Infantry Supporting Fire Exposed

When a French attack column crashes into a defended line on the wargaming table, few mechanics trigger more heated debates than supporting fire from adjacent friendly units. While 18th-century military doctrine explicitly built defensive formations around mutual support, historical evidence and period mechanics show that static infantry could only deliver a tiny fraction of their full firepower to aid a neighbor.

Period tactical manuals, clearly demonstrate that no unit was ever meant to fight in isolation. Defensive arrays relied heavily on interlocking fields of fire. For instance, hollow infantry squares deployed in a checkerboard pattern (échiquier) spaced 100 to 120 paces apart created lethal crossfires against charging cavalry, a layout that proved crucial along the Mont-Saint-Jean ridge at Waterloo. Similarly, line infantry relied on enfilade fire (tir d'enfilade) to catch attacking column flanks in a funnel of crossfire, a tactic Arthur Wellesley famously deployed at the Battle of Talavera in 1809.

Despite the foundational doctrine of secours mutuel, static infantry in a shoulder-to-shoulder line faced extreme physical constraints that prevented them from bringing anywhere near full firepower onto a target charging an adjacent unit. Standing two or three ranks deep with men spaced just 21 to 24 inches apart, soldiers could physically swing their musket barrels only 15 to 20 degrees to either side without endangering the comrade next to them. Consequently, an adjacent static regiment could bring only 10 to 20 percent of its total musketry to bear, as only the few platoons on the immediate inside flank held a clear line of sight. Furthermore, as the charging column closed within 50 yards of the target unit, the firing angle for neighboring static troops became so acute that continuing to shoot risked hitting their own allies in the side, dropping static supporting effectiveness to zero at the moment of impact.

To deliver significant supporting fire, adjacent infantry had to physically maneuver by wheeling their end companies inward to form a concave bracket or L-shaped trap. This maneuver could raise firepower effectiveness to 30 to 50 percent or higher, but it required strict drill discipline under dense black powder smoke and left the wheeling unit's outer flank completely exposed to secondary attacks.

Artillery operated under entirely different physical rules. Guns were spaced six to ten yards apart to allow crew movement and pivoted on a single axle. A gun crew could easily traverse a cannon carriage 30 to 40 degrees in seconds without altering the unit's overall formation alignment. This mobility allowed adjacent batteries to routinely deliver 60 to 100 percent of their full firepower across a neighbor's front. At ranges over 300 yards, batteries poured solid roundshot down the flanks of advancing columns. As the target closed within 300 yards, gunners loaded devastating canister shot, switching to double-canister under 50 yards to sweep away entire ranks in a single blast.

Commercial wargame designers heavily reflect these historical realities across popular rulesets. Systems such as General d'Armée, Field of Glory: Napoleonic, and Bataille Empire penalize static adjacent infantry fire by roughly 50 percent through arc and dice-pool modifiers, while keeping flank artillery canister fire at full lethality. Black Powder caps all closing fire to a single die per unit, limiting supporting infantry to roughly 33 percent effectiveness. Empire V and VI restrict fire strictly to the physical figures falling inside a narrow 45-degree cone, while Lasalle abstracts the process entirely by forcing players to spend command momentum on Interrupt actions rather than granting free charge support.

When our umpire umpire steped in, it was to correct a mistake of his own making in his home brew rules. His mid game correction capped defensive fire of static neighboring infantry during a charge, and history it seems, was firmly on his side. Period commanders actively relied on mutual support, but allowing static infantry to pour full firepower into an adjacent combat ignores the geometric realities of linear musketry. To achieve high-potency supporting fire on the battlefield, a commander either had to maneuver their companies into an angled position ahead of time or anchor the line with a dedicated battery of artillery loaded with canister.

The 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot

Experience history like never before with the 44th (East Essex) Regiment of Foot Living History Society! In our latest YouTube Short, you’ll get a glimpse into the world of Napoleonic-era military life, as passionate reenactors bring the past vividly to life.

From precision battlefield drills to the rich detail of authentic 19th-century uniforms, the 44th Foot showcases the grit, discipline, and pageantry of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. Whether they’re marching through a historic town square or demonstrating musket drill at a reenactment event, this dedicated group brings history out of the textbooks and into the real world.

With events across the UK and Europe, the 44th Foot are not only preserving the memory of the regiment they are also inviting new generations to witness and connect with it firsthand. If you’ve ever wanted to see what life was like for a soldier in Wellington’s army, this is your chance.

