Battle of Tamames - 18th October 1809

Following on from Talavera, this is the next battle in my Peninsular War project which roughly plays through actions in a chronological order.

In September 1809, the Spanish Duke del Parque assumed command of the old army of Galicia, his native force, which had been recruiting and training in Leon. By 25th September, del Parque had concentrated 25,000 infantry and 1,500 cavalry and was awaiting the arrival of the other formation of the Army of the West under Ballesteros. It was his job to pull the French reserves away from Madrid with the expectation that the Army of La Mancha would take advantage of this and advance on the capital.

Facing him were the French 6th Corps commanded by Marchand, centred on Salamanca and numbering just over 14,000. The division of Kellerman added another 5,000. By 5th October, del Parque had advanced from Ciudad Rodrigo to Tamames. As soon as news of this Spanish advance reached Marchand he resolved to attack. On 17th October Marchand departed Salamanca with his entire Corps except for 2 battalions of the 50th Line who were left to hold the city. 

He arrived north of Tamames the following day where he was delighted to see the Spanish deployed to his front and ready for battle.

The initial deployments and first few moves will follow those along historical lines. Thereafter I shall seek to restore French pride or confirm Marchand's over-confidence.

 4'6" x 3' board

General de Brigade rules
All figures Baccus 6mm.

Terrain -
Open wood
Hill - difficult terrain across the whole of the raised area. Amendments to rules - Cavalry formed when stood but unformed as soon as moves. May charge unformed. Artillery may deploy. 

Tamames capacity 120
Chapel (to south of Tamames) capacity 40
Church (to east) capacity 25.

Continued -

ORBATS

Losada's Division

LaBasse and Marcognet's Brigades with the 25th Dragoons to the right.

Belvedere's Division in reserve with del Parque and an ADC in the foreground.

Anglona's cavalry to the right and La Carrera's Division.

Turns 1 - 4

Maucune's Brigade and Lorcet's cavalry move off advancing rapidly towards the west of Tamames. Two batteries of Spanish artillery open fire causing minor casualties and as the French columns near Tamames they receive ineffectual musketry from infantry occupying the settlement.

The French advance slows as they climb the slopes and come under increasingly accurate Spanish artillery fire.

Anglona's cavalry wait patiently as the French near.

Marcognet's brigade is tasked with pinning down the Spanish right with the main French thrust to the Spanish left. Here Marcognet's brigade begin deploying into a firing line with orders to engage the Spanish on the hill to their front. Spanish artillery inflicts a few casualties but so far no cause for concern to the French.

Marchand has no intention of a direct assault on Tamames, deciding to bypass it with a direct assault on the hill behind. LaBasse' brigade advances in echelon striking at the undefended area to the east of Tamames. 

Del Parque wastes 2 turns attempting to activate Belvedere's reserve division causing increasing alarm with the approach of the French columns. Finally on turn 4 the Spanish division advance to meet LaBasse (in the foreground).  

An overview at the end of turn 4. In the middle of the photo, a blast of canister from a single Spanish cannon rips into the nearest French column advancing on their position.

Turns 5 - 8

As the French right flank advance up the slopes they are blasted by canister from 2 Spanish batteries. The 15th Chasseurs in the middle of the photo suffer particularly badly causing it to falter.

Maucune's brigade struggled over the broken ground to close with the Spanish but the 2/6th Light finally make contact (near the building in the middle left of the photo) shrugging off a ragged volley from the Gerona regiment charging into contact. The French veterans are met with surprising resistance from the Spanish and were pushed back.

Lorcet is suddenly faced with Spanish cavalry unexpectedly charging towards him (a successful order change for Anglona to an attack). A counter charge is ordered but only the 3rd Hussars responds with the 15th Dragoons receiving the Spanish charge at the halt (right of photo).

The 3rd Hussars successfully rout the Spanish Sagunto regiment but the 15th Dragoons are not so fortunate and are pushed back by the Borbon regiment.

Disaster for Lorcet occurred on the left as a particularly vicious blast of canister from a Spanish horse artillery battery against the 15th Chasseurs wiped out 5 of their number bringing their overall losses to over 50%. They failed their subsequent morale test and dispersed from the field.

A second charge by Maucune's columns are more successful. The Gerona regiment did not hang around for the impact and promptly routed unforming those units to their rear. The 2/69th on the right charged into the conscripts of the Escolares de Leon regiment forcing them to retreat in disorder.

The 15th Dragoons are pursued by the Borbon regiment who maintain contact. The dragoons, having recovered from their initial shock, turn the tables on the Spanish pushing them back. With blown horses the dragoons will now reform.

