Nap Campaign: 2nd Battle of Youngsport - Part 3 of 5, Turns 6 to 9

 An overview of positions at the start of turn 6:

East

Centre

West

Continued -

Turn 6

In a desperate bid to recapture the western redoubt, the 2/18th Portuguese Line charges towards the still unformed French 2/9th Light battalion. The latter fires off a ragged volley causing no casualties but the inexperienced 2nd line Portuguese lost heart and halted before completing the charge. They were still formed though and partially redeemed themselves by firing an effective volley into the mass of French inflicting 3 casualties and causing them to falter.

The retreating Portuguese 6th Line (bottom right) failed to rally and will continue to retreat.

The French 3/111th Line (middle of photo astride road) attempted to charge Peto's battery who were still holding out in the redoubt. A blast of canister saw them tumbling away in retreat. Two more French battalions on the right scrambled to support the 2/9th Light and secure the redoubt before more allied reinforcements can be brought to bear.

In the lower middle of the photo, the French 1/48th Line has charged the Portuguese 1/18th Line. The Portuguese decisively won the melee forcing the French battalion to retreat with heavy losses.

At the upper middle of the photo, the elite British 43rd Light battalion succeeded in lining the earthworks before the French had a chance to charge. They immediately opened fire at close range on two French battalions of Capitaine's brigade who were struggling up the steep slope in column. 2 casualties were inflicted on each.

Unfortunately for Simmer's 19th Division, as they climbed the slopes towards Powers' Portuguese brigade, they found themselves within the range of the elite 52nd Light battalion (right of photo). They poured murderous fire into the lead French column on the right, the 2/27th Line. They suffered heavy casualties but their morale held.

The 1/27th Line to their left were not so lucky. The KGL battery opened up with canister and rolled a double '6'! More than a third of the battalion were wiped out and the brigade commander, Thevenet who was astride his horse nearby, was mortally wounded. The shattered battalion will retreat the next move.

An overview at the end of turn 6. 

Turn 7

Portuguese fortunes at the western redoubt took a dramatic turn when the inexperienced infantry of the 2/18th Line again attempted to charge the 2/9th Light who were still occupying part of the position. Clearly the sight of morale starting to collapse among the French troops spurred them on and as they charged home the 2/9th Light had seen enough promptly abandoning the redoubt. Worse was to follow. As the battalion commander attempted to rally the retreating troops morale broke down completely and they fled the field!

The Portuguese were now back in control of the redoubt and although 2 French battalions were close by they were in no position to charge them.  

French fortunes improved when the 1/69th Line charged the 6th Cacadores who had been resolutely holding out in the small redoubt. A narrow French victory saw the Portuguese pushed back. Another opportunity now presented itself to the French if they can capitalise on it.

An overview at the western end of the battlefield shows the respective positions of the action.

The 2 French battalions on the slopes before 43rd Light position charged the elite British battalion. The latter had just enough time to fire off a volley before the columns impacted them. Having fired the previous turn the volley was not as effective but nevertheless downed 2 from each battalion. Having already suffered on the way up the slope both battalions were a touch brittle. One, the 2/59th (bottom left), promptly retreated in disorder. The other, the 2/76th faltered (middle of photo). 

In the 12th Division's sector more bad news for the French materialised when the 1/63rd Line (middle right), came under fire at long range from the 60th Rifles and the 29th Line. Losing 3 casualties this generated a morale check which they failed and will retreat next turn.

Rome's brigade of the 12th Division also now found themselves fired upon by the two battalions of the 95th Rifles of Adam's brigade. Fortunately no significant damage was sustained. Support had arrived in the form of tow horse artillery batteries who now unlimbered ready to pour fire into the British positions (far left).

The 19th Division were similarly struggling. The long slow climb up the slopes left them vulnerable to fire from the Portuguese, the KGL artillery battery which continued to be devastatingly accurate, and the 52nd Light infantry to the right. The latter once again severely damaged the 2/27th Line (middle right) whose morale suffered as a consequence and will be retreating the next turn. 

An overview at the end of the turn. Three French battalions failed to rally fleeing the field. Several brigade morale checks had to be made and all safely passed. 

Soult was becoming increasingly concerned with the stalled nature of the main French thrust. What should have been a formality was now becoming a hard slog. A glimmer of hope with one battalion capturing the small redoubt to the right had to be exploited to turn this around for them.

