Vimeiro (21 August 1808)

This scenario is a refight of the Battle of Vimeiro (21 August 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 fourth battle using our Peninsular War campaign rules.

The History

Four days after Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley’s initial clash at Rolica, General Jean-Andoche Junot, with an army of 14,000, attacked the Anglo-Portuguese army of 17,000 troops. Junot wanted to defeat the invaders before reinforcements could arrive by sea. 

The battle of Vimeiro began with three brigades of French advancing to take Vimeiro hill and the town, while a fourth brigade had swung right to turn the British left flank. Unfortunately for Junot, his frontal attacks were uncoordinated, and failed to pin the British troops in the centre. Wellesley was able to redeploy his army to face the threat on his left. The French column attacks in the centre were finally forced back by sustained British volleys and soon afterwards the flank attack was also beaten back. Covered by his cavalry, Junot retreated towards Torres Vedras and the British did not pursue. 

Following the battle, the British senior commanders Generals Dalrymple and Burrard worked out a deal allowing Junot’s army to leave for France on British ships, taking all their guns and equipment. This deal, not surprisingly, caused a massive outcry in Britain.

The Refight

On the British left flank, the French forced marched their infantry, occupying the village of Vertosa before General Fergusson had time to react. 

Fergusson then ordered his infantry to push the French out of the village, but was repulsed with losses.

Now with artillery supporting fire, the British line infantry charged down from the hill into the village of Vertosa. They caused severe losses to the defending French infantry but could not take the village.

The French advanced with their entire right wing, to put pressure on the British left. The French light infantry opened fire on the British on the hill causing more casualties, but the British line stood firm.

The fight for the village continued, with both sides taking losses, but the French keeping the upperhand.

With General Jean-Baptiste Solignac at their head, the French right wing cavalry - one regiment of dragoons and one of chasseur à cheval - charged the British lines.

The dragoons rode over the British artillery, destroying it without serious losses to themselves. 

They then attacked the supporting infantry behind, causing them to form square and take casualties.

The chasseur à cheval then attacked a British infantry regiment. The British decided not to form square but to receive the charge in 4-deep line. Both sides too severe losses.

The Portuguese infantry in the woods, opened fire on the remaining chasseurs à cheval, destroying them.

The French Dragoons charged a different British line infantry regiment, forcing it to form square after taking casualties.

Musket fire from the Portuguese infantry caused the French dragoons to retire out of range.

General Jean-Baptiste Solignac ordered a new assault. The French light infantry in the village opened fire on the understrength British square destroying it and killing General Fergusson who was sheltering within.

The French dragoons then charged the second understrength British square wiping it out.

Emboldened by his success on the right flank, General Jean-Andoche Junot ordered his troops to push forward on both flanks and the centre. 

Seeing the French infantry cresting the hill, General Sir Arthur Wellesley pushed forward two infantry units to counter the French.

British artillery fire forced the French infantry on the hill to recoil.

British line infantry advanced towards the river, while their light infantry secured the woods.

Back on the British left flank, the French advanced their infantry through the wood.

General Sir Arthur Wellesley ordered his Portuguese troops forward in support of the British line infantry and even moved over the Rifles from the rear centre.

General Jean-Andoche Junot ordered La Grande Manoeuvre and moved forward a line infantry regiment, a light infantry regiment, a cavalry regiment and a battery of foot artillery ready to renew the attack.

The Portuguese infantry fired on the French line infantry causing 50% casualties.

Not wanted to be subject to any more fire, General Jean-Andoche Junot ordered a bayonet charge.

Even attacking up hill, the light infantry destroyed the defending British infantry and advanced to take the high ground.

The understrength French line infantry regiment also had to attack uphill, but it was forced to recoil with losses.

The third French infantry unit attacked the Portuguese and both sides took losses.

General Sir Arthur Wellesley decided to counterattack with a bayonet charge. The line infantry charged down the hill into the understrength French line wiping them out.  The Portuguese destroyed the second French line infantry.

The Rifles charged along the plateau into melee with the French light infantry. 

Both he Rifles and the French light infantry took losses.

The Rifles were now in trouble, when the French light infantry continued the melee they were destroyed.

General Sir Arthur Wellesley’s left flank had been wiped out, and he ordered his army to withdraw to avoid being cut off. Generals Dalrymple and Burrard will need to wait for another day, and land their reinforcements much further north at Porto.