Maucune now sought to capitalise on the increasingly shaky Spanish line with two battalions charging into the flaltering 2nd and 3rd Saragossa regiments. The former (middle of photo) was pushed back with the latter (on the right) routing. 

This generated numerous Spanish morale checks with the danger of a ripple effect. Miraculously all held their nerve and a brigade morale check was also passed, but only just!

Two more of Maucune's battalions were struggling to cope with the Spanish artillery suffering heavily to canister fire. One had formed a firing line and had some success inflicting a couple of casualties on the artillery crew.

An overview of the French right flank at the end of turn 8. Spanish reserves from Belvedere's division are rushed to support Carrera's troops (left of photo). On the far right a French artillery battery has begun to work away at the Spanish cavalry.

In the centre, La Basse' brigade by-passes Tamames and make for the hilltop as Belvedere's Spanish rush to meet them. On the left the veteran 1/25th Light are tasked with eliminating a very annoying lone Spanish cannon that is proving to be all too accurate. A blast of canister though stopped the French battalion in its tracks (left of photo).

The 1/25th Light deploy into line in an effort to reduce the casualty rate. The rest of the brigade face a rather ominously looking line of Spanish including a deployed battery of artillery.

The view from behind Belvedere's troops as the Spanish battery begins to dole out punishment. A couple of Spanish battalions head for the woods to prevent any flanking moves.

A fusilade erupts from the Spanish line with the 2/25th Light on the left particularly badly hit forcing it to retreat in disorder.

On the French left Marcognet's brigade continue to form a firing line ready to engage the Spanish. They need to get a move on though as Spanish artillery is gradually taking its toll. In the background Losada has instructed two of his reserve battalions to reposition to the left to protect that flank from La Basse' columns.

Oops! A double '6' from Spanish artillery causes Marcognet's horst to bold straight into Spanish lines! He is captured and presented to Losada.

A second charge by the 1/25th Light on the lone Spanish cannon proves far more successful with the crew routing. They begin to angle towards Losada's flank and to meet the oncoming Spanish columns. The Spanish 1st Grenaderos on the left come under punishing fire from a French battery. Their morale suffers and will retreat the next turn. 

An overview of the French right flank at the end of turn 8. In the bottom right an ADC has been despatched to take command of Marcognet's brigade.

An overview at the end of turn 8. It looks hopeless for the French given their setbacks but I know from previous games that if they are able to break a few units the Spanish can quickly evaporate!

Turns 9 - 12

On the French right flank Maucune continues to aggressively push his columns towards the Spanish centre hoping to break them before his own battalions lose momentum.

3 battalions form the main thrust with the Spanish hamstrung by many of their battalions unformed.

Early success for the French as the Escolares de Leon regiment routs in the face of the French charge (bottom middle of photo).

The French cavalry struggle to mount an effective charge with Spanish artillery raking them with canister causing them to falter. A French infantry battalion moves to deal with the Spanish battery.

Carrera's battery fail to stop a charge and they are subsequently destroyed.

Sensing the Spanish left flank are beginning to break all available French units are thrown forward.

French cavalry prepare once again to try and sweep the Spanish cavalry from the field. The French horse artillery battery (bottom right) exact a heavy toll on the Cazadores de Cuidad Rodrigo reducing them to almost half strength. To their credit the mauled Spanish cavalry regiment stands its ground.

The advance of the 3 French battalion columns continues with one charging the flank of Belvedere's artillery battery that had been causing the French of La Basse' brigade so much grief. The battery immediately limbers up and retreats (middle of photo).

It is now turn 12 of the Spanish left flank and La Carrera decides to take his own initiative changing his orders to attack. Faced with units beginning to melt away he hopes to counter-attack the French before they can do any further damage. A command blunder ensues and a 'Retire' order is issued! All Spanish battalions not engaged now begin to withdraw.

Lorcet leads the 3rd Hussars into a charge on the Granada de Lerena regiment who successfully counter-charge. The French cavalry are victorious causing the Spanish to retreat.

Also in the photo is the charge of the 3/69th Line on the Spanish horse artillery battery. A blast of canister halts them and they elect to fire a volley into the Spanish artillery crew downing one of their number.

As more pressure is brought to bear on the Spanish left the 1/69th Line charge into the unformed conscripts of the Monforte de Lemos regiment. They had no difficulty in routing the Spanish unit.

Over in the centre and increasingly battered La Basse' brigade prepares to launch another assault on Belvedere's troops.

Likewise in the woods the French attempt to turn Belvedere's flank.

Another French charge is halted in its tracks by steady volleys from the Spanish.

