Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

I waited for more than three years.

No, its not <b><font color="red">Les Grognards</font id="red"></b>.

I'm talking about :

Scott Bowden's new book, <font color="orange"><b>Napoleon's Finest: Marshal Davout and His 3rd Corps, Combat Journal of Operations, 1805–1807</b></font id="orange">, the first English translation of the 1896 Opérations du 3e Corps.

Let me say one word.

Superb!

It is by far the BEST Napoleonic book that I have ever seen. The version that I am talking about is a Limited Edition from Military History Press.

Full color battle maps, full color battle diagrams, Keith Rocco paintings, statistics and more combine in a tour de force that is simply unequaled.

Order it here: http://www.militaryhistorypress.com/Nap ... inest.html

Be aware that it is not cheap. One last word: After three years, I can unequivically say that it was well worth the wait.

Enjoy,
Rick
[:)]



Colonel Rick Motko
1er Bataillon, 33° Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
2eme Brigade, 11eme division
IIIe corps, Armée du Nord


Vive l'Empereur!

310 bucks is a bit rich for my blood.

How about if I stop by and read your copy! LOL

I am sure that Scott did a great job with the book. However, I remember a day when his books were affordable. And had just as much info in them too.

Bill Peters
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

I did say this was a Limited Edition. A mass market edition is surely on the way. (Wait for that one, if you're so inclined.) I won't vouch for that edition, but I can say a lot about this one.

The maps and battle diagrams are what blow me away about this book.

They even show the locations of the individual guns & companies and -- even skirmishers. Tactics are <font color="orange">heavily</font id="orange"> covered. Even the locations of command and their staffs (ie. ADCs). The strategic situations are covered nicely as well.

It is by far the best look at the battlfields that Davout faced. Heck it is the best look at Napoleonic battlefields -period.


Let's see. Each book is numbered and autographed. There's leather binding, museum quality paper is used, a 10"x14" format that gives lots of room for HUGE maps and Rocco paintings. There's gold edging to the pages and even three fancy ribbons (white, red, & blue) so you don't ever have to use a bookmark.

It really is a superb book and its mass marketing edition will be impressive in its own right.

Colonel Rick Motko
1er Bataillon, 33° Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
2eme Brigade, 11eme division
IIIe corps, Armée du Nord


Vive l'Empereur!

Its on bid at Napoleon Series for $155 but the bid goes till October 31st.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/home/c_auction2006.html

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Herr Windbagenführer General der Infanterie Scott Prinz "Vorwärts" Ludwig von Saxe-Weimar
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Kommandeur Garde-Grenadier-Korps & 3. Infanterie-Brigade
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Vorwärts Meine Kinder, Vorwärts!! Glory and History Await You On This Day!!

This Day, Today, Marschall Vorwärts' Day!!

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My mistake ... sheesh, cant read the order sheet (cuz they have the other books listed there).... its only 165 USD and I bought a copy today.

While still pricey this IS an invaluable addition to anyone's collection.

I dont consider myself a connoiseur of the period (buying swords, caps, etc) I do like a good book.

And Mr. Bowden puts out great books.

Bill Peters
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]

My Better half is going to kill me....There gos that card again..

Please if you dont see me here any more you know what happened..[:D]

Rick thanks for letting us know about this...I do also like a good read..and a book that looks good..[;)]

<font color="red">Maréchal</font id="red">
<font color="red">BEECHAM</font id="red"> Commandant 1ème Division de Cuirassiers,
1 Corps Res Cav,ADN.

Prince d` Istria et Comte d` Arles La Jeune Garde

"Toujours féroce,jamais étourdi"

Gentlemen,

You won't be sorry.

Every time I open this book I am impressed. I am looking at a chart showing the relative (individual) positions of Marechal Davout and everyone on his staff. We're talking names and ranks here guys.

The translations of the combat reports are enlightening as well. Here is a short one:
------------------------------------

<font color="orange">"<b>33rd Line Infantry Regiment, 25 December 1806</b>
[Report of Combat on the 24th.]

