A Secret Mission - 15th March 1813

A small mission near Castalla in eastern Spain in 1813 recounted by Private Ewart of the 27th.

Food for a Sharp Practice scenario I think.


On the 15th, however, orders were given for the light company, the grenadiers, and two battalion companies of the 27th, to stand to their arms soon after night-fall, and to proceed under the guidance of certain spies, on some secret expedition to the front.

We obeyed, of course, and found ourselves, about nine or ten o'clock, paraded under the beams of a full clear moon, and conducted by roads, on which the snow lay thick and firm, we did not know whither. We were in excellent spirits, as is always the case with soldiers when an air of mystery appears to hang over their proceedings; and we trudged along, pleasing ourselves with speculations on what the morrow might bring forth.

And so we penetrated through Bancai, a large straggling village, long before its inhabitants had begun to rouse themselves, the word having been previously passed, not only to keep silence, but to step as lightly as possible while traversing the street. But as the morning came in, our difficulties began to accumulate upon us. Though the nights were very cold, the sun possessed great power, and his rays soon melted the snow which had heretofore supported us; so that we sank at each step deeper and deeper in the mire, and became, by degrees, seriously impeded in our movements.

The consequence was, that, instead of arriving at Biechar, where we were expected to surprise an enemy's plundering-party at dawn, we did not reach the outskirts of the town till the morning was considerably advanced, and were therefore unable to accomplish more than the seizure of fifty-nine mules, all of them laden with booty; for the French, having contrived to obtain intelligence of our approach, retreated in good time to save themselves; and even of their plunder we should have failed to get possession, had we not made extraordinary exertions to push on.

Great was the rejoicing among the Spaniards when we marched into the town; and greater still their amazement when they beheld the use to which our success was turned. Instead of appropriating the booty to himself, and carrying it back to head-quarters, the commanding officer caused the Alcalde to receive the whole into his keeping; and then collected the heads of families by proclamation, into one place, in order that each might identify his own goods, and reclaim them.

I never saw men more strongly affected by sentiments of admiration and gratitude than these poor Spaniards. Some of them went so far as to shed tears; whilst the amount of wine and provisions, which they sought to press upon us, was so abundant, that had we accepted the whole, we should have been in bad plight to execute our homeward march, or indeed to perform any other species of duty. Moreover, they implored us not to leave them. They would submit cheerfully to any amount of requisition, if we would only remain and protect them from the French; but this was out of the question.

Wherefore, having halted about an hour, and taken as much both of bread and wine as sufficed to recruit our exhausted energies without affecting our sobriety, we stood to our arms once more, and fell back to Bancai.

Our movement in advance, though fatiguing enough, had been executed under the excitement of anticipated service; our retrogression, a great deal more toilsome in itself, had no such principle to lighten or sustain it. As the sun's power increased, the roads became more and more heavy, till by and by we plunged at every step ankle deep into the soil. Then followed the breaking of gaiterstraps, then the coming off of shoes, which few had time, and fewer still patience to redeem; for the foot being dragged out, the shoe was left behind, and the mud closed over it irretrievably.

Great, therefore, was the measure of our rejoicing when it was announced that we should not proceed further than Bancai that night, and cordial the expression of our satisfaction when, having been formed up in the market-place, we were desired to go and occupy, each man for himself, the best billet that we could find.

It was my fortune to establish myself, together with the four men of my squad, in the house of an old couple; they either had no provisions of any kind, or judged it expedient not to share them with us. But some Indian corn we did discover in the course of our investigations, and out of that, fried in olive oil, we contrived to make a tolerable supper. Moreover, two of my party, by name Dodd and Crichton, being noted for their skill as foragers in similar situations, contrived, while rummaging up some fagots, with which to feed the fire, to bring to light a cask of excellent old wine. From this we made no scruple of drawing as much as our immediate necessities required ; and filling our canteens, over and above, as a preparation for the morrow. Yet, let me do justice both to myself, and to the light company in general. There was not a drunken man among us ; and when an hour before daylight we mustered next morning under arms, we were all, much to our new captain's satisfaction, sober.

Blow the Bridge - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #3.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

Blow the Bridge

HISTORICAL SITUATION
In January 1809, as Moore's retreated to Coruña, he halted for three days at Lugo before deciding on the 8th of January to continue his retreat, the Royal Engineers are given the task of blowing the bridge over the Rio Miño at Rábade 8 miles northwest of Lugo, the cavalry outposts of General Franceschi are hot on their heels and time is running short.

TERRAIN
The River Minho runs east to west across the board, 50cm from the western edge is the Rábade bridge, quadrant 2 contains gentle rolling hills, while quadrant 4 is a sparse forest. From southwest to northeast, passing over the bridge is the road to Lugo. In quadrant 3, there is a small farm.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
300 points in command units
1 unit Dragoons (500 points).
1 unit Chasseurs a Cheval (500 points).

BRITISH:
Captain Hill of the Royal Engineers
250 points in command units
1 unit Engineers (300 points)
1 unit Hussars (350 points)
1 unit 95th Rifles (350 points)

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Anywhere along the east side of the board no more than 10cm from the edge

BRITISH:
Engineers and their command on the bridge.
All other troops can be placed anywhere once the French have been deployed, but no closer than charge distance to any enemy units.

SPECIAL RULES:
If the French prevent the blowing of the bridge add 200 victory points.
To blow the bridge, at least four engineers must remain on the bridge for four turns without moving, without fighting, without being shot at or shooting.

The Battle of the Stragglers

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #4.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

The Battle of the Stragglers

HISTORICAL SITUATION
Another picturesque episode in the retreat of Moore to Corunna, occurred when a group of British stragglers, is attacked by pickets of the vanguard of the French cavalry. A sergeant in the British 43rd Infantry Regiment tries to organize the stragglers so they can confront the cavalry and maybe save themselves.

TERRAIN
A road runs from west to east across the board, in quadrant two, along the center of the board and near the road should there is a group of houses (heavy cover), quadrant three is open forest (light wood), and in quadrant one there is a hill (steep hill).

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
250 in the command units
1 units Dragoons (300 points)
1 unit Hussars (250 points)

BRITISH:
Sergeant Harper of the 95 Rifles
250 points of Rifles
300 points of Line Infantry or similar
100 points of Grenadiers

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Deploy anywhere along the northeastern edge of the board, at no more than 10cm from the edge.

BRITISH:
The British deploy first.
All troops must be deployed within 15cm of the houses.

SPECIAL RULES:
For every British figure that exits the west edge via the road, the British player receives double the normal victory points.

Action at Benavente

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #2.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

Action at Benavente

HISTORICAL SITUATION
In late December 1808 the Chasseurs a Cheval of the Imperial Guard, led by General Lefebvre, seeing Moore's troops withdraw, decided to launch an attack on the cavalry pickets of Lord Paget's rearguard, just outside Benavente. It was a great shock, when they found themselves overwhelmed and defeated by the British Hussars, who also captured General Lefebvre in the action.

TERRAIN
Place a group of houses in quadrant 3 simulating Benavente, with a main street and adjacent streets. Quadrant 2 is crossed diagonally by a stream that is fordable by cavalry.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
General Lefebvre
2 units Chasseurs a Cheval de la Garde (800 points total)

BRITISH:
300 points in command units
2 units Hussars (800 points total)

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
The Chasseurs enter through the northeast side of the board and can move a maximum distance of 15cm on their first turn.

BRITISH:
A command unit and one unit of Hussars remains in Benavente until the end of the third turn.
The remaining troops are deployed after the French, at a maximum of 70 cm from them and no closer to each other then 60cm.
SPECIAL RULES:
The French deploy first.

