Napoleonic Skirmish Russians vs Ottomans Song of Drums & Shakos AAR #7

This fortnight we returned to the Song of Drums and Shakos rules, we played the Attack on the Farm House Scenario. Dave and Maurice took command of the colourful Ottomans and I girded up my loins and led the Russians. Last game we played in our Russo-Turkish War 'campaign' the Ottomans were given a drubbing by the Russians who defended their 'strong point' with vigour! In this game the Russians will be defending a farm house behind a stream. This time though the Ottomans have an even greater advantage in numbers, 29 to 12! The undisciplined but ferocious Bashi Bazouks hope to avenge their recent set back!

Privates Boris and Igor apparently swamped by Bashi Bazouks make a stand that will change the course of the battle!

The Story

Late August 1810
With Captain Popoff on leave to receive an award after his glorious victory over marauding Turks Sergeant Putin redeployed their small picket force from the bloody site of their last action to a farm house behind a small brook. This would allow the men time to regroup and rest. They believed they had broken contact with the Turks they had just defeated, they were wrong!
Meanwhile Bashi Bazouk leaders Yildiz and Arslan stung from their setback gathered reinforcements and pursued the cursed Russians and they vowed to catch them and slay them...all of them!
The Ottomans Boluk-bashi quickly reengaged their Russian quarry, they split their force into two wings and advanced! 

The Forces

Ottoman Bashi Bazouks - Attackers

Morale 15
‘Boluk-bashi’ (leaders); Berlin Yildiz & Baler Arslan

Q - 3

C - 2

Weapons - Pistol, Sword

Special Rules - Leader 

‘Bashi Bazouk’ Musket x 13

Q - 4

C - 2

Weapons - Musket

Special Rules -Strong (attack only), Poor Shot, Green and Unreliable

Bashi Bazouk’ Obsolete Firearm x 6

Q - 4

C - 2

Weapons - Obsolete Firearm, Sword

Special Rules - Strong (attack only), Poor Shot, Green and Unreliable 

‘Bashi Bazouk’ Obsolete Firearm x 8

Q - 4

C - 2

Weapons – Pistol, Sword

Special Rules - Strong (attack only), Poor Shot, Green and Unreliable

National Trait
Fury                         Once per game a close combat opponent may be killed by just beating                                       its modified die roll (no need to triple), this must be nominated before
                                rolling the die and may not be used against the Russian NCO

Imperial Russians- Defenders

Morale 7

NCO Sergeant Putin

Q - 3

C - 2

Weapon - Musket, Sword

Special Rules – NCO leadership range is 1M (scenario rule)

Musketeer x 10

Q - 4

C - 2

Weapon - Musket 

Special Rules - Steadfast

Jaeger Carabineer x 1 = 47 pts

Q - 4

C - 2

Weapon - Rifle

Special Rules - Light, Elan
National Trait

Stubborn                   Force Morale updated due to this

Scenario Special Rules

Woods don't reduce leadership range but give light cover and is difficult for movement.

The stream can be forded at any point at difficult movement rate.

Bridge is two figures wide.

Fences, the farm house and bridge sides give light cover.

The AAR

Our battlefield!

The Russians deployed a group of six Musketeers along the farm houses fence facing the

stream supported by Sergeant Putin and Jaeger Vassily and four Musketeers formed a

skirmish line masking the bridge.

 Arslan's group of Turks advanced down the road toward the bridge...

 ...while Yildiz's Bashis moved furtively through the woods!

Putin ordered an early volley which caused a casualty, in fact one of the Turks had his

head taken clean off which set back their advance as a few Bashis retired on seeing this

gore!

Note - with these Rules 'green' soldiers like these Bashis require a morale check when

a 'violent death' is caused by fire or close combat nearby!

Also where you see a shell by a figure/group of figures their weapons are unloaded.

  

Undeterred Yildiz's Bashis pushed forward, returning fire which resulted in a Russian

casualty, Vassily the Russian Jaeger had leapt the fence impetuously and was struck!

Meanwhile with Sergeant Putin's attention focused on the advance from the wood

Musketeers, Boris, Igor, Ivan and Fred fought a skilful delaying action! They begrudgingly

gave ground while inflicting losses on the Ottomans!

Seeing the red mist a Bashi charged and engaged Ivan in close combat (he rolled a double

six when activating allowing a bonus action) despite the Turk having the better melee

weapon and having a close combat bonus Ivan dealt with him swiftly, Ivan rolled a six and

the Turk rolled a one when determining the result! Another 'violent death' which caused

several other Bashis to hesitate. This flank was holding on by the skin of its teeth!

Ivan's luck did not hold as shortly after he was gutted by a wild sword wielding Bashi! Fred

withdrew to the farm at this point leaving Boris and Igor to handle a horde of Ottomans!

This overview shows the Turks having trouble crossing the stream faced by volley after

volley from the Musketeers manning the farm's fence while the Turks having crossed the

bridge were making headway albeit slowly!

Igor and Boris make their stand! For two full turns they held off the crowd of Bashis inflicting

losses...In the background the third Musketeer from the flank, Fred can be seen arriving at

the farm house just in time to help the defence as Bashis can be seen at trying to gain entry

to the yard!

 Finally Igor fell but Boris was able to decamp and retire to the farm house!

The sacrifice made by the Russians in the field meant that Yildiz's Bashis had no support

when they reach the farm's fence. It had cost the Turks several men to get close but

there was still enough of them to clinch a victory. Vicious hand to hand fighting ensued as

they came to grips with the Russian defenders! It was looking dire for the defenders...  

...but under Sergeant Putin's direct orders Igor took an aimed shot at a Bashi barely feet

from him and scored a hit, but not just any hit, his victim crashed to he ground writhing in

pain and in a screaming like a banshee! 

It was the pivotal point of the battle, the Russian were hard pressed and Arslan's men were

just about to engage them when Igor's well aimed shot not only put the fear of Allah into the

hearts of the Bashis but pushed them to the limit of their morale! They broke! many would

keep running to Istanbul! Arslan himself was injured in the stampede to the rear! The

Russian cheered heartily!

A point on rules here, the Turks were really unlucky with the morale dice at this point. Many

of the Turks took morale checks because of the 'violent death' which some failed, this took

them passed their 'force morale total' which required all figures to take a morale check and

to top it off one of their leaders Arslan failed his check totally seeing him flee which meant

the few survivors around him took a leader morale check, this cascade left them with little

chance of getting back into the fight! The rules reflect 'green' forces well!

The Ottomans can be seen fleeing!

Another exciting game of Song of Drums and Shakos resulting in a Russian victory, but it

was  a close run thing! The final casualty count didn't reflect how close the Ottomans came

to winning with 19! Turks lost to 6 Russians. At least a third of the Turkish losses resulted

from failing morale checks!

PS - I've finished reading the Song of Drums Large Battle rules now they look very

interesting so will get a run soon!