DeWitt Reigns Supreme - Again!

Seventeen commanders took the field, each donning the mantle of Field Marshal for a day of battles that spanned the Napoleonic wars. This single-day event guaranteed seven contests for those with the stamina to endure four grueling Swiss rounds. Win or lose, every participant marched home proudly wearing a golden bee lapel pin, Napoleon’s personal emblem.

The Early Engagements

The campaign began at Salamanca, 1812, where Wellington’s British army tested Marmont’s French in two scenarios: first an attack on the French left, then a strike on the French right. Each round required Marshals to command both sides.

The opening clashes saw near parity, with the French taking eight victories to the British six. But Wellington soon gained the upper hand as Round Two shifted momentum to the British, who won nine matches to the French five.

Expansions Enter the Fray

Round Three introduced the first expansion: the Battle of Waren-Nossentin (Nossentin sector). History’s successful 1806 Prussian rear action would not repeat itself, with the French steamrolling to nine wins against a lone Prussian triumph.

Attrition thinned the ranks by Round Four, leaving six Marshals standing. Here the Spanish expansion entered play at Talavera (Spanish Flank, 1809). General Cuesta’s Spaniards fought with mixed fortunes: one French victory, one Spanish, and one result lost to the fog of war (or perhaps just record-keeping).

The Road to the Finals

From there, four Marshals advanced to the Semifinal at Grossbeeren, where von Bülow’s Prussians sought to repeat their historic 1813 victory over Oudinot’s French.

Semifinal 1: Jon Manley (#4 seed) commanded the Prussians against Erin Weir (#1 seed), who bid one flag for the French. An aggressive French cavalry charge pulled much of the action to one flank, but Jon skillfully shifted his troops to the center. In a nail-biting finish, the Prussians held on, 10–9.

Semifinal 2: Brian DeWitt (#3 seed) flipped history, commanding the French against Geoff Heintzelman’s (#2 seed) Prussians. A powerful French bombardment shredded the Prussian line early. Though the Prussians countered with a flank assault, Brian’s French stormed the center and closed the match decisively, 10–4.

The Grand Finale

The Final was fought at the 1808 Battle of Espinosa de los Monteros, using the Spanish expansion. Brian, bidding one flag, once again took command of the French, leaving Jon with the Spaniards. Despite three spirited guerilla actions early in the contest, the Spanish could not blunt the French advance. Echoing history, Brian’s French secured victory, 7–5, sealing his repeat championship.

Final Salute

Congratulations to Brian DeWitt for claiming the crown once more, and to Jon Manley, Erin Weir, Geoff Heintzelman, Drew Doughan, and Jack Morrell for their strong performances and laurels.

Special thanks go to Assistant GMs Tim Hitchings and Geoff Heintzelman for their indispensable support, and to GMT’s Kai Jensen for the scenario files. The beautifully printed battle maps kept the event running smoothly. As a first-time GM, I’ve learned much and look forward to building on this year’s success.

Until next year, when the drums of war beat again.