Defending the bridge over the Cua - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #1.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

Defending the bridge over the Cua

HISTORICAL SITUATION
On January 3rd, 1809 the British troops of General Moore were retreating towards Corunna. Protecting their rear were the 95th Rifles, the 43rd Light Infantry Regiment, and the 15th Hussars which formed the rearguard under Lord Paget. The French vanguard was led by Generale de Brigade Cölbert, commanding the 3e Hussars and 15e Chasseurs, who decided to attack without waiting for reinforcements. At the start the situation seemed favorable to the French, but the intervention of the English cavalry produced a counter attack that routed the French troops, and as they withdrew Generale de Brigade Cölbert was killed.

TERRAIN
From north to south there is a river that runs across the board, and in the center there is a bridge. The river is fordable by the cavalry for 20cm from the southern edge of the board. In the southeast quadrant there is a group of houses extending to a maximum of 20cm from the board edge. In quadrant 2 there is a gentle hill. In quadrant 3, there is open forest and in quadrant 4 there are 3 stone walls.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
300 points in command units
2 units Hussars (400 points)
1 unit Chasseurs a Cheval (500 points)

BRITISH:
300 points in the command units
1 unit Hussars (400 points)
1 unit 95th Rifles (500 points)
1 unit Light Infantry (200 Points)

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
The French Hussars and Chasseurs are deployed with in 10cm of the west edge of the board.

BRITISH:
The Rifles are deployed no more than 40cm. from the bridge.
The Light Infantry are deployed anywhere in quadrant two.
The British Hussars are deployed within 10cm. of the east edge of the board, after the third turn.
The units are deployed on the table using initiative rolls.
The British are deployed first.

SPECIAL RULES:

Cochrane takes Mongat Castle - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #5.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

An alternate version of this scenario can be found here 'The taking of Mongat Castle – a raid of Lord Cochrane' - (First published in Wargames, Soldiers & Strategy)

Cochrane takes Mongat Castle

HISTORICAL SITUATION
In 1808 Captain Thomas Cochrane commanded the frigate HMS Imperieuse and was the scourge of the Spanish east coast, one of his most famous actions was the taking of Mongat Castle, aided by a band of Spanish guerrillas.

TERRAIN
Place a fortified building (stone building) representing Mongat Castle in quadrant 3, quadrant 4 is dense forest (heavy woods), in the remaining two quadrants place scattered groups of trees (woods). A road runs from the castle to the north.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
300 points in command units.
1 unit Gendarmes (400 points).
1 unit Grenadiers (500 points).

ALLIES:
300 points in command units.
1 unit Marines (500 points).
1 unit crew of HMS Imperieuse (400 points).
1 unit Guerrillas (400 points).
Captain Cochrane.


DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Anywhere in quadrant 4 including in the castle, the French are placed first.

ALLIES:
The guerrillas are placed with 10cm of the northwest edge, all other troops are placed within 10cm of the northeast edge.

SPECIAL RULES:
If the British occupy the castle they earn 200 extra victory points.

Revenge of the Carabineros Reales - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #6.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

This scenario represents the historical action that took place at Yébenes on the 24th March 1809 covered by this post Disgrace of the Vistual Lancers.

Revenge of the Carabineros Reales

HISTORICAL SITUATION
On March 23, 1809, the lancers of the Légion de la Vistule entered the city of Los Yébenes, but they realised that they had strayed too far ahead of the main body of their force, and therefore decided to withdraw to Orgaz. The withdrawal began, led by the regimental supply wagons, however once out of town the road runs through a very narrow gorge, and here the supply wagons were disarrayed when the Carabineros Reales, who had been waiting in ambush, attacked them. The Lancers now found themselves surrounded and launched a desperate attack on the Carabineros Reales to avoid being blocked, but they were defeated and lost 4 of their standards that had been left behind in a wagon.

TERRAIN
A road traverses the board from west to east, all quadrants except quadrant 3 are dense forest (heavy wood) except for a 5cm strip on either side of the road. On the road, within 30cm of the west edge of the board place 3 supply wagons.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
Colonel Konopka
1 or more units Lancers de la Legion Vistule (600 points)

SPANISH:
Colonel Viscount Zolina
1 or more units Carabineros Reales (650 points).

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Place anywhere on the eastern edge of the board or on the road, within 10cm of the edge.
The French are placed first.

SPANISH:
Can be placed anywhere in the quadrant 3 or with the supply wagons.

SPECIAL RULES:
For every wagon that is captured the Lancers earn 100 victory points, to capture a wagon at least two lancers must remain attached to the wagon for two turns, without any enemy unit within at least 20cm. For every wagon not seized, the Carabineros Reales earn 150 victory points.

The Chasseurs de Montagne bring honor to their name - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #8.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

This scenario outlines an action involving the Chasseurs de Montagne who were the subject of a previous post on this blog covering their history and uniform and represents the historical action at Venasque that was covered in this post Roquemaurel and the Chasseurs de Montagne.

The Chasseurs de Montagne bring honor to their name

HISTORICAL SITUATION
In 1809 a base of operations for the Chasseurs de Montagne was organized in Jaca, from there a detachment was dispatched with the objective of taking the Matarile heights which dominate the plain of Venasque.

TERRAIN
In quadrant 2 there is a hill which represents the Matarile heights (steep hills), the other quadrants are gentle rolling hills and scattered, dense forests (heavy wood).

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
Sub-Lieutenant Rangel of the Chasseurs de Montagne.
2 units Chasseurs de Montagne (500 points each).

SPANISH:
350 points of command units.
300 points of Infantry.
300 points of Grenadiers.
300 points of Barón de Eroles Partisans.

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Anywhere along the west side of the board within 10cm of the edge.

SPANISH:
The Spanish are placed first, anywhere in quadrants 2 and 4 but not within charge distance of any enemy unit.

SPECIAL RULES:
If the French clear, even if only for one turn, the Matarile hill of Spanish troops, they earn 200 victory points.
The Matarile Hill is considered mountain terrain(steep hills).

Ambush of the 10e Chasseurs

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #7.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

Ambush of the 10e Chasseurs

HISTORICAL SITUATION
In 1809, Generale Lasalle's cavalry brigade was assigned to Marshal Victor's 1st Corps in Andalusia. The 10e Chasseurs, part of that brigade, were on their way to their new destination, while on the Miajadas road they were ambushed, and surprised by the attack of units of the Regimiento Infante and the Dragones de Almansa, the French were put to flight.

TERRAIN
There is a road running west to east, quadrants 2 and 4 are surrounded by thick forest (heavy wood) and quadrants 1 and 3 a sparse forest (light wood).

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
Colonel Subervie 10e Chasseurs a Cheval.
1 or 2 units 10e Chasseurs a Cheval (500 points).

SPANISH:
350 points of command units.
1 unit Dragones de Alamansa (350 points)
1 unit Caballería del Infante (400 points)

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
The French are placed first, anywhere along the east side of the board and on the road, within 10cm of the board edge.

SPANISH:
The Spanish can be placed anywhere on the game board, but not within charge distance of an enemy unit.

SPECIAL RULES:
The Spanish troops can use the hidden movement rule, at no extra cost. They also may move through forests at a movement cost of -6 but can only make normal movement.
For every French Chasseur that exits the west side of the board via the road, the French player receives double the normal victory point value of that figure.

Craufurd's Light Brigade against 'les légeres' - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #9.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

Craufurd's Light Brigade against 'les légeres'

HISTORICAL SITUATION
Hypothetical scenario in which several units of General 'Black Bob' Craufurd's famous Light Brigade face off against their French counterparts.

