Set in Spain or Portugal
A Peninsula Battle

Jay Stribling ran this battle as a replacement for one that Larry Reeves had intended to play, but was unable to do. Jay, as the the game-master set this game in the Iberian Peninsula. It was not modelled after any particular battle. Just one of those in which the French bashed themselves against high ground with the British, Portuguese and Spanish devenders, set up on the referse slope of the hills. We used the To the Sound of the Guns rules, which is a modification and expansion of the older "Brom Napoleonic Rules" formerly on this web site. The troops are nicely painted "true 25mm" soldiers, Minifigs and Scruby mainly, and they belong to Jim Pitts and Jay Stribling.

Photo by Ed Sansing

The first British units reveal themselves, artillery batteries take the French under fire at long range. The red poker ship shows a hidden unit (possible hidden unit) that has not yet revealed itself by firing. The black pin-heads show the crest line.

Photo by Ed Sansing

Mark Gilbert's 1st French Division advances. Ah - Cest Magnifique!

Photo by Ed Sansing

The French 3rd Division, under the command of Robert Whitfield attacks the town on the French right. This town controlled one of the roads leading through the hills. The road was a French objective. You can see a battery of French guns, one section of which has been turned to fire down the road.

This terrain was extremely complicated by patches of woods and the town, all infested by British light troops and the 47th foot which can be seen with its colours. After 4 turns, Whitfield had the town, but was not able to advance past it to clear the pass itself.

Photo by Ed Sansing

A view From the Center of the French line towards the left, showing Bill Estes' 4th and John Murdaugh's 5th French Divisions. The line of large rocks which the French have passed indicates the beginning of the "Rough" terrain. After passing this line the French units Moved at the slower "hill" rate, which gave the British defenders more time to fire at them.

Game-Master's Note: I was not able to construct as large a hill mass as I wanted to , simply because of the lack of hill material. This was my way of "Expanding" the hill's effect.

Photo by Ed Sansing

Looking across the field from the French extremem right flank. French player John Murdaugh (on left) and Spanish Player Fred Diamond (on right) are partially visible.

The table cover is medium brown with greenish patches, but it shows up as almost white in some shots.

Photo by Ed Sansing

John Murdaugh's troops assaults the hill. TIn this photo, the Irish Legion and the 6th Italian Line infantry are trying to go up the hill and over the wall into the cemetary on top, filled with Spanish, who fought surprisingly well. For several turns Fred Diamonds's Spaniards were able to keep the French (actually French allies) from closing with close range musketry.

Photo by Ed Sansing

Massed French and Swiss troops are attacking from the French center toward the hill mass to the right of the Cemetary. The British units were completely behind the hill and out of the view of the French, except for artillery batteries firing from the hills, down into the French mass.

Photo by Ed Sansing

A close-up of the Spanish defenders (we used Wurttemburgers as Spaniards) who are still holding the cemetery at the top of the hill. Some of the stands of French infantry are literally vertical against the hill mass.

The cemetary itself is a one-piece resin molded product from the Faller company in Germany. It came to me already painted and sceniced. This company's products are usually sold through Model Railroad hobby shops.

Photo by Ed Sansing

Blue arrows show the paths of the final French assault. John Murdaugh was able to use a special "your enemy will not stand" card, part of a few "Special effect" cards provided to each side to use at critical moments. It took several turns of fighting for John to get his troops into position to used this card. Without it, the Spanish troops would STILL be in that cemetary.

These "Special effect" cards are often referred to as "Get out of Jail Free" cards by the players.

Photo by Ed Sansing

Robert Whitfield's Grenadiers and Voltiguers have taken the town at the extreme French right flank. They defended it against vigorous counter-attacks.

Photo by Ed Sansing

Once the French have reached the top contour of the hill top they now can see almost all of the hidden British units. At this point with darkness coming the French realized that they would not be able to secure any road off the table.

Report of the French Commander

From Marshal Murdaugh Corps Commander Spain

To Napoleon,s Imperial Headquarters

I write to inform your majesty of our battle with the Anglo Alied army.

My corps of 5 divisions attacked the mountanous defenses for most of the day. My 1st division assaulted the enemy left where there was a town and made good progress.

The 4th division hit the allied left where there were fortifications atop a steep elevation.

The 2nd and 3rd divisions were to assault the ridge between the town and the fortifications while the 5th division was the reserve.

The 1st division took the town but found itself unable to advance further. The 4th division with help from the reserve, the 5th division, captured the fortifications driving the Spanish out.

The corps was unable to pierce the ridgeline before dusk and I was forced to order the withdrawl to reform and await reinforcement before renewing the assault. My corps cassualties were not heavy and the assault battalions should be reformed for any renewed assaults.

I Take full responsibility for the failure to take the ridgeline. You would be proud of the tenacity of your troops in the face of overwhelming firepower from the enemy troops in defensive positions. I await your orders.

Your obedient servant - Marshal Murdaugh

SO - WHO WON THE BATTLE?

The Allies, British, Portuguese and Spanish won the game. If we had had a few more hours to play, it would have been different. However the Game-Master, Jay Stribling (your correspondent) made the game too big. There were too many troops. He must confess that he wanted to use so many of those 25mm units that he has spent 30 years collecting, that the French were faced with an impossible task in the 4-1/2 hours that we had to play the game.

It sure looked good!

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