Monday, March 18, 2024

Medellín (28 March 1809)

This scenario is a refight of the Battle of Medellín (28 March 1809) during the Peninsular War. It was played using the Commands & Colors Napolionic rules but on hex terrain from Kallistra, buildings from Total Battle Miniatures and using 6mm figures from Baccus instead of blocks.


The History

After being forced out of its defensive positions on the River Tagus, General Don Gregorio Garcia de la Cuesta’s Spanish army was retreating in the face of Marshal Victor’s advancing French army. On the 27th of March, Cuesta’s army was reinforced by the Duke of Albuquerque, and Cuesta decided it was time to fight. Cuesta’s plan was to strike both French wings and hope to catch the French army with their backs to the Guadiana River. Victor was outnumbered, but had veteran troops who knew how to win, so he willingly deployed for battle. Victor’s plan was to keep withdrawing his flanks closer and closer to the center until a powerful counter-attack could shatter the Spanish line.

Cuesta formed his infantry into one long, thin unbroken line since his greatest fear was that French cavalry could destroy his infantry if there were gaps in the line. At first, Cuesta’s plan seemed to be working. Lasalle’s position on the French left was at risk, but his men held on to their tenuous positions. Spanish infantry formations were also pushing forward against the French batteries on Latour-Maubourg’s hill position. Latour-Maubourg flung his cavalry into a counter attack, but the cavalry was forced into a disorganized retreat. As the Spanish infantry threatened to capture the French guns, Latour-Maubourg ordered his reformed cavalry to attack again – this time against the Spanish cavalry covering the end of the infantry line. Events now unfolded quickly. The French cavalry charge succeeded and the Spanish cavalry fled the field, exposing the thin Spanish line to a devastating flank attack. Cuesta’s left flank dissolved in panic. Lasalle and Villatte, seeing the opportunity, ordered a counter-attack that caught the right flank of the Spanish army between infantry to their front and cavalry to their flanks and rear.

The result was a massacre. Entire battalions were destroyed as they tried to stand and fight, and the French cavalry showed no quarter in their pursuit of fugitives. Over 7,500 Spaniards became casualties. In the aftermath, Cuesta’s shattered army retreated to Monasterio.


The Refight

The Spanish started the battle by repositioning their infantry on the central ridge to make room for a battery of foot artillery, moving forward so as to be in a good position to bombard the French.

Marshal Victor ordered La Grande Manoeuvre and moved his left flank over to face the Spanish centre. By doing so, he got his troops out of a tricky situation, as they had had their backs to the unfordable Guadiana River.

General Don Gregorio Garcia de la Cuesta ordered both his flanks forward.

On his left, Spanish line infantry and Heavy Dragoons advanced. Perhaps hoping to surprise the French right, or perhaps just to secure the town of Mengabril.

While on the Spanish right, the troops moved towards the centre, to mirror the French manoeuvre.

Marshal Victor ordered his right flank to assault the advancing Spanish. General Latour-Maubourg took command of the Dragoons, and supported by their horse artillery, they attacked the Spanish Dragoons. While French infantry advanced to fill the gap they had left in the line.

Charging down the hill, with the supporting cannon fire from their horse artillery, Latour-Maubourg's Dragoons wiped out their Spanish counterparts.

The Spanish Force Marched their left wing infantry commanded by Brigadier Juan Henestrosa to oppose the advance of the French right wing.

Marshal Victor was about to order his troops forward, however troublesome Spanish Guerrillas delayed his chief of staff from sending out the command.

Taking advantage of the apparent hesitation of the French, General Cuesta ordered his left flank to attack.

Musket fire from the Spanish line infantry caused severe losses to the French horse artillery causing it to retire behind the crest of the hill.

However the Spanish infantry's attack on the French Dragoons was less successful, resulting in heavy losses for the Spanish infantry and the death of Brigadier Juan Henestrosa and no noticeable effect on the French.

