ITALIAN UNIFICATION WARGAME (Naples, 19th Century)

                                                    A LITTLE PATIO WARGAME

Taking advantage of the fine weather, decided to fight a quick game outside. This one is set in southern Italy during the mid-19th century.

SCENARIO

A coastal fortress was garrisoned by Neapolitan troops. It comprised a commander, 4 mounted chasseurs (B class), 4 foot chasseurs (A), 4 Veteran Guards (A), 8 infantry (B), and 6 naval gunners (C).

 Unknown to the garrison commander, some locals in the nearby town had sent word to Garibaldi that they were willing to stage an uprising if suitably supported. Working together, they would then assault the fortress from the landward side, which had no heavy guns. 

Two transport ships duly arrived at the town harbour and proceeded to disembark using three rowboats. The expeditionaries comprised 2 mounted commanders, 12 redshirts (A), 12 allied volunteers (B), and a professional gun crew of 3, kindly lent by the Kingdom of Savoy (A).

The town response to their arrival was determined by the throwing of a dice.

A score of three would see a civil war in the town. More dice would indicate the level of support for each side. Those nationalists willing to actually take up arms numbered eighteen, while the Bourbon loyalists mustered twenty-one. As the pro-Bourbon Party was more numerous they would still control the town, and also had access to the local artillery piece. All armed locals had a morale rating of C.

THE FIGHTING BEGINS

MOVE ONE Being informed of the arrival of two ships flying tricolour flags, the town mayor despatched a rider to the fort with a request for help. He ordered others he could trust to hold the Mayor's residence, and also the dock. A dice was thrown to confirm the messenger was not hindered on his ride.

MOVE TWO Local Nationalists staged an uprising, and the respective partisans exchanged fire from several buildings. A nationalist was hit. The Bourbon cannon fired on the rowboats, but missed. MOVE THREE More fire, both sides losing a man. But the Bourbon artillery piece also scored a hit on a row boat. Well, it took the head off one of those onboard. Garibaldi's volunteers were not expecting an opposed landing from the town, but their resolve held.

MOVE FOUR The Bourbons in the Mayor's house suffered a second casualty, but the dockside cannon repeated a decapitation on a rowboat!

MOVE FIVE The Bourbons in the Mayor's house suffered their third casualty.

At half strength, fired upon from three sides, and only partisan class, the remaining three surrendered. They were given a severe beating, but survived (D4). MOVE SIX The Bourbon messenger arrived at the fort, the garrison commander (D6) decided to leave the veterans and naval gunners there, but take the remainder to the town.

The nationalist rowboats now reached the dock. The Bourbon partisans fired everything they had, but inflicted only two casualties.

But nationalist partisans were now approaching towards them from behind. MOVE SEVEN Garibaldi's redshirts charged the defenders, and the mayor and his followers scattered (D1).

MOVE EIGHT to ELEVEN The town was now controlled by the nationalists. MOVE TWELVE The Bourbon Regulars advanced on the Mayor's residence. They were met with fire from two buildings, causing a casualty on the foot chasseurs.

MOVE THIRTEEN The Bourbon infantry charged the lesser house, occupied by the Greyshirts. Their morale held (D6) and they delivered a fine volley, bringing down two Regulars. But the latter also continued their charge. In the following melee both sides suffered a casualty..... but the greys had the advantage of being more numerous and defending. MOVE FOURTEEN Another chasseur hit the dust. In the second round of melee the charge impact had been spent, and they lost the melee with a further casualty.

But their morale still held (D6). Realising that his command included two units that would no longer take the offensive, being half strength, the Bourbon commander ordered a withdrawal on MOVE FIFTEEN. Terms having been agreed with the enemy for a peaceful departure (D6). It was just as well as unknown to the Bourbon commander the town square would have also opposed him with two manned cannon and twelve nationalist partisans.

RESULT 

The Bourbon commander had lost half of his line infantry and foot chasseurs. A few days later he evacuated the fortress, having destroyed the garrison guns. With hindsight, the commander might have done better waiting for a direct assault on the fort? Perhaps the town mayor should have made his main stand in his residency?  

MGB

NEW MEDIEVAL BANNERS

A number of units in my Medieval collection were still using 28mm banners, painted some twenty years previous. It was time to issue new, and in a 54mm scale. Here are a few.

                                 One of my Guelph pike blocks now carries a Florentine banner.

Florence can also furnish a unit of crossbowmen.

The Ghibelline Duchy of Styria has issued a banner to their pikemen. Green is somewhat rare in heraldry.

Something for my Papal archers, this signal flag is imaginary, with Borgia heraldry.

My Venetians are now ready for action.

And finally. This old banner has been drafted to my Genoese archers, but they could also serve as English.

MGB