Battle of Sabugal 1811

I was in Deal again recently, so one evening I dropped in on the wargaming club to have a game with Adrien White. Recently I've been doing allot of gaming with my 20mm Napolonic French and having just signed on with the 42nd highland regiment re-enactors I've been painting up my British force as well (I'm also planning several napoleonic skirmish armies inspired by Sharpe for use with Sharp practice). Of course the kind of forces I use make a cafe table at the local sport's centre look quite colourful, but for this game they made up a small percentage of two much larger armies on a great 10 ft by 6 ft table! I was in command of the French (as normal) with Adrien playing British.
The battle was a recreation of the battle of Sabugal 1811 and we used black powder rules.

The right hand brigade of my French line was made up of (from left to right) a small platoonn of French line across the river, a platoon of swiss regulars, a platoon of French line and a platoon of Westphalians from Germany. All were under the command of Brigadier Dubreton (who you will remember from several other games I have fought using my French, and yes he did appear in Sharpe's enemy).

The Centre of the French line was where the majority of my force was placed, with its flanks secured between the village and the woods. (from left to right) The first brigade, under Brigadier Montrand, was made up of a large battery of three artillery pieces, a platoon of Voltiguers, a company of the Imperial Old guard and a platoon of French line. General Jean Reynier was also positioned in the centre to help with moving the artillery forwards.
Deplyed behind the woods, under Brigadier Balliard, was the large cavalry brigade containing the Bavarian Dragoons to the front with the mounted Guard Grenadiers behind them and the Empress Dragoons behind them.

On the French left, under Brigadier Valmont, (from left to right) were two batteries of two artillery pieces, three platoons of French line infantry and one smaller platoon of french line. This was by far the largest brigade and had the difficult job of holding off the British facing them as they were deployed facing two british brigades, and the british cavalry with Wellington in the midst.

The battle was a grand affair, the British were all deployed along a large ridge as befited their long lines whilst across the expanse of open ground the French Battalions would have to march towards them, under fire from the Bitish, superior, royal artillery more manouverable and longer range.

Valmont's brigade advanced first, with one of the artillery pieces being moved nearly as far as the central road, but the other three crews were having terrible trouble with their limbers and wheels and didn't manage to move anywhere whilst the four french columns raced towards the ridge.

In the centre Balliard and his cavalry raced through the woods, hampered by the tree roots protruding from out of the ground that made it quiet hard going.
But the Old guard under Montrand lead the way for the rest of the army. They charged out in their massed attack column straight acroos the open ground, for the ridge, flanked by two platoons of French line, however they were sawly let down by the artillery's promblems and recieved no support from the heavy guns, despite the General's efforts.

On the right Dubreton marched his multinational platoons straight forward in a strong steady line of attack columns. However what, exactly, he was marching for was a mystery as the Britsih had deployed far less men on this flank then had previously been expected

As the French came on in their dense formations, Sir William Erskine decided to abandon the positions along the ridge and march out to meet the oncoming French men. On his left he drew up a battery of three horse guns along with the 42nd highland regiment and a platoon of free prussians. Currently, however, they were out of range of firing on the advancing columns.

On the British right two large groups of Scots Greys went straight for the French gun, limbered and so far forwards ahead of the army. But their charge failed to reach it and thy took several casualties from return fire from the French line infantry whilst the french artillery continued to struggle at unlimbering their gun.

Towards the centre Erskine threw up another battery of three horse guns, ready to fire on the advancing French men, supported by the 23rd Welsh Fusiliers just behind them. Wellington's brigade and the 95th rifle detachments, however, sencibly refused to obey Erskine's orders and leave their position on the ridge.

Balliard regrouped his cavalry in the woods and tried to get them to charge the horse artillery to their left, but with far too many of the riders knocked from their horses the cavalry brigade wasn't moving anywhere.
With allot better luck than Balliard General Reynier managed to get all three guns limbered up and moving towards the ridge, though it would be a while before they could be brought to bare.

With one shout of "Vive L'emperuer" the Old guard, seeing the gun line drawn up infront of them, fixed bayonets and charged for the horse guns. But their charge fell just short of the gun's muzzels and with no support near by it was likely many a guardsman would be slain on the muzzels of the British guns before the day was out.

Dubreton, was bringing his brigade to bear now. He had had a smooth journey till this point and now the Swiss and Westphalians would soon be firing on the highland companies. But the smaller platoon of French line were struggling to recieve the orders, being on the other side of the river.