The French centre was ordered to attack. One light cavalry unit charged a Spanish infantry unit and a second light cavalry unit moved up in support.

The Spanish infantry formed square, creating a temporary stand-off.

Showing inspired leadership, General Trias led his Spanish infantry unit through the valley between the hills in order to attack and push back the French cavalry.

On the French right, the horse artillry advanced again and the Dragoons attacked the Spanish infantry in front of the town of Mengabril, The Spanish infantry formed square, repulsing the Dragoons.

Seeing the success of their comrades, the remaining Spanish infantry attacked the French on the hill.

The first attacking Spanish line infantry column was repulsed by the French horse artillery, causing it to retreat back to the ridge after taking losses. The second attacking column caused the French artillery to retire behind the crest of the hill, but did not follow up its victory.

The French ordered their centre to attack. Two units of light cavalry rode forward to attack the Spanish positions.

When the cavalry attack was over, one cavalry unit was destroyed and one had retired. However both Spanish line infantry units had severe losses.

Back on their left flank, the Spanish infantry climbed up the hill and attacked the French horse artillery.

The horse artillery was destroyed.

The Spanish light cavalry advanced, causing the French light cavalry to retreat to their own lines having taken severe losses.

On the French right, the dragoons advanced to attack the Spanish artillery while a line infantry column advanced over the crest of the hill.

The dragoons rode passed the decimated Spanish square, which the line infantry opened fire on and destroyed.

The dragoons attacked the artillery on the hill.

General Latour-Maubourg and his dragoons caused serious casualties and only a few surviving Spanish artillerymen managed to retreat.

The dragoons followed up the attack and overran the few surviving Spanish artillerymen.

General Latour-Maubourg and his victorious French Heavy Dragoons...

Having taken heavy losses, and their left flank turned by the French heavy cavalry, the whole Spanish army gave up the battle and started to fade away and head for the sierras.


The Outcome 

Spanish Victory:   Spanish 6 - French 3


Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Rangers of Shadow Deep - The Deserted Village

The first scenario from Rangers of Shadow Deep Standard Edition. Played with Martin's hand-drawn 20mm figures and pop-up terrain. 

It has been less than a week since the destruction of Lorenthia and the appearance of the Shadow Deep but, in that time, the world has seemingly gone mad. Reports of strange creatures, and evil, robed men are flooding in from all along the new border. Even with every soldier, ranger, and volunteer mobilized, the kingdom is stretched thin. Three days ago, a veteran ranger by the name of Aventine went out to investigate reports of an attack on a nearby village. He has not returned. Determined to find the missing ranger, you have gathered what companions you can and set off for the village. It’s an eight-hour hike over difficult terrain.

As soon as you came within sight of the nameless village, you knew that something wasn’t right. There was no sound of man or animal, no movement except for the gentle swaying of the trees in the breeze. Closer in, you could see bodies lying in the dirt and smell the stench of death. Undaunted, you covered your face and carried on. Whatever happened here, it was your duty to try to discover the truth, and, if possible, determine the fate of Aventine. You had just reached the centre of the village, and were about to split up to search, when a horrible moaning sound came from all around. 

The heroes with their trusty warhounds ready for a fight.

The heroes are surrounded. Giant rats and zombies approach from all directions.

The heroes start by fighting the giant rats.

The giant rats prove easy to defeat.

The zombies move much slower than the rats, but they finally enter the combat.

The zombies prove a tougher foe than the giant rats.

And even Bill and Bull, the trusty warhounds need to lend a paw.

The body of Aventine, the missing ranger, was discovered. The Hero recognized that Aventine’s sword is magic and secures it. This sword gives +1 Fight; it can be used by this figure for the rest of the scenario if it can normally use a hand weapon, and can be given to any figure in the next scenario.

There was one zombie left to fight before the battle was over.


