Waterloo with 15mm

A hard fought game lasting all day. The French left flanking plan came a little unstuck, owing to the fact that the Allies had massed 90% of their cavalry on the same flank. So while this sector, west of Hougoumont did not progress so well for the French, other areas did better.

The briefing for our umpire for the day: (initial deployment where the French were unable to see what they were up against)

The French left flanking attack was largely concealed behind the ridge line. (the thin green string in the foreground)

Vandamme gets ready to hit Hougoumont. (or go round it we intended)

II Corps cavalry in the foreground supporting Vandamme's III Corps. Guard cavalry in the centre supporting I Corps (D'Erlon) with Reille's II Corps in the far distance.

IV Corps heavy cavalry and horse artillery prepare to go.

Hougoumont was finally taken (Vandamme) towards the end of the day and the centre (D'Erlon) was punched once the French realised that "if all the Allied cavalry were over there, they can't be here also!" Reille's II Corps not just held the right flank but used dead ground with his limited cavalry to surprise English infantry in line. Light infantry swamped the woods. He also pounced on the one bridge the Prussians were hoping to cross, forcing units into square and bottling up Prussian progress.

Grouchy's timely arrival with some vanguard cavalry also helped to secure the right flank.

In the end it was a French victory but the Guard infantry would have been of more use in the centre rather than on the left flank. Just keen to do something different. The Allies did as well as could have been expected.

Apologies for the limited photos…I was too busy making excuses as to why the Guard were not being properly utilised.