The 42nd 2nd company came straight forwards to the road and opened fire on the French line and westphalians, taking down a few of the fusiliers and sending the french line into disorder. The Prussians had also moved up to the edge of the road and sent a volley into the nearest French column.
But the Royal artillery was the worst as they opened up through the old guard, sending them into chaos and ripping through ranks of them. In all the regiments history they had probably never suffered such a catastrophe till now.

The Royal horse artillery began to open up on the French left as well, taking out some frenchmen and sending the rest into disorder. But the long range kept the damage to a bare minimum.

On the far left the Artillery had now unloaded one gun, using it to support the other line infantry's firing volleys. The shots crashed into the scots greys, tearing through the men and horses and scattering them everywhere. This flank was definatly naught but a desperate stand with the cavalry charging for the infantry units and the artillery hurrying to get unlimbered and firing as fast as possible.

Having suceeded in remounting and riding out of the woods the Brandenburg dragoons and horse grenadiers make a brake across the open ground and straight for the royal artillery position. Balliard remains to the rear however as the Empress dragoons still attempt their a remount.

With the punishing fire from the artillery battery directly infront of them crashing into the French column just metres away, the platoon furthest away from Valmont takes the oppurtunity of a "misinterpretable" order to make a rapid retreat back towards the cross roads, reforming behind the immobile artillery.

On the other hand, in the centre brigadier Montrand was pushing his line forwards as fast as possible and by now they were almost across the road which was the final marker before they were storming the ridge. His columns then let off a volley into the Prussians facing them, tearing through the free germans and sending them into disorder. But with no artillery of their own they couldn't deliver the kind of shattering fire that could send the enemy platoons running and with the horse artillery pounding away they couldn't counter it either.

...the artillery was lying around at the crossroads doing very little and all completly limbered up and useless despite all general Reynier's attempts.

Dubreton and his multinational brigade was now facing off across the road against the 2nd company of the 42nd highlanders. The Westphalians formed a line and shot off a salvo of musket fire into the highlanders, disordering their line, But not before they had fired off a volley of their own into the French between the German units. The shots scattered the Frenchmen, taking down several with the flying shot.

Wellington with the 16th bedford, 2nd coldstream and 32nd cornwall regiments remained attop the ridge, refusing to ride down and aid Erskine's suicidal stand at the bottom of the ridge and trying to insist that he retire to his previous positions.

General Reynier, on the other hand, remained at the crossroads near the village, attempting to get the Artillery forwards and bringing supporting fire to the columns but to little avail.

Dubreton's flank was performing excellantly as he steered his multinational brigade against the Highland brigade. The 42nd highland regiment was now surrounded, with a long line of Westphalians and French line firing into their ranks from across the road and the Swiss enfilading them straight along the road. The black watch was now suffering heavy casualties and were still attempting to keep their scattered line together.
But, not far away, the "Gay Gordons" as they are known to the other highland regiments were marching towards the swiss, preparing to counter enfilade them!

Reynier had by now managed to supply Montrand with a single artillery piece to help his advance and with the French columns changing formation to a firing line the free Prussians fought for all they were worth to hold on to their position along the road, encouraged by the royal artillery fire ripping through the French voltiguer's massed column.

On the far left the French were forming a formidible gun line with two artillery pieces and two platoons in their lines sending off volleys into the Scots greys (who had fallen back to the road before regrouping for a renewed charge). As the British cavaly charged the French let off a final volley from both platoons and both artillery pieces, this smashed through the charging horsemen hurling riders from their saddles and pumeling horses into the ground. The British cavalry turned tail and fled from the field. The French gun line had somehow managed to fend off the British cavalry and secre their guns in a forward position. Both flanks were now secured by French troops and the line was fast closing in on the British Brigades.

The Brandenburg Dragoons drew their swords and charged for the Royal artillery battery which had sent the French columns into retreat. They overwhelmed the first two guns, taking but one casualty before turning their charge towards the Welsh fusiliers.

As the Dragoons regroup to finish off their charge into the welsh fusiliers, the welsh foot form a square with the remaining artillery crew and the royal artillery commander in their centre. The Dragoons had now taken out the battery on the left leaving Valmont's Brigade to advance on the ridge secure from artillery fire.

Montrand, having overwhelmed the free Prussians, taking every last man down with his men's salvos had now crossed his Brigade over the road and was now marching on the remaining artillery battery and the 1st company of the 42nd highland regiment.

