Below - The First division fires its volley and then runs away.
Last month we fought the fictitious sequel to this action San Cristobel in which the Spanish army fought a glorious fighting retreat against the French. So we decided to give the actual battle a go despite how difficult it would be for the French. Historically Marchand thought he could defeat a large Spanish army with a Division but found his skills were lacking for the task. The french players had a hard task, Marchand really was out of his depth and severely outnumbered but he went in anyway.
Details are over at Colin's blog Tamames
In this re-fight Jim and Ross went for a right hook against the Spanish lines. The Spanish Division was overrun, the regular infantry and artillery firing to the last while the raw units around them ran for the hills at the slightest large noise.
My plan was simple, let the French take the first line but make them pay dearly for it. Then suck them into the poor terrain where hopefully they would run out of steam on the Second line and then the Spanish would surge forward. The french attack was strong but once again at the crucial time vital units were milling around out of action and then french ran out of men. As those missing units finally got involved it was too late. If those extra 4 or 5 units had of been in the strike point the Spanish would have been in big big trouble.
A wave of French infantry surged over the 1st Division - the gunners died at their feet, the raw troops ran for the hills, French cavalry crushed a militia square and the Spanish second line looked on nervously.
However in the midst of the french storm stood the Principe Infantry Regiment.
A brief interlude - In my history of wargaming I have had two units that have become the stuff of legend. The first was the 33rd Foot who 20 years ago earned themselves an unsavory reputation. In every action they routed, not in the thick of battle of course but in extreme circumstances (oh look its raining - ROUT, French artillery killed 1 figure - ROUT). The 33rd was the worst performing unit of my British army, in fact any army with the dubious honour that it never finished a battle still on the table in any fit state.
The next Regiment started earning its reputation 6 years ago - A Spanish Guard unit that proved itself to be an irresistible and unstoppable force in any battle. It always ended up at the critical point, holding back masses of the enemy with a sheer arrogance of will and luck that still astound me. In the previous battle it held Ventosa against 6 times its number, and then marched out in good order.
At Tamames wave after wave of french troops attacked and were repulsed. Luck was on their side as it always is with the Regiment holding out against all. It was the this point the the French morale started to fail, a steady stream of units routing to the rear and at this point the French abandoned the attack.
The game was concluded here. The very next turn I was going to unleash the Spanish army in counter attack but it was not needed.
3 comments:
Always a pleasure to see the chaps out on that table!
I still vividly remember the performance of 33rd Foot in northern France. It all began with the staff error that left it out of the battle line at Craonne, arriving just in time to prevent the French exploiting the hole, but getting badly battered in the resulting scrimmage over the stone wall. That was the beginning of a series of misfortunes.
As it transpires, I have the 33rd Foor in my own Brit army. Also my 33rd Hungarians, and now the French have acquired a 33rd regiment as well... I hope this is not a portent.
Well done the Principe regiment. One should always have some such unit like that. Mine is the Hohenzollern-Hechingen Cuirassiers (CR8), which performed so well in the same campaign that the 33rd Foot ... erm ... didn't.
Thanks Ken and Archduke.
I still have the 33rd - well a new 33rd but they haven't seem action yet !
Cheers
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