Since our last game in
the Ionian isles I had made some amendments to my Napoleonic skirmish rules, making the firepower slightly more detailed, and dangerous up close, and changing some morale bonuses. So we decided to try them out while we had our Napoleonics out still, and while there was still plenty of frost everywhere outside, M creates this snowy landscape for us to stage one of the rearguard actions of the retreat to Corunna 1808-9
Each of our forces was composed of around 80 muskets and an artillery piece, with General Dubreton leading the French against General Paget's rearguard of the 28th (who did serve as rearguard under Paget at various points during the retreat).
The British started the battle with a steady advance, grenadiers on their left, while a light infantry skirmish screen covered their right flank. The men to the fore are dismounted British light dragoons
The British artillery opened the engagement, sending round shot through the arrayed ranks of Polish infantry on my left, killing four.
But the French horse artillery were quick to retaliate, sending a shot towards the nearest colour, however it fell short and only succeeded in killing one man and an officer in the light infantry screen.
Its second shot, aimed at the other colour, was equally futile, killing just one grenadier.
General Dubreton surveys the arrayed ranks of 45e and 2e Poles, who had quickly formed line to prove less of a target to the artillery.
Dubreton's staff work busily, with despatches to Marshal Soult, informing of the engagement.
On the left, the large block of dismounted dragoons also advanced, however they came under fierce fire from the light infantry skirmishers.
Suddenly a well aimed shot from the British flew right into the French gun, knocking a whole in one of the wheels, killing a crew member and the horse of the ADC behind.
As the smoke and snow clears, the remaining gunners rush to get the gun back in action and the fortunate ADC rises from his fall.
The loss of the light infantry officer had held up the British advance for a while as a new one was detached from the line to get the skirmishers moving again, while on the left the grenadiers formed their line.
With their target locked, the British gunners continued to fire on their opposites, but overshot, killing an unfortunate ADC.
Under sustained fire from the light company, and unable to bring their carbines to bear, the dragoons ran back to their own lines.
With a new officer found, the British continued their advance.
Yet another shot plunged into the command position behind the gun, killing one of the adjutants, and knocking over their table, much to the bemusement of the other and the surrounding Aides.
With the British coming close, I decided to advance my men and engage them first. Quickly the line of the 45e, with their grenadiers on the right, moved forwards and opened fire. The dismounted cavalry piquet in the grove was wiped out, while the others opened fire on the infantry further away, almost destroying the nearest lights unit
A quick advance, followed by another volley saw the British right flank put to flight.
While on the right the French grenadiers' volley killed over a quarter of their opposites.
However the British at last retaliated with force, another round shot from their gun, hitting the artillery, killing another crewman and wrecking the gun carriage beyond repair. The shot then rolled landing harmlessly at Dubreton's horse's feet, but it was a near thing. He decided to take cover.
The British on the right had now rallied and come back to join the fray, however a volley from the 45e had now sent their left running, while the grenadiers' had torn a whole straight through the British grenadiers with a close range volley. General Dubreton, and the other ADCs and gunners had moved away from the wrecked gun to support the line.
From a dismal situation the British began to claw back. Fire from the lights sent the Poles running, while the grenadiers quickly formed for a deadly close range volley which also despatched the French grenadiers. However the 45e, under Dubreton's eye, quickly reacted, and sent the British right running again.
The dragoons had by now rallied again and advanced, this time formed, on the dwindling British right, their major weakness now,
The still formed British line now fired on the advancing French fusiliers, while the artillery also took them as its target. They took heavy casualties, while their eagle bearer was also cut down.
With no other targets remaining, the remaining British, grenadiers, line and light infantry, all moved to volley on the advancing 45e. Their volley hit with such force that every man of the line was cut down, including Dubreton's mounted ADC Captain De Bercy. General Dubreton and the 45e's Colonel were left quite stranded by this display of firepower.
On the left the Poles had at last rallied and were once more advancing, while the artillery took pot shots at them.
With the nearest French unit too far away, Dubreton had no choice but to surrender to Paget. Giving his parole, he was however allowed to retain his sword and mount, watching the proceeding events from beside the British staff.
The 45e's colonel also surrendered.
However Dubreton seemed to be in luck, as the dragoons stormed the British right flank, wiping out the last of the light infantry, and also killing Paget's brigadier.
The French seemed to be clawing it back again, the remnants of the 45e rallied, and the Poles advanced again, while the dragoons continued their charge. In the onslaught the British left broke, the grenadiers running, as their colours fell, and the line making off with the French colonel and eagle. Paget now seemed almost stranded with his staff and king's colour in the midst of the French.
However the British quickly hit back yet again, round shot sending the Poles into flight once more.
The British grenadiers too sent the French grenadiers into flight again with a well timed volley that stopped the French laying their hands on the regimental colour.
On their right the British also had renewed success, driving back the dragoons again.
With the only Frenchmen still standing Captain Dubreton and the last men of the 45e, Paget, retired behind his new lines, seemed in a better position.
At last battle was concluded as Captain Dubreton's survivors surrendered. The whole French force was in flight and Paget had secured yet more time for Sir John Moore's army to retreat. More than that though, he had captured a French general, Colonel and Eagle, and destroyed one of their forward guns.
It was a shameful day for France as one of their gallant Generals watched his son and a contingent of their men taken into British captivity, while their regimental eagle was now in British hands.
It had indeed been a saw defeat for us, and a remarkable victory for Britannia. At various points it had seemed as though we might triumph, we had broken both the right and the left at various points with our assaults, however initial devastating success had put us at the mercy of quick rallying units who caught us with close range fire.
A hard won and well deserved victory
by B
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