A fabricated Peninsula-type Solo Wargame. I cannot recall up to now seeing a Battle Report of a solo game and to indicate how it was played in some detail. I enjoyed it immensely and never for one moment felt that the result was a foregone conclusion. Brilliant and overwhelming victories in this type of game are of course rare, the battles usually being of the hard slog variety. Once a reasonable situation has been set up a great deal can be left to chance. My Wife still asks me "Who is winning?" Wargame Table 10' x 4'. Ground scale 1/600. 1 figure = 30 men. Situation: A combined British and Spanish force advancing from the South-West, South and South-East is to assault the French-held Spanish town of Torrelano standing at the confluence of the Maja and Mina rivers. A single main road runs northwards from the town and is the supply route of the French Army. Forces: The total forces on either side are approximately equal. French 4 Infantry Divisions (each of 8 Infantry Bns and 1 Cavalry Regt). 1 Cavalry Division of 8 Regiments (4 heavy and 4 Light). 8 Batteries of Field Artillery. 2 Batteries of Howitzers. 2 Batteries of Horse Artillery. 1 Company of Sapeurs. British 3 Infantry Divisions of 9 Bns each. Heavy Cavalry Brigade of 3 Regiments. Light Cavalry Brigade of 3 Regiments. 1 Regiment of Household Cavalry and 1 Regiment of Brunswick Hussars in reserve. 6 Batteries of Field Artillery. 2 Batteries of Heavy Siege Howitzers. 2 Batteries of Horse Artillery. 1 Company of Engineers. Spanish 1 Division of 8 Infantry Bns and 5 Cavalry Regiments. 2 Batteries of Field Artillery. Of the above the French have two Bns of Light Infantry per Division, the British have two Light Brigades (of high morale rating). The French 17th Division are elite veterans with a high morale rating. The British have one Brigade of Guards also of high morale rating. The remaining forces on both sides are of moderate morale with the exception of the Spanish troops who are below average. Preliminary Moves First of all in the character of Marshal Soult I disposed of the French forces in the best defensive position I could devise, bearing in mind the options open to Wellington. Briefly 15th Division on the right were to defend the ford with one Bn of Light Infantry and one Cavalry Regiment on the far side of the Maja watching for a possible bridging operation further south. One Infantry Brigade was to be held in reserve lining the hedge until the British plans became clear. 16th Division were to garrison the main buildings in the town including the West gate and adjoining houses. The two Light Bus were to guard the north bank of the Mina as far as the East Bridge. The Cavalry Regiment was to scout on the southern bank. One battery of Howitzers was sited in the main square with an observation officer in the tower above the East gate. The other battery was to be entrenched by the Sapeurs in the bend of the Mina south of the East gate. 17th Division formed up in column were to be held in reserve by the North-East corner of the old town wall. 18th Division was to line the bank of the Mina from the East bridge North-Eastwards. 19th Cavalry Division together with the Horse Artillery were to be held to the North of the town on the Main Road - for possible use on either flank if the opportunity arose. I now changed hats and in the character of Wellington drew up three separate plans with written orders for the first three moves in each case. They were (a) An all-out effort on the British left storming across the ford and bridging the river further south, while keeping up a steady pressure on the centre and right. (b) A demonstration Left and Centre while two British and one Spanish Division smashed through on the British right across the Mina. (c) Demonstrations only on the Left and Right while heavy assaults by three British Divisions crossed the West Bridge and a pontoon to be laid in the loop of the river between the Bridge and the West Gate, plus a crossing of the Mina between its confluence with the Maja and the East Bridge. A dice throw decided Wellington on plan (c). The ieuther Card was now drawn indicating a moderate south-westerly. Wind and heavy rain. Units firing into the wind suffered a 10% loss of accuracy. Cavalry and artillery were cut down to half-moves except on roads and any attempt to lay a pontoon over the swollen Maja was out. It could only be crossed at the Ford or the bridge. The Mina was fordable at a half move with attack bonus lost except for Light Infantry. Incident Cards were to be drawn at the commencement of moves 2, 4, 6, etc. Major deviations from original plans had to be decided by reference to a set of Situation Cards each containing at least two valid options. Allied dispositions These were now made in accordance with the previously written plans except that as no bridging operations could take place the engineers were detailed to accompany the assaulting troops with a view to blowing breaches in the walls of garrisoned houses in due course. With the Maja in full spate if Soult's Sapeurs could lay charges under the oest Bridge and blow it if the lest Gate position fell the British plan would be thrown into confusion. The Situation Card decision was that they should entrench the Howitzer Battery as ordered and then move to the bridge and prepare it for demolition. On Wellington's left the two Brigades of Cavalry with the Horse Artillery and the Light Infantry Brigade from 1st Division were to demonstrate strongly in the direction of the ford. The remainder of 1st Division, one Guards Brigade and one Highland Brigade were after a preliminary bombardment by Siege and Field guns to force the West Gate and attempt to cross the bridge. They were to be supported by 2nd Division, one Brigade of which was to push into the loop of the river enfilading the French right. The Second Brigade was to follow 1st Division into the town, pushing up the Main Road while the third brigade was to line the southern bank of the Maja as far as the confluence to give supporting fire. 3rd Division with its Light brigade leading was to force the Mina from the confiuence to the East Bridge. The Spanish Division had orders to demonstrate strongly towards the Mina above the East Bridge in order to draw in French Reserves, but not to attempt a crossing. Napoleonic Assault of Torrellana Continued [WN121] . Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 120 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1971 by Donald Featherstone. This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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