TERRAIN
On the tabletop there is a hill(steep hill), a dense forest(heavy wood), cultivated land(crops) and a group of houses(stone house, 5pts of toughness), these elements are placed alternately by players.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
300 points of command units.
1 unit 3e Regiment d'Infanterie Léger (300 points).
1 unit Voltiguer 2e Regiment de Nassau(300 points).
1 unit Carbinier 3e Regiment Grand Duchy of Warsaw(300 points).
1 unit Voltigeur 88e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (300 points).

ALLIES:
300 points of command units.
1 unit 95th Rifles (300 points)
1 unit Brunswick Oels Jäger (300 points)
1 unit 52nd Oxfordshire Regiment(300 points)
1 unit 1st Portuguese Caçadores (300 points)

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Anywhere in quadrant 1.

ALLIES:
Anywhere in the quadrant 4.

SPECIAL RULES:
Units are deployed on the table based on the results of the initiative throws, with the loser placing a unit and so on. No unit maybe placed within charging distance of any enemy unit.

The charge of the 'Black Hussars' - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #10.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

The charge of the 'Black Hussars'

HISTORICAL SITUATION
The Brunswick Hussars, known as the 'Black Hussars' because of their uniforms, operated in the Spanish Levant, in coordination with British cavalry, in small coastal attacks. This scenario simulates one of those attacks.

TERRAIN
On the tabletop there must be two gentle hills (no terrain effect), a wood (wood) and a cultivated field (crops), these elements are placed alternately by the players on the tabletop.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
1 command unit 2e Lieutenant Rocca of Hussars
1 unit 2e Hussars (400 points).
1 unit 3e Hussars (400 points).

ALLIES:
1 command unit Rittemister Boelcke of Brunswick Hussars
1 unit of Brunswick Hussars (400 points)
1 unit 3rd Light Dragoons of KGL (400 points)

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Anywhere in the southwest side edge of the board..

ALLIES:
Anywhere in the northeastern edge of the board.

SPECIAL RULES:
Units are deployed on the table based on the results of the initiative throws, with the loser placing a unit and so on.

The despatches must be delivered - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #11.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

The despatches must be delivered

HISTORICAL SITUATION
Communications between the various French corps on the peninsula were a real headache for the Imperial troops, and in this scenario a French ADC must cross between the Allied forward pickets to deliver the dispatches that he carries. Recreate the adventures of Capitaine Marbot, famed for his colourful memoirs.

TERRAIN
On the table there must be two gentle hills (no terrain effect), an open forest (light wood) and a dispersed group of houses (stone buildings with 5 points of toughness), these elements are placed alternately by the players, in addition we also find a road that runs from east to west.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
Aide de Camp Capitaine Marbot and an escort of Chasseurs a Cheval(200 points)

ALLIES:
1 Spanish command unit (200 points)
1 unit Spanish line infantry (300 points)
1 unit of English or Portuguese Cavalry (250 points)

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Anywhere in quadrants 4 or 2.

ALLIES:
All units are placed before the French and maybe anywhere in quadrants 1 and 3.

SPECIAL RULES:
The French cavalry and Marbot can use the ability to move unseen, however no Allied unit can use this ability. If Capitan Marbot exits by any part of the west or northwest edge of the game board, the game ends and the French obtain an additional 300 victory points.

The Reconnaissance Party - A Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #12.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

The Reconnaissance Party

HISTORICAL SITUATION
The reconnoitering of enemy positions was vital in order to discover the enemy's dispositions and their intentions, the reconnaissance parties were usually led by staff officers with the experience to evaluate at a glance the enemies forces and their strengths and weaknesses. In this case it is the Allied Chief of Staff Colonel Murray who ventures deep into enemy territory.

TERRAIN
On the field of play there must be a hill (steep hill), a dense forest (heavy wood), a cultivated field (crops), two intersecting roads and a group of houses (stone buildings with 5 points of toughness), these elements are placed on the table one by one alternately by each player.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
1 command unit (200 points)
1 unit Infanterie Légère (300 points)
1 unit Infanterie de Ligne (200 points)
1 unit Hussars a Cheval (200 points)

ALLIES:
Quartermaster-General Colonel Murray with a single unit of British cavalry as escort (300 points).

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
The command and line infantry unit in the group of houses, Hussars on the hill, and the light infantry wherever desired. The French are placed first.

ALLIES:
They can enter from any of the 8 quadrant sides of the table but must initially be placed within 20cm of a table edge.

SPECIAL RULES:
For each time that Colonel Murray comes within 10cm of a terrain element that the Allies placed, they gain 50 victory points, if he travels at least 60cm along a road, they receive 20 victory points for each direction that he travels in, if he gets placed in all terrain elements and at least one road and then exits where he entered, they gain 100 victory points.

The Germans Defended - Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #13.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

The Germans Defended

HISTORICAL SITUATION
During the Guerra de la Independencia (Peninsular War) there were large numbers of German troops serving Napoleon in Spain. This scenario recreates one of the many clashes where German troops fought, in this case defending a small fort that must be taken by the Allies.

TERRAIN
In the center of quadrant 1 place a fortified position (hard cover with 14 points of toughness), in quadrant 2 there is a hill (steep hill), in quadrant 3 an open forest (light wood) and in quadrant 4 cultivated fields (crops) and some peasant houses (stone buildings with 5 points of toughness).

ORDER OF BATTLE
IMPERIALS:
1 command unit (250 points)
1 unit Westphalian (200 points)
1 unit Nassau (200 points)
1 unit Nassau (200 points)

ALLIES:
1 command unit (200 points)
1 command unit (150 points)
1 unit Spanish Artillery (300 points)
1 unit Spanish Artillery (150 points)
1 unit Spanish Infantry or Grenadiers or Allied Light Infantry (250 points)
1 unit Spanish Infantry or Grenadiers or Allied Light Infantry (250 points)
1 unit Spanish Infantry or Grenadiers or Allied Light Infantry (250 points)

DEPLOYMENT
IMPERIALS:
Anywhere in quadrant 1 including in the fortified position.

ALLIES:
Anywhere in quadrants 2, 3 and 4 but must be within 40cm of an Imperial unit. The Imperial troops are placed first.

SPECIAL RULES:
If the Spanish occupy or destroy the fortified position, they receive 300 victory points, if the Imperial Army holds it for more than six turns they receive 200 victory points.

The Charge of the 13e Cuirassiers - Capitan Scenario

CAPITÁN is a selection of rules designed to play battles between small groups of troops, such as advance recognition, convoy escort, guerrilla actions, raids on small towns, border posts, incursions into enemy territory, actions against advanced camps, and all those situations where specific tasks were assigned to a few troops of their units.

This is a translation of Capitan Scenario Pack - Scenario #14.

Capitan scenarios are designed to be played on 60cm square game board, adjust as necessary if using a larger game board. To designate the location of troops and terrain in a scenario the game board is divided into four quadrants; NorthWest(1), NorthEast(2), SouthWest(3), South East(4). (For more details see Scenarios)

The Charge of the 13e Cuirassiers
This scenario represents part of the Battle of Margalef which was covered in detail on this blog earlier.

HISTORICAL SITUATION
The 13e Regiment of Cuirassiers covered themselves in glory at the battle of the Plain of Margalef (Tarragona), where they charged alone and after a brutal fight put to flight the avant-garde of O'Donnell's army.

TERRAIN
Basically the terrain is flat, place a gentle hill (no terrain effect) in quadrant 1 and some scattered houses, with cultivated fields (crops) and a road that runs north to south.