At last a breakthrough for La Basse as his increasingly threadbare brigade surge through the gap left by the rout of the 2nd Rey regiment prior to contact. On the left of the photo the retreat of Belvedere's artillery has left the 1st Rey (middle left) isolated. 

The view from behind the French lines.

Three French battalions are now committed to clearing the woods and still they struggle! The Spanish are determined to hold their ground on this part of the battlefield at least.

It is now turn 12 in the centre and the isolated 1st Rey Regiment is caught in the flank by a French column and also to their front. Despite a heroic stand they suffer badly and routed

On the right the 2/27th Line barrels into a faltering Spanish battalion who are also routed.

A rare Spanish success occurs in the woods (top right). A successful change of order to attack for Belvedere allows the 2nd Hibernia, using its own initiative, to charge the two French columns opposing them. Both French columns are pushed back buying valuable time. 

4 Spanish battalions have fled the field with others now routing.

On the French left, musket volleys are exchanged along with artillery rounds.

The French gradually close the gap to effective musket range. The Spanish though are getting the best of their exchanges primarily thanks to their artillery blasting away with canister. One French battalion is destroyed.

Two overviews at the end of turn 12.

Disaster has been averted for the French in the centre when it looked as though La Basse' brigade was going to be shot to pieces before they could make any headway. The success of Maucune's brigade to their right leading to the removal of the Spanish artillery opposing them aided them greatly.

The Spanish are desperately trying to avoid a collapse in morale and so far have done pretty well. Several times it looked as though they were about to turn tail when the line steadied. Spanish command difficulties along with their inexperienced troops have made it difficult to get back on the front foot with many of their regiments spending time maintaining order rather than mounting charges.

For the French their increasingly worn battalions must press on and break the Spanish before they find themselves in the position of finding their units unable to make effective assaults. It will now be down to a handful of Maucune's and La Basse' battalions.

Turns 13 - 14

With many of his battalions having dispersed or routed, the inevitable happened and La Carrera's division broke. This lead to several more fleeing the field with the remainder retiring in disorder.

There was some consolation for the Spanish on Carrera's left flank. Lorcet lead the 3rd Hussars in a charge on the Spanish mixed cavalry regiment. As they charged they received a highly effective musket volley from a nearby Spanish regiment (right of photo). A double '6' was thrown inflicting a light wound on Lorcet. That, combined with casualties, decimated the 3rd Hussars' morale and they promptly retreated in disorder.

In the centre. Belvedere with the 1st Toledo bravely hope to buy the rest of his division time to reorganise.

Belvedere's position appears even more precarious from behind the French lines.

The Spanish continue to have success in the woods. The 1st Hibernia evict the last French column.

On Losada's left flank, the weakened 1/25th Light rashly charge the 1st Aragon light infantry. The Spanish roll a double '6' inflicting severe casualties on the French and seizing their eagle! Despite falling below 50% strength the French stubbornly hold on for another round of melee and incredibly defeat the Spanish forcing them to retreat.

Turn 14 and the situation worsens considerably for the Spanish.

The 1st Toledo with Belvedere are hit by two French columns. The result is never in doubt with the Spanish routing.

This leads directly to Belvedere's division breaking causing the loss of yet more battalions.

Del Parque's last hope is to utilise his last effective division, who have been getting the better of their French counterparts, to attack and fall on the flank of the French centre. Disaster strikes with a command blunder (a double '1' thrown to change an order) the result of which is for Losada to order his division to retire. The last thing Del Parque needed. Here the entire division falls back before the bemused French.

The only bright spot for the Spanish is their cavalry who continue to hold their own.

An overview of the Spanish centre and left flank at the end of turn 14. Carrera has rallied what is left of his division at the board edge (top right) and Belvedere's division will largely evaporate next turn as they retire off the tabletop (top left).

Two overview shots at the end of turn 14. I called it for the French at this point as I could see no way back for the Spanish. 

So history was overturned! For the first half of the game it looked very bleak for the French. They had barely made any impression on the Spanish despite taking heavy casualties and losing several battalions. When the Spanish did begin to break, many of their battalions held on with the French units becoming increasingly worn. Poor Spanish command and control failed to capitalise on this leading to their eventual defeat.

As I have found many times when playing the Spanish, they can collapse spectacularly when the tide turns against them. 

In hindsight I did make this harder for them with the table size. I realised the error when first laying out the forces with the Spanish tightly packed on their left and centre. A 6' x 3' surface would have been more appropriate leading to less bunching by Spanish units and more accurately representing the map.

Overall an enjoyable game and unusually for me, a Spanish v French Peninsular War battle.