Peninsular 1809 - Talavera

 

 Date: Weds 21st Feb 2024

Table Size: 8x6

Context: Summer 1809. Wellesley, exonerated, has returned to command the Peninsular forces and marches out from Portugal into Spain, intending to advance on Madrid with Spanish forces.

The French have opposing, yet equally aggressive, plans with their army now reequipped and restored after having been forced into a humiliating retreat from Porto during the British re-entry into Portugal. The orders from Paris are to decisively crush the British forces and discourage any further "interference" from London.

The British, however, have been hampered by a lack of coordination and cooperation with the Spanish forces, which allows the French to move and withdraw as needed, meaning that the chance to take Madrid passes.

The two forces finally catch one another at Talavera. The British intend to do what they do best and fight a defensive battle. The French, recognising the positions of the relative forces, deploy the majority of their forces against the British lines, intending to defeat them first and then turn on the Spanish.

Battlefield Map:

Objectives - British: Hold the line, engage with French forces in your favoured positions and prevent the French breaking the line, in turn breaking the alliance.

Order of Battle - British:

CIC - Arthur Wellesley

Brigade 1 (Guards) - 2 x Battalions of Foot Guard

Brigade 2 (Kemmis) - 4 x Battalions of Line Infantry, 1 x Cannon, 1 x Tiny 95th Rifles

Brigade 3 (Campbell) - 4 x Battalions of Line Infantry, 1 x Cannon, 1 x Tiny 95th Rifles

Brigade 4 (Cameron) - 4 x Battalions of Highlanders, 1 x Cannon

Brigade 5 (Langwerth) - 3 x Battalions of Line Infantry, 1 x Howitzer

Brigade 6 (Light Cavalry) - 1 x Regiment of Light Dragoons, 1 x Regiment of Hussars

Brigade 7 (Scots Greys) - 2 x Regiments of Scots Greys

Brigade 8 (Household Cavalry) - 1 x Regiment of Life Guard

Objectives - French: The Emperor demands an end to this Spanish ulcer. You are to advance, smash the British, then clear the way to advance and end this Spanish uprising. Defeat is not an option.

Order of Battle - French:

CIC - Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain (Chief of Staff - Marshal Jourdan)

Brigade 1 (Ruffin) - 5 x Battalions of Line Infantry, 1 x Cannon, 1 x Small Voltigeurs

Brigade 2 (Lapisse) - 4 x Battalions of Line Infantry, 1 x Cannon, 1 x Small Voltigeurs

Brigade 3 (Leval) - 5 x Battalions of German Line Infantry, 1 x Cannon

Brigade 4 (Villatte) - 4 x Battalions of Grenadiers

Brigade 5 (Light Cavalry) - 1 x Regiment Chasseur a Cheval, 2 x Regiments of Hussars

Brigade 6 (Dragoons) - 2 x Regiments of Dragoons

Brigade 7 (Dragoons) - 2 x Regiments of Dragoons

Brigade 8 (Artillery) - 2 x Cannons, 1 x Howitzer

Peninsular 1809 - Corunna - Battle Report

 Corunna. This is the one I'd always wanted to play, right from beginning the Napoleonics project. So, finally, its here.

Scenario can be found here: https://themosquitoonthetenthfloor.blogspot.com/2024/01/peninsular-1809-corunna.html

Initial deployments and table layout. British going strong in the centre, whilst the French attempt to hold the centre and go in from the flanks to envelope.

French cavalry mass on the hill towards the rear of the line.

French guns limbered up and ready to advance..........we hope.

French right flank begins well enough with a big move up towards the woods.

British centre readying for the fight.

French cavalry do what they usually do.........ignore commands and get shot to shit.

British rocket, which proved a real thorn in the side for the French.

At this point, the French right flank completely stalled.

The cavalry in the centre stalled.........

The centre engaged.......

The guard advanced to reinforce the British right flank.

Continued engagement in the centre

Cavalry does begin to shift forward and engage/cause problems

All getting messy in the centre, with the French brigade on the point of breaking.

French Dragoons, after a fairly mediocre display, decide to get the fuck out of dodge.

Seeing British cavalry lurking, French form square to block them off.

The French right flank finally begin engaging, quite a bit too late. Hey, better than not!

Meanwhile, on the French left/British right, fighting around the buildings continues apace, with both sides feeding more and more units into the clash.

French centre breaks, so the British push forward to take better position.

CAVALRY CLASH! On the way into this, John Moore took fire from a cannon, we rolled to see if he took the shot personally, but he passed and survived this one.

British guard earning their pay.

Late game overview.

This'll spell trouble for those stubborn Guardsmen!

However, its too little, too late and the French retreat is sounded

A good solid game. Both sides were pretty on form, but the French were just plain unlucky that their flanks slowed down, rather than arriving in prompt form (rolling on 10s, mind, and still failed!). This gave the British a good break to concentrate fire into the centre, which meant that they could play to advantage when the flanks did arrive, rather than being overwhelmed.