Battle of Brooks Farm 15mm Peter Laing battle

This is another of the wargames I played during the blizzard. It is based on H.G. Welles "Battle of Hook Farm".  I used Peter Laing British Victorian parade figures (most of them home casts) and Crimean War figures for one side; Peter Laing ACW and Indian wars figures for the other side.

On the left is the Red forces: from bottom up;cavalry troop, cavalry trp, infantry co., artillery battery, infantry co. artillery battery, Guards co., Guards co.
Blue forces are on the right: from bottom up: Inf. co.,Cavalry trp., artillery battery, inf.co., inf. co., cavalry trp., battery, inf. co.

Red forces move first. Notice Guards co. swinging wide around church of left.

Blue's first turn:right cavalry unit cuts across infantry co. front. Both cavalry troops making for Brooks farm (in center  of picture).

2nd move: Blue moves first. Their cavalry grabs the ridge line  while the rest of the units continue forward.

Red's turn: between the cavalry charge and artillery fire, Red  throws both Blue cavalry units back with heavy losses.  Notice one blue cavalry unit has fallen back and is to the right of the yellow trees. 

Blue's turn.The blue cavalry unit at left of picture hits Reds right flank cavalry troop forcing it back with losses. One infantry co. gets to the ridge line, the rest of the army comes forward. 

Red's turn.  Reds rightmost cavalry unit attacks blues left cavalry,  forcing it back with losses. For the rest of the battle these two units fight each other and they no longer play any important part in the main battle. The other red cavalry unit attacks the ridge line and throws back one infantry co.  Notice on the right the two Guards cos. have joined together on Blues right flank.

Red gets first turn.  The Red infantry starts establishing a line around Brooks farm. Meanwhile the Guards hits the leftmost blue infantry co. which loses 3/4 it's numbers and is routed. 

Blue's turn. Around Brooks farm, blue's infantry forces back some of red's infantry. Meanwhile, the blue infantry co.that had lost most of their men now takes up position to the right the gun facing the advancing Guards.  And now disaster strikes the Red's Guards. The right hand blue gun inflects 3/4 losses on the Guards co. at it's front.

Blue's turn.  Blue tries to consolidate it's hold on Brooks Farm.

Red's turn. With darkness closing in, Red continues to try to carry Brooks farm and Blue's losses continue to mount.

Blue's turn.  The blue gun  causes 50% loss to the Guards co.  and the Guards retreats behind the ridge to get itself out of the line of site of the gun.

Red's turn. The Guards now come up on the ridge line and joins the attack on  the farm.  It looks like Red just might win the battle.

Blue's turn. However, Blue's counterattack throws all of Reds' troops off the ridge and they bring up their  gun onto the ridge and now has a strong line on the ridge.

Red's turn. The Red army general now decides to pull his army back; the Blue army has too strong a position.


This battle proved to be great fun. I had to wrap this battle up as it was getting dark out and the power was still out at my house.  The turns might have seemed to be out of order, however  each turn I rolled for initiative for the sides.