<i>Report on the action carried out by the 33rd Line Regiment on 24 December 1806, by Chef de Bataillon Thoulouze, temporarily commanding the regiment, to General Friant.</i>

I have the honor of informing you about the action on the 24th, when the regiment having been ordered to go to the enemy's right, which occupied the hills above the village of Nasielsk <b>(sic)</b>, went there as quickly as possible, with the grenadiers, <i>voltigeurs</i> and the 1st Company of Fusiliers, according to General Lochet's order, in <i>tirailleur</i> order into the woods to drive out the enemy. These four companies were under the orders of the commander of the 1st Battalion. At the same time, the regiment contined to march to the right of the enemy and managed to cut off its retreat by going through an entire wood in battle order and with bayonets forward. The enemy only found safety in the darkness of the night and in the woods. The four companies <i>en tirailleurs, </i> mentioned above, made the most of the enemy's retreat, as they charged them, taking three pieces of artillery, killing the gunners and the train drivers, taking some prisoners, and then continued to chase them until eight o'clock. The regiment came back, took position in battle order in front of that village and remained in position.

I have to inform you, General, that during this day the regiment distinguished itself, Major Pouchelon was wounded, as well as Captains Noirtier and Vanier, eight <i>voltigeurs</i> and grenadiers were killed, and 66 <i>sous-officers</i> and soldiers were wounded. Included is another report about those who distinguished themselves the most.

<b>33rd[Line] Infantry Regiment</b>
Sate of the military personnel from the above stated regiment who distinguished themselves during the action on 24 December 1806 (combat at Nasielsk).

Nortier, Captain. Showed great bravery during the march in battle order in the woods; he was wounded there.

Magoulese, Lieutenant of grendiers.
Heblen, Lieutenant-Major of <i>voltigeurs.</i>

Pinon and Cottin, <i>voltigeurs.</i> Mostly contributed to the taking of the artillery."</font id="orange">
--------------------------------------

So if we read this correctly, there were more than just a French battalion's light infantry personnel (ie. <i>voltigeurs</i>). Fusiliers and grenadiers were also in skirmish order.

Colonel Rick Motko
1er Bataillon, 33° Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne
2eme Brigade, 11eme division
IIIe corps, Armée du Nord


Vive l'Empereur!

Oh yeah ... Davout's entire corps of this period could fight and did fight in skirmish order.

Good point on this though ... we found that in allowing this in Eckmuhl that it sort of causes some game issues. Thus I do not allow the regular line companies to totally break down into skirmisher order.

And most of us find that its not an issue anyway.

Here are pros and cons on the issue:

For:
Its historical. Now usually that would end the argument ...

Against:

Skirmishers in woods were king. However, in games where the overrun rule is ON (meaning you CAN overrun skirmishers) we find that the skirmishers are a bit too powerful in OPEN hexes vs. the Austrians in Eckmuhl. However, turn the rule OFF and you get skirmishers being overrun in WOODS and VILLAGES.

I did discuss all of this with Rich and John (giving certain terrain types weight in favor of skirmishers) but we couldnt agree on it and thus the game engine stands as is.

Rich feels that skirmishers are still very powerful. Here I disagree because NOW we have the No Melee Elimination rule which voids the need to use the Embedded Melee system.

Thus the French can surround a unit all they want with skirmishers BUT (with Overrun rule ON) but the stack will survive a surround attack.

Thus:

1. If we could get the Overrun rule to only affect VILLAGE and WOODS and other types of cover hexes (especially chateaux - I would be happy if this was the ONLY terrain type to be excluded btw) then I would go for allowing for the Ligne to breakdown totally.

2. With #1 in effect here is what you have:

historical OBs allowing for the French to have the ability to breakdown totally if they like.

skirmishers not overrun in CERTAIN types of terrain.

3. I am noting with some satisfaction that in my games where I do deploy massive amounts of skirmishers (Aspern-Essling) that it doesnt matter much. The Austrians can just push them out of the way and press on. With the Overrun rule OFF (my default for now) the skirmishers dont stop my opponents formed battalians. They just press on. In the end I am left with weak bns. to face the masses.

4. In games where the French enjoy a huge material superiority it wont matter anyway. They are going to win despite the use of skirmishers and I note that the firepower from skirmishers doesnt compare with that of a formed Austrian bn (of 500-1000 men). Do a test and you will see that the skirmisher is getting outgunned by formed infantry. Now we have a new feature where the skirmish fire does not draw return fire (only when not stacked with formed infantry or cavalry or guns). Thus in some part this issue of firepower has gone away. You can fire off your skirmishers without suffering more losses in return.

Thus my summary is that if we had such a change for skirmishers to not be overrun in Chateaux hexes (at least) this would give me some interest in giving the French their due.

Bill Peters
HPS Napoleonic Scenario Designer (Eckmuhl, Wagram, Jena-Auerstaedt and ... more to come)

[url="http://www.fireandmelee.net"]Fire and Melee Wargame site[/url]