Another in our new series of larger games, at Lost Ark, in Stevenage. Thanks to John for providing the 8’x6’ table and being our congenial host & storekeeper.
Scenario: A small force of Spanish Regulars & skirmishers (Dave) were camped at the Convent of Adrados, overlooking the bridge over the river Churros. The Spanish deployment point is in the convent. Three French forces were approaching via 2 parallel roads from the South. Relieving British & Portuguese forces were approaching from the West & North-West respectively.
The Objective for the French was to destroy the bridge (a
task roll of 11l, once the Sappers are at the bridge). The Allied task is to
stop them & secure the bridge.
An unusually benign sequence of early chit pulling saw the
majority of the forces deployed onto the table, with the exception of the
French Dragoons, who presumably were still busy scouting somewhere else except
the battlefield!
Chris’s Voltigeurs were soon trading fire with Rob’s British Light Infantry skirmishers, around the vineyard, with the French coming off slightly worse, despite having the benefit of cover. Voltigeur Lieutenant Bellevisage was also knocked unconscious by a spent musket ball, at this point, effectively taking Chris’ Voltigeurs out of the fight. To make matters worse, Rob’s two units of British Line were better able to deploy into a strong firing line, while Chris’ 3 units of line struggled to get themselves untangled from the skirmishers and late arriving cavalry, so Chris’s French Line also started to suffer badly.
Away to the East, Tony’s French column initially made good progress toward the bridge, but was unfortunate to get caught by some gallingly effective long range flanking fire from the Spanish skirmishers on the far side of the river. The engineers also got themselves caught up in this, reducing their progress to a crawl.
Tony was able to deploy his gun and two rounds of Cannister fire was able to drive the Spanish skirmishers away from the river. Sadly for Tony, Dave’s Spanish Line were then in position to laydown long range fire on the deploying Eastern French line. Gaps were being progressively opened up in this French line, while neither the long range French musketry, nor roundshot from the French cannon, was able to make any effective reply.
Phil’s Voltigeurs pushed forward to occupy the central orchard, easily beating Simon’s lead footed Portuguese to the Orchard. A short firefight in the confines of orchard then ensued, with the greater weight of Portuguese musketry convincing the Voltigeurs to retreat to the cover of the Southern orchard wall.
Meanwhile the murderous firefight between Rob’s British and Chris French continued away to the West, but the longer this went on, the more obvious it was that superior British musket drill was going to win-out! (Someone please tell the French players to look at the ‘Pas de Charge’ rule!).
Realising that the chance of victory was slipping away from them, Phil dashed the Dragoon’s forward, to dismount and occupy the Southern end of the bridge. However, Simon’s Portuguese gun had finally managed to plod to within cannister range of the bridge and a well placed blast of cannister, sent the Dragoons fleeing back in disarray (double shock for canister & double shock for flanking fire!!).
The French decided to call it there!?
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