The Battle of Leipzig: Day One

 
Last weekend we finally got around to playing our Battle of Leipzig: Day One game. Originally planned for February it was bumped to the May long weekend (May two four, as it is known here in Canada). Truth be told, although it is right smack dab in the middle of my busy season I was thankful for the extra time. 

Set up was Friday late afternoon and early evening.

The view above is from the northwestern corner of the battlefield; the shot below from the southeast, with the Elster winding through the trees on the left.. 

The extra time allowed me to make one more panel last panel which included the Galgenberg; here the French have established a grand battery on top of it, with the village of Liebertwolkwitz in the foreground:

In the northwestern corner we have the town of Mockern:

And a few miles south of it, Lindenau:

Beyond them and Leipzig, is the veteran core of Napoleon's army, including the Guard cavalry:

 Lauriston's troops defend Lieberwolkwitz:

Coalition troops launch their attack on the southern French line and the Galgenberg:

The French grand battery facing them:

French troops in hasty fortifications, defend the bridge over the Elster to Leipzig:

Merveldt advances on Connewitz:

Coalition artillery set Leiberwolkwitz ablaze:

The view from behind Coalition lines in the south (Wachau-  also in flames- in the middle foreground):

Giulay's Corps arrives outside Lindenau:

Mormont arrives outside Mockern, with the Russians hot on his heels:

French reinforcements make their way onto the battlefield from the northeast:

In the southeast, Klenau appears on the Kolmberg (bottom of photo), on the French flank:

The village of Dolitz, the target of Austrian artillery from the west bank of the Elster:

Although I was responsible for the majority of the terrain, I also had one small contribution to make with regards to troops; this small unit of Krakusi, from Boki miniatures, on the road in the centre of this photo:

Austrians cross the bridge at Lindenau:

Back in the southeast, we have Austrians and Russians on the left, and the French in the centre:

Most of the way through the day (the section in the upper left has been pulled away so his imperial majesty could reach his troops in the centre of the table):

Schwartzberg's troops advance up the table with both Wachau and Leibertwolkwitz aflame in the background:

Coalition troops push up the table:

The Russian gun line outside Lindenthal, pummels the French at Mockern:

French heavy cavalry wait in reserve:

In the southeast, French cavalry cross open ground to get to Klenau's corps:

Giulay's men await their turn to cross the bridge on the way to Leipzig:

The Coalition now fully deployed in the south:

Ney inspires his troops to the east of Mockern:

Napoleon is so concerned that the French hold the northwest, keeping the coalition no closer than Mockern, he commits MacDonald to it's defense and makes an appearance himself:

Having pushed the grand battery off the Galgenberg, the Coaltion finds itself in a bit of a traffic jam:

With that, Day one was done:

The day ended in French victory as they still controlled key locations despite taking heavier casualties and had fared better than they did historically. Napoleon had the option to either extend the game a turn or end it a turn early; sensing that another turn might give the allies an advantage, he chose to end the game early. Here he is making his final move (the large table - 12' at it's widest and 14' at it's longest- did present some challenges...):