for shooting and with perfect precision out muskets spat death and fire into the French line, causing serious damage and even distrupting their formation. The troops were eager to keep up the fire."



"It felt like to frogs would brake under the intense barrage we were subjecting them to but their commander proved to be competent enough in keeping his troops in order."



"To our dissapointment the enemy did not brake and managed to hold out until they were reinforced by cavalary and the feared Old Guard. Until this moment i did not know how it was going for our troops on the left flank and in the town of Dubice, but probably not to well since the French command had so much reserves to spare to intercept my battalion. Anyway we kept firing but the infantry we caused serious damage to regained their nerves upon the arrival of the additional troops and gathered themselves"



"Then...hell broke loose. The French gave us a terrible volley. Causing lot of death to our ranks. The Old Guard did live up to their reputation and I could se the German legion being steadily decimated. Brave were these lads, not once did they allow their blue colours nor the kings standard to touch the ground eventhough the banners swiched hands many a time because of the deaths. "



"The exchange of fire kept up for a while and I finally realised that the left flank had not managed to break through because no aid was in sight. Our casualities grew by the minute. We did however drag some of those despicable frogs with us to death"


The generals survey the battlefield and decide on their next cunning moves.


"I saw the 4th regiment crumble but not turning tail. The line was in chaos and shooting badly coordinated. Suddenly the Old Guard changed formation and a loud "VIVA LA FRANCE!" could be heard from the sturdy men as they charged the 4th. We fired into the body of men closing in and subsequently dropped a number of them but without being able to stop the onslaught. They reached our lines. "



"The charge was quickly followeed up by the French dragoons as they closed in for the kill. "



"Our lads proved their determination and disciplin when they even under these harsh circumstances managed to form squares to repell the horsemen. I knew that the 4th would yeal in a matter of moments. "



"My predicion did come true. Suddenly the men of the 4th Kings German legion started breaking. Some managed to flee, while many a man was cut down byt the bestial brutality of the French elite troops. At this time a messanger also reached me from the commander in chief. I was told that the left flank was in trouble. While trying to assault an enemy ocupied building a regiment was broken and another was stuck in combat with enemy Currisariers."


"I had one last chance to turn this battle. This was it. I gave to order to the artillery and infantry to fire onto the dragoons that had tried to charge the squares. Modest progress here as the dragoons made a tactical withdraw to the hill on their side of the field. "



"I moved the 42nd Nottinghamshire onto the flank of the Old Guard. I knew that if i could break them, then our cavalary and rest of the infantry on the left would be able to handle the french. We failed. The men were at this point at rockbottom in mood and shooting was poor. "



"The 42nd was now surrounded. It had the Old Guard to the front, cavalary and infantry to the right and another line of infantry at the rear. Thank god for the messanger who arrived in in time to tell that the left flank had fallen and that high command were surrendering. If he had not made it so soon more good men would have died."




"We had to retreat with the forces we had left and gather us. Although this was a minor confrontation good men were lost. Hopefully the coalition will stop this French scourge and hang the madman Napoleon."


Hope you liked it!!