I've got quite a collection of 28mm figures (mostly Prussian) from Elite and Connoisseur and a few battalions of French. I wanted to do a campaign that would allow me to collect units from lots of different nationalities and game battles from small skirmishes up to large engagements. Given that my figures wouldn't be ready until next year I decided to have a go at the 1814 campaign as I've never gamed any of the battles from this campaign.
The 1814 campaign in France seems largely ignored by
wargamers who prefer to concentrate on the larger battles found in the 1812/1813
and 1815 campaigns. I have never
understood why this campaign is unpopular even though scholars consider it to
be one of Napoleon’s finest campaigns, alongside the Italian campaign at the start
of his career.
For me, the iconic painting by Ernest Messonier has always
been one of my favourite historical paintings and the first one I ever
bought. It has adorned the wall of my
study for over twenty five years and has been a source of personal inspiration
during some tough times in my life. In
spite of this, I like many Napoleonic gamers, have never considered the battles
of Montmirail, Vauchamps, Craonne, Montereau or Paris as worthy of my time.
This all changed when I read Petrie’s Napoleon at Bay earlier this year, six
months and many books later I am utterly absorbed by this campaign and the wargaming
potential it provides.
This blog is intended to collect my thoughts, plans and
experiences of wargaming the 1814 campaign, I also hope that it provides inspiration
for other wargamers as we approach it’s bi-centennial year. I will also post reviews and recommendations
on books, websites and boardgames that provide additional background
information for the campaign.
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