Having recently started to re-base all my troops into smaller units and developed some simple - fast play - hex based rules, it is time to start. And where better to start than at the beginning.
Obidos – 15th August 1808.
Maj Travers is in
the van of the British army, with 4 coy 2/95th and 4 coy 5/60th.
Pakenham’s
coy of 2/95th and 2 from 5/60th with an Officer’s party [?] of 20th
Light Dragoons, advance to contact with the French outposts near the windmill at Brilos.
Travers is
following with 3 coy 2/95th and 2 coy 5/60th.
The French
outposts are at Brilos and Obidos, with the rear guard at Rolica.
The French
fire from windmill and a few from the town wall.
They are driven from the mill to the town.
Then from
the houses, along the street [past the castle] down onto the plain to Rolica.
From
Rolica the French General Delaborde counter attacks with his cavalry [26th CC] and Infantry [3/2ndLegere].
Travers
and his 5 coys catch up with the other 3, but are still
outnumbered and in danger of being outflanked.
When Gen Spencer
and a Brigade arrive, the French fall back.
The French rear guard in Rolica.
The Rifles and Light Dragoons advance on the outposts at Brilos and Obidos.
The outposts fall back as Maj Travers arrives.
The main body of the rear guard advances to support the outposts.
Gen Spencer and his brigade arrives.
Both sides disengage and fall back.
Next I need to work on more units for the battle of Rolica itself. But to keep things small and simple I will focus on just the units engaged.
Rolica – 17th August 1808.
Hill's, Nightingale's and Fane's Brigades advance to attack the French on the ridge.
The French under Delaborde start taking heavy casualties as the British close in.
Heavily out numbered and out gunned the French are soon pushed back off the ridge. Just as happened in the real battle, though the casualty rates were not so severe.
In this action I just concentrated on the fighting done by the brigades of Fane [1/50th, 5/60th and 2/95th], Anstrutter [2/9th, 2/43rd, 2/52nd and 2/97th] and Acland [2nd, 20th and 1/95th].
Rolica – 17th August 1808.
Hill's, Nightingale's and Fane's Brigades advance to attack the French on the ridge.
The French under Delaborde start taking heavy casualties as the British close in.
Heavily out numbered and out gunned the French are soon pushed back off the ridge. Just as happened in the real battle, though the casualty rates were not so severe.
Fane's Brigade is on the right.
Fane's Brigade is in the foreground.
Vimeiro – 21st August 1808.
In this action I just concentrated on the fighting done by the brigades of Fane [1/50th, 5/60th and 2/95th], Anstrutter [2/9th, 2/43rd, 2/52nd and 2/97th] and Acland [2nd, 20th and 1/95th].
The British position.
The main French attack.
The final attack of the grenadiers.
The charge of the 21st Light Dragoons but the Portuguese hold back.
The 21st LD's encounter large numbers of French Dragoons.
And are chased back to the British lines.
Anstruther's Brigade, the 15th Hussars and Dowman's Troop RHA form the rear guard of the Reserve Division on the retreat to Cacabellos and ultimately to Corunna.
They skirmish with Colbert's Brigade [3rd Hussars and 15th Chasseurs] who are supported by Lahoussaye's Brigade of Dragoons [19th and 27th].
Paget's Reserve Division in position over looking the bridge over the Rio Cua at Cacabellos.
Colbert's light cavalry Brigade lead the French advanced guard and are first over the bridge.
But they are checked by steady rifle fire. Lahoussaye's Dragoons [19th and 27th] head down stream to a ford.
They cross but are also checked by the fire power of the British [1/95th and 20th].
The Dragoons rally and manage a charge but cannot break the British.
Behind the Dragoons, Thomiers Brigade [1st, 2nd and 3rd Bns 15th Line],crosses and start to engage the 1/95th and 20th. They suffer heavy casualties and fall back.
At the same time, Surrat's Brigade [2nd and 3rd Bns 4th Light], find and cross at another ford up stream of the bridge. But 1/52nd advance in line and force them back with devastating volley fire. As the light fail the action fizzles out and both sides regroup. The British slip away during the night.
Sahagun - 21st December 1808.
Paget and Slade observe the French cavalry Brigade as it forms up.
Paget advances with the 15th Hussars as the French move out. But Slade is slow bringing up the 10th Hussars.
The French turn to face Pagets force.
The Chasseurs are driven off but the 8th Dragoons hold firm and Paget reforms the 15th Hussars. Meanwhile Slade still looks on and does nothing.
Paget reforms the 15th Hussars after driving off the 8th Dragoons. Only now does Slade advance with the 10th Hussars.
Retreat to Cacabellos - 2nd January 1809.
Anstruther's Brigade, the 15th Hussars and Dowman's Troop RHA form the rear guard of the Reserve Division on the retreat to Cacabellos and ultimately to Corunna.
Cacabellos - 3rd January 1809.
Paget's Reserve Division in position over looking the bridge over the Rio Cua at Cacabellos.
Corunna - 16th January 1809.
Wargame just focusing on the counter attack of Sir Edward Paget's Reserve Division. The table lay out is based on the classic wargame - Hooks Farm.
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| Paget advances to take the ridge and drive the Dragoons from the flank. |
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| The French counter attack the centre whilst their right get on the ridge. |
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| British pressure starts to tell and they consolidate on the ridge, the farm and the church. |
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| The British position is too strong and holds off all attacks. With the fleet waiting in Corunna Bay it is time to evacuate from Spain. |
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