ORDER OF BATTLE
FRENCH:
1 command unit Commandant Robichon 13e Cuirassiers
1 unit Cavalry 13e Cuirassiers (400 points)
1 unit Cavalry 13e Cuirassiers (400 points)

ALLIES:
1 command unit Mayor Ruiz Regiment Del Guadalajara
1 unit Grenadiers Regiment Del Guadalajara (300 points)
1 unit Infantry Regiment Del Guadalajara (300 points)
1 unit Infantry Regiment Del Voluntarios De Barcelona (200 points)
1 unit Cavalry Regiment Del Infante (250 points)

DEPLOYMENT
FRENCH:
Anywhere in quadrant 1

ALLIES:
Anywhere in quadrant 4, except the cavalry does not arrive until the third turn in the southeast, allies place first.

SPECIAL RULES:
The Cuirassiers and their command can use all their special skills at no cost.

The Battle of Limonest 20th March 1814

In the final battle for Lyon, Marshal Augerau with 18,000 men tries to hold of the 48,000 men of Prince Hesse-Homburg Reserve Corps of the Army Of Bohemia.

Despite two successive defeats at the hands of the Austrians the situation was still not hopeless for Augereau, the new position he had chosen on the heights around Limonest was a formidable one and Général Beurmann was marching at the head of 5,000 men from Catalonia to join the army, which more than made up for any losses on the 18th.

He deployed his men on the right bank of the Saone in an arc from Limonest on the Mont d'Or north of Lyon (Division Musnier), along the heights at Dardilly (Division Pannetier with Brigade Esteve in Dardilly and Brigade Gudin in Paillet) to Tassin-la-Demi-Lune to the west of Lyon on the Paris road (General Digeon with Beurmann's Brigade and a squadron, on the road to Salvagny).

Remond's Brigade including the honor guards from Lyon, and 12e Regiment of Dragoons were in reserve near Vaise.

Detached were Bardet's Brigade (Conscripts of Nimes) at Miribel to observe and contain a column (Austrian General Hardegg) who was adavancing from Bourg en Bresse and two battalions sent to Caluire to stop another Austrian column (General Coburg) coming down the left bank of the Saone.

The Austrian plan was simple, to attack all along the front whilst maneuvering to outflank the French left wing.

The Austrian attack began on the entire front at dawn. On the right Binachi sent Bakony and Lederer to sieze Dardilly and Wied-Runkel against Tassin-la-Demi-Lune to turn the position. On the left Wimpffen would make a feint on Limonest to pin Musnier.

The French comfortably resisted the attacks and about noon Augereau whose command post was on the Salvagny road left the field to talk to civil authorities in Lyon.

Général Musnier had relied heavily on the imposing natural strength of the Mont d'Or to protect his right flank and had placed only a few small detachments to guard in that direction. However an Austrian brigade led by Mumb's marched down the Soane Valley from the east, through the heights of Couzon au Mont d'Or and Sainte Romain Mont d'Or and without barely firing a shot seized the Mont d'Or and turned the French right around 1:00pm.

Towards one o'clock Musnier finds that the Austrians have seized Dardilly threatening his left, crown the heights of Mont d'Or on his right and Mumb threatens to cut off his rear, so Musnier decides to fall back on Vaise, this then forces Pannetier who is still fighting for heights around Dardilly to withdraw on Ecully.

Digeon, on the road to La Tour de Salvagny facing Wied-Runkel is now outflanked on both wings and is in danger of being cut off as he tries to slowly fall back towards Tassin-la-Demi-Lune.

All this was taking place between 12:00 and 15:00 hours, during which time the Marshal now in Lyon was unaware of what was going on. When he finally hears that Musnier and Pannetier have appeared in Vaise he rushes to find out what is happening. On arriving he realises he is staring defeat in the face, through Musniers mistake and his absence the army may be cut off from Lyon and destroyed. He decides to stand firm and with his usual courage try and to save both his honor and that of the army.

He orders Général Guillemet with the 13e Cuirassiers, two infantry batallions and 3 guns, to strengthen Digeon whose heroic resistance against Prince de Wied-Runkel is at least averting disaster.

Wimpffen soon reaches the Chateau de La Duchère and Mumb start to shell Vaise from heights of Rochecardon. It is imperative that they are repulsed. The Marshal marches at the head of Musnier and Pannetier troops and with bayonet clears Duchère and Rochecardon, pushing back both Wimpffen and Mumb, and then holds them into the night against repeated attacks from the Austrian reserves.

However Bakony, Lederer and Wied-Runckel now almost encircle Digeon between Ecully and Sainte-Foy. The French cavalry charge on the two roads in order to keep open the line of retreat which is now inevitable. The 13e Cuirassiers led by Bigarré sabre a battery of 8 guns and capture their limbers and train, the 12e Hussars of Colbert capture 400 men and the Colonel of
l'IR "Hiller". Continued charges by the 4e and 12e Hussars drive back the Austrians and as night falls the line is stabilised without further trouble.

The Austrians have lost 1,432 men and the French about 1,200 but this is offset by 1,500 men who arrive from Catalonia that evening. Augerau could realistically consider fighting again the next day around Vaise and Sainte-Foy as Hesse Homburg had failed to disloadge him and within 24 hrs he would receive another 2,500 veterans from Catalonia.

However he decided not to, and by 6:00am on the 21st there was not a soldier left in the town and by 10:00am the Austrians had taken Lyon this was considered a catastrophy for France.

Bibliography:
La Loire et l'aigle: les foréziens face à l'état napoléonien By Pascal Chambon

Table Top Teaser #1 - Red Dawn

I thought we might try something different, a Table Top Teaser in the style of CS Grants famous articles for Battle! magazine in the 70's, in this case a fictitious action between two forces, inspired by the Battle of Vinkovo between French and Russian forces in 1812 and CS Grants "Dawn Attack".

Terrain
The map depicts a river plain surrounded by rising woody ground. The river is unfordable and can only be crossed at the bridge. The main road runs from Northeast to Southwest and crosses the river at a small abandoned village.

Forces
Red Army
1 Infantry Regiments
5 Cavalry Regiments
1 Horse Battery

Blue Army
5 Infantry Regiments
3 Cavalry Regiments
1 Horse Battery
1 Foot Battery

General Situation
The advanced guard of the Blue Army has moved into the area along the main road from the southwest. They have halted for the night at the river. Although the Red Army is known to be somewhere to the northeast, a short term truce is in effect and therefore it is not considered to be a serious threat. The Blue Army has however been deceived and the Red Army plans to take advantage of the advanced guards exposed position to launch a surprise attack. The Red Army dispatches a small force which makes a forced march throughout the night, determined to attack the Blue Army still in its bivouac at dawn.

Opening Narrative
The Red Army has lost its way several times in the darkness and it is well past dawn by the time it is finally in position to attack. It has split it forces into two groups, a small cavalry force made up of two regiments is north of the river and enters at point "A", whilst the remainder of the force is south of the river and enters at point "B".

The Blue Army outposts are relaxed after dawn came and went, it's now 7am and they have stood down and returned to the bivouac. With the advance guard having decided to rest for the day little is stirring in the camp. The heavy mist begins to lift just as they Red Army strikes.

Playing the Game
In order to play the game we need rules to reflect the confusion in the Blue Army camp as they become aware of the Red Army attack. We will also need a set of conditions to determine the victor of our engagement.

