Game 133 : Fuentes d'Onoro 5th May 1811

 We are at the Peninsular, we'll see how the lines fair against the columns. We did use some extra rules, poorer morale for any allied foot in column and the same poorer morale for French in line.

Action on the Allied right flank. French infantry are going to screen the village of Poco Vehlo and attack the Portuguese on the extreme Allied right flank

The French also attack the other side of  Poco Vehlo and use light infantry to screen the centre. 

In the centre, where Fuentes is positioned, the French also launch a screening attack to allow the flanks to be threatened. The French strategy is to attack the Allies to the sides of their defensive villages. 

On the Allied left flank, they hold the village of Almeida which will eventually fall, but the Light Division is making good use of the stream in front to them as a defensive asset as it unforms any infantry trying to charge over and cavalry cannot charge over. The Allies are hampered by having very little artillery in this sector. It's grit and bear the enemy fire 

The French attack on the Allied right results in a cavalry engagement between two Light Cavalry Brigades from either side. The Allied cavalry had the best of the combat, but French morale held. Both formations had to retire to lick their wounds.

The attack on Poco Vehlo reaches its zenith. The Portuguese flank forces were driven back and the British holding the village were eventually forced back by attrition.

Almeida has fallen and a fresh French Infantry Division is marching across the stream between Almeida and Fuentes. The battle is quite quickly coming to a conclusion.

Fuentes itself is coming under pressure. The French Light Infantry are driving the defenders form the environs to the front of Fuentes to allow the Lone infantry to assault.

The Allies would now retire, Poco Vehlo and Almeida had fallen and Fuentes was going to get isolated. A good game, it was a while since we had tried this theatre of operations. 

French Formations	Losses %			Spanish Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
MASSENA				WELLINGTON	-	-	21
II Corps Reynier	-	-	0	Spencer
Merle (1st Brig)	0	-	-	Spencer (1st Brig)	0	-	-
Merle (2nd Brig)	0	-	-	Spencer (2nd Brig)	0	-	-
Merle (3rd Brig)	0	-	-	Spencer (3rd Brig)	0	-	-
Heudelet (1st Brig)	7	-	-	Spencer (4th Brig)	0	-	-
Heudelet (2nd Brig)	5	-	-
Soult	-	6	-	Picton
				Picton (1st Brig)	21	-	-
VI Corps Massena	-	-	16	Picton (2nd Brig)	13	-	-
Marchand (1st Brig)	27	-	-	Picton (3rd Port Brig)	14	-	-
Marchand (2nd Brig)	0	-	-
Mermet (1st Brig)	7	-	-	Erskine
Mermet (2nd Brig)	0	-	-	Erskine (1st Brig)	1	-	-
Loison (1st Brig)	10	-	-	Erskine (2nd Brig)	0	-	-
Loison (2nd Brig)	10	-	-	Erskine (3rd Port Brig)	5	-	-
Junot (1st Brig)	9	-	-
Junot (2nd Brig)	8	-	-	Campbell
Lamotte	-	25	-	Campbell (1st Brig)	6	-	-
				Campbell (2nd Brig)	37	-	-
IX Corps D’Erlon	-	-	2	Campbell (3rd Port Brig)	0	-	-
Claparede (1st Brig)	34	-	-
Claparede (2nd Brig)	23	-	-	Houston
Claparede (3rd Brig)	8	-	-	Houston (1st Brig)	17	-	-
Conroux (1st Brig)	7	-	-	Houston (2nd Brig)	18	-	-
Conroux (2nd Brig)	0	-	-
Fournier	-	6	-	Craufurd
				Craufurd (1st Lt Brig)	10	-	-
Montbrun	-	-	8	Craufurd (2nd Lt Brig)	28	-	-
Montbrun (1st Brig)	-	8	-	Craufurd (3rd Port Lt Brig)	21	-	-
Montbrun (2nd Brig)	-	10	-
Montbrun (3rd Brig)	-	0	-	Independent Port Brigade	0	-	-
				Slade	-	13	-
				Arentschildt	-	23	-
				Barbacena	-	11	-

Next stop is a Carnage & Glory game, computer moderated. It is Auerstadt. This time we are using the full breadth of the rules, proper orders at the start when nobody was expecting battle. We also have some house mods to do with support fire, to me crucial for the system to work well.

Rogues gallery, we get better looking every time!

Game 132 : La Rothiere take II

 This was the resumption of the last game, a theoretical day 2 as both armies remained in the field. We introduced an element of unknown by having both sides either receive reinforcements or replacements or formation exchange. This was done randomly and secretly by both sides.

The affect was minimal as both sides ended up with restricted options, for example the French remained as they were!

The above shows the renewed fight on the French left. The Bavarians are attacking in full force. They would soone be reinforced by a Russian formation attacking more frontally.

The French right flank was more of a linear fight. The village had been yielded to the Allies overnight and although the line would remain stable, the French would do no better than bottle up the Austrians in their secure village.

This shows the village and the Russians advancing to support the the Austrians after they had reformed overnight. They would not be called upon to get involved.

The main action continued on the French left. They were now under attack by Bavarians and Russians and it was going to be a close call as to which way the honours of battle would sway. It was really resolved when the Bavarians began running out of steam with their attack. Unable to break the French and casualties gradually mounting, the attack was eventually called off.

The same situation faced the Russian frontal assault. Progress was difficult and casualties mounted, on both sides. However, the crucial moment was the appearance of the French Grenadier a Cheval. They successfully charged and rove back two Russian squares, leaving the whole Russian formation exposed to devastating charges. At this point, the Russians also broke off their attack.

The result was very similar to day 1. Casualties were significant on both sides, but overall a draw, after 4 days of actual gaming!

French Formations	Losses %			Austro- Bav- Russian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
Victor	8	-	26	Lieven	0	-	0
Marmont	21	-	54	Olsuviev	23	-	0
Ney	0	-	0	Sherbatov	0	-	0
Doumerc	-	5	17	Sievers	-	0	0
Nansouty	-	0	0	Vassil’shikov	-	0	0
Milhaud	-	2	0	Gyulai	12	-	13
				Kronprinz	34	33	25

We managed around 18 turns of gaming, roughly equally split between clear weather, light snow and heavy snow. Snow was generally an advantage to the defender.

Here we are, experienced Field Marshals now! Off to Fuentes d'Onoro next.