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

 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.