Dawn
Red Army forces move on to the table on turn one from both A and B. Blue Army throws 1D6 to determine how many turns before his outposts, now close in to the camp, finally spot the advancing Red Army. Until spotted the Red Army moves at half its normal movement reflecting its cautious advance in the early morning mist. Once spotted the mist is considered to have lifted and movement for both sides will be as normal. The alarm finally starts to be raised but there is much confusion as to what is going on and where the threats is coming from, each unit reacts independently to the sounds of the approaching Red Army. For each unit in his Army the Blue commander rolls 1D6 to determine when they finally are activated, add 1 if the unit is west of the main road deduct 1 if east of the main road. On the turn the Red Army is spotted units are activated on a 5-6, on the next turn it is 3-6 and thereafter it is 2-6. The camp is finally alerted but there is still chaos, much will depend on how quickly they can deploy and the strength of their morale in the face of this surprise attack.

Action in the Camp
The bivouac is scattered with tents (an excellent excuse to pick up those Renedra tents), Muskets will be stacked and their will be chaos as the infantry dress, collect their weapons and try to muster. The cavalry will be dismounted and will require to saddle up and mount. Artillery will have been unlimbered and parked, the horses will be unharnessed. As each unit is activated consult the following table to determine what action it takes next.

Infantry

Dice score:

2 : Break and run, unarmed : cannot be rallied, retire to the east.

3 : Break and  run,  armed. May be rallied the next turn if not attacked.

4 : Stand for three periods then throw again. They will run if attacked, but may be rallied.

5 & 6 : Stand for two periods then throw again. They may defend themselves if attacked.

7 - 9 : Stand two periods, then they are considered deployed at the start of the following turn.

10 & 11 :  Stand one period, then they are considered deployed at the start of the following turn.

12 : Considered deployed at the start of the next turn.

Cavalry

Dice score:

2 & 3 : Horses bolt. Troops rout and retire east, cannot be rallied.

4 : Troops saddle up and mount but rout while mounting. May be rallied on the following turn.

5 : Troops saddle up and mount but must stand for four periods. Will rout if attacked.

6 : Troops saddle up and mount, stand for four periods before moving out. Will defend themselves if attacked but considered disorganized in the first three periods.

7 & 8 : Troops saddle up and mount, stand for three periods, considered deployed at the start of the following turn. Will defend themselves if attacked but considered disorganized in the first two periods.

9 : Troops saddle up and mount, stand for two periods, considered deployed at the start of the following turn. Will defend themselves if attacked.

10 : Troops saddle up and mount, stand two periods, considered deployed at the start of the following turn. May counter charge if attacked in the second period.

11 : Troops saddle up and mount, stand one period, considered deployed at the start of the following turn. May counter charge if attacked.

12 : Troops saddle up and mount. Considered deployed at the start of the next turn.

Artillery

Dice score:

2 : Horses bolt, gunners run, guns abandoned.

3 : Horses bolt, gunners rout to the east but may be rallied next turn. Guns abandoned.

4 : Half the horses bolt, the remainder controlled by gunners who take six periods to prepare the gun for movement. Will break and run if attacked.

5 : Horses retained, gunners take six periods to prepare guns for movement but stand and fight or fire if attacked in the last three periods.

6 : Horses retained, gunners take five periods to prepare for movement but will fight or fire if attacked in the last three periods.

7 : Horses retained but guns cannot be moved. Gunners will fight or fire from present positions.

8 : Horses retained, gunners take four periods to prepare guns for movement but will stand and fight or fire if attacked after the first period.

9 & 10 : Horses retained, gunners take three periods to prepare guns for movement but will stand and fight or fire if attacked.

11 & 12 : Horses retained, gunners take two periods to prepare guns for movement. Will fight or fire if attacked.

The Blue Army commander is located with the cavalry unit in the Southeast corner, when this unit activates he will add 3 to the dice score of that unit.

Cavalry horses bolting
When horses bolt they will move in the direction determined by throwing 2D6. Any unit they come in contact with must throw 1D6 and on a score of greater than 3 an unformed unit will rout whilst a formed unit becomes disorganized.

Conclusion
If the bridge is held by Red Army infantry for 3 consecutive turns all Blue Army forces north of the river will surrender.


The Red Army wins by having all his troops east of the main road for 3 consecutive turns whilst preventing any Blue Army unit from maintaining itself west of the main road or if he drives the Blue Army from the field. Blue Army wins by having all his troops west of the main road for 3 consecutive turns whilst similarly preventing a Red Army unit from maintaining itself east of the main road or if he drives the Red Army from the field. If neither condition is met the two armies can agree an honorable draw at any time.

The Action at Margalef - 23rd April 1810

The action at Margalef took place on 23rd of April 1810, between Spanish and Swiss troops of General O'Donnell, who were trying to lift the siege of Lerida and the French and Polish troops under Marshal Suchet that encircled that town.

Background
After the defeat at the Battle of Vic, General O'Donnell had managed to gather 15,000 men at Tarragona ready to attempt to lift the siege of Lerida whenever a suitable opportunity presented itself. Passing though Momblanch with eight thousand infantry, six hundred cavalry, a battery of artillery and 1500 local militia, he camped at Vinaxa about 25 miles from Lerida. Suchet hearing that O'Donell was now at Tarragona decided to move quickly dispatching Musnier's division to Tarragona leaving only Harispe's weak division behind at the bridgehead with 300 Hussars. On April 22nd O'Donnel recieved a note from General Garcia Conde the commander of Lerida, saying that, Suchet's had been drawn off and the beseiging force was weak, with only 300 cavalry in the vicinity. He decided to seize the moment and attack the forces encircling the town, the plan called for the forces inside the town to simultaneously sally out trapping the French between the two forces.

The Battle
On the morning of 23rd O'Donnell reached Juneda, 15 miles from Lerida, and after a halt of two hours, resumed his march at midday with the advanced guard made up of the 4,000 men of General Ibarrola's division and the cavalry leaving the 3,000 men of General Pirez's division to follow up later.

Four miles from Juneda stood the ruined village of Margalef, beyond which the Plain of Margalef extended all the way down to Lerida. O'Donnel could see no covering force around Lerida and trusting in Conde's information, he descended from the hills and crossed the plain in three columns, one following the high road and the other two marching on the right and left.

The centre column outstripping the flank columns, soon pushed back the outposts of General de Division Harispe; but that General gathering together the 4e Hussars and the voltigeurs of the 116e and 117e turned to face the Navarro Brigade, which was leading the column, he immediately charged with his three hundred hussars upon the centre Spanish column, so suddenly, that it was thrown into confusion, and after a short exchange with Harispe's voltigeurs which were following up in support, retired towards Margalef, to which place, the flank columns also retreated, yet in good order. During this skirmish, the garrison sallied over the bridge, but the 117e infantry stood firm, and the besieged, seeing the rout of O'Donnel's force, returned to the town.

Unknown to O'Donnel, Suchet had heard news of his advance on Lerida and had made a forced march back taking the Reserve Brigade to Belaguer and directing Musnier to Alcoteletge, three miles north of the bridge into Lerida, which he reached on the evening of the 22nd. On the 23rd Musnier, hearing the firing, guessed the state of affairs, and marched at once with the brigades of Paris (121e leading) and Verges (1e Vistula leading) and the four hundred men of the 13e Cuirassiers from Alcoteletge across the plain towards Margalef, hoping to cut off the Spaniards' retreat.

Meanwhile O'Donnel who had rallied his troops at Margalef, seeing Musnier approaching realised he couldn't withdraw in time and so formed line of battle on the Despuig brigade, having the artillery on the right and the cavalry on the left, with the remnants of the Navarro brigade rallying behind them but his second division was still someway in the rear. The 13e Cuirassiers and a battery of horse artilery, came up at a quick pace, a cannonade commenced, and the Spanish cavalry rode forward, when the Cuirassiers, commanded by General Boussard, charged hotly, and forced them back on the line of battle in such a manner that the latter wavered, and Boussard, observing the confusion, came with a rude shock upon the flank of the infantry. The Walloon guards made a vain effort to form square, but the confusion was extreme, and finally nearly all the Spanish infantry threw down their arms or were sabred. The Cuirassiers, elated with their success, then met and overthrew a Swiss regiment, forming the advanced guard of the Pirez division finally coming up; the main body of the latter however checked their fury, and O'Donnel then retreated in good order, and without further loss to the defile of Momblanch.

