Here We Stand !

After the British defeat at Rio Doloroso, a retreat was necessary with the French persistently on their heels.

Having crossed another wide river with a bridge to a small village, the British general decided to make a stand and turned his rearguard comprising of two infantry brigades plus Brunswick Hussars and artillery support.

The British decide to defend this river.

The French advance guard consists of a brigade of the Red Lancers

The Emperor has found a pleasant villa to watch the proceedings and his staff are preparing it.

Brunswick Hussars & Horse Artillery guard the approach to the one and only bridge

Oh My Lord !  A brigade of Old Guard with 12 pdrs and in the background at least one other infantry brigade

Napoleon is leaving the fighting to his Marshals

A British brigade lines the river bank either side of the bridge

and Rifles are hidden in the orchard t'other side of the water

Another British brigade covers the river beyond the village and in front of a hill where more artillery is setting up

So, can they stop the French advance ?

The first French attack is launched on the right flank - a rapid advance right up to the river by an infantry brigade.

as the Imperial Guard advance on the left wing

These veterans are not in such a rush !

They expect to win in their own good time

British first fire has sent a French battalion packing with disruption and casualties. A light infantry battalion is rushing to catch up with the rest of the brigade

The Old Guard 12 pdrs unlimber ready to fire

A British rifle has hit the Old Guard Grenadiers at long range !

but they carry on and march up to the river

One battalion chases off the Rifles that had fired from the woods

Now a third French brigade advances around the small woods

The right flank French brigade is unable to find a ford so exchanges fire instead

The British general orders the Rifles to reform

with the Rifles gone, the artillery this side of the river is dangerously exposed

a British battalion has had to retire behind the trees to reform

The Red Lancers are brought forward ready to charge the enemy guns

Another French infantry brigade arrives accompanied by the Old Guard Chasseurs a Pied

The only reinforcement for the British is another artillery battery

The thin red line.

another French battalion is disordered by the British musket fire

The Imperial Guard have caught one of the British guns before it can limber and get away

View from behind the French lines at this point of the battle

The British have lost a gun and the Brunswick Hussars retired hurt but have been reformed

The Old Guard hoped to find a ford on the left flank but they have been unsuccessful too

The Rifles are ordered to get on the bridge and start firing again

but its too late - here comes a French brigade !

all guns are brought to bear on them

except the Rifles who have blundered and fled !

The French are having to change into march column to get across the bridge and this is holding things up

Still no orders for the Red Lancers !

The fire fight continues out on the French right wing

French columns wait their turn to attack the bridge

The lead column has broken disordered

but there's plenty more where they came from !

Realising they can't wade across, the Old Guard form line and trade shots with the Scots opposite

Two Olg Guard battalions wait in reserve as line infantry columns pass them on the right

The French brigade General orders another battalion to charge the bridge

but the British have managed to add an RHA battery to the defences (by the church)

the British lines stand firm

as the Red Lancers get bored

an ADC emerges from Headquarters with more orders from the Emperor

Disorder in the British ranks ! The brigade commander must try and hold them

but the French are unable to get to grips with them

Two Allied guns use the high ground to pound the French ranks

and the RHA are able to hit the attacking columns in the flank

Another charge for the bridge !

the French gunners have pushed their big guns forward to support the attack

The Scots are now outgunned in the exchange of fire across the river and they are shaken

this time the French have got across and the front battalion has formed square to frighten off the Brunswick Hussars

The Old Guard 12 pars have also shaken the British infantry in the village and with the Rifles already gone, this brigade is broken

Napoleon's ADC is informed of the breakthrough

but it has not been without cost - a broken French brigade streams past HQ !

and the French light infantry have also broken

but with the British brigade defending the bridge broken and the French across, the remaining British troops must attempt to extricate themselves once more and retreat again.

Game over.  Another French victory - but the British rearguard may have bought valuable time for the bulk of the retreating British army.