The Battle of Rivoli 1797 - Posties Rejects demo game at Broadside 2025

Yesterday I posted my photo review of the Broadside Wargames Show, which took place in Gillingham, Kent over the weekend. Posties Rejects were there in force to put on our annual demo game at the show. This year, we presented the Battle of Rivoli, 1797. I say 'we' but in actual fact it was entirely the work of Richard, a fellow member of Postie’s Rejects. He painted all the figures, built the terrain, designed the scenario and acted as umpire for an epic clash that wasn’t just a visual treat but a historically rich and tactically engaging experience for the players and onlookers alike. Check out my short video of the game for a close-up look at the miniatures and all of Richard's hard work. 

The battle he recreated, the Battle of Rivoli, was fought on January 14–15, 1797, during Napoleon Bonaparte’s first Italian campaign in the War of the First Coalition. Near the village of Rivoli Veronese in northern Italy, Napoleon’s Army of Italy faced a significant Austrian force under the command of Feldzeugmeister Jozsef Alvinczi. The Austrians were attempting to break the siege of Mantua, which had been under French pressure for months. Their plan involved a multi-pronged attack through the mountainous terrain north of Verona, with the hope of catching Napoleon’s forces by surprise and forcing them to retreat. However, what followed was one of Napoleon’s most famous early victories.

The French, numbering approximately 22,000 troops, occupied high ground near the Rivoli Plateau. Despite being outnumbered, Napoleon's mastery of terrain, timing, and tactical concentration enabled his smaller force to hold firm and repel around 28,000–30,000 Austrian troops. The Austrians attacked in multiple columns, hoping to converge on the French position, but coordination issues and the rugged terrain made this difficult. Napoleon reacted quickly, reinforcing critical points of the line and using his artillery to great effect. By the second day of the battle, French reinforcements under Generals Joubert and Masséna arrived, overwhelming the fragmented Austrian columns and forcing a general retreat. Austrian casualties numbered over 14,000, while the French lost around 5,000. The victory at Rivoli secured Napoleon’s control of northern Italy and led to the surrender of Mantua shortly afterwards, effectively ending Austria’s hopes of reclaiming the region.

For the demo game, Richard chose to represent the armies and battlefield in 6mm using laser-cut MDF miniatures from Commission Figurines. These figures, painted entirely by Richard himself, allowed for sweeping, realistic unit formations and gave the game an epic scale that larger figures often struggle to capture. The entire battlefield, terrain, and all the models on the table were part of Richard’s personal collection. He not only painted every figure and built the terrain from scratch, but also designed the scenario to reflect the key historical dynamics of the real battle. He also acted as umpire during several test games in the lead-up to Broadside, refining the balance and ensuring historical accuracy, and also ran the game on the day with help from other members of the Rejects.

The rules used for this demo were Volley & Bayonet, a well-established system ideal for large-scale battles like Rivoli. We have played these rules many times and have found them ideal for recreating large Napoleonic battles. The 6mm scale figures were especially effective for conveying the scope of the battle. With large brigades represented by compact but detailed bases, visitors to the show were able to appreciate the overall flow of the battle in a way that just wouldn't have been possible in larger scales. The terrain included rolling ridgelines, the Adige River valley, and the key plateau where the French made their stand. Everything was constructed and painted to a high standard, with Richard’s craftsmanship receiving frequent praise from passers-by. And many attendees commented on how effective 6mm MDF miniatures can be for portraying big battles when painted and based well, as these were. 

The game was a gripping and dynamic experience for those that took part. I spent most of the game circling the table and speaking to visitors ('working' the crowd😆) while several members of the group focused on the ebb and flow of the game.  In the version we played at Broadside, the Austrians once again struggled to coordinate their attacks effectively, though they managed a strong push on one flank before French reinforcements and the uncanny dice rolling skills of Chris dashed their hopes. 

Battle of Castelnuovo del Garda - 6mm MDF Napoleonics

Over the weekend the Rejects gathered for another game hosted by Richard using his incredible 6mm MDF armies. This was a “What If” engagement set in Bonaparte's campaign in Italy in 1797. The Austrians have launched an attack to break the French siege of Mantua. Once achieved and reinforced by the large number of troops there, they were to push the French westward towards Piedmont. Hoping to hold Alvinczy’s Austrian forces at Rivoli, General Bonaparte and his divisions, nonetheless, failed to move quickly enough to reinforce Joubert who was guarding the approaches down the river Adige. Consequently, Joubert was compelled to withdraw his troops south and rendezvous with the forces of Generals Massena and Rey.