The Outcome 

French Victory:   Anglo-Portuguese 5 - French 6

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

Campaign Result 

	Victories	Banners
French	3	22
Allies	1	17

Roliça - French Second Position (17 August 1808)

This scenario is a refight of the second stage of the Battle of Roliça (17 August 1808) during the Peninsular War. It was played using the Commands & Colors Napolionic rules but on hex terrain from Kallistra, trees mostly from Timecast Miniatures and using 6mm figures from Baccus instead of blocks. This is the third battle using our Peninsular War campaign rules.

The History

Général Henri François Delaborde expertly withdrew his force near Roliça to a second defensive position before the British flanking columns could encircle him. The new position was extremely strong and could only be reached frontally by four rugged gullies. General Sir Arthur Wellesley quickly repositioned his forces to repeat his double envelopment for his afternoon attack.

The view from the Anglo-Portuguese lines.

However, Wellesley's plan was pre-empted when the Lieutenant-Colonel Lake of the 29th Worcestershire Regiment prematurely forced his way up one of the central gullies. Wellesley chose to support Lake’s effort and the entire British army surged forward. The French battalions advanced to meet the British before they could emerge from the gullies, but were repulsed. Delaborde once again drew off his troops in good order. Ultimately Roliça was an indecisive action. Although Delaborde did slow the British advance, Wellesley forced him to retreat before he was reinforced.

The Refight

Looking at the French defensive line, the Allied commander decided that the French right was his opponent's weakest point.

So the British cavalry and RHA were ordered to move from the centre to the Allied left flank and then advance together with Ferguson's infantry.

While this was happening, the French waited patiently on their ridge line, opening up with an ineffective artillery fire.

The French artillery cause slight losses to one of Ferguson's infantry units as four unit fixed bayonets and charged towards the ridgeline. Ferguson hoped that he could cause the French infantry to retreat from the hill as it was only supported by artillery and no other unit.

The British infantry's bayonet charge up the hill caused only slight casualties to the defending French infantry who stood firm, but caused huge losses to the attackers.

The attack was stalled on the slope, and when the French counterattacked they mopped up the few remaining troops without loss to themselves.

The battle then moved to the centre, where the British infantry opened a ranged fire believing they would have the advantage. The caused minor casualties to the defending French light infantry but the return fire caused severe British losses and the British infantry took cover in the woods.

Seeing is heavy losses in the centre, the British general ordered forward an artillery unit and an infantry unit from his reserve. At the same time his infantry withdrew so as to be out of musket range of the French infantry.

Deciding that the time was ripe to strike before the British reinforcements to come into action, the French commander ordered his troops to advance down off the ridge.

The British had hoped to hold of the French with their superior musketry. While they did cause one French infantry unit to retreat, the British took heavy casualties, one unit being entirely wiped out.

The Allied commander was confident that the firepower of his British light infantry would destroy the advancing French infantry. But they failed to do so, and the French infantry column hit the light infantry and destroyed them.

In the hope of distracting the French advance, the British commander ordered a cavalry charge into the French right flank. The cavalry charged up the hill supported by close range fire from the RHA guns.

The French line infantry, decided not to form square because of the presence of the guns. The charging cavalry overran the infantry.

The British cavalry, impetuous as always, continued their charge into the French artillery. 

Even without the support of the RHA guns, the cavalry overran the French artillery. 

The French commanded order La Grande Manoeuvre, and brought forward 3 line infantry and one cavalry unit to halt the victorious British cavalry.

The British cavalry attacked down the slope with the support of the RHA guns, and attacked the French light infantry. This time the French infantry formed square.

Both the cavalry and the light infantry took losses, but the square held firm.

The French general shouted "Follow Me!" and the line infantry advanced to attack the British troops defending the woods.

Encouraged by the General's heroic leadership, the French stormed into the woods, wiping out the British infantry.

Having lost so many troops, Sir Arthur Wellesley called for a general withdrawal leaving the French victorious on the battlefield.

The Outcome 

French Victory:   Anglo-Portuguese 2 - French 5

For the next scenario, the French gain 3 Glory Counters and the Allies gain 1 Glory Counter.

Campaign Result 

	Victories	Banners
French	2	16
Allies	1	12

Roliça - French First Position (17 August 1808)

This scenario is a refight of the first stage of the Battle of Roliça (17 August 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 second battle using our Peninsular War campaign rules.