With one last volley Dubreton's Westphalians sent the 42nd's 2nd company packing and began to advance on the ridge. The swiss on the other hand had been sent into confusion by the Gordon's enfilading shots but would be turning their line on the highlanders soon.

The British left was crumbling as Dubreton smashed his way through the highlanders and Montrand marched his men straight onto the Royal artillery's guns. The road was now securely in French hands and the highland brigade quite broken.

On the British right Wellington and the 95th rifles continued to leave their positions on the ridge. Meanwhile Erskine's brigade at the bottom of the ridge was being surrounded and forced back onto the ridge. The French artillery and cavalry were now supporting the infantry columns in advancing on Wellington and Erskine's positions.

Montrand's Brigade, advancing on the 42nd 1st company and royal artillery battery, soon fell into confusion as the Scottish volleys and British round shot tore through their ranks, but the French were in command of the road and fast advancing on the battery.

General Reynier had given up attempting to move the artillery and Empress dragoon forwards by now and was simply recieving his Aide de camps with news on the battle from the crossroads where he stood.

The battle of Sabugal was over and with the French in posetion of the majority of the field and having broken the cavalry brigade, the 42nd's 2nd company, ovverun a grand battery of artillery and slaughtered the free prussians to only one platoon of line infantry and the imperial guard. Thus it was declared a French victory and Sir Erskine was declared mad and cashired before he lept out of a wondow in Madrid shouting "Why did I do that?"

An excellant game and one of the largest armies I've ever single handedly commanded. It looks fabulous in the photos (I am using a borrowed camera so apologies for blurry pics) and it looked even better playing on it!

On the painting tray: ECW rupert's cavaliers and SYW Prussian fusiliers and grenadiers  

Accident at Baro Gorge 1898, first game

This was my second run of accident at baro gorge, this time at my local modelling club. My opponent provided the terrain for the game so it looked brilliant set in an African scrubland. We used black powder as of last time and all the models i had used last time as well. I kept deployment the same for both armies and also the objective: fighting retreat. The only differences were that we used three brigadiers a side with no general for either force.
The unit stats were based around the Sudan scenario in the black powder rulesbook with the French taking the stats of the British highlanders and the Ethiopians taking the stats of the Beja spearmen (given first fire to represent limited ammunition carried by some warriors and without fanatics).
If you didn't read last time's game the basically the game is based on Colonel Marquis Christian de Bonchamps' failed march to Fashoda in 1898. Its well know that after many ambushes and the hostility of the local Ethiopians Bonchamps was forced to put back after an event known as the Accident in Baro Gorge on the border of Ethiopia and the Sudan (had Bonchamps succeeded in his march on Fashoda it is doubtful weather Kitchener would have sailed down the Nile to oppose him).

The 1st (guard) and 3rd platoons of tirailleurs, together with the company heavy machine gun were drawn up in line to form a rearguard with their backs secured to the trading post and the Oasis. They were under the command of Lieutenant Balliard with Colonel Bonchamps stationed on the roof of the trading post to observe procedures.

The 2nd platoon of Tirailleurs, under Lieutenant Louis Ney, was formed in march column along Baro road with the job of breaking the fifty or so tribesmen, under Timothy Sahle, preventing their escape. On his right flank Ney was supported by the Spahi cavalry, riding through the undergrowth to flank Sahle.

As the Tirailleurs stood formed beneath their colours, drums and trumpets playing they could see nearly a hundred or more of the natives coming from out of the undergrowth towards them, with their commanders Tewodros and Paulinus riding behind them.

At the other end of Baro gorge Tomothy Sahle stood atop his camel with his warriors denying the French any route of escape. If Sahle held then the French would be massacred to a man by Paulinus and Tewodros, it all rested on the shoulders of Lieutenant Ney to dislodge Sahle's natives and evacuate the rest of his force from the gorge.

Ney quickly ordered the 2nd platoon to advance down the road where they formed a line and opened fire on the natives. They took out a few of the warriors and sent the rest into disorder. The Tirailleurs then fixed bayonets in expectance of a charge and prepared  another volley. The Tirailleurs line would soon be tested with a charge from the natives and if it held then perhaps the charge would be turned.