Aftermath
This action, although not discreditable to O'Donnel, was very unfortunate. The plain was strewed with carcasses ; three Spanish guns, three flags, General Despuig, eight colonels, and above five thousand men were captured; and the next day the prisoners, being first ostentatiously marched under the walls of the town, were shown to a Spanish officer who had been detained on the 19th, after which he was dismissed by the road of Cervera, that he might spread the news of the defeat.

Order of Battle
Spanish, General O’Donnell

1st Division, General Ybarrola
 Brigade, Brigadier Garcia Navarro
  Regiment d’Infanteria de Línia Aragaon (2 bns)
  Regiment d’Infanteria de Línia Valencia (1 bn)
  Regiment d’Infanteria de Línia Voluntarios de Daroca (1 bn)
 Brigade, Brigadier Despuig
  Regiment d’Infanteria Guardias Valonas (2 bns)
  Regiment d’Infanteria de Línia Santa Fe (1bon)
  Regiment d’Infanteria de Línia Fieles Zaragozanos (1 bn)

2nd Division, General Pyrez
 Regiment d’Infanteria Suís Wimpffen(2 bns)
 6 Batallions (Militia?)

Cavalry
 1/2 Squadron de Cuirassers
 1/2 Squadron de Caçadors Maestranza de Valencia
 1 Squadron de Hussares de Valencia
 1 Squadron de Hussares de Granada

Artillery
 3 Canons


Army d'Aragaon, General Suchet

2e Division, Général de division Musnier
 1e Brigade, Général de brigade Pâris
  115e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (3 bns)
  1er Regiment Infantry de la Legion de Vistula (2 bns)
 2e Brigade, Général de brigade Vergés
  114e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (1 bns)
  121e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (3 bns)
 Reserve Brigade, Général de brigade Ruget
  114e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (2 bns)
  3e Régiment d'Infanterie de la Legion de Vístula (1 bn)
3e Division, Général de division Harispe
 1e Brigade, Général de brigade Habert
  5e Régiment d'Infanterie de Légère (2 bns)
  116e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne(2 bns)
  117e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne(3 bns)

Cavalry, Général de brigade Boussard
 4e Régiment de Hussards (4 Squadrons)
 13e Régiment de Cuirassers (3 Squadrons)
 Régiment Lancier de Polenais (1 Squadron)

Artillery, General de Brigade Vallèe
 4 Batteries Foot Artillery
 1 Battery Horse Artillery

Engineers, Colonel Haxo
 1 cie de Pontoniers
 1 cie de Artisians
 1 cie de Mineurs
 2 cie de Sapeurs



French losses:
23 dead
82 wounded

Spanish Losses:
300 dead and wounded
5,167 prisoners

The rearguard action at Rosnay 2nd February 1814

As night fell on the 1st February the defeated French Army began to withdraw from LaRothiere heading towards Brienne, after realising there was no pursuit Napoleon decided to halt there for the night. He stayed at the chateau protected by a battalion of infantry and four squadrons of cavalry of the Guard.

Marshal Marmont continues:
In the evening I went to see the Emperor at the Chateau de Brienne. He gave me his intentions for the next day. The army would withdraw (west) to Troyes passing over the Aube by the bridge at Lesmont. To facilitate this and to prevent the enemy from pursuing too rapidly, Napoleon ordered me with my foot, which amounted to no more than two thousand men, my cavalry and six guns, to move (north) via Perthes to Rosnay. The rest of my guns and my baggage would follow the main road (direct) to Rosnay (from Brienne). I was to occupy the position at Perthes before daylight, and demonstrate in order to attract the attention of the enemy, then to retire on Rosnay, which stands behind the Voire, a narrow but deep river, and defend the river crossing. A bridge, below Rosnay, was used (by the baggage and guns) to retire and a small force led by General Corbineau was charged with destroying that bridge after having passed over it.

I moved to Perthes overnight (3am). This village is located in the middle of a swampy area, but at this moment, the ground was very firm, because of the excessive cold which prevailed. It is located on a small hill (at its highest it is no more than 6-10 meters above the surrounding land). At daybreak, I placed my troops so that they would seem both quite numerous and threatening to the enemy.

The main body of army withdrew, in some disarray, their movement quickened as the approached the bridge at Lesmont, with the disasters of the previous season coming to their minds, fearing the greatest of misfortunes.

Suddenly the enemy, seeing a corps of troops within reach of his right flank changed the direction of his march and brought almost all it's forces against me. I was fulfilling my purpose. I began to fall back towards the bridge, but wishing to occupy the enemy for as long as possible, I did not hasten to cross. I placed several detachments of infantry, in clumps of trees located a short distance in front of the bridge, my cavalry was placed in the rear as support.

The enemy had immense forces. They began by establishing a battery of twenty pieces of cannon and it was only when the battery had started to fire that I decided to cross over the river in parade order, without confusion, and as if I had performed a great maneuver. Once safely across the river, I set about destroying all the bridges in the vicinity, one after the other. We were unfortunately without any kind of tools. The sharp frost had turned the earth that covered these bridges as hard as stone. It was only with extreme difficulty that we managed to make a break. Without axes or saws to destroy them the beams themselves however remained intact.

During this work, I noticed on the right bank of the Voire, at some distance, several men on horseback who appeared to be enemies. I assumed that there was a ford on the Voire at a lower point, and had been crossed by some scouts. As I had nothing to do with my cavalry at that moment, I gave orders for them to clear the riverside. A little later, thinking that a some infantry would be helpful, I ordered the General Lagrange to leave, with eight hundred men (121eme and 132eme), and follow the cavalry.

Finally, the bridge was destroyed as best it could be, I decided to go down the river, and see for myself what was happening. Halfway to where the troops were, I heard the sound of musket fire. I hurried on and I saw five hundred men of my troops (121eme) that General Lagrange had brought up, retreating in confusion at the sight of a mass of three or four thousand infantry marching towards them having crossed the river on the bridge abandoned by General Corbineau without destroying it.

I ran to the fleeing troops, and tried to rally them, but it was in vain. So I ran to the 131eme (I believe he means the 132eme), who were about three hundred men strong, standing in reserve, and formed in column. A few words sufficed to exite them. Immediately after that we they to beating the charge. I placed myself ten paces in front with some officers. I sent my cavalry an order to simultaneously charge the flank of the enemy from the hill. Those who fled earlier and had been deaf to my voice came to their feet at the sight of this offensive movement. We arrived, with impetuosity, at the edge of the plateau, and at the same time as the front of the enemy mass began to attack along the side of the River. The melee was the work of a moment. Struck by our fire and sabred by the cavalry, those who were not killed were taken prisoner or drowned. The enemy lost about three thousand men.

Almost all of the enemy army formed up on the other side of river. Eighty thousand men were in sight. A large artillery battery deployed against us, but without effect. Everything, on our side, both guns and troops, lay under cover in ambush.

The enemy tried again to cross the bridge, but my six guns, placed within range, threw them back. Many skirmishers directed their fire across the river, and the enemy, after two more unsuccessful attempts, gave up.

An insignificant skirmish then ensued between one bank and the other.

