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.

Continued -

The 95th Rifles of Kempt's Brigade are also still in square formation when they are struck by the formidable Polish 2/4th battalion. It stands no chance as the Poles easily roll through the square destroying the British battalion.

The Spanish 4th Division (left of photo), having suffered numerous command failures, suddenly springs into life with a full 3 moves bringing them forward to challenge the advance of the French 20th Division emerging from the Mansion grounds. 

A view across the Spanish position with the 4th Division on the middle left and the Vanguard Division upper middle. The Vanguard have moved out of square formation now that the Lancers have pulled back and form attack columns. The Spanish cavalry are still static having failed more command rolls.

British battalions of Picton's Division move to counter the threat of the Polish battalions in particular. Musket volleys are poured into both columns inflicting casualties leading to a disordered and shaken 1/4th battalion (lower middle).

The British 2nd Division closes on the French 4th Corps opening fire at close range inflicting severe casualties. Kemmis' Brigade is on the left of the photo with 95th Rifles of Adam's Brigade on the right.

The elite Light Infantry of Adam's Brigade is slightly ahead of the Portuguese 1st Brigade who had suffered a command blunder. Fortunately for them they were required to advance 1 move towards the enemy which is pretty much what they planned to do.

The Portuguese 2nd Brigade move ahead of the cavalry in preparation for an assault on the French right flank.

3 battalions of Collins' Portuguese 4th Brigade is ordered to form up on the road ready to cross the bridge joining up with the 2nd Brigade in an assault, primarily on the French 14th Division.

TURN 7

The 20th and 21st French Divisions launch their assault on the Spanish. Here Tromelin's Brigade of the 20th Division lead the charge with two columns attacking units of the Spanish 3rd Division defending a fence line.

The Spanish fight hard holding the attack. The Badajoz militia on the right performing surprisingly well defeating the 2/107th Line in the first round and destroying them in the 2nd. On the left, the Contabria Line battalion was on the back foot and finally succumbed to the Dutch battalion on its 2nd round of combat fleeing the field.

Bellair's Brigade of the 20th Division hit units of the Spanish 4th Division who were not going to fold as easily.

The French lost one battalion but threw back one of the Spanish leaving the contest in the balance.

Picton has manoeuvred his division to maximise firepower. This has caused significant difficulties with the Polish battalions in particular. Incoming fire has shaken both and disordering one requiring them to be rallied to enable a charge to be conducted. The French lancers move to bring some relief but are threatened by the appearance of Spanish cavalry on their flank. The Spanish cavalry having experienced an all too rare successful command roll.

An overview across the French left flank.

Kemmis' Brigade leads the attack on the French centre with the 43rd Light nearest the camera and the 5/60th Rifles charging the two battalions of Rome's Brigade. Both Rome's battalions are destroyed but not without inflicting heavy casualties on the 2 British battalions. The 43rd Light, now shaken and disordered, elected to withdraw to recover rather than face a charge by French lancers.

The aftermath of the combats with on the right, a combat between the 71st Light of Adam's Brigade and the 1/63rd Line of the 12th Division. The 71st were victorious but the French battalion held their nerve and would fight on for another round.

Bradford's Portuguese 1st Brigade made their charge with, on the left, the 19th Line held by the Legion du Midi. To their right the Cacadores destroyed the 1/76th Line and a supporting battalion retreated leaving a gap in the French line.

Powers' 2nd Brigade and Collins' 4th Brigade begin their assaults on the French right flank. Powers concentrates on the farm area with Collins (once again having highly successful command rolls) moving to cover his flank.

The 20th Line and Cacadores quickly defeat an Irish battalion holding the fence line and prepare to assault the farm's defenders.

TURN 8

The turn began full of French hope as surely the Spanish militia would melt away in the face of French columns. The Spanish militia had other ideas! A French and Swiss column struck the militia who initially held them and then destroyed them with minimal loss. A third supporting French battalion fled the field! 

