Peninsular 1809 - Corunna

 Date: Weds 17th Jan 2024

Table Size: 8x6

Context: January 1809. Spain has risen and is in revolutionary fervour against the French. Sir John Moore has led the British army through a dismal march to the coast, following the departure of the British generals and Sir Arthur Wellesley back to England to face an enquiry into the Convention of Cintra. 

Napoleon is in Spain, marching hardened veterans to face the British, which has forced the decision to retreat in haste. By the time the British army reaches Corunna everything is exhausted - men, clothes, animals, everything, with some men having had to march through winter in their bare feet. The port providing much needed rest, supplies and rescue.

The French are some distance behind, but it takes days for the fleet to arrive, the evacuation to be organised and boarding to begin, at which point the French arrive to begin engaging with the British forces................

Battlefield Map:

Objectives - British: Deploy in a defensive line, hold the French to buy time for the main forces to embark onto the waiting ships, then withdraw in good order.

Order of Battle - British: 

CIC - Moore

Brigade 1 (Paget) 2 Light Dragoons

Brigade 2 (Bentinck) 3 Highlanders.

Brigade 3 (Warde) 2 Foot Guards

Brigade 4 (Manningham) 3 Line Infantry, 2 cannons

Brigade 5 (Leith) - 3 Line Infantry, 1 rocket 

Brigade 6 (Craufurd) - 2 Light Infantry, 1 95th Rifles

Objectives - French: Having finally caught and cornered the British, you will engage and destroy this line, pushing forward into the main port to complete the victory.

Order of Battle - French: 

CIC - Junot

Brigade 1 (Houssaye) - 3 Regiments Dragoons

Brigade 2 (Lorges) - 2 Regiments Chasseurs a Cheval

Brigade 3 (Mermet) - 4 Line Regiments, 2 Cannon

Brigade 4 (Merle) - 5 Line Regiments, 2 Cannon

Brigade 5 (Delaborde) - 5 Line Regiments, 2 Cannon

Deployments:  

French will deploy amongst the hills to the Southern table edge and get the first turn.

The British must deploy at least three brigades at least 24" onto the table from the Northern edge. Other Brigades can choose whether to deploy as deep.