Espanea, a fictitious village in Western Spain, is the right flank of the French invasion forces. The French and British Commanders-in-Chief facing each other to the east, both wanted control of the village and the East-West roads it controlled. The battle began at 12.00, the two French corps being in position either side of the hill. French 1st Corps 3 Line Infantry Btns. 1 Light Infantry Btn. 1 Field Gun 2 Sqds Light Cavalry. 2 Companies Riflemen. French 2nd Corps 2 Guard Btns. 2 Line Infantry Btns. 1 Field Gun 2 Sqds. Light Cavalry 1 Company Riflemen. Reserve (to the rear of the 2nd Corps) 2 Sqds. Light Cavalry. 1 Line Infantry Btn. The British Guards Division, by 12.00 had reached the bridge over the stream, on the S.E. road. But they had been forced marched and required 2 hours in which to form for battle, this to be carried out on the south bank of the stream. Guards Division 2 Guards Btns. 1 British Line Infantry Btn. 1 Spanish Line Infantry Btn. (with one British officer). 1 Howitzer battery. 2 Companies of Rifles. The village was garrisoned by a battalion of Spanish Irregulars, who had made an attempt at fortifying the village with logs. The British force commander, who arrived on the field at 13.00 with his escort of one Light Cavalry Regiment, was told that the local guerilla leader and 24 of his men had taken up hidden positions in the broken ground to the west of the village. Both force commanders had also been informed by their respective Commander-in-Chiefs that supports had already been despatched to them at various times. FIRST MOVE (1 move = 2 hours) While the British Guard were forming up, the French commander sent part of his left corps to occupy the field, while the Guard's battalions moved to attack the village. His right division moved forward to support the Guards attack, the field guns being moved, one towards the north road junction and the other towards it's position midway between the house and the field. The Irregulars occupying the village opened fire on the advancing French, but with no effect (Irregulars - 1 from each firing dice). The French rifles replied taking off one defender. The Irregulars then tested their morale (-3 from total for Irregulars and -2 for Regulars), their morale being good they continued the defence. SECOND MOVE The British now formed up. sent one Guard Bn supported by the Spanish Bn along the road towards the village, they were able to advance as far as the southern outskirts. The second Guards Bn, supported by the British Line Bn on it's right flank, moved forward to occupy a position in line with the southern end of the field. The howitzer continued trundling along the road towards it's position near the bridge. The Light Cavalry Regt. moved up to the south-eastern edge of the village. The French divisions, with a few adjustments for position, opened fire on the village defenders while one Guard Bn charged the north-eastern face. Both French field guns continued to move into position and were thus unable to fire this move. The French Light Bn occupying the broken ground did not spot the guerillas, who were well hidden, but they in turn refused to fire (guerillas require a dice throw of 4, 5, 6 to open fire). The charging Guards unit engaged the defenders of the N.E. wall in melee, both sides suffering light casualties, but the heavy supporting fire from the French Line units started to clear the other walls of defenders. The defenders return fire being quite ineffective. By the end of the move the defenders surprisingly survived their morale test and were able to continue the fight. At the beginning of this move the 3ritish Light Division appeared on the S.W. road, but spent the whole of the move in column moving along it. British Light Division 2 Light Infantry Bns. 1 Rifle Bn. 1 Company of Rifles 1 Battery Horse Artillery THIRD MOVE While both force commanders were surveying their respective attacks they received the following messages: BRITISH - Information from guerillas in French rear. French morale seems to be very poor due to lack of supplies, and it is thought that all infantry units with the possible exception of the Guard, will suffer -2 on all morale dice throws. Also that the French Artillery are nearly out of ammunition. FRENCH - From officer in charge counter espionage. I have sent, as instructed, one of my agents to the British, he will tell them that our army is in a poor state of morale and that our artillery is nearly out of ammunition. You can expect them to attack in force within the next few hours. Information has also been received that the British have more troops expected to arrive during the night, but have no idea as to size or composition. (The Umpire trying to hide a smile, sat back to watch the fun.) The British commander however decided on caution (or smelt a rat), and did not put in the expected assault. Instead he reinforced the village defence with the first Guard Bn and