Nap Campaign: Map Moves 22nd April 1808

I will now cover the strategic situation as it unfolded on the 22nd April 1808. You will find previous map moves under the Napoleonic Campaign Map Moves label on the right.

An overview of the situation at the end of the day. 

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Sandowa (South France) 22nd April 1808

 

A reminder of the situation at the end of the day on the 21st April 1808. After the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Loverna the French Army of the South is split in two.

Soult with the survivors of the 6th Corps (blue 6) are pursued by the Spanish and have yet to halt their rout.

Gerard (blue 4) and what is left of the 4th Corps and 2nd Cavalry Corps retreats north pursued by Wellington and the Anglo/Portuguese army. Gerard sees an opportunity to make a stand behind a river and is the scene for this action. 

The battlefield map. The French occupy the area to the north of the river with Wellington to the south including the village of Sandowa.

Looking north west from behind the allied position.

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Nap Campaign: Map Moves 18th - 21st April 1808

 I will start looking at the overall strategic view before zooming in to each theatre.

End 18th April

19th April

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Nap Campaign: 3rd Battle of Ainsworth. 18th April 1808. Turns 6 - Conclusion

 Turn 6

Looking west from the Prussian 2nd Corps position towards the bridge. Doubt creeps into the Prussian 2nd Corps that the gap between them is simply too wide to traverse given the size of the French force against them.

The Westphalia Landwehr with Hulsen personally leading one of the battalions successfully form attack columns before the Old Guard strike. The Prussians desperately hope for some luck but none was forthcoming and the disparity in troop quality quickly told. One Landwehr battalion was destroyed and another pushed back across the bridge.

The bridge to their rear had been purposefully left clear to allow an escape route should the worst happen thus saving 2 battalions unlike the earlier crossing attempts.

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Nap Campaign: 3rd Battle of Ainsworth. 18th April 1808. Turns 1 - 5

 Turn 1

The action begins at the bridge with an artillery duel. Both sides score hits but the Guard artillery have the ability to more easily recover from disorder giving them an advantage.

The Prussian flanking 2nd Corps arrives - in their entirety! A series of successful command rolls enables them to bring on their entire force. The French pour artillery and musketry into the advancing columns inflicting casualties but failing in the most part to disorder any of the Prussians.

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Nap Campaign: 3rd Battle of Ainsworth. 18th April 1808. Introduction

For the first game of the year I have decided to go big. The 3rd and final battle of the campaign day beckons. I begin with the area map containing the battle:

The 3rd and final battle of this single day in the campaign is arguably the most important. This involves Napoleon himself leading a battered French army falling back from a strengthened Prussian army lead by Blucher. He is seeking an opportunity to give the Prussians a bloody nose and believes he may have found it. 

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Loverna. 18th April 1808. Turns 10 - Conclusion

 TURN 10

The French 6th Corps begin their evacuation across the single bridge to their rear with several battalions held back as a rearguard.

That rearguard is looking increasingly fragile. On the right the Granaderos Militia have successfully beaten off  the 2/8th Light Battalion forcing them to retreat. On the left the 2nd Badajoz Volunteers have charged the 1/8th Light Battalion and held to a draw. Beyond them the gap was created by the destruction of Penne's 1/75th Line by artillery and musketry. 

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Loverna. 18th April 1808. Turns 6 - 9

The situation at the start of turn 6. In the south the 6th Corps has gone on the offensive following the collapsed Spanish attacks. Dogged by poor command rolls the Spanish failed to co-ordinate their assaults leading to piecemeal charges which were easily dealt with by French defenders. What is left of the Spanish 2nd and 5th Divisions are retreating from the field. Their Vanguard, 3rd and 4th Divisions along with their cavalry are still fresh and with Picton's 5th Division may yet defeat the 6th Corps.

In the north the threat of the French dragoons has been dealt with in the nick of time and the stage is now set for an Anglo/Portuguese general advance against a weakened 4th Corps. The French are still strong on cavalry though and could prove problematic for the allies.

