Spicheren Turn Nine

Situation after eight turns

I receive another brigade of infantry as reinforcements.

With evening approaching, I decide to change tactics and order a general advance with the intention of initiating melees that will hopefully be resolved faster than shooting duels. In particular, my men close in on Spicheren, where firing from my brigade of guards causes the loss of 1SP, and the brigade gets in position to charge the town next turn. My other success comes in inducing the French infantry to the right of the Stiring-Wendel ironworks to retire (Frossard chose this rather than suffer the loss of 1SP - after all, French rifles outrange Prussian ones, so falling back in the open, as opposed to withdrawing from cover, should not prove detrimental).

Spicheren is under serious threat

The French shooting is again impressive - my brigade of guards loses 1SP, and two other units lose 1SP, including a unit that had only a single strength point left. My other 1SP-unit also suffers a hit, but I am able to withdraw it rather than have it wiped out.

But perhaps the most significant moment of this half-turn comes when Frossard activates his dragoons, sending them onto the high ground between Spicheren and the ironworks.

The French counterattack is looking good, with Prussian losses mounting

TOTAL LOSSES

French: two units, 10SP

Prussians: one unit, 12SP