The Battle of Frank Sanbeans farm

In the first of a new series of Sharpe Practice games I 've got lined up, after concluding our imaginations campaign, we played the Battle of Frank Sanbeans scenario from the Toofatlardies Summer Special 2017.

Union forces must hold the farm, assisted by farmer Frank Sanbeans and his kin (irregular skirmishers), while the Confederates must crush the Union forces and capture Frank.

Frank Sanbeans

Union troops hurriedly take up position behind a low stone wall, taking fire from approaching Confederate skirmishers.

A large Confederate formation is coming down the road, but Yankee troops are on their way to intercept them.

Bullets are flying across the field behind the farm. Frank and his brothers and cousins are sniping at the approaching Rebels from the house.

The main Confederate formation is deploying in a line, and more groups are coming on the table. Meanwhile the main Union formation is still trying to cross the low wall.

Frank's men take out the officer commanding the Confederate skirmishers, but it's only a minor wound.

The Yankee troops have finally deployed in a line formation across the road.

Battered Confederate skirmishers retreat and make room for more Confederate troops.

The Union lines are under pressure and starting to crumble.

A virtual wall of bullets take out the entire Sanbeans family, wounding Frank and punching holes in the Union defense.

At this point we called it a night. My Union force was severely depleted. My opponent's Confederates were still going strong. Taking a wounded Frank with them, the Yankees retreated, yielding the farm to the Confederates.

 

The Bordurian Incursion Part 6

The defence of Waswa

The Bordurian attempt to cross the river Waswa at the ford was thwarted by a strong Syldavian defence in the previous game. Now the Bordurians are throwing everyting they've got at the village of Waswa. If they can capture Waswa, they can cross the river and occupy the hinterlands. The Syldavians are determined to  hold on to Waswa and rush to its defence.

Skirmishers deploy in the deserted town. The townspeople have sought refuge on the other side of the river.

 

More units arrive (we used the hasty attack rule: units have a 50% chance of arriving when their card comes up) and move cautiously through the streets.

Bordurian light infantry moves around the corner.

But a unit of Syldavian line infantry is waiting for them.

The Bordurian conscripts are marching to the square.

The Syldavians take a gamble and take up position in the middle of the town square.

Joined by the militia they succesfully blast the Bordurian skirmishers out of the building and then start pouring fire into the Bordurian conscripts.

The Bordurian machine gun team is trying to enter a building bordering the square. If the team can set up the machine gun, the Syldavians in the square will be shot to pieces.

But the Syldavian militia gets into the building first, preventing the Bordurians from entering.

On the other side of the table, Bordurian actions are more succesful. The Syldavian line unit is forced to withdraw and seek cover behind the building.

Meanwhile, the Bordurian conscripts are buckling under the hail of fire the Syldavians are pouring into them.

The fighting in the square intensifies when a Bordurian group of light infantry appears from one of the streets.

The Syldavians are victorious however, because a nearby group of Syldavian light infantry shoots the Bordurians to pieces.

Although a large chunk of Syldavian soil is still occupied by Bordurian forces, the Syldavians have stopped them at the river Wasz at the end of this campaign.

I really liked the imagination setting and will probably use it in the future to play some Sharpe Practice mission (as opposed to battle) scenario's.