TURN 6 

Battalions of the French 22nd Division quickly move out to hit the Spanish, some of whom were still in a square formation as a result of the close proximity of lancers. Here the column of the Hesse-Darmstadt battalion charges into the Valencia light battalion in square formation. The Germans quickly overcome the Spanish unit causing it to break and flee the field.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Loverna. 18th April 1808. Turns 1 - 5

 TURN 1

A dice was rolled to determine who had the initiative which was won by the French. They had the first turn which was not without problems. The 2nd Cavalry Corps, consisting entirely of dragoons, were ordered to deploy on the right flank anchored on the river. The 9th Cavalry Division in the lead received their orders which Burthe passed easily moving out to its designated position (top of photo). Vincent however, failed his command roll. Strolz intervened with a re-roll which resulted in a Command Blunder! Vincent's Brigade inexplicably retreated off the tabletop.

The single brigade of the 10th Cavalry Division (bottom right) moved sluggishly but at least it was in the right direction.

The march columns of infantry is Toussaint's Brigade of the 14th Division also move slowly towards the farm and their intended position. 

Allied movement was confined to their left flank with the Portuguese spreading out clear of the rocky terrain. Collins has a good command roll allowing his brigade a full 3 moves along the road crossing the bridge. His primary task is to secure the second crossing near the French lines in order to prevent any possible outflanking moves. He is to use his accompanying artillery battery along with musketry to harass the French flank. A secondary task should the opportunity present itself, is to cross the bridge if safe to do so and assault the French.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Loverna. 18th April 1808. Introduction

 

Refer back to the map moves post for the lead up to this action. An Anglo/Portuguese/Spanish army under the command of Wellington pursues Soult with the French Army of the South deeper into France. Soult received an unexpected reinforcement with the arrival of a Confederation of the Rhine Division. Other reinforcements have trickled into his units and has elected to make a stand rather than cede any more territory near the village of Loverna.

You will notice a change to the numbers of figures from the map moves post. This is partly a change to adjust to Black Powder rules and also reinforcements have arrived. 

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Tremleurr. 18th April 1808. Turns 11 - Conclusion

What began with full of hope for the allies in destroying Grouchy's army has turned sour over the last couple of turns. They had a clear advantage in rolling over the French centre and right flank but both assaults have floundered. At the same time the allied right flank has all but collapsed.

The allies have now suffered 9 broken brigades out of an original 18. The French have lost 5 broken out of 19. Black Powder provide a victory option of breaking half or more brigades but I chose to keep this open and decide upon the outcome depending on what happens on the tabletop. That said the difference is so stark that it may be a factor on what happens next.

I decided to play a few more turns which of course could impact the campaign.

 TURN 11

The French begin an encirclement of the last of the Brunswick infantry with a Guard Chasseurs unit sweeping around the rear towards the startled Brunswick Hussars regiment. 

All that remains of the Brunswick are 2 infantry battalions and an artillery battery commanded by Specht. The Prince of Orange and Duke of Brunswick made a hasty retreat!

While the Chasseurs and 2 battalions of the Young Guard reform to deliver the coup-de-grace, the 2/1st Tirailleurs fancy their chances of breaking the square. They charge taking fire from the nearby battalion in line and from the square. The Young Guard battalion suffers heavy casualties generating a break test which they spectacularly fail leaving them broken and failing to make contact.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Tremleurr. 18th April 1808. Turns 7 - 10

 TURN 7

The Scots Greys have been pushed back again but a moment for the British to celebrate. The Life Guards (middle of photo) successfully defeat a Cuirassiers regiment buying time. There is a risk of it being isolated if it conducts a sweeping charge, tempting though that is against a light cavalry unit. Therefore the Life Guards hold their ground being the only British cavalry unit not subject to the 'Gallop at Anything' rule reflecting their greater discipline.

The Young Guard charges the Brunswickers with one being caught in square formation. Despite being at a significant disadvantage, both Brunswick units hold on - just!