In this alternate history, Alvinczy was able to complete the junction of his three columns on the Rivoli plateau. After a day’s rest, he set the Austrian army in motion south to defeat Bonaparte’s revolutionary Army of Italy. As he approached Castelnuovo del Garda, Alvinczy got news of the French beginning to deploy. Bonaparte, now certain that the approaching Austrians represent the main strike towards Mantua – not the feint that Augereau is holding back around Verona - and he is determined to strike a blow against Alvinczy at Castelnuovo del Garda.

After deployment but before battle commenced

An example of the army list showing Joubert's
Corps and the Army Assets directly under
Bonaparte's command. 

Richard had sent us our army lists in advance and started the game with some map-making. One player from each side was allowed to go out to the shed-o-war and reconnoitre the battlefield. They then had 10 minutes to sketch the battlefield; observe the enemy forces and ask questions about the terrain. Returning to their fellow generals each side then had a further 15 minutes to come up with a strategy and write down on the map where their divisions were to be deployed. Only then were we allowed into the shed and given just 10 minutes to place our divisions according to our earlier sketch map. 

Richard was using the Volley & Bayonet rules for this game in what can best be described as a "Grand Tactical" scale. So each 3" square base represented a whole Brigade with each commander controlling a Corps of two or three divisions each. Each turn represents a whole hour, with movement distances up to 16" for an infantry division and up to 24" for cavalry. However, with each inch representing 100 Yards ranges are short. Artillery can fire about 10" while musketry is just a couple of inches. The effect of this is a very different game to that where the player is controlling companies or regiments. Combined with Richards's use of reconnoitre and deployment this game really does feel very different to other games. 

I won't go into too much detail - my brain is still hurting after this cerebral punch-up - but let's just say that Bonaparte wasn't endowed with much luck. We shifted our line to the right as we crossed the last couple of miles towards the Austrians. Our cavalry managed to secure a position on the Austrian flank after they had formed a static line and we immediately pressed that advantage. In the centre, Joubert's Corp kept the Austrian's attention firmly forward while our extreme left, over a mile away, kept them occupied and unable to get around our flank. But having gained the best possible advantage, and doubling up on every attack so we were always throwing more dice in melee than our opponents, we just couldn't land a killer punch. 

By the end of the game, both sides had fought themselves to exhaustion but the Austrians were able to claim a minor victory with their army in marginally better shape than ours. Frankly, our dice rolling was so poor I was surprised the end was as close as it was. 

Richard has posted his own take on running the game for us here and its worth reading for a different perspective of the game from the umpires position. Like Richard I didn't take nearly enough pictures to make a coherent storyboard of the game...I was too busy concentrating and enjoying the puzzle that was this battle. 

Russian 6pdr Gun and Crew and a Water Wagon

So a few weeks ago I painted a 12pdr Gun Team and I mentioned that I also had a 6pdr gun and crew to paint. But you may recall that I had to ‘borrow’ a crewman from the 6pdr team because Sharp Practice has five-man crew for guns but the packs only come with four figures. Well, now that it was time to paint the 6pdr I was two figures down, so I bought a couple of artillery officers from Front Rank to fill the gaps. 

Actually what I plan to do is swap back the ‘borrowed figure’ from the 12pdr crew and give each set one of the officers (shown below)

As with the earlier gun, this was fun to paint, and I look forward to doing more artillery at a later date. During Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812, the Russian army had a substantial artillery force, with estimates ranging from over 600 guns present at Borodino alone. Some sources indicate the Russians had over 2,000 artillery pieces available during the campaign compared to the French, who had approximately 1400 artillery pieces available.

I also had time to do a wagon, this one being a 3D print from Iron Gate Scenery. The Barrels are from Debris of War and the Horse is by Tiger Miniatures. 

Moscow & St Petersburg Opolchenie

More units for my collaboration project with Ray are getting finished as part of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge. Our joint Napoleon's Retreat from Moscow in the winter of 1812 project is coming together and both of us have been getting lots of units completed.  

In addition to the regular Russian army, the Tsar could call upon a huge number of volunteers to provide reserves and garrisons, and even fight alongside regular infantry. The Opolchenie militia enrolled over 220,000 men in 1812 and became a vital element in Russia’s defence. During the French retreat from Moscow, the Opolchenie were increasingly used to pursue the French and in front-line roles alongside regular units, which were by this time tired and depleted. The training was rudimentary at best with an emphasis on musketry and the charge. 

These two units are Front Rank figures and represent some of the better-armed “Jager” Opolchenien equipped with a rudimentary uniform and a Musket. There were also some mounted units armed with lances and other foot units armed only with a Pike and an axe. These would often follow up the Jager units and some sources refer to these troops as ‘foot cossacks’. Although initially used only for reserve roles they were increasingly used to fill gaps in regular troops. What they lacked in training they often made up for in bravery and ferocity in melee. 

