Blucher 1809 Austrian v French

My first Blucher game for quite a while with my never before used but painted years ago 6mm Austrians taking on Sean's French. I went for a powerful Advanced Guard corps and two similar mixed infantry/cavalry/artillery Corps.

Sean immediately surprised me by committing four cavalry brigades to scouting and thus winning the initiative in the Scharnhorst campaign. 

After a couple of moves the Austrians got to declare the battle:

The French had achieved one more VP than the Austrians but the Austrians could still win on VP on the table if they managed to take the French held village.

All the Austrian army was on table, the French had two columns on table with a third entering from their left rear:

The first action occurred on the Austrian left where some French Dragoons attacked advancing Austrian foot:

Despite not being prepared the Austrians see off the Dragoons easily:

Having to defeat the French army the Austrians quickly move to the attack, hoping to use superior numbers (and quality) to overwhelm the French corps on the right before the second French corps can redeploy to reinforce them:

The Advance Guard cross the stream and move to the attack:

On the left the Austrians have disposed of all the French cavalry but are now a long way from the action:

The Austrian attack makes progress but the second French Corps is arriving to fill some of the gaps:

Fierce fighting continues:

Grenadiers and Cuirassiers charge home:

On the left the Austrians are unable to move due to the Austrian command being rather busy elsewhere! The Dragoons do move up a little though:

The French are taking a pounding and start to withdraw covered by their second Corps:

The Austrians close in for the kill, will they be able to destroy enough French brigades before night falls?

Most of the French are very depleted now and on the edge of breaking while the Austrians have also lost a few brigades:

The French still hold the town so if the French army holds on until nightfall they will win the battle:

The Austrians manage to disperse one more French brigade breaking the French army:

A close game which was only decided with a couple of turns left, the French got very close to withdrawing all their battered brigades successfully before night fell.

Sean's army was an interesting composition with a lot of cheap allied cavalry and infantry plus artillery batteries attached to brigades rather than concentrated and gave him a lot more units than I expected.

Playing in 6mm worked well, the (relatively) bigger table made a bit of a difference with march moves not being quite so effective but it gave a good visual impression, was easier to transport the armies and has the potential to play more points on the same size table.

Hopefully after spending many years in a box since being painted the tiny Austrians will make more appearances!