Game 77 : Ocana : November 19th 1809

This game is back to the Peninsular. It happened after Talavera when the Spanish still had hopes of liberating Madrid and the French were out to quickly crush any attempt to relieve Madrid. The Spanish army is bigger than the French, but noticeably inferior in quality.

The above pic shows the Spanish cavalry on their right flank. Ocana is essentially a village on a single road. On it left is a stream, a sunken dried stream at this time, that impedes charging and artillery. The Spanish right has an open space for some distance and then a number of Olive Groves.
The Spanish cavalry and it relies on infantry and artillery support to hold its position.

This shows the French attacking Ocana itself. It is taken from the Spanish right/rear. The Spanish would hold the village for most of the battle but eventually would not be able to hold the French.

This shows the attack on the village by the French centre. Although initial attacks were repulse, the Spanish garrison got worn out and eventually succumbed to fresh French attacks.

This shows the Spanish left with the sunken dried stream. The French did not push hard in this area, but the Spanish found it very difficult to co-ordinate any concerted attacks. Spanish command and control was pretty awful! The end result was the French were able to easily fix the Spanish troops, in this area, in position

The French take the first part of Ocana. They are also driving in the Spanish centre right and forcing the Spanish to give ground. French cavalry is also causing some havoc having demolished some Spanish cavalry and then rallied immediately on the flank of Spanish guns and infantry.

The French are about to secure the other part of Ocana. The Spanish are on the ropes

The French now attack the Spanish left and drive them away form the defensive stream. This also completes the flanking of Ocana. The game is now over with the Spanish in general retreat!

	Play Test 1
French Formations	Losses %			Spanish Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
Soult	-	-	14	Arzeiga
Sebastiani				Zayas	22	-	0
Leval	19	-	-	Lacy	4	-	0
Werle	7	-	-	Vigolet	8	-	46
Jospeh	20	0	-	Giron	1	-	0
Paris	-	2	-	Castejon	5	-	67
				Zerain	21	-	25
Mortier				Jacome	9	-	100
Girard	18	-	-	Copons	2	-	21
Gazan	1	-	-	Bemuy	-	11	-
Beauregard	-	4	-	Rivas	-	1	-
Milhaud	-	6	-	March	-	22	-
				Osono	-	1	-

Spanish artillery suffered horribly, but some French infantry were also mauled. A great game.

Rogue's gallery. Graham & Pete were the victorious French. Steve & myself were the beaten Spanish. If you think Graham looks very red, he actually turned up looking like a lobster. Cricket world cup at Durham, baked, literally, in the sun!

Next game is northern Italy, the battle of Montebello. Until then.