A Dutch horse artillery battery, despite being shaken, delivered a shattering round of canister into the Guard Lancers. It proved too much for the Guard cavalry unit. Already shaken, the huge losses inflicted caused them to break leaving the field.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Tremleurr. 18th April 1808. Turns 1 - 6

 

The battle began with an artillery bombardment from both sides inflicting minor casualties so far. The only significant movement being the Dutch and British heavy cavalry brigades ordered to reposition towards the right flank in order to counter the large French cavalry threat. Ghigny's light cavalry Brigade had also been ordered to reposition but started the game with a Command Blunder causing it to retire a full move!

The allied cavalry made good progress repositioning.

In response to the allied cavalry movement the French 4th Cavalry Corps remained strangely static.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Tremleurr. 18th April 1808. - Introduction

 

A reminder of the situation leading up to this battle. This is the night of the 17th April and will only broadly reflect where the troops will be positioned the following morning within their respective part of the battlefield.

The numbers shown have changed slightly due to the change to Black Powder rules. Red 4 is Blantyre's Brigade along with the 2nd KGL Light Dragoons who will march to the sound of the guns during the morning of the 18th.

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Nap Campaign: Map Moves 14th - 17th April 1808

I could not believe it when I checked, but it is 2 years since I played a game from this campaign. It is long overdue for some attention and I have now completed map moves leading up to 3 more battles. As in previous posts, the maps have been split into sections. The first being the whole campaign map followed by each of the 3 current theatres of operations.

14th April

15th April

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Presscot, 14th April 1808: Turns 13 - Conclusion

 

The situation at the end of turn 12.

Turns 13 - 16

British Left

Vallin's cavalry brigade has been moved forward to strengthen Toussaint's infantry brigade ready to counter the advance of the British 5th Division.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Presscot, 14th April 1808: Turns 9 - 12

 

For ease of reference, this is the situation at the end of turn 8.

Turns 9 - 12

British Left

Kempt launches the 32nd Line at the French 1/9th Light hoping for more success than the failed attack of the 28th. A ragged volley from the French battalion failed to halt the charge and the British battalion succeeded in pushing them back.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Presscot, 14th April 1808: Turns 1 - 8

 

The objectives for each allied Division.

Turns 1 - 4

Turn 1 saw the opening exchange of artillery fire and deployment of skirmishers. A With the allies outnumbered by artillery pieces, Wellington took no time to order the advance across the whole line. This is an overview after the opening moves in turn 2.

A reminder of how I play skirmishers. They are played in the abstract with each unit's and brigade skirmish values marked on the roster. This indicates how many dice rolls are made with a '6' to hit. Where possible they are rolled in pairs to allow for double '6' results. The only representation on the tabletop of skirmishers are those light battalions that deploy into skirmish formations when the normal skirmish rules apply.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Presscot, 14th April 1808 - Introduction

You will be able to find the strategic background to this battle in the last "Map Moves" posting which is located under the "Napoleonic Campaign Map Moves" label on the right.

This is the first incursion into French territory by allied forces. Wellington is in overall command with his 800 British/KGL force together with 426 Portuguese. His right flank is occupied by 1,106 Spanish. 

Attempting to repel the allies is the French 'Army of the South' commanded by Marshall Soult. The right (blue 4) is centred around the 6th Corps and on the left the 4th Corps.

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Nap Campaign: Battle of Holbrook 3rd April 1808 - Turns 25 to Conclusion

 Turn 25

Squares are formed as the great mass of Guard cavalry swarm over the river. The lancers temporarily halt to form up. The only allied cavalry in a position to intercept them is a lone troop of Brunswick lancers (lower middle left).

The view from behind the allied lines. One square is caught between the cavalry and an approaching Young Guard battalion column. They open fire on both but fail to make much of an impact. The green micro-dice indicate which units will need to test morale the next turn as a result of a dispersing 33rd Line and an artillery battery. 

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