I think I've only written three scenarios in the last three years. They were all ACW and quite challenging to write, being complex higher-level operational games. I've been trying to get my scenario-writing mojo back and finally managed it (I hope). It turned out that nobody else had a game ready for this week and I had three days to come up with something, so I did.
The battle I chose is one that has been on my to-do list and knocking around in the back of my head for a while: Debrecen. It's from the Hungarian War of Independence, which was a big focus for me while we were preparing the scenario book we published in 2022, but which I haven't played a lot since then.
Fighting through the tall maize outside Debrecen.
The reason this battle didn't make it into the scenario book is that it was very one-sided. General József Nagysándor (whose surname literally means "Alexander the Great"), commanding the Hungarian 1st Corps, was tasked with delaying the Russian advance while the rest of General Görgei's Hungarian army was escaping southwards. The approaching Russian army under Marshal Paskevich outnumbered 1st Corps by about five to one. Nagysándor unwisely stood to fight rather longer than was prudent, so his force was overwhelmed and routed.
Nevertheless, fighting withdrawals are fundamentally interesting situations and I was intrigued to explore whether it could have gone better for the Hungarians. I put together a scenario and Dave T and I fought it out. Here's how it went in 11 photos, with some reflections at the end.
The battlefield is a compact one - only 36"x36". We're looking east towards the city of Debrecen, which is just off the top edge. The Russians march on from the bottom edge. They have to cross a big stretch of maize fields. The maize at this time of year was taller than a mounted cavalryman, a serious obstacle, so it is treated as woods. The Hungarian defensive line is behind a stream, along some low hills and vineyards on the outskirts of the city.
It's an 8-turn game. The four red counters are Objective locations. The Hungarians earn 1 VP at the end of Turn 6, and Turn 7, and Turn 8, if they hold at least 2 of those Objectives. They also earn 1 VP if at least two Russian inf or cav units are Spent or destroyed; 1 VP for getting half their artillery away; and 1 VP for getting half their inf/cav units away. They need 4 VP to draw or 5+ to win.
First big decision for the Hungarians is whether to post some troops forward in the maize to delay the Russians. Dave opted to deploy one of his infantry brigades and a battery there, as well as his cavalry.
Here come the Russians! This is Turn 2. On Turn 1, a cavalry division moved on, which has scouted the far edge of the maize (top right), obliging Dave to reveal all his troops behind the stream (they start the game hidden). Now two infantry regiments move towards the Hungarian advance guard while another two race up the road in march column.
Dave responds by attacking my lead regiment's march column in front and flank! No serious harm done - I was lucky - but the column was pushed back in disorder and delayed.
Figures are
Baccus 6mm. The Hungarians are mostly proxied from the ACW range. The "Russians" today are actually my 1870 Prussians. At least they have spiked helmets and iron cross flags, so they look near enough like Russians.
Turn 3. All my four infantry regiments have shaken out into assault formations. They've driven the Hungarian speed bump back but are still struggling to get through the maize. Meanwhile, 96 guns are rumbling up the road, hoping to deploy a gun line to blast our way to Debrecen.
Unfortunately, deploying that gun line isn't straightforward. Dave's own guns blew some of mine away, then two of his brigades boldly charged. My cannister didn't deter the Hungarians and most of my guns were taken or forced to fall back.
So I brought another four regiments on! The Hungarians were now outnumbered 3:1. This is the view from the Hungarian side as their right is about to be enveloped and overwhelmed by the torrent of Russians. Nagysándor is in the foreground regretting his decision to stand and fight.
All quiet on the Hungarian left, though. Dave has chosen to hide his raw scythe-armed national guards here, which is enough to deter my cavalry (top left).
Russians are flooding across the stream and over the Hungarian right and centre now. We've just taken the hill objective, but Dave still earns the VP for holding 2+ at end of Turn 6.
Turn 7, looking across from the Russian left now. Russian cavalry have taken one road exit; Russian infantry try to capture the Hatvan Street vineyard but can't do it on Turn 7 - another VP for Dave.
Turn 8, the vineyard falls, so no Turn 8 VP. However, the Hungarians do manage to get half their troops and artillery away for 2 more VP, as a sole horse artillery battery covers their retreat.
Sum total: 4 VP, making it an honourable draw.
Reflections
The fun of one-to-one. Dave T has been a bit occasional in recent years because of his work, but happily is now a regular attender again. He's a good bloke and we've missed him, so it was good to have a game with just the two of us. Also it was just a nice change from our usual more hectic multi-player games.
The fun of Hungary 1848. This is such a characterful war, full of incident and interest. That maize field alone made this a distinctive action to fight on the tabletop. And how many 19th-century battles feature scythemen?
More research needed. Because of time pressure, I created the scenario from just two resources (Ramming and Rüstow). I know there is more detail to be had from two others (Bánlaky and Hermann). What I produced was great as a game but I'm sure it is imperfect as a historical recreation, so I'll go over it again at more leisure.
Got my mojo back! It was great to have a tight deadline and motivation to produce a scenario quickly, and I was very pleased with the result. I need to knuckle down and create a couple more particular ACW scenarios that I've been postponing for ages. Having bashed out this one should help me get on with those as well.
This draft scenario (with all its historical imperfections) is available from the BBB io group files here.
The "Bloody Big Hungary '48 Battles!" scenario book is now available in pdf format from SkirmishCampaigns here.
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