Report

A set piece battle with the two sides fighting over a village on the Crimean peninsular.

The British set up in two divisions: the Rifles, Guards and Hussars under command of the CinC aimed directly at the village, with the rest of the force moving forward over the open ground to the left.

The Russians sent a small force to occupy the village, but concentrated their main thrust in the centre of the battlefield.

As battle commenced, the Russians let loose an almighty cavalry charge at the British horse artillery that had advanced rapidly to the front-left. The RHA were, however, unlimbered and ready for action: and blew the first rank of Russian horse from the field. The others followed: shaken by the carnage.

On the right, the British elite column was confronted by some Hussars and D-class Russian infantry. Impatient for combat, the Guards charged, in column, but were counter-charged by the Hussars and, horror of horrors, thrown back. This was doubtless due to the fact that the Guards had disordered themselves by charging through a line of Rifles that had already KO’d one squadron of Hussars.

This meant that the British right flank elite force spent the rest of the battle re-organising behind a screen of Rifles that were inflicting heavy casualties on the Russian infantry. As the battle ended, the Guards were advancing once more, and the Russians beginning to crumble, but the Rifles were also starting to look a bit shaky: having been under constant artillery fire for two hours.

In the centre, the two lines continued exchanging fire and, as the battle ended as the short Russian day drew to a close, the three Russian and two British battalions had fought each other to a standstill.

With the British right flank force about to break through; the Russian right stalled due to the threat from flanking cavalry; and the Russian centre crumbling faster than the British centre: it looked grim for the Russians. Despite this, and despite the disparity in forces, due to the fact that the battle had to end at this point, the battle was declared a draw.

Casualties

The British lost 140 Rifles; 20 Horse Artillery crew; 260 men from the 66th; 20 men from the 57th; 20 Field Artillery crew; 100 Lancers and 80 Guards. A total of 640.

The Russians lost 140 Dragoons; 200 Hussars; 40 Cossacks; and 780 infantry. A total of 1160. 

Results

The Russians escaped with a lucky draw.

Analysis

Warning: remember that a small number of inferior troops can hold up your elite flanking column in a town or other enclosed space!

Whilst the British would undoubtedly have eventually crumbled the Russian forces, it is doubtful whether they would have had enough men left to do anything about it. Oh, for those missing 600 points!