Russian Ottoman war of 1806-1812 : Tatariz October 10th 1809 in 54mm

For his Birthday, my godchild Kristof had asked to stage a wargame for him and his friends.

They shoose the Russian Ottoman wars as theme.

I did find an appropreate battle in this book (higly recommended)

I boosted the number of batalions and units involved to have a balanced big battle.

Russian players: 

from left to right

Dirk as col. Prince Trubetskoy: 7th & 14th jäger regt + battery

Kristof CIC as General Bagration  controling forces of General Kusknikov : Ukraine & Novgorod Inf regt + battery & Col Count Pahlen  force: Starodub & Dept Drgoon regt + horse battery & 2 Cossack regts  Bert as Gen bakhmetyev: Voronezh & Arkhangelogorod Musketeer regt + battery

Alwin as General von Mecklenburg : Moscow & Malorossiski Grenadier regt + battery

Ottoman players: 

Gaetan as Mahmut Tiran Pasha, comming up as reinforcements on a 6 in the first turn, 5or 6 in the 2nd turn, etc.  4 units of Nizam-i Djedid (westrn style infantry) 2  units of Albanian infantry, 3 units of Albanian Suvarleri (veteran medium) cavalry + horse battery, 

Thomas 2 redouts with medium batteries, 2 orta of jannisaries, 1 unit of Albanian infantry , 2 units of Bulgarian rayas (skirmish) infantry + 2 units of Balkan delis c(light)avalry

Marnix CIC as Mehmet Pasha 2 redouts with 2 heavy batteries + 3 orta of jannisaries + 2 units of Anatolian sekhans (skirmish) infantry

The fire of the heavy batteries drove back the forces Alwin and Bert over and over again in the first rounds

The dragoons and delis cavalry fought a number of battles without important results except wearing down each others strength

The central redout was assaulted time and time again by Kirstof 

The outflanking manouvre of Alwin was frustrated by the sekhans skimishers and musketry of the jannisars.

Dirk split up his force, halve taking on the Albanians the other part taking positions behind the stream.

Kristof did send the cossacks to the left as reinforcements.

In the woods, the cossacks did find excelent terrain for their tactics. An enemy force  in trouble or showing its flank or rear led to a mandatory charge, no order needed.

Finaly the jäger had a foothold on the central hill.

Kristof also managed to take the breastwork and one of the batteries. However his reserves were running low.

Bert & Alwin changed tactics and went for an ll or nothing frontal assault on the main Ottoman position.

They also took the breastworks, it seemd the Russians were taking the opper hand, one of the heavy batteries even destroyed. Victory was imminent

The jägers on the far left stood ground, the Suvarileri cavalry failed to break them and the Ottoman cavalry was hit in the flank and  swept away by cossacks .

The same fate for the Albaninan infantry. The Russian left was holdiing against the odds.

But Marnix and Thomas, with their last reserves were able to drive back the Russians from the breastworks. 

Withe the forces of Alwin, Bert and Kristof on breaking point, another Russian atempt was impossible.  Victory had been so close

Mehmet Pasha,  victorious, as happend in reality