withdrew the defenders from the N.E. wall behind the inner wall. The French commander, expecting an attack, again made only minor adjustments to his forces with the exception of his Light Cavalry which he had gathered from each corps and formed into one regiment. These he sent against the leading British Light Bn on the west flank. The cavalry hit before the Light troops could fire, taking off a third of their number on impact. The morale of these Light troops held, and were able to stand and continue the fight by the end of the move. Meanwhile grape and volley fire from the investing French troops virtually wiped out the Spanish forces left in the village, and greatly reduced the strength of the Guards. The defenders return fire was again ineffective due mainly to the position of the inner wall not allowing all their fire to bear. By the field the French field gun caught the British Line unit with grape, taking off five men, their resulting morale throw forcing them into rout which was not stopped for 4 hours. Further British and French reinforcements had arrived at the beginning of this move. French 1 Regt. Lancers 1 Regt. Heavy Cavalry 1 Bty. Horse Artillery British - 1 Heavy Dragoon Regt. (This unit had been forced marched for 3 days, and was unable to take part in the battle for up to 4 hours.) Note: It could have been committed before this period but would have been classed as Light Cav. with low morale. Once more the Guerillas refused to fire, and remained hidden. FOURTH MOVE At the beginning of this move, (after he had written his orders) the French commander received the following message: From Commander-in-Chief French Army - I have been defeated to your east, you must keep open the East- West road to allow my army to retreat on its bases. The leading units are my only formed troops and will reach you by 01.00 hours. They consist of 1 Guard Infantry Bn., 2 Light Infantry Boa and 4 Rifle Companies. You must have the road clear by 12.00 tomorrow. The French commander continued the cavalry/infantry melee, the cavalry again dealing a crippling blow to the Light Infantry, whose morale finally failed and were forced into full retreat. One squadron of this Cavalry Unit however attempted to melee the horse gun on the west flank of the Light Division, but were virtually wiped out. But this move by the cavalry did cover an ill-judged split move by the French Light Bn., which came out of the broken ground, and would have suffered heavy casualties had it not been covered by the cavalry attack. The British commander decided to abandon the village, pulling back the Guards Bn to the road junction, the French immediately occupied the northern half of the village. The casualties were very light, as most of the infantry found themselves out of range of each other. Again the guerillas refused to open fire. FIFTH MOVE At the beginning of this move the British commander received the following message (again after he had written his move in): Message from Commander-in-Chief British Army - I have routed a French army to the east of you, and am sending my reserve to your command - 1 Light Cavalry Regt., 1 Battery Royal Horse Artillery, 3 Bns British Line Infantry, 1 Bn Spanish iiegular Infantry, 3 companies of Rifles and 1 Howitzer Battery. They will arrive by 01.00 hours tonight. You must block the east-west road to the north of the village by 11.00 tomorrow to stop the enemy retreat and allow me to finish him off. The French Light Cavalry meanwhile attempted to continue further their melee with the British Light Infantry, but were caught in flank and rear by the British Dragoons and were forced to surrender. The end of this move found the French occupying 3/4 of the village, and both sides receiving very light casualties. The only highlight being a lucky ball hit by the French centre field gun which killed the commander of the Spanish Regular Bn. It's morale went and they ended up in rout along the S.E. road. The guerillas (need I say) once again refused to fire. At the end of this move darkness fell bringing an end to all fighting until dawn in 6 hours time. Note: Each commander had three moves in which to position his forces, no unit could construct hard cover during dark but could make soft cover defences. Dawn - (see map for positions of each army). NINTH MOVE The British surprisingly using the French column formation, sent three columns and one Light Cavalry Regiment against the French East flank units. All of them except the Light Cavalry were able to melee before the French could open fire, but lost their impact values in crossing the soft cover defences. It took the Light Cavalry the whole of the move to clear it's way through these defences and therefore were unable to melee. The British scored another success when one of it's howitzers firing on the N.E. house missed but hit the French Horse Gun limber, which exploded, but caused few casualties. The French cavalry