<![CDATA[Glasgow and District Wargaming Society

<![CDATA[Glasgow and District Wargaming Society - Blog]]>Fri, 08 May 2026 22:30:28 +0100Weebly<![CDATA[Napoleonic Open Day 2025 - The Battle of Leipzig 1813]]>Fri, 17 Oct 2025 14:51:09 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/napoleonic-open-day-2025-the-battle-of-leipzig-1813The largest battle of the Napoleonic Wars was fought between 16 and 19 October 1813 around the city of Leipzig, in Saxony (modern-day Germany). As this year’s Open Day happens during the anniversary, it seems an appropriate action to game today.

The battle was the culmination of the German campaign of 1813 and involved about 560,000 soldiers, 2,200 artillery pieces, the expenditure of 400,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, and 133,000 casualties. The Grande Armée had been virtually destroyed in the Russian Campaign of 1812, forcing Napoleon to rebuild his army with troops from across the Empire. As the coalition of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden pursued him into Germany, Leipzig is also known as the Battle of the Nations.

Napoleon attempted to defeat the advancing armies in detail, but the allies adopted a plan to avoid battle with the Emperor himself, focusing instead on his subordinates. Napoleon was forced to face the combined allies at Leipzig, although the position held some advantages. The rivers that converged there split the surrounding terrain into four separate sectors. Holding Leipzig and its bridges, Napoleon could shift troops from one sector to another far more rapidly than the Allies (see map).

The Austrian Karl von Schwarzenberg was the commander-in-chief of the coalition armies, but with three monarchs present on the battlefield, his plans were challenged. They eventually settled for attacks all around the French line, in an attempt to squeeze Napoleon back into Leipzig. By 18 October, Napoleon knew the battle was lost and started to extricate what was left of his army over the bridges near Leipzig. The early detonation of a key bridge left thousands of his troops stranded. The defeat was the beginning of the end for Napoleon.

A battle of this size is impractical with 28mm figures, although it can be done in smaller scales. We are loosely refighting part of the action on 16 October, with Austrian and Russian forces, commanded by Schwarzenberg, attacking Marshal MacDonald’s XI Corps in the south, in an effort to turn the French line. We have taken a few liberties with the units to fit our collections, while retaining the multi-national flavour of the battle. There was a small British contingent at the battle, built around a rocket battery. It wasn’t in the south, but we couldn’t resist the opportunity!

Please feel free to ask questions and roll some dice with us. The rules are Black Powder (Warlord Games), which are quickly picked up.

Further reading: Leipzig 1813 by Peter Hofschroer (Osprey 1993)

A gallery of photos from the Leipzig and other Napoleonic games at the open day. For the big game, the French held onto the Kolmberg Heights and started to work around the Austrian right flank by the end of the day. MacDonald earning his baton today.

]]><![CDATA[Waterloo Day]]>Wed, 21 Jun 2023 14:07:03 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/waterloo-dayOur annual Napoleonic Open Day coincidentally landed on Waterloo Day, so there could only be one choice for the feature game.

The game was a refight of the Allied right, and French left battlefield between Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte. In the historic battle, Reille allowed his corps to be sucked into a fight for Hougoumont, weakening the main attack. In this refight, we assumed that the French follow Napoleon’s battle plan and screen Hougoumont, releasing more of Reille’s Corps to attack the shallower right of the Mont St Jean Ridge and attempt to smash through the Allied right. This also meant more of Hill’s Corps was available as a reserve, as they would not be drawn into Hougomount either.

On the French left, Bachelu's Division was a bit slow getting going, having failed two order throws. The British Guards were only troubled mid-game, when the French Dragoon Brigade rattled them and the Household Cavalry had to be deployed to push them back. In the centre and right the other two French divisions made better progress and the battle went back and forth several times.

The Hanoverians in particular held on under heavy pressure.

After around four hours of game play, it was clear that the French were not going to break through the ridge, with many units shaken. The Lancer Brigade didn't move from the base line and the Guard never got onto the table. Napoleon heading for St Helena and the Guard not even committed!

]]><![CDATA[Napoleonic Open Day]]>Tue, 31 May 2022 10:57:43 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/napoleonic-open-day

]]><![CDATA[Mini To the Strongest! competition]]>Wed, 13 Apr 2022 21:39:27 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/mini-to-the-strongest-competition

]]><![CDATA[To the Strongest!]]>Sun, 22 Sep 2019 16:02:30 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/to-the-strongestPictures from our To the Strongest competition on 20/21 September 2019.

]]><![CDATA[2019 Open Day]]>Fri, 25 Jan 2019 17:43:53 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/2019-open-day

]]><![CDATA[SAGA Hard Man Tournament]]>Mon, 28 Aug 2017 13:48:58 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/saga-hard-man-tournamentThe tournament was won by John Conley with major thanks to Richard Keenan for traveling all the way to Glasgow to bring this fabulous tournament format.

]]><![CDATA[2016 Open Day]]>Mon, 25 Jan 2016 14:00:26 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/2016-open-dayOur 2016 Open day was held on 24 January. A number of big battles fought over the weekend.

First up is Fuentes de Onoro, Wellington v Massena in 1811 during the Peninsular War. The game was played with 28mm figures using Black Powder rules. It went pretty much to the historical outcome. The French eventually got into the village, but the left hook ran out of steam.

Then off to WW2 in 15mm using Command Decision. This is the battle of Sidi Rezegh in the Western Desert

Then fantasy with a big Warhammer battle

and another, this time Men v The Undead using Kings of War.

Other games included, Dragon Rampant, Blucher, FogR, Battletech and Art de la Guerre.

]]><![CDATA[Claymore 2015]]>Mon, 10 Aug 2015 18:33:56 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/claymore-2015Our display game for this year's Claymore show in Edinburgh was Dystopian Wars. Arial battle this time.

]]><![CDATA[Waterloo Weekend]]>Sun, 28 Jun 2015 21:33:46 GMThttp://www.gdws.co.uk/blog/waterloo-weekendWe held a second double header this year to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo.

We refought part of the battle between the sandpit next to La Haye-Sainte and the village of Papelotte. In this refight, D'Erlon's Corps sought to break the British and Dutch line commanded by Picton. This was a multi-player game with three players on each side. The rules were Black Powder and most of the 28mm figures came from the collection of Liam Entwistle. As per the historical battle, the French nearly broke the line, but just failed.

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