The History

After landing unopposed at Mondego Bay, Sir Arthur Wellesley led a Portuguese/British army of some 15,000 men south towards Lisbon. Opposing him was General Henri Delaborde, with a force consisting only of some 5000 infantry, 500 cavalry and 5 field pieces. Delaborde resolved to fight a delaying action against Wellesley’s advance while awaiting reinforcements from Generals Junot and Loison.

Delaborde chose his first defensive position in the hills just northwest of the village of Roliça. Wellesley advanced in three columns against the French, ordering the Portuguese troops under Colonel Trant on the right and Fergusson’s column on the left to turn the enemy’s flanks, while the artillery and infantry in his centre were to engage the enemy in the front and hold them in position.

The view from the Anglo-Portuguese lines.

The British attack was underway by seven o’clock in the morning on the 17th. Although the French were hotly engaged all morning, Delaborde’s outnumbered force still held onto the hill position. However, by early afternoon, the wary Delaborde could see that his position was being outflanked and quickly moved his forces back to a second defensive position to the south.

The Refight

The battle commenced when both British artillery opened fire on the French light infantry on the hill.

The French light infantry took heavy losses but held their ground.

The French moved forward an infantry column and some light cavalry to bolster their right flank.

The British held their position and opened fire. The combined firepower of the British light infantry in the woods and the two Royal Artillery batteries devastated the French column on the hill.

The French and British then exchanged fire. The British firepower was more effective, destroying the advancing column and causing the light infantry to retreat into cover behind the hill.

Protected by the fire of their light infantry in the woods, a column of British infantry on the left flank started to cross the river.

Seeing that his right flank was not successful, the French general now tried to change the focus of the engagement. He ordered his right flank cavalry to retire behind the village of Roliça. On his left flank he ordered his light infantry and light cavalry to advance in order to threaten the Portuguese on the British right.

Ignoring the advance towards the Portuguese, the British general ordered the troops on his left flank to manoeuvre with great speed. The three units still on the far side of the river advanced forward and started to cross. The column of infantry that was already crossing the river, rushed forward and into the village of Roliça right under to nose of the French light cavalry.

In an attempt to regain the initiative, the French general ordered both his cavalry units to charge.

On his right flank, the hussars charged into the British regiment of foot that was crossing the river, but it formed square and held off the hussars with no serious losses to either side.

On his left flank, the French general ordered the chasseurs à cheval to charge the Portuguese line infantry stationed on the hill. The infantry formed square but took casualties in the process.

The British advanced their cavalry to threaten the French hussars. From the safety of the village, the British infantry opened fire on the rear of the hussars causing them to retreat but without causing any serious casualties.

The French general ordered his hussars to retire further. However on the French left, the chasseurs à cheval  attacked the Portuguese square causing more casualties. French light infantry advanced slowly to support the chasseurs à cheval.

Seeing the exposed French artillery on the hill, the British cavalry charged with the Royal Horse Artillery battery in support.

The charging British cavalry slaughtered the artillery, then impetuously charged into the French hussars causing then to loose half their strength. 

But the impetuous British cavalry had charged too far, they were surrounded behind the French lines, cut off and destroyed.

Rather rashly, and instead of waiting for his centre to advance, the British general ordered his left flank to leave the security of Roliça village and to push ahead towards the recently victorious and full strength French line.

The French line infantry, formed attack columns and attacked.

The British line infantry retreated through the village and out the other side. The light infantry held the French but took losses.

The British light infantry advanced alone the ridge and attacked the French infantry. Both sides took heavy losses and the British retreated back along the ridge.

On the French left, the French light infantry had arrived to support their chasseurs à cheval. The light infantry opened fire on the Portuguese square while the chasseurs à cheval attacked the supporting Portuguese cavalry. Both Portuguese units were destroyed.

The RHA opened up at close range with canister, firing a hail of small balls into the French infantry.

The RHA destroyed the French infantry, while at the same time a regiment of British foot occupied the hill that outflanked and overlooked the French army's line of retreat.

Seeing that they had been outflanked and were in risk of being cut-off from their supply lines, the French general ordered his army to retire from the field of battle.

The Outcome 

Anglo-Portuguese Victory:   Anglo-Portuguese 5 - French 4

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

Campaign Result 

	Victories	Banners
French	1	11
Allies	1	10