Back to the Penninsula

A French informant has told the intelligence services that the Spanish guerrillas have established an arms cache in the town of St Stephenage and they have despatched a strike force to seize the cache (red deployment point 1).

The Spanish deployed the guerillas into the vineyard and to the west of the southern hill.

The French deployed their whole force whilst the Spanish light infantry raced to get to the northern hill and a group of guerrillas occupied the hill to the south, hoping to snipe at the advancing French.

The voltigeurs and guerrillas traded shots with the Spanish coming off worst and deciding to retire from the hill.

The French advanced down the valley with the voltigeurs screening the flank. Meanwhile the Spanish lights gained the high ground to the north.

With the guerrillas on the hill no longer a threat, having moved back to the woods, the voltigeurs moved to screen the fusiliers in the valley from the light infantry in the northern hill and the guerrillas in the vineyard. 

 
The second unit of French lagged behind and looked to be losing the race to secure the right flank.

The Spanish militia at last decided to show up.

The French continued to push up the valley, advancing on the guerrillas in the vineyard,

with the second unit having to turn to face the Spanish lights which now occupied the woods. The Spanish militia at last deployed into line between the church and the stable.

The French on the right flank charged the lights in the woods but unfortunately the dice weren't with them and they were pushed back with heavy casualties. The French to the south were doing much better and managed to push the guerrillas out of the vineyard. However, the oncoming militia was looming.

The voltigeurs moved up and chased off the guerrillas, but the light infantry were having the best of the firefight with the French. However, the French artillery was getting into position.

 

 

The voltigeurs charged the remaining guerrillas in the open but it wasn't a good day for the French as most died with the rest running for the hills. Even with the cannon's support the fusiliers were losing the fight against the militia and started to fall back, whilst also taking fire on their left flank from the guerrillas hiding in the woods. The fusiliers to the north were also being pushed back by the fire from the Spanish light, whose shooting was so accurate that the leader took one between the eyes.

With no chance of being able to capture the cache and with morale falling the French retreated from the table. Victory to the hard pressed Spanish over the imperial despot.