But the enemy did not wish to give up the chance to avenge that setback. They moved some of their troops in front of Rosnay and tried to repair the bridge over which we had passed.

They found the beams were in place but with no decking. They had to balance their way across, one by one, on the beams. I placed an officer of choice with three hundred men (40eme and 142eme) in ambush, behind and covered by the church. I gave him orders to let the enemy advance, at least one hundred men had to cross the river. Then the three hundred men in ambush marched on them, capturing them or throwing then in the water.

This brave officer named Salette, had long been my aide. He carried out his orders promptly, and the enemy party, the head of the column was destroyed but he lost his life.

The enemy then abandoned to any further attempts to cross the river. Meanwhile, I was warned that a column had appeared on the road to Vitry (I think this was most likely the Schwarzenberg Uhlans that had crossed at Rances around 4pm appearing on his left flank rather than on the Vitry road), and was going to take us from the rear. The moment was critical. Retreat into an open country before such a huge force, so close behind, was very dangerous. A little breathing space was necessary. Bad weather came to my rescue, snow falling in large flakes, overcast skies. My troops marched to a mile back. I left the infantry in place at the bridge to face the enemy, advising them to reduce their fire step by step, and then come and join us. The enemy failing to perceive the silence or our leaving, allowed them to rejoin us, and we were in full march for Dampier and Arcis which we reached by evening.

Rarely has a general been in such difficult circumstance. If I had arrived a few minutes later at the point where the enemy had crossed the river, or had I hesitated to put myself at the head of the handful of soldiers, the only troops to hand, that was my entire corps, no one would have escaped. There is great charm and a great pleasure to achieve a personal success, to feel the depths of ones consciousness, the power of ones personal force, and to have tipped the balance and secured the victory. The feeling of great happinness, shared by others, from the expression of admiration and gratitude of others can hardly be believed if not experienced.

The Emperor, delighted with our success, rewarded the officers I pointed out to him. This coup de force, made with so few people against troops so superior in numbers and resources, proved that there was still a remnant of energy in ourselves, and if the numbers overwhelmed us, we dont disintegrate.

Marshal Marmonent - 6th Corps
5e Regiment de Tirailleurs de la Garde Imperiale (959)

40e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (223)? 70e
121e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (400)? 131e
132e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (380)
142e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (95)?

2e Regiment de Cuirassiers *(Probably only 1 squadron)
12e Regiment de Cuirassiers *(Probably only 1 squadron)

1er Regiment d’Artillerie de Marine
3e Regiment d’Artillerie de Marine ?

Approximately 2,000 Ifantry, 300 Cavalry and 12 guns


Martinien:
Tableaux par corps et par batailles des officiers tués et blessés pendant les guerres de l'Empire
29.01.1814 Brienne
5e Regiment de Tirailleurs de la Garde Imperiale (1)

01.02.1814 La Rothière
121e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (1)
132e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (5)
40e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligney (2)
2e Regiment de Cuirassiers (2)


02.02.1814 Rosnay
121e Regiment d'Infanterie de Ligne (4)
5e Regiment de Tirailleurs de la Garde Imperiale (2)

*On 1st January 1814, the remains of 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 11th and 12th Cuirassiers were combined to form the 3e Provisoire Regiment de Grosse Cavaleri

Both the 121st and the 132nd were heavily engaged, afterwards in recognition of there brave stand against such a strong force Napoleon had the 132nd add "1 against 8" to their flag.
(131e or 121e, the regimental records show 121e but there is a plaque at Rosnay dedicated to the 131e).

General Wrede - Bavarians
1st Column
Austrian 1st Division of Advance Guard - Hardegg
Brigade - Geramb
Szekler Grenz Regiment [2 btns.]
Erzherzog Joseph Hussar Regiment [6 sq.]
Brigade - Mengen
Bavarian 3rd Division - La Motte

2nd Column
Bavarian 1st Division - Rechberg
Brigade - Prinz Karl
3rd Light Infantry Battalion [1 btn.]
Prinz Karl Infantry Regiment [1 btn.]
10th Augsburg National Battalion[1 btn.]
Brigade - Bayern
Brigade - Maillot
Austrian 2nd Division of Advance Guard - Splenyi

Approximately 26,500 men

The first column advanced via the main road west of Rosnay, the second column advanced via Perthes direct to Rosnay. The fields either side of the road were very marshy, and although they had started to ice over in the cold, the ground would easily give way under the weight of man making it impossible to deploy and so only the leading Brigade of each column was actively engaged.

Brigade Geramb of Hardegg Division arrived downstream of Rosnay to find the bridge only partially destroyed. 2 Batalions of the Szekler Grenz Regiment easily forced the bridge, accompanied by the Erzherzog Joseph Hussar Regiment which crossed via a ford. Marmont personally leads 3 Battalions against the right hand column and at the same time a Brigade of Curassier charged the Hussars who were thrown back into the infantry column now marching on Rosnay. The Geramb Brigade is broken and thrown back across the river for a loss of 500-600 men.

Frimont then arrives at the second bridge, initially he plans to turn the position but finds the ground is too soft, so he has to resort to a frontal assault using the Bavarian's of the Prinz Karl Brigade (Division Rechberg). The Bavarians tried to force a passage but are met with hail of musketry and the fire from 4 guns and are forced to retreat.

At around 4pm-5pm the Uhlans of Schwarzenberg Uhlan Regiment find a ford at Rances and cross.The French become aware that their position has been turned and start to pull out. Patrols sent out after 7pm can find no trace of the French.

Having left the bodies of 53 officers and 1045 men at Rosnay, Wrede returned to Brienne having completely lost touch with Marmont. Blucher's cavalry crossed by the bridge at Rosnay during the night, en route for Vitry, completely the wrong direction as Marmont had moved west to Ramerupt where he crossed the Aube.

The Allies had only started out at 8 a.m. on the 2nd February, so that there were only a few minor engagements with the Emperor's rearguard up to Lesmont, where he safely crossed the Aube and effectively destroyed the bridge preventing any crossing by the Allies. An attempt to intercept the Arcis-Troyes road at Piney with the Russian cavalry and grenadiers was beaten off by Grouchy.

A Bavarain perspective:
On 2 February, before daylight the enemy withdrew his infantry from Brienne, leaving a strong rear-guard of cavalry and artillery. The infantry marched via the main road from Paris through the village of Lesmont. By a movement combined with the corps the Crown Prince of Wurtemberg, General Wrede attacked the rear guard, drove it through Brienne and captured the city, and pursued the enemy as far as Lesmont where the French destroyed the bridge over the Aube, and formed a line behind the river.

That same night the corps of the Duke of Ragusa had moved away from the front of the Field Marshal and by a lateral movement, had moved on to the road to Vitry and Mezieres. While the Bavarian-Austrian army was marching towards Lesmont, Marshal Marmont manoevered on his right flank and threatened him by this position, this position could even have endangered the rear of the Allied army, if he had continued to move forward.

Under these circumstance the Count de Wrede decided to leave the Lesmont road to maneuver against the corps of the French general. He had occupied the village of Rosnay, on the heights of which was placed his main force, he had before him an almost flooded marshland due to the overflowing of the Voire. He had cut the bridge, and thus obtained a good position, selected by the Emperor himself!

All these obstacles made an attack against the Marshal extremely difficult. Already several attempts had been unsuccessful, and the ice was too weak under the feet of soldier which often stopped the flanks. Weapons and ammunition were wet, we could not advance on road itself.

