We were fortunate enough to be allowed to have a second try at fighting the battle of Albuera in18mm (fence sitter scale) to "Carnage & Glory" run by David Hedges. In the first battle the British and Portuguese managed to fight off the French attack despite a few surprises along the way.
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Devon Wargames Group - Positively no Badgers at Albuera |
For the next refight we all agreed to randomise the commands assigned, so we all had different problems to solve. Some changes in personnel playing the game made the outcome of the random assignments quite surprising as three of us previously allied commanders (there being four players a side) ended up as French commanders. I am sure this gave us an advantage. Plans were made. When dawn broke over a crowded battlefield, I was put in command of the cavalry division and it is from this perspective that I have made my report. My apologies to those battling on the other flank as I have less to report on in that area.
As General de Division Andre Francois Moineau woke covered in a cold sweat, he recalled the massed French troops marching into the withering volleys of the British troops holed up in the seemingly impregnable fortress that was the village of El Tejon and his cavalry command rendered ineffective by the cramped terrain and the sudden collapse of the whole French army. Relieved to discover that the nightmare was simply a fever dream, probably brought on by some bad mussels, he hurried to the pre-battle briefing determined to avoid the mistakes made in his imagination.
Marshal Soult had sent orders for General Renard to take the main east west road that passed through the village of Tejon. The village was protected by a river to its front and a walled orchard on its right flank. Sited on some low hills it was an excellent defensive position, and the British commander was bound to take advantage of this. There were two narrow bridges over the river, suitable for artillery or cavalry crossing but otherwise only the infantry could ford the river.
Forward planning had allowed General Renard to push up to two divisions across the river on his right flank to avoid having to cross the river. The decisions here would be vital to avoid mistakes made in Moineau’s dreams (likely all new mistakes could be made instead). The battle planning meeting was quite lively as each brigade and division commander put forward their demands for the place of honour, and reasons why they should probably not just charge towards the enemy guns.
In the end General Belette’s brigade of six regiments was placed on our left flank opposite the walled orchard. Furet with slightly better troops was our centre. Blaireau with all three combined grenadier battalions and three line regiments was pushed across the river on the right flank. My division of dragoons, hussars and horse artillery led the right flank across the river. The divisional artillery remained in the centre with Furet.
The British placed their best troops in and around the walled orchard and only lightly defended the village on their left flank. They kept a large mobile defence in their centre where their artillery had an excellent view of the slopes in front of them.
The attack started with a general advance of all units. The cavalry was split into two brigades. The Hussars and the horse artillery on our extreme right flank and the Dragoons towards the centre on the other flank of the grenadiers.
Surprisingly the initial French advance made rapid progress without great opposition. The British fired their artillery at long range, to little effect and sent out a swarm of skirmishers to contest the ground between the river and their initial positions. The French set up with an expectation that the river crossing would be contested and so the divisional artillery was unlimbered and fired a few rounds. The British and Portuguese made some small adjustments in their reserves.
Then the rain came. Visibility became very poor, and it was a chance for the Imperial forces to advance without being destroyed by defensive firing.
On the left flank Belette was holding up very well against the British elite forces. Skirmishers were protecting the line units, and the greater numbers of the French brigade were sufficient to maintain cohesion despite some losses. The elite British forces started pushing forwards to contend with Belette’s forces and there was some concern that the Portuguese cavalry could make an appearance. Belette had pushed forward over the river and was now under a lot of pressure. Allied horse artillery was sending round shot into his right flank and some French units were starting to falter. Despite this, Belette was holding the cream of the allied army and stopping them from reinforcing the centre.
In the centre Furet became involved in a furious firefight. He pushed forward with great resolution. His skirmishers battled with the swarm of Portuguese skirmishers sent out from the village and from allied units supporting the British artillery in the centre. The French divisional artillery moved over the river, unlimbered and was shooting at any available target switching between round shot and canister as targets appeared. The advancing French line regiments had taken insults from the skirmishers, the artillery and the defenders of the village but were now pouring their own shot into the troops in front of them.
On the far right the horse artillery had unlimbered as close to the allied troops as they dared. Supported by two troops of hussars they braved the skirmish fire and pushed their guns forwards up a small slope. Anticipating the next order the Portuguese troops formed square to defend themselves from the inevitable cavalry charge. Pushing their guns out of a declivity the horse artillery were rewarded with the gift of two battalions of Portuguese line infantry in square formation (skirmishers called back in) and in canister range. The first case of cannister staggered the first square and the French Hussars prepared to charge the remains. Without fuss (and without skirmishers) the grenadiers advanced in attack columns upon the village of Tejon.
The Allied commander responded by moving another brigade of Portuguese into the village. The elite cacadores having the speed to secure the edge of the village before the Grenadiers could just march in unopposed, the cacadores proceeded to pour shots into the grenadiers. Two troops of Portuguese cavalry followed on their heels ready to charge any troops in the open.
