What better way to spend the last day of the holidays than playing a wargame all afternoon? Dave and I were attacking the Austrians in Solferino, Mike was defending whilst John Lowrie sent abusive texts to his hockey team. The rules were our favourite Regimental Fire and Fury, with amendments to cater for 1859. I’ll let the photos tell the story…….

Our task was to capture the town in the centre. Dave was confident that his Crimean war veterans could storm the cemetery. He attacked in battalion columns of the 45th Ligne, with the 6th Field artillery attempting to silence the Austrian artillery.

On the right, my zouaves and Turcos would skirt the graveyard and take the hill overlooking Solferino. Although the French  rifles and guns out ranged the Austrians, their fire was causing enough disruption to hinder any rapid advance.

The 45th assaulted the Austrian strongpoint but the first two charges were repulsed. My Turcoes flanked the position but these uncovered the Austrian position on the hills to the right.

Even with all the first regiment commited, the first brigade was only just holding on to the bottom of the cemetery ridge. However, the Feld jaeger on the hill were beginning to wish they hadn’t opened up on the tough North Africans.

The afternoon was drawing to a close and our first brigade was still outside of the town. Mike Lane ordered his reserve regiment to counterattack. I had thoughts of rolling up the Austrian line from the flanking hill but the ridge concealed yet more Austrian infantry.

It would be hoped that our Sardinian allies had done better than us! Mike held The position and we had run out of time. Mike has an amazing collection of minis and he always makes the Tercio welcome. We’ve been promised the Seven Year’s war next time so stay tuned. Thanks very much for reading!