by David Marks
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David Marks presents an account of the wargame staged by the Napoleonic Association at the Napoleonic Fair in London February 1997.
What a great time we had at the recent Napoleonic Fair and I am sure that all those who attended the show had an enjoyable day as well. This was the first game that I have staged on behalf of the N.A. and was very pleased with the results, given the short time with which to organise the game. I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to my daughter Sarah and to my good friends Krys Lanowski and Matthew Cain for their help and support, without which the game could not have been run.
The game was a refight of the peninsular battle of Albuera (16th May 1811) and was fought on a 12 x 4 foot table using over 4,000 1/300th scale Adler figures. Because of the small figure size we were able to conduct the refight using a 1:15 figure ratio. The game started as a demonstration but soon became a participation game as so much interest was shown by people who visited the show. Almost everyone who joined in was unfamiliar with the jolly nice rule system, "Off to War" that was used, but with a little assistance from our team the players quickly grasped the fundamentals of the rules and the game rolled along.
Badajoz, the strongest of all the peninsular fortress towns can be found on the Spanish side of the frontier between Portugal and Spain. It was on the 10th May 1811 that General Beresford, commander of the Anglo-Portugese forces, (consisting of approximately 8,500 British and 9,000 Portuguese / KGL Infantry - 1,400 British and 900 Portuguese Cavalry and 36 Guns). who were laying siege to the town, received news of the approach of a French relief force, (consisting of approximately 19,000 Infantry - 4,000 Cavalry and 48 Guns commanded by Marshal Soult.
Wellington had earlier given Beresford the choice of raising the siege and taking up a defensive position around the town of La Albuera, or retreating across the Caia, back into Portugal. General Blake, joint commander of the Spanish Corp. (consisting of approximately 12,500 Infantry - 1,900 Cavalry and 12 Guns). under Castanos, refused to withdraw from Spain but the matter was resolved when a sudden storm carried away the bridges, thus making the defence at La Albuera the only option.
On the 13th May Beresford abandoned the siege and moved to La Albuera. Beresford on the assumption that Soult, in accordance with the French practice, would make his main assault against the Allied centre positioned the British there, with a detachment of King German Legion (KGL) forward in La Albuera itself. The Portuguese were positioned to the north of the town, on the British left. The Spanish, who formed the Allied right wing, arrive last and positioned themselves to the south of the town.
On the 15th May the French arrived and bivouac to the East of La Albuera. Beresford had chosen a poor position to deploy his troops. Although the town itself offered a strong defensive position the rest of his disposition could be seen by the enemy as they approached. To the south of La Albuera the ground steadily increased in height. This meant that the Allied right flank was overlooked by higher ground, which was to provide a good position for the French artillery in the coming battle.
Night March
On the 16th as the early morning mist cleared, it appeared that almost the entire French army had gone, Beresford had in fact been totally out manoeuvred. Soult, realising that the Albuera river, with it steep banks and muddy bottom could only be crossed north of its fork via a bridge had conducted a night march to the south, thereby outflanking the Allied right wing.
After some minor skirmishing the French advanced on the Allied right wing with the largest single attack of the whole war, two full infantry divisions consisting of 8,500 men in an almost solid column, supported by heavy cavalry and artillery.
The Spanish, commanded by Generals Zayas and Ballesteros, together with Hoghton's British brigade (29th, 48th and 57th) who were holding this part of the battlefield fought with great vigour but as the casualties mounted they started to waver. Beresford personally tried to bring forward Carlos de Espana's brigade in support.
Although some of the Spanish formations fought well that day, this was not one of them and they refused to advance, despite Beresford dragging forward one of barrage soon had the desired effect. After suffering a number of casualties and with little to gain in their present location, I ordered a general withdrawal towards La Albuera. This enabled the Spanish to meet up with some advancing British units. This juncture with the British being needed to bolster many of the faltering Spanish.
On seeing this withdrawal Krys sent forward some heavy cavalry to generally harass the Spanish. This cavalry demonstration against what was now the rear of these withdrawing troops caused their moral to fall even lower.their Spanish colonels by his epaulettes. It was only when Colborn's British infantry brigade arrived, that the situation stabilised.
During the day a sudden storm swept the battlefield causing virtually all the muskets to be put out of action. It was during this storm that the French light cavalry division, containing the 1st Lancers of the Vistula legion and the 2nd Hussars, were able to advance on the British unseen. Hitting the end of the British line the experienced horsemen practically annihilated the first three battalions of Colborn's brigade before breaking into the rear of the Spanish and overrunning a battery of guns.
The French horsemen captured several colours (six according to General Renault) and approximately 1,000 prisoners. Beresford and his staff were also nearly taken captive, but it was during this action that Beresford, a man of great height and strength, unhorsed a polish lancer using only one arm. General Cole, commander of the British 4th Division who were held in reserve, without orders took it upon himself to advance his men in support of the Allied right flank. It was this distinguished action which determined the outcome of the battle, turning what would have been a defeat into a costly victory.
By now the rain had stopped and so the muskets could once again be brought back into action. The opposing armies now entered into a close range firefight which raged for nearly an hour. Several French batteries only 300 yards behind the head of the French column also enfiladed the centre of the British line. Some Allied artillery was also brought into action against the French.
By late afternoon torrential rain once again started to fall and with the onset of darkness the battle ended. The exhausted armies rested where they had fought and remained on the battlefield wearily facing each other. That night, Soult fearing the Allies superiority of numbers decided to quit the field and fell back to Solana and then later onto Llerna. This action left the Allies in control of the Battlefield, giving them a tenuous victory.