Both units have a Kaftan-style jacket and trousers, and a backpack with black belts which wouldn’t be out of place in a regular Jager unit. The Moscow Opolcheine are dressed in brown with a tall fur hat, while the St Petersberg militia are in green with a soft cap similar to the infantry forage cap. In both cases, they display a brass cross symbol on their headgear, a symbol of their loyalty to the Tsar. 

I think I am going to buy more Opolochenie although I think my next lot will be the pike-armed variety plus some cavalry… yet again I am expanding the army before I have finished painting the first batch! 

Russian Jӓgers & Officer 1812

I'm a bit behind with my posts here, these figures were finished a couple of weeks ago. 

Russian Jägers were light infantry who were known for being superior marksmen and agile fighters. They could form line units (indeed I intend on adding a Jäger Line unit to my force at a later date) but their primary use was skirmishing in open order. In many ways, their uniform was very similar to that of regular line/musketeer units. The main visible differences were black leather belts rather than the white of musketeers and grenadiers, and dark green breeches rather than white. These models all wear the soft forage cap which was used, as far as I can tell, by most branches of infantry. Indeed North Star (who make these figures) describe them as Musketeers/Jägers so they could be used for either type, just with different colour belts showing the difference. 

Russian Line Musketeers 1812

My second entry to the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge was on Sunday with these Russian Line Infantry for 1812. Once again they are wearing the 1808 pattern ‘stovepipe’ Shako, this time covered with an oilskin cover to keep them clean on the march. I will eventually get some infantry with the 1812 Kiwer Shako but many regiments hadn’t adopted the new style before the French invasion. One thing my troops have in abundance are Greatcoats. So as well as making my figures considerably easier to paint than the French troops, they were also much more comfortable in the harsh conditions of the Russian winter. Ironically as my boys are warmer than the Frenchies the greatcoat is also a great way to show the cold by dusting its lower edges with frost. 

Russian Line Grenadiers 1812

The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge started a little over a week ago and I completed my first EVER unit of 28mm Napoleonics. These are part of a joint project with Ray and we are doing The Retreat from Moscow in 1812.  These are 1812 Russian Grenadiers, but they are wearing slightly out-of-date equipment. They still wear the 1808 pattern ‘stovepipe’ Shako with its enormous plume. From February 1811 regiments started being equipped with the new ‘Kiwer’ style shako with a much thinner Plume. Still, many had not received these before the French invasion in 1812 and some regiments didn’t fully change to the new regulation uniform until 1814. 

The Secret Project Revealed!

Several months ago, I was planning to paint three armies for 1066. I'd purchased all the miniatures, started working on the army lists and basing options, and found a set of rules that I was excited to try. Then I had a call from Ray. "Fancy working on a collaborative project?" he asked. "What about the 1812 Retreat from Moscow?". Before the phone call had finished, I had already made my first online purchase. 

This is a period that I have wanted to do for a long time, but the idea of taking on the whole thing single-handed was daunting. I've never painted any Napoleonic figures before, and aside from fantasy figures for D&D or Frostgrave, I rarely paint anything in 28mm. So from the beginning, this was going to be a huge but exciting challenge. And of course, the best forum for a challenge of this nature is the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge which starts in a little under two weeks. 

I have taken on painting the Russians for this project, and so far I have purchased a mixture of North Star figures (from their Muskets & Tomahawks range) and of course from Perry Miniatures. Both Ray and I want to use Sharp Practice II for this project so unit sizes are small (8 figures per unit in most cases). That suits me just fine because I am moving outside my comfort zone where I normally paint 6mm or 15mm figures. 

Although we have not yet been able to get started on these armies, we have been able to get a lot of prep done before the Painting Challenge starts on the 21st of December. However, a significant portion of my army is currently in the hands of my wife, who is giving me the gift of Cossacks and Russian artillery this Christmas. 

And what has happened to my 1066 project? Well, the tree armies are mounted on sticks ready to be primed, but will now be completed after the Retreat from Moscow. I will complete them in time, but I can feel the chill wind of the Russian Steppe calling to me. I have to say, buying 28mm in large quantities for the first time in over thirty years has been quite a shock to the wallet! Three 6mm armies for 1066 have cost half what I have already spent on this new project, and there are still a couple of extra units like the Opolchenie Militia and Hussars that I haven't purchased yet. 

Hopefully, I can get the first figures for this completed quickly (I have some time off over Christmas, so I can get more painting time!) and of course, I will post updates here and on the Channel as the project comes together.