Its been a long time since we've played a game with our 1:72 Napoleonic forces, but having recently purchased a copy of General de Brigade, I was excited to have a go at them.
We decided to base our forces on for the engagement on historic divisions that had actually fought each other. We decided on the battle of Vitoria, focusing on the clash between general Conroux and Hill's duel over the village of Subijana de Alava. (bottom left on the map, just north of the puebla heights)
The brigades were as follows -
British 2nd Division - General Rowland Hill (Good)
1 spare general
Byng's brigade (right)
- General Byng (average)
3rd - 800 men
57th -800 men
1st provisional - 800 men
1 coy 5/60th - 80 men
O'Callaghan's brigade (centre) - General O'Callaghan (average)
28th - 800 men
2/34th -800 men
39th -800 men
1 coy 5/60th - 80 men
Fane's (attached) cavalry brigade (reserve) - General Fane (Good)
3rd Dragoon guards - 420 men
1st Dragoons - 420 men
French 4th Division - General Conroux (Good)
2 spare generals
Rey's brigade (left)
- General Byng (Good)
32nd - 1,800 men
43rd - 1,800 men
Schwitter's brigade (centre) - General O'Callaghan (average)
55th - 1,360 men
58th - 1,360 men
Divisional battery - General (average)
Guns - (3 models)
The battle opened with a general British advance - the 5/60th skirmish screen advancing rapidly. On the left Rey's brigade advanced rapidly with the 32nd opening fire and taking out half of the riflemen ahead of them, though they took heavy casualties from the rifles.
Byng and Rey's brigades soon clashed over the high ground to the south of the field - the 32nd fighting the 57th and 1st provisionals in a melee in which both sides fought to a stalemate. Meanwhile the British 3rd took the high ground.
The heavy fighting between Rey and Byng's brigades continues with the French 43rd moving up to engage the 3rd in a fire fight.
While Byng and Rey were engaged to the south, O Callaghan stormed ahead for the village, while Fane's cavalry backed up his advance.
Breaking ranks, and catching Schwitter's 55th in line, the 3rd Dragoon guards charged forwards into their ranks, though they took heavy casualties, 50%, from the 55th's volley as they closed.
However the dragoon guards got by far the best of the fight and hurled the 55th back in disorder. But the horses were blown in the course of the fight and retired back behind Hill's lines.
Meanwhile, to the south, the 32nd were at last forced to retreat from combat, having taken heavy casualties, while a well timed charge from the British 3rd forced the 43rd to retreat with them.
With the French left falling back Hill continued his advance, throwing the 57th and the Provisionals back into the 32nd. Meanwhile general Conroux and his staff raced across the field to attempt to order Rey to withdraw his brigade to the village - an attempt which proved futile.
Having
British victory
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