Napoleonic Wargame Club (NWC)

My apologies to Gen. Knox. I have been remiss. But drinks for the Frenchmen in the Tavern on my purse and my sword to Gen. Knox for his major victory over my allied army at the battles of Wavre and Waterloo.

Although, we fought on into the deepening dusk, the issue was decided quite early in the day as Gen. Knox's Armee smashed Wellington's defense at Waterloo and so decimated the Anglo-Allied ranks that they were unable to mount any threat to Napoleon's forces. This allowed the French to construct a formidable defense against the advancing Prussians. Gen. Knox's "squared" defense backed by an killing array of French guns with an elevation advantage savaged Blucher's troops as they desperately tried to break the French lines. Although the Prussians managed to prevent Grouchy's corps from reaching the field at Waterloo (killing Grouchy in the process), they were never able to break the French squares and reach their main defensive line. Finally, with mounting losses causing the integrity of the Prussian attack to collapse, Blucher ordered a retreat and the major victory was granted to the French.

It was an honor to oppose Gen. Knox. He is among the best in Napoleon's service -- though a bit misguided. His "squared" defense will go down in history and will be studied in the academies for some time to come.

Salute!

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FM Sir 'Muddy' Jones, KG
2nd Life Guards, 1st Squadron, Household Cavalry
1st Duke of Uxbridge & Anglesey K.G.

All soldiers swearing allegiance to the Corsican Imp are misguided. That really is simply a statement of fact. A great shame that General Knox fell sway to the Tyrant’s charismatic ways, for he is an exceptionally talented officer in service to a doomed cause. He would have made a fine Hanoverian officer.

You have my sincere commiserations on your recent setback at the hands of a most honorable opponent, sir. I do trust, however, that this incident will provide a certain incentive to avenge this loss upon the most unfortunate Tirailluers et Dragons that are now marching against us on the steppes of Russia. Les Miserables! The poor chaps will probably never understand the source of the fury that you will unleash upon them, although they are sure to deeply suffer the effects.

Congratulations to the honorable warrior of France who has managed to best my superior officer on the fields of Belgium for, although defeated on this particular day, the Muddy Marshall of the Anglo-Allied Army is well known to be a valiant and talented warrior himself. Not just any man could manage to compel him to surrender his sword.

A toast to two of our NWC legends! What a mighty clash that must have been!

Sir Muddy I also salute you. I had to work harder is this game than almost any other I have in my 7.5 years with the club.
My turn rate became slow as I scratched my head thinking 'hell what next'

If the allied commander is patient and can endure hardship he can bring the large Prussian army to bear at the crucial late stage of this famous scenario.
I am fortunate that the destruction of Wellington was so complete that I had sufficient cavalry and artillery to contain Blucher.

Tactically this was done using the square defence Muddy mentions.

The square defence works on the basis that squares form islands that delay the attacker while artillery pours fire upon him. This is complimented by reserves using an 'elastic defence' to keep the battle in front of the guns and replenish the squares as they rout or are shot up.

I settled on this approach as I felt in this scenario the fundamental advantage the French held was their vast artillery resources and high quality command (allowing cavalry and the likes to quickly reform)

All in all it was a near run thing except this time in the favour of the Empire of enlightenment.
Gentlemen a toast I give you 'Sir Muddy von Blucher' a most tenacious officer and a man of honour

Salute!

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Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

Congrats to Colin and nice try Ken.

My strategy is to just take so long in resending the game file to him that eventually one of us will die.

If I die first I KNOW that he will turn in a Major Defeat for his side and I will be honored for being an admirable opponent.

If he dies first I know that I will go out and have a nice dinner, raise my glass of lemonade to him and say, "HA! Got ya big guy!"



And THEN turn in a Major Victory for the Allies with the comment that:

"He was an admirable opponent but in the end my constant rhetoric so tired him that his troops ran for Paris!"

(and you know I am just joking on this - Colin and I are BOTH slow with game files at the moment but eventually the blood letting of our forces simply MUST continue)

To both of you a toast - to two of our finer officers in the club and good friends all round.

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Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Prinz Peters von Dennewitz

3. Husaren-Regiment, Reserve-Kavallerie, Preußischen Armee-Korps

Honarary CO of Garde-Ulanen Regiment, Garde-Grenadier Kavallerie

NWC Founding Member

For Club Games: I prefer the Single Phase mode of play. I prefer to play with the following options OFF:

MDF, VP4LC, NRO, MTD, CMR, PR, MIM, NDM, OMR (ver 4.07)

Congratulations on your hard fought victory which was obviously won because of your superior ability!

And I am very happy you are not an Hanoverian, there is enough of them around!

Battle On,

Bill it's still the weekend here so I am ready a file today!

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Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

General Knox,

"Shall we play a game?" to steal a quote from Joshua (Wargames 1983)

Sorry Al I will have to wait until I finish playing Bill before I take on any more games. Happy to then though!

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Marechal Knox

Prince d'Austerlitz et Comte d'Argentan
Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur

"What is history but a fable agreed upon"

Alright, wake me when you're ready.