in the centre charged down the road, the logs having been removed during the night, and were able to melee the Line Infantry covering the road junction. Although they inflicted casualties on the infantry they were unable to break them. On the west flank the only attack was made by the British Light Infantry who charged the French Light Infantry in the broken ground. Although they received heavy fire as they charged in they were able to make contact, both side standing after the melee. The only decisive point on this flank was the destruction, by the British Horse gun, the French field gun on it's second attempt. TENTH MOVE The columns started to push back the French infantry, whose line enveloped the flanks of the columns as they cleared the soft cover. The French commander also threw in his Guard In at this point in an attempt to stop them. The British Light Cavalry having cleared the soft cover routed the French Line Unit to it's front and then went on to counter-attack the French Heavy Cavalry thrown against it. All the French gun crews at this point were forced to abandon their guns. In the centre the French cavalry continued it's fight with the British Line, but were still unable to break them. On the West flank the British Light Infantry broke their French counterparts, sending them off in rout. The dragoons charged but misjudged the distance, only 2 squadrons were able to make contact, the remainder suffering heavy casualties, but stood their morale test. ELEVENTH MOVE The column/French Infantry fight continued, the British commander sending in the Spanish Regulars in an attempt to break the deadlock, but failed. His Light Cavalry however had tremendous luck in beating the French Heavy Cavalry and forcing them to withdraw. Into the gap thus created charged the second British Light Cavalry Regiment, meeting in a head on clash with the counter-charging French Lancers, both sides stopping each other dead. The centre cavalry at last broke the Line unit, who were forced into full retreat, followed up by the cavalry, and taking with them the crew of the eastern howitzer battery. On the West flank a fire fight developed between the British Guards, Spanish Regulars and the French Line Unit holding the village, this resulted in the Guards retreating and the Spanish routing. As the Spanish troops fled passed the western howitzer battery, the crew joined their rout. The Dragoons on this flank eventually got in with the French Light units but failed to break it, but was itself sent into retreat havin~ lost heavily in the melee. TWELVTH MOVE Once again the Infantry fight on the East flank ended in stalemate, one British column being cut to pieces but its place being taken by the Spanish Regulars who were fighting extremely well. But the cavalry action resulted in a decisive victory for the British. The Light Cavalry, after sending the French Heavy into further retreat, disengaged and stopped the French Reserve Line Bn from joining the infantry melee. The other Light Cavalry, completely defeated the Lancers, sending them back across the road and onto the hill. One squadron of this unit stopping to block the road, the others chased the lancers up the hill, cutting them to pieces. The British commander sent his last Infantry Bn against the French Infantry in the village, although suffering badly it did force them out of the village but was forced to retreat itself. The British Horse gun covered by Riflemen, came forward to the East entrance to the village, fired one round of grape and sent in rout the French Line Infantry unit lining the N.W. wall. The Guards unit on its flank also broke, withdrawing in full retreat. On the West flank nothing spectacular seemed to be happening, both sides settling down to a fire fight, neither attacked at this crucial point. The only success being the French riflemen who wiped out the British Horse gun crew. But then the French Line Bn breaking from the N.W. wall of the village, took with it the remnants of the French Light Bnj that had been in the broken ground, the French Guard Bn, and also the Line unit from in front of the Guards. At this point 12.00 the game finished -- a victory for the British, due mainly to the valiant efforts of their Light Cavalry breaking through on the East flank and blocking the road. Although the French still held most of the village, their casualties were greater than the British and over half of their remaining uncommitted Infantry were in rout. The guerillas? Well, we can only assume they went home, if in fact they bothered to stay in the first place. One thought was that they had bribed the umpire (who threw all their dice) this coming of course from the rather irate British commander. Back to Table of Contents -- Wargamer's Newsletter # 126 To Wargamer's Newsletter List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1972 by Donald Featherstone. 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