In this state of affairs, General Count Wrede resolved to storm the enemy position. We advanced to the charge, we overcame all obstacles and difficult terrain that made an ideal defense for the enemy and captured the bridge that crossed the river into Rosnayen (the lower undestroyed bridge). We had already taken half the village when our advance was stopped at the second bridge which was broken. The enemy stood en masse across the creek, and placed in a church and houses from where they had kept up a heavy murderous fire.

Although we could not, in these circumstances, advance for the moment, about four o'clock in the evening, the cavalry found a ford (at Rances), and managed to chase the enemy along the edge of the river, the 10th Augsburg National Battalion then passed over the bridge which had been restored by placing a single board across it, and the enemy was completely expelled from the village.

Satisfied with having made him leave a position regarded as impregnable, Count Wrede did not pursue him, his plan called him at Arcis. For it to happen, he should return by the same route back to Brienne, where he slept, but as the bridge Lesmont that the enemy had destroyed, had not been restored yet, despite all the efforts we had made the movements of General Wrede was delayed twenty-four hours.



This will make a cracking scenario just the right size for 28mm tabletop.

The topography:
The general area of interest is like an inverted triangle Brienne is at the point, with Rances (right) and Betignicourt (left) marking the base line, with each side being 7km in length. Rosnay lies in the center on the base line, Perthes lies halfway along the Brienne-Rances line.

The path from Perthes to Rosnay crosses the Voire in the center of Rosnay, 1.5km downstream the main road from Brienne crosses the Voire in its immediate front is a steep hill the roads turns to pass around the hill skirting along the river bank towards Rosnay. The Voire has low banks and is lightly bordered by trees. There are buildings on the French side of the river at the Rosnay bridge but none on the Bavarian side. 3km upstream there is a bridge or ford at Rances, 3km downstream there is a bridge at Betignicourt. The Bavarians discovered the crossing at Rances at 4pm in the afternoon. The river is in full flood after the heavy rains, it is narrow but deep and unfordable in front of Rosnay, it is cold but the ice on the river won't support infantry.


View from the southern or Bavarian side across the Voire to the French position

View downstream towards the main bridge

View upstream (towards Rances)

View of the western bridge at Rosnay that was not destroyed. You can see the hill behind the bridge where the Artillery was placed and from where the Cuirassiers charged.

Sources:
Mémoires du Maréchal Marmont, duc de Raguse, de 1792 à 1841. Volume 6
Historical Works, Volume 4 By Adolphe Thiers
Napoleon at Bay 1814 F Loraine Petre
Histoire de la campagne de 1814, Volume 1 By Alphonse de Beauchamp
Histoire des campagnes de 1814 et 1815 en France, Volume 1 By Frédéric de Vaudoncourt
Geschichte des Feldzuges von 1814 in dem östlichen und nördlichen Frankreich bis zur Einnahme von Paris, Karl von Damitz,

Retreat from Oporto Soult in the Cavado Valley 12th - 17th May 1809

Five days in May! Soult's nail biting flight from Oporto, is an absolute goldmine for the skirmish gamer, but before covering the individual actions first let's describe the overall series of events that will provide the framework for later posts.


Marshal Soult was driven out of Oporto on May 12th in some confusion but by the time he reached Valongo order had been restored and a rear-guard established. Halting that night beyond Valongo at Baltar some 14 miles east of Oporto Soult believed he was now out of danger and was planning to continue his retreat east through Amarante, which was held by Loison's Division, then on to Chaves and across the border in to Estremadura.

General Loison had not been heard of for several days and a concerned Soult sent an an aide-de-camp to ascertain his exact position. Unbeknownst to Soult, Loison early on 12th May had decided to retreat north west towards Braga, abandoning the position at Amarante to Beresford and nothing the ADC could say or even the later news of Soults retreat from Oporto could do anything to halt Loison, leaving his commander and two-thirds of the army to what appeared to be inevitable destruction.

Soult received the appaling news at 1:30am on 13th May at Baltar, he was now trapped between Wellesley at Oporto and Beresford and Silveira at Amarante, between the Douro to the south and the mountains to the north. Though all seemed lost Soult was determined not give up and felt there must be a way across the montains to the north and a Spanish pedlar was found who knew of a mountain path into the valley of the Avé from where he could easily reach Braga and the road to Chaves. He quickly took the main road to Ponte Penafiel, where he then destroyed all his heavy baggage and artillery, before setting out across the mountain road north to Guimarães in the Avé valley, by the morning of 14th May Soult had safely reached Guimarães and linked up with Loison. A heavy drenching rain began that would last for three days, that only added further to their miseries.

Soult was still in deep trouble, the main road through Guimarães links Amarante, which he knew to be in Portuguese hands, with Braga, which he now began to suspect might already be in British hands. Loison and others were already talking of surrender but Soult decided instead to once more take to the mountain paths and head up the Avé valley and then cross the mountains into the Cãvado valley, reaching the Chaves road upstream of Braga. This time it was Loison's turn to have to abandon all his baggage and artillery. By the end of 14th May most of Soult’s army had reached Lenhoso, eight miles up the valley from Braga, on the main road east to Chaves, though his rearguard who had been unable to reach Lenhoso before dark spent a miserable night in the hills above.

The Cãvado valley runs east from the coast to Braga and then Salamonde, just east of Salamonde it turns towards to the north east heading towards the border. The valley is wide and gentle until it reaches Salamonde, where it begins to get narrower and more rugged. The main road from Braga to Chaves follows the southern side of the river as far as Salomonde, it then cuts through the mountain to head east crossing the Rio Saltadour via Ponte de Rez (Ponte Velha) at Ruivães (Ruivaens) and then on to Chaves, whilst a minor road turns north, cutting across the Saltadour at the Ponte Nova (Ponte do Saltadour) then the Rio Rabagao at the Ponte de Misarela (Ponte do Diablo), and heads towards the border town of Montalegre although it was considered impassable by an army.

On 15th May Soult sent Lahousayee's Dragoons down the Cãvado valley to see if the British were in Braga. As he had expected, they were, for Wellesley had left Oporto on the previous day, and his cavalry reached Braga early on 15th May. Expecting Beresford to have already left Amarante heading for Chaves and would therefore reach that place before him and also hearing that Brigadier Salveria was on his way over the Sierra Calabria Soult had no option but to head for Montaglere.

Indeed Beresford left Amarante and began to march north early on the 14th May heading for Chaves with the aim of cutting off Soult, and by midnight on 16th/17th May he had reached Chaves through a series of forced marches, though his troops were now too worn out to begin an immediate march on Ruivães. Beresford had sent Silveira ahead along a shorter cross country route directly to Ruivães to block the road, but he had inexplicably dawdled (indeed Beresford was to actually pass him on his way to Chaves) and arrived at Ruivães late on 17th May, Wellesley himself moved up from Braga towards Ruivães late on the 16th but it was all to late, for Soult, as we shall see, had by the skin of his teeth escaped, the French were already gone reaching Montaglere late on the 17th.

A muster taken on 19th May at Orense found 19,713 men left out of the 25,500 who had been involved in the campaign. 1,000 men had been lost before Wellesley arrived, while 800 had been captured when Silveira retook Chaves, of the remaining 4,000, half were lost between Baltar and Orense. Whilst his escape was a truly remarkable achievement, Soult had also been forced to abandon all of his artillery along with his heavy baggage and his army could be considered combat ineffective for the next few months.

Wellesley attention now turned to central Portugal. He wanted to act before the French could take the initiative and so took the road that would ultimately lead him to Talavera on 28 July 1809.
Links:
Oman A History of the Peninsular War - Volume 2
Napier History of the war in the Peninsula
The London Quarterly Review, Volume 56 - p293
History Of War - Wellesley’s Campaign in Portugal: The Chase