The spahis, underestimating the urgency of their assistance, trotted gently through the undergrowth with their sabres drawn and shouldered. Their shattering charge could easily roll up Sahle's flank but would it be in time with their badly timed in-activeness. The 1st platoon under Lieutenant Balliard fell back to cover the 3rd platoon with their fire as well as protecting Ney's rear from the oncoming natives.
Bonchamps and the 3rd platoon on the other hand held firm, secured between the post and the oasis, straddling the road and with the Machine gun covering their flank.

As Paulinus spurred his warriors on along the road; Bonchamps ordered a volley which roared out from the line, crashing into the native warriors and taking several out. But the machine gun's supporting fire flew wide and tore up the ground instead. An unlucky piece of firing and, seen as it was so important to time the departure of the machine gun just right so as not to lose this expensive piece of equipment to the native tribesmen.

The charge was innevitable and crushing. A force of natives four times their number came crashing down upon the 3rd platoon and their machine gun. The charge was met by a strong volley from the Tirailleurs, followed by the firmly braced bayonets of the Algerians. The machine gun let off a sweeping wave of shots which tore through the ranks of natives in front of it.

Down the other end of the gorge the native line also broke ranks and charged for the 2nd platoon. They were met with a similar volley which took down several of the warriors, however they still closed with the French men and soon bayonets were clashing with shields and spears. But the third platoon held out against the tribesmen and sent half of them packing whilst holding the others up with their bayonets.

The lines were holding up well and the Spahis would be on Sahle's flank and then off down the road if everything went to plan. The machine gun looked like it would soon be overwhelmed and with it perhaps the 3rd platoon, but the guards were already moving to cut off the road lower down.

The machine gun crew managed to cut down a tribes man, but lost one of their own, however this with the casualties from the first volley was enough to send the natives opposing them flying in every direction. After this lucky escape the remaining crewmen quickly dragged their Machine gun up into the trading post.
The 2nd platoon was still fighting off Sahle, but now they were aided by the Spahis' perfectly timed flank charge. The 3rd platoon was also holding out well against the tribesmen, outnumbered nearly three to one the Tirailleurs still had the best of it, cutting down the natives with every thrust of their bayonets.
Lieutenant Balliard was also marching the 1st platoon back for the road, if the 3rd broke they could cover their retreat and open ranks to let them escape whilst holding off the rest of the natives. As with all fighting retreats it was a procedure of many complex manoeuvres in order to evacuate as many men as possible.

The 3rd platoon was still not giving an inch of ground and had even sent part of the Ethiopian line into flight but they had rallied a few paces back with the encouraging words of their war leaders. Bonchamps could see that the line was wavering even so, there would soon have to be a retreat but only once the guard platoon was in a position to cover them.

The spahis soon broke the natives, cutting them down as they ran before capturing Sahle and continuing down the gorge road. The way was clear for the French to make their retreat but they had now lost the 2nd platoon and should they loose another two they would be done for.

Bonchamps looked down upon the bayonet fighting from the trading post. The tribesmen were throwing themselves at the line with everything they had, but still the Tirailleurs held strong. The machine gun was by now loaded on a donkey and being hauled along the road, but it was a stubborn mule and it was slow going. Should the natives over run the 3rd platoon and the machine gun then all hope of Bonchamps maintaining his reputation and making it back to Eritrea would be gone!

Inevitably the 3rd platoon broke ranks and ran but they soon rallied around their colours and formed ranks just ahead of the 1st platoon. They were in a good position and any native attack on them would be one where they could meet it with equal numbers. The donkey was still not moving and the machine gun was in danger and falling into enemy hands.

The 1st platoon began to fall back as the natives sent their largest and down the road to meet the 3rd tirailleurs. But the 1st were all ready readying their rifles for a volley, as the other band of tribesmen made its way round the Oasis on the flank of the 3rd. It was the most decisive moment of the action! Should the 3rd be overrun, wavering as they were, then no doubt the machine gun would fall into the hands of the tribesmen. This one simple collapse would lose Bonchamps the battle, the reputation and possibly his life

However a volley from the 3rd platoon, followed by several thrusts of the bayonets, left the natives in flight. The other band making its way round the Oasis was quick to realise the hopelessness of continuing and left the Frenchmen to continue their march up Baro road.

Another decisive French victory and, as in our test game, as close as could be desired, though as in the test game again, the Ethiopians had the worst of it but could have still pulled it off even at the bitter end.
I've found for a scenario of my own invention this game works remarkably well with a similar outcome each time, but still with the closeness that makes a game enjoyable for both players.