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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TBW Miniature Flags

A brief interlude from the wild west. I have just received the below from Michael of TBW Miniature Flags and bring it to your attention.

If you are setting out on a Waterloo project I heartily recommend this book which contains the flags you will need for all nations and units. The 16 page A4 book provides guidance on attaching the flags, full orders of battle, a map detailing initial deployment and 3 pages of flags. You have a choice of flag sizes, A or B. With A being slightly smaller. This is useful if your preference is for smaller flags or you have smaller castings such as Heroics & Ros. My own flags align with size B.

The flags themselves are absolutely superb and I only wish it had been around when starting my project. 

Different scales are provided for including 10mm, 13mm Epic, and 15mm for Waterloo. Other battle specific flags include Gettysburg and Wavre 1815.

More information can be found at https://www.thebattleofwaterloo.com/, and a link has also been added to the list on the right.

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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Busaco 27th September 1810: Turns 17 - Conclusion

 

The situation at the end of turn 16.

JUNOT'S ASSAULT

Turn 17

Junot's Corps begins to climb the ridge and several charges were made. 

I should add here for those not familiar with the rules, each average brigade commander can order up to 2 battalion charges (an exceptional commander 3, poor 1). It is possible to add further charges on battalion initiative. They must roll a 5 or 6 on a D6 dice.

Volleys of musketry opened up across the entire ridge. The allies took the decision not to wait to see the "whites of their eyes" but blaze away intending to inflict the maximum damage on the slow moving columns.

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Busaco 27th September 1810: Turns 9 - 16

JUNOT'S ASSAULT

Turn 9

Massena decides it is now time to commit Junot's Corps to the assault. As much of the allied army remains out of view on the reverse slope, a dice roll determined where Junot commits his assault. The result was the northern end of the ridge to the right of Ney. All orders are passed successfully and the Corps begins its move.

Turn 10

As Junot's Corps closes the gap they begin to come under fire from 2 allied batteries on the ridge.

Turn 11

Junot's mass of skirmishers begin to engage with their opposite numbers with neither side coming out on top. 

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Busaco 27th September 1810: Turns 1 - 8

NEY'S ASSAULT

 Turn 1

Ney's advance begins with Marchand's Division ascending 'The Spur' and Loison's heading towards Sula. A swarm of Voltigeurs engage primarily the rifles of the 60th and 95th regiments along with Cacadores deployed as skirmishers. Both sides take early losses but an early stroke of luck lands with the British when a double '6' is rolled upon Lawson's 6pdr foot battery (far lower right) engaging in counter-battery fire with a newly deployed French foot battery (just below the advancing columns).

The French lose one of its 4 guns and will have to withdraw.

Mermet's Division is in a supporting role as the entire corps advances towards the ridge. At the bottom of the photo, Junot's Corps is held in reserve.

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Busaco 27th September 1810 - Introduction

The next game in my Peninsular War project is Busaco. Napoleon ordered Massena to drive the British from Portugal and during his move south he met Wellington positioned on the 9 mile long ridge at Busaco. It was Wellington's aim to delay the French advance long enough for the defensive Lines of Torres Vedras to be completed to the north of Lisbon.

My game represents the area where the main action occurred. That is the central and northern end of the ridge.

Table Size: 6'9" x 4'6"
Figures: Baccus 6mm
Rules: General de Brigade

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On the Workbench: Busaco - French Allies

 Another project completed and ready to play is the Peninsular War Battle of Busaco. 

Originally I intended to include the entire battlefield but after a re-appraisal I thought 'why' when all the action was confined to no more than 2/3 of it. Concentrating on the main action has reduced the number of Portuguese in particular that need to be painted so saving a little time.

With the Anglo/Portuguese forces completed it just left several battalions of French allies:

I apologise for the quality of the photos, which includes the other posts of this batch of "On the Workbench". I do not have the luxury of lighting from all angles and have to rely on a strip of 5 adjustable lights mounted on a strip on the ceiling of the garage. I made some adjustments including with the camera and it was only when I had transferred the photos to the screen that I realised all had not gone to plan! 

On to the details of what has been painted:

Legion du Midi.

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