Saturday, December 30, 2023

What a Cowboy

Yesterday at the club we played What a Cowboy by Too Fat Lardies with some great terrain made by Micke and Jesper. Great fun was had by all, although unfortunately Micke and I were beaten by Jesper and George.

I had two characters: Engelbert Humpeldunk and Henrietta the Bath House proprietor.



The final fight-out for the chest containing the silver dollars!




Sunday, September 24, 2023

Gamonal (10 November 1808)

This scenario is a refight of the Battle of Gamonal (10 November 1808) during the Peninsular War. It was played using the Commands & Colors Napolionic rules but on hex terrain from Kallistra, buildings from Total Battle Miniatures, trees mostly from Timecast Miniatures and using 6mm figures from Baccus instead of blocks. This is the sixth battle using our Peninsular War campaign rules.


The History

The Spanish commander at Burgos, Conde de Belveder, was an inexperienced and rash officer. He moved out of the strong defenses of Burgos to a weak defensive position in an open plain well in front of the village of Gamonal. Soult arrived with his advance guard at Gamonal on the 10th. 

Seeing the enemy’s weak position, he immediately launched his cavalry against the Spanish right, while his infantry used the cover of the woods to advance against the Spanish center and left. Milhaud’s French cavalry drove off the Spanish horse and then proceeded to roll up the Spanish line. Belveder’s attempts to rally his forces were in vain, and the Spanish army broke and fled. Gamonal was the opening action, and the first French victory, in Napoleon’s second invasion and drive on Madrid in November, 1808. 


The Refight

The French commander ordered the five infantry units on his right flank to force march forwards with the aim of securing the village of Vellimar. The line infantry marched forward towards the village while the light infantry scurried though the woods.

The Spanish commander countered this by ordering his units to hold and open fire. This forced two French infantry units to retreat after taking losses.

The French commander ordered his right flank to continue the attack. The two line infantry units advanced while the light infantry opened fire from the cover of the woods. The French attack nearly destroyed one of the Spanish line infantry units.

The Spanish commander ordered his left wing to advance into the village of Vellimar and to open fire on the advancing French. General Alos moved his infantry over in support.

The French probed forward with two infantry units. One French infantry unit pushed the Spanish back into he village of Vellimar while the second French infantry unit advanced and destroyed the understrength Spanish infantry in a fierce melee.

The Spanish commander decided to try and distract the French commander, so the Spanish pushed forward their two regiments of cavalry on the right flank level with the village of El Palacio.

However the French commander was not distracted. The attack on the French right flank continued; the French held their positions and opened fire. 

The French light infantry in the woods, opened fire on the Spanish artillery and wiped them out.

The French line infantry opened fire on the Spanish line infantry column led by General Alos, half of which became casualties. 

The Spanish cavalry charged into the waiting French dragoons under the command of Général de Division Jean-Baptiste Milhaud.

However the French dragoons were prepared, and they stuck first, completely destroying the yellow-clad Spanish dragoons. The Spanish hussars still tried to charge home, but they recoiled after taking casualties.

Général Milhaud charged his dragoons into the recoiling Spanish hussars, wiping them out. Général Lasalle brought up another regiment of cavalry and a battery of horse artillery in support.

Let by their grenadiers, the Spanish infantry charged the French guns, wiping them out.

The Spanish grenadiers were attacked by the French cavalry reserves. The grenadiers stood their ground, without forming square.

However the Spanish grenadiers could not withstand the power of the French cavalry, they were completely annihilated. 

The cavalry exploited the gap, and the charged the understrength line infantry behind, even wiping them out.

The remnants of the Spanish army had had enough, they turned tail and ran for the safety of the mountains from which they had so recently emerged.


The Outcome 

French Victory:   Spanish 2 - French 6

For the next scenario, the Allies get 1 Glory Counter and the French get 2 Glory Counters.

Campaign Result 

  Victories     Banners  
  French       4     33
  Allies       2     25