The focus of the battle was now firmly in the centre. Skirmishers from both sides had been driven in, and the artillery were shooting at close range. The French trying to blast an opening into the village and the allies concentrated on trying to bounce round shot through as many French battalions as possible. The Portuguese in the village were gradually losing cohesion. Exhausted by their constant firing and the buildup of casualties.
Much to everyone’s surprise (other than the enterprising officer in command) a French line battalion (3/64e Ligne Reg) charged. They caught the British artillery who were still busily pouring round shot into the flanks of the French battalions. The British artillery were caught out of position and never had a chance to evade. Six guns were captured and it seemed that the simple frontal assault that everyone had feared would win the day.
Then the Portuguese cavalry arrived (1st Portuguese Dragoons). They had pushed through some rough ground and found themselves on the flank of the celebrating French battalion. This was the moment that all cavalry dream of. In the flank of a line of an enemy Infantry battalion on a gentle slope, with fresh horses and an enthusiastic body of troopers, led by their general. The command to charge went up. The Bugles rang out and the Portuguese broke into a fabulous slow trot.
The commanding colonel maintained that proper formation was better preserved with a slow advance. Distant observers were heard to laugh at the so-called charge but when they hit the side of the advanced French battalion they utterly routed them captured their colours without losing a single sabre (much debate erupted about quite what their colours constituted at this point in the war, but they were definitely captured whatever they were). Their charge continued to follow the broken unit and scattered them beyond recovery. The wild shooting of nearby regiments had almost no effect on the victorious cavalry, and they advanced again filled with Elan, at their now terrifying slow trot.
Furet’s whole Brigade was shaken, and it began to look as if they battle would be lost before the Grenadiers could make their blow count. The tremendous work of the nearby officers managed to steady the brigade, some having fallen from their saddles were remounted, and rallied their troops. The French Dragoons that had been held in reserve on the right flank were moved left to either hold the line or to cover a retreat.
Back on the left flank the long-range shooting and skirmishing was degrading the British forces and even some of the elite regiments were starting to have reasons to avoid advancing. With orders to defend, they were not keen to charge in and drive off the plucky French battalions, some of whom were also starting to have their doubts about continuing the battle. Good work by the officers kept morale high enough for both sides to continue the firefight.
Back in the centre all eyes were on the victorious Portuguese cavalry spoilt for choice of targets. The colonel pointed at the artillery in the centre of the French line and despite distant cries of “that’s very brave of you”, and “charge and be damned” or “we might still win if you pull that one off”. They slowly trotted forward with grim discipline shrugging off the desultory shooting from the surrounding line troops and bore down on the tremulous gunners who kept repeating “We are loaded with canister aren’t we?”.
The crowded street fight in El Tejon required the buildings to be removed as the battle reached its crescendo. |
On the right the Grenadiers were finally called upon to earn their elite status having marched up to the enemy in the village, both sides serenaded each other with volleys at short range and then the Grenadiers charged. The Portuguese outnumbered and outmatched in skill at arms gave up the protection of their houses and withdrew further into the town. The Grenadiers were now tired but exultant and readied themselves for the next challenge.
On the far right flank the horse artillery were exhausting themselves pouring canister shot into the Portuguese squares. One square gave up the challenge and retired behind their reserves, the other was starting to waver as whole files of troops were flicked away by the lethal metal sweeping across their formation. The French Hussars received orders that they were to charge after the next shot.
It seemed that that the battle was about to be decided. The left flank was a stalemate but events in the centre and the right flank would undoubtedly decide the winner.
The 1st Portuguese Dragoons finally launched themselves at the artillery. Who were definitely loaded with canister The cannons roared the Dragoons cheered and the referee (computer) was consulted. The charge of the cavalry ended in bloody ruin. Their officer had his horse shot from under him and the remains of the unit retired to a safe distance to consider how foolish it was to charge artillery.
In the village the Grenadiers were called upon to charge again, this time accompanied by the fresh line battalions who were called upon for the first time. One grenadier battalion decided that they were not yet ready to charge again, but the others (led in person by General Blaireau) were inspired to throw themselves upon the enemy regardless of their losses. The Portuguese infantry in front of them broke almost at once.
The French battalions charged and broke multiple units and then charged into the rear of the retreating units multiple times and the entire garrison of the village began to fall back. The crowded streets forced the fleeing troops through their own formations so many times that they ceased to exist as a fighting formation. At this point the allied commander sent up the command for a general retreat as the entirety of their left flank had collapsed and there was an entire brigade of French cavalry that had yet to engage.
A major victory was declared for the French.
Despite never managing to carry out a cavalry charge I still had a great time discussing all the different options and threatening to charge was almost as effective as charging for controlling the shape of the battlefield. The lack of dice rolling gives a little disconnect to the action, but it does give a great feel for the fog of war. Only sometimes was the referee giving feedback on the effects, so you had to gauge how much you had asked of your troops previously and then decide whether to ask more, or to let other fresher troops take over. Having fresh reserves on hand, after a fierce battle, was essential for turning encounters into a lasting victory.
A very enjoyable experience and better for having a referee to control the flow of information and to adjudicate any disputes.
My thanks go to the other players and to David for hosting such excellent fun.