Albuera was said to be a soldiers battle and the terrible slaughter on both sides supported this statement. The losses were roughly as follows: the French suffered 7,000 - 8,000 casualties and the Allies 6,000 of whom 4,159 were British. In terms of percentage casualties the battle of Albuera was the bloodiest of the whole peninsular war. The French lost two generals and the 57th foot lost their regimental commander, Colonel Inglis together with 1,054 men from a total of 1,600.
Write Me Down a Victory
Wellington arrived at Albuera on the 21st May, five days after the battle, in time to prevent Beresford from sending a defeatist despatch. Wellington exclaimed: 'This won't do, it will drive the people of England mad - write me down a victory! Wellingtons own verdict was that 'another such battle would ruin us'.
Visiting the wounded, Wellington spoke of his sorrow at seeing so many of them, to which one man who undoubtedly spoke for the army replied: 'If you had commanded us, my Lord, there wouldn't be so many of us here'. With General Hill's return to the peninsular from England, Beresford was relived of his command. Beresford reverted back to his supervisory role of overseeing the Portuguese army, but was never again employed by Wellington in independent command, except for a force which was sent to Bordeaux some years later.
Sarah and Krys played the French, with Matthew and myself the Anglo-Portugese and Spanish armies. The troops were laid out on the gaming table, in what was assumed to be their historical starting positions - we had three different maps and each showed not only different locations for the troops but also differing topographical features as well.
The French quickly advanced on the Allies right wing, with Sarah deploying a large battery of guns on the French right flank. We were now joined by our first new player, who for reasons known only to himself went completely bonkers and ordered all available cavalry in the area to engage the advancing French cavalry. It was a grand spectacle and at first the sheer number of Spanish cavalry figures looked unstoppable.
However, many of the unsupported Spanish cavalry were cut down by artillery as they advanced. Their ranks were further thinned by musketry on their flank and were finally chopped up and routed by the waiting heavy French cavalry. It was at this point that our new recruit said, "Thanks for letting me have a go, I thoroughly enjoyed that," and with these parting words went off to see the rest of the show, leaving Matthew and me totally bewildered.
Gloating French
How the French players gloated. Encouraged by this turn in events they rapidly advanced upon the British/Spanish lines. Matthew with precision timing deployed some horse artillery and together with the infantry unleashed a number of devastating volleys into the head of the oncoming French. Many of the leading French units turned and fled from the carnage and confusion in their ranks, (we just took some figures off really, but I think this reads better). It started to look like things could be going in the Allies favour, but just then General Blake fell mortally wounded. This was the last straw for the faltering Spanish who now fled the field in droves.
Hamilton's brigade had now moved up in support of Colborne's hard pressed units which stabilised the situation on the Allies right flank. Matthew was also moving Coles division up in support, but it was going to be a number of game moves before these troops arrived.
On the left hand side of the battlefield many of our numerous additional gamers had thrown this area into total confusion. Some of Soult's grenadiers together with Godinot's brigades had been sent across the bridge to assault the town. However, the Allied players had decided to counter this threat. Many of the Allied units in and around La Albuera were mobilised and the Allied centre was robbed of its supporting units. Thus, a force of 10 brigades of infantry, 12 squadrons of cavalry and 4 gun batteries were sent to attack roughly 3 brigades of French infantry. A sledge hammer to crack a nut and crack them they did.
Two of the French brigades being totally destroyed, with the survivors of the grenadier unit being taken prisoner after they had surrendered en masse. Content with their swift victory the Allied players set about plugging the gaps their absence had created. By sheer luck or great foresight it transpired that vacating the centre of so many troops, which at first look like a blunder, was a saving grace for the Allies.
The returning Spanish units were confronted with a dismal scene. Many of Colborne's brigade had been cut down, after being assaulted in the flank by the French light cavalry division, with many of Hamilton's troops fleeing in disorder from the onslaught. The return of the Spanish to their central position and the arrival of Cole's division (a few game move later) again stabilised the situation for the Allies and with the commitment of Lumney's British cavalry a stalemate situation returned to the table.
The wargame itself went pretty well to history, with both sides bludgeoning each other to a stand still. With the show almost at a close we decided to call this hard fought battle a draw. However, just like the original battle the Allies still had a number of un-engaged units on the table, which could be move forward to assault the French. Given the sheer weight of Allied numbers, it was agreed that the French would quit the field during the night, just as Soult had ordered in the real battle.
With so many different people, playing the game for varying lengths of time, I felt that a good 'fog of war' was created. It was also fun to watch the more experienced gamers having a grand time trying to sort out the mess caused by the less versed players. As it turned out this "game-it and go" method worked very well and was an enjoyable way to run the game. So if you see us at any of the shows and you fancy a game come and say hello to the team and join the fun.
As I said in the last edition of First Empire we all need to pull together, because together I feel sure we shall achieve many things. To this end I would hope that in future, games run on behalf of the N.A. might contain a greater number of N.A members other than myself. So if any members would like to help me stage a game at a show, or just rerun this one, please let me know via First Empire.
Albuera Order of Battle and Map
Many thanks to Paul Chamberlain (N.A Research Officer) for his assistance in providing me with a list of books which covered the Battle of Albuera.
A History of the Peninsular War, Vol: 4 - by Sir Charles Oman.
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