Several combats occurred in the photo. On the right the large 2/4th Polish column charged the 42nd Highlanders escaping any serious casualties from their closing volley. The Poles narrowly lost the combat but had become shaken and a poor break test dice roll signalled their demise. This was a serious loss for the 22nd Division especially as the 1/4th Poles were continuing to struggle against relentless volleys from the British battalions.

In the middle of the photo, French lancers charged the Spanish Hussars destroying them with their supporting heavy cavalry regiment falling back in disorder.

Just below the cavalry, the 1/4th Baden defeated the Barbastro Light Infantry throwing them back.

During the allied turn, the Spanish cavalry brigade of Henestrosa successfully activated and moved to drive out the lancers. The Lusitania Dragoons was met by the lancers in a charge with neither side getting the upper hand.

To their left the Spanish was awarded with far greater success. The Campo Mayor Light Battalion charged the battered 1/4th Baden infantry defeating them outright. They fled the field along with a supporting battalion.

Picton's Division on the right were making life uncomfortable for what was left of the French forces still in the vicinity of the mansion including the last of the Polish battalions at the bottom of the photo.

This was a spectacularly bad turn for the French. Apart from the lancers, they experienced defeat in all other combats resulting in heavy casualties and lost battalions. This lead to both brigades of the 20th Division breaking along with Grandjean's Brigade of the 22nd. Over half of 6th Corps' infantry has now been destroyed or retreating from the field.

The Portuguese attack goes in with Bradford's Brigade on the left and Ashworth's the right. The Portuguese suffered defeats with heavy loss. Bradford's Cacadores were destroyed leading to his brigade becoming broken. Ashworth's 6th Line with its supporting Cacadores were thrown back in disorder.

There was little action other than an exchange of largely ineffectual musketry on the French right flank largely due to an unusual failure in Collins' command rolls leaving everything pretty much static.

The view from the rear of the Portuguese left flank.

Looking out across the Portuguese position showing the aftermath of the failed assault on the French centre.

A large gap has opened up in the French line opposing the British 2nd Division who are in the process of advancing to fill it. On the left the rifle battalions of Adam's and Kemmis' brigades engage with Desprez' Brigade of the 13th Division.

TURN 9

Picton seeks to maximise pressure on the collapsing French line pouring fire into the 1st Lancers inflicting heavy casualties causing them to retreat in disorder (off camera to bottom left). 

The Spanish again suffer many command failures but one, Alburquerque, leads the Carabineros Reales in a charge on the 2nd Lancers. In a tightly fought melee the Spanish cavalry salvaged some honour narrowly defeating the French forcing them to retreat.

Portago's 3rd Division of largely militia regiments, have proved to be more effective than their regular comrades. The large regimental column of grandly titled and uniformed Granaderos Provinciale went on the offensive charging the small 2/8th Light battalion. The Spanish militia won the contest but the French battalion stood fast for another round of combat.

A view across the French left flank. Lobau has ordered a retreat with the intention of getting his surviving units safely across the bridge. A moment of high risk for the French only helped by the Spanish struggling to make headway with poor commanders.

The view at the end of the turn with the French now seeking to escape.

A series of good command rolls allowed du Platt's (on the left) Kemmis' and Adam's Brigades to sweep over the ridge overlooking the French centre. 

On the right the elite 52nd Foot has destroyed the Hanoverian battalion who had bravely fought on against the odds. The French position in this sector of the battlefield is looking increasingly untenable.

Ashworth's Portuguese Brigade resumes its assault on the French while on the right, Arentschild leads the 3rd KGL Hussars in a charge on the French line but stops short of its target.

Collins' successful command dice rolls resumes with his brigade rapidly moving out from the bridge.

The 2nd Cacadores charged the gated entrance to the farm courtyard and in a shocking development quickly overcame the defenders expelling them from their position. 

I will conclude this segment here where, barring a miracle, it is pretty much game over for the French. I anticipate the next segment will primarily be about the French successfully retreating from the field maintaining as much of their fighting force as possible. Their left flank in particular is at risk of severe loss as they scramble to cross the river in the vicinity of the mansion by the single bridge. In their favour is the poor command quality of the Spanish leading to many failed activations. Picton's Division has no such problems and could prove problematic.