There was though a dramatic turn of events that provided some pleasure for the French. It was bound to happen with Whinyates involved but after a relatively successful battle so far calamity struck. Two more rockets were fired, the first proved accurate striking a French battalion causing it to falter. The second though arced in the air retracing its path in the direction from which it was fired. As crew dived for cover the missile landed four-square on their position detonating the ammo. The resultant explosion blew the battery to smithereens (explosion represented at top of photo). 

Turn 7

The French made another attempt at capturing the western redoubt with the 2/111th Line charging the defending Portuguese. The inexperienced troops of the 2/18th Portuguese Line, despite having successfully recovered the position, took fright at the new-found aggression of another French battalion column and retreated in disorder (battalion at base of redoubt). The 2/111th Line clamboured over the defences and formed up ready to deal with the pesky artillery of Peto's battery.

With the small redoubt captured (middle of photo), French infantry swarmed over the earthwork seeking to exploit the breakthrough as quickly as possible.

Ashworth joined the 1/18th Portuguese Line (left middle) providing encouragement in the face of a build up of French columns. A steady volley saw off the latest attack but the threat remained. 

On the right, the 43rd Light Infantry calmly slaughtered any French columns that dared to approach them!

To the right of the 43rd, the 5/60th Rifles delivered a devastating volley into the 3/63rd Line (a double '6' was rolled). At long range the casualty rate was halved but the battalion still lost 3 figures generating a morale check with a falter result. The brigade commander, Schoeffer, was wounded but bravely remained in the saddle. His injured status though reduced him to the equivalent of a poor commander for the rest of the battle.

An overview of the western end of the battlefield.

3 views from behind Adam's brigade's position from left to right in the centre of the battlefield who were now trading shots with the French:

1. 1/71st Light in redoubt

2. Adams behind his two battalions of the 95th Rifles.

3. The 52nd Light infantry now targeted by two horse artillery batteries.

Two unexpected events on the allied right flank placed them in a precarious position. Firstly, the KGL Horse Artillery battery positioned in the redoubt, that had delivered such devastation on the French columns, now ran low on ammo. Secondly, and even more disturbingly, the French 2/5th Line successfully charged the redoubt piling into the 2nd Cacadores. The latter failed to hold them and were pushed back with the French maintaining good order.

The view from behind the French position with the assault on the redoubt underway.

An overview of the battlefield at the end of turn 8. Two more French infantry battalions failed to rally from retreat and fled the field.

Turn 9

Having captured the redoubt, the 2/111th Line (middle of photo) charged Peto's battery. The crew promptly abandoned their guns and routed from the field. More French infantry now moved into the redoubt to secure their position.

Battalions from Capitaine's and Desprez' brigades made a determined effort in dealing with the Portuguese defending the earthworks. Two battalions were in a position to charge but only one, the 2/69th made contact with the 1/76th Line faltering in the face of steady Portuguese volleys. Once again the 1/18th Portuguese Line proved resilient pushing back the French column. The Portuguese battalion though were suffering casualties with their shrinking line looking increasingly vulnerable. 

An overview of the western end of the battlefield. Doyle's Portuguese brigade has formed a new defensive line in an attempt to counter the breakthrough. The Portuguese 2/18th Line, having started well be retaking the redoubt, now failed to rally and fled the field.

View from behind French lines.

Overview of the western end of battlefield.

Overview towards the centre as both sides continue to exchange fire.

Despite being low on ammo the KGL Horse artillery battery hit the 1/11th Line with a blast of canister (rolling a double '6') causing it to falter. Bellair suffered a light wound and had to retire to be treated. (Note - must remove dice before taking photo!!)

The French 2/5th Line, having triumphantly gained the redoubt (top right), now had mixed fortunes. It charged the flank of the Portuguese 20th Line (far right) which took the prudent decision to retreat disordered. The 2/5th now turned its attention towards the inexperienced 21st Line (middle right). The 21st Line delivered an effective volley in response downing one of the Frenchmen. The 2/5th's morale evaporated and they are now retreating in disorder from the redoubt.

An overview from behind allied lines.

Reinforcements! General Picton arrives at the head of his division. Pack and the 1/92nd Highlanders! The rest of his division are either embarked or disembarking from ships in Youngsport and will not arrive in time.

An overview at the end of turn 9.