Nap Campaign: The Battle of Roseberry (France) 25th April 1808

 

The top 2 squares on the map contain the foothills of a mountain on the left and cliffs on the right. The ground is firm land. It contains a cottage and a farm. The French are deploying between the mountain and the cliff with the Spanish approaching from the north.

The large wood at in the bottom square is dense and the coastal section is a pebble beach. The area contains and Inn, fences and hedgerows.

Looking south from the Spanish position.

Continued -

Table size = 4'6" x 3'

Rules = Black Powder

Number of turns = 24

ORBATS

TURNS 1 - 3

The Spanish deployed in 4 lines with all infantry in attack columns. The 1st line consisted of their best division, the 1st with the 2nd Division on their right flank. The 2nd line consisted of the 3rd Division, the 3rd line the 4th and 5th Divisions with the cavalry in the rear. Out of the photo on the left the Vanguard Division was tasked with capturing the farm which had been occupied by a Polish battalion.

The Spanish used the first hour of the battle (all 3 turns) to soften up the French with their advantage in artillery. 

 

The French formed a single solid line with 3 battalions and their cavalry in reserve. In response to the Spanish bombardment the French could only respond with their single half battery which had the good fortune of leaving one Spanish battalion shaken. French Generals galloped up and down the line rallying troops as casualties mounted.

TURNS 4 - 6

The Spanish 1st Division were given the order to advance which they did with considerable flare! 3 activations saw them charge across the open ground, shrug off closing fire, and pile into the French line. They punched a hole through the French centre destroying one battalion entirely.

The 2nd Division on their right also advanced but not quite enough to make contact. Most of the rest of the Spanish army however remained largely static risking everything the 1st Division had achieved.

The French used their reserve battalions to stabilise the line charging into the Spanish. Their success was shortlived as finally the rest of the Spanish infantry sprung into life. The 1st Division held on tenaciously until fresh battalions joined the fray. It was desperate stuff for the French who risked being quickly overwhelmed. 

On the Spanish right, their 2nd Division enjoyed similar success destroying a French battalion and driving the French left back.

The Spanish Vanguard on their left was another division very slow to respond but when it did they launched their charge at the farm. Appalling dice rolls for the defending Poles lead to them being quickly overwhelmed and destroyed.

As the French infantry in the centre faced collapse, a charge by the French 1st Lancers sought to hold the line. They caught a shaken Spanish battalion that had managed to form square but they held the lancers.

Spanish infantry looked to their rear wondering where their cavalry was to capitalise on their success but were nowhere to be seen. All of them had consistently failed their command rolls! 

Turn 4 and the Spanish 1st Division strikes the French line.

The virtually static Spanish supporting divisions.

French reserve battalions move to stabilise the line after the Spanish had broken through.

Turn 5 on the Spanish right their 2nd Division throws back the French left.

As the French begin to push back the Spanish 1st Division, the rest of the Spanish infantry approaches.

Turn 6 and it is beginning to look hopeless for the French.

On the Spanish right the 2nd Division attempts to turn the French flank.

The Vanguard Division springs into action and quickly captures the farm.

French lancers make their charge but the Spanish hold.

An overview at the end of turn 6.

Potocki with the last of his Polish battalions takes up a new position on the beach road. To his left Grandjean's second in command (Grandjean has been killed), with the last of the German battalions, seeks to do likewise.

Turns 7 - 9

Spanish infantry continued to make good progress albeit a little chaotic at times. Under pressure the French pulled back to form a new defensive line along hedgerows and fences. 

A serious threat was developing on the French left. The loss of another battalion broke Bellair's Brigade who now fell back with his last disordered battalion. Spanish cavalry now made an appearance with the 2nd Cavalry division charging Bellair's 1/107th Line. They were able to form a disordered square which succeeded in holding the charge. 

In the centre the French were finally enjoying success breaking up the Spanish attack with musketry including destroying one battalion. It nevertheless looked exceptionally bleak for the French.

Turn 7 - The French form a new defensive line.

Spanish infantry form an imposing block.

This and the next 2 photos sequence the attack on Bellair's last battalion from turn 7 to turn 9.

The square holds and the melee continues.

Turn 8 - Spanish suffer from accurate musketry.

Turn 9 - The perilously thin French line prevent the Spanish from breaking through so far. 

Turns 10 - 12

Although several Spanish attacks floundered primarily as a result of wavering battalions, several struck home. Two battalions defending the hedgerow were destroyed allowing the Spanish to surge across.

Attacks by French lancers momentarily slowed the Spanish advance before they in turn fell back. 

The last Polish battalion on the beach road was now the only French infantry in the area and to prevent being cut off, steadily retreated towards the Inn. 

On the opposite flank only Spanish command failures saved the last of Bellair's battalions from destruction.

It was patently obvious to Soult that nothing more could be done to stop the Spanish. Only 3 French battalions were left in the field and one of those was permanently shaken and disordered being in a broken brigade.

There was a chance to save the lancers though as Spanish cavalry struggled to clear the great mass of infantry. The order was given for the lancers to retreat with Soult accompanying them. Lobau remained to see the final demise of the 6th Corps.

Turn 10 - The hedgerow is breached and the lancers charge.

In the foreground the Polish lancers have charged into a disordered square.

Turn 11 - All French forces have pulled back.

The Poles form a firing line as they pull back towards the Inn.

Turn 12 - An overview as the Spanish centre advances.

Having spent most of the battle pussyfooting around the rear, Anglona springs into life. He rushes his heavy dragoons to the front and charges the Poles only to be held off as the Polish battalion successfully forms a square.

The lonely 2/2nd Swiss fire on the advancing Spanish columns.

Turn 13

The end came quickly. The 107th Line stuck in square formation and both shaken and disordered was struck by a Spanish infantry battalion and destroyed.

In the centre the Swiss battalion was simply overwhelmed by the sheer number of Spanish battalions descending on them. A brief melee also saw them destroyed.

The last French battalion still in the fight, the 4th Polish, was in square formation when it too was charged by a Spanish column. They were heavily defeated and only just survived. However, it would retreat disordered and with a Spanish cavalry regiment ready to pounce it was game over. 

The aftermath of the destruction of the French 107th Line. 

Spanish battalions surged across the open ground flanked by cavalry ensuring the destruction of the Swiss battalion.

The last surviving French unit, the 4th Polish are struck by a Spanish column.

This then is the end of the 6th Corps and the entire Army of the South. Soult with his 2 regiments of lancers must now attempt to make their way to safety and he must explain himself to Napoleon!

For the Spanish, at long last a victory to savour. Their victory is in no small part thanks to their 1st Division who made the decisive early breakthrough. Losing 2 battalions from their centre early left the French on the backfoot from which they never recovered. There was a brief window of opportunity when it looked as though the 1st Division would remain unsupported with the rest of the Spanish army dithering to the rear. That window was closed with the belated arrival of the supporting Spanish divisions leading to the surviving French infantry swamped by the Spanish columns.

All attention will now be turned north as Napoleon fights for survival.