The Church at Santa Monica

Sharp Practice game between Graham and I at the club today.

The French (Graham) have heard that Father Nino Grande at Santa Monica is a guerrilla leader and must be captured and interrogated.

However, the British in the area (me !) must do everything in their power to prevent this -our flimsy excuse for a Peninsular skirmish !

The French force is arriving left of the road, bottom of the picture - and a group of British Rifles has entered near the orchard right of the road, in the centre.

The priest is outside the church at the end of the road.

El Murrio, a friendly publican owns a taverna along the road.

Here's the Rifles making their way to the orchard

French Voltigeurs make their way forward as Line troops form up into line behind them

Next on, two groups of Highlanders form up.

The French now have two formations on following the skirmish screen.

The Rifles take up a firing line within the orchard, covering the road to the church.

The British CO assembles his men into a firing line, having seen the approaching French.

The Rifles use their long range advantage to inflict the first casualties - and the Voltigeur commander is hit as well as three men being killed. Impressive work by the 95th !

More British infantry arrive and push on to the outskirts of a small wood

Undeterred, the French march on

Indeed, one of the Voltigeur groups makes its way around the taverna and out past another orchard, opposite the Rifle occupied one.

The French formations turn to face the British lines and exchange fire with them.

Alarmed, Father Nino Grande spies the French Voltigeurs coming to get him

They hope the rest of the force can keep the British occupied whilst they steal a march and capture the priest.

Certainly, most of the British infantry have been distracted by the bulk of the French force before them.

but belatedly the British CO sends his most trusted senior NCO with two groups of infantry towards the church.

The superior British firepower is wearing down the closest French unit 

The Redcoats and Rifles now pour their fire on the Voltigeurs who have nearly reached Father Nino.

The combined fire is devastating and the Voltigeurs are forced back with casualties

The other British infantry have caused the French CO to amalgamate his shrinking groups into one smaller formation than before and their progress is hindered.

Another round of fire past the church sees the French Voltigeurs flee in confusion

At last something to cheer the French - a charge destroys an isolated group of British infantry, including their officer.

but the nearby Scots get controlled volleys onto these Frenchmen

and the effect is immediate - another officer casualty too.

The French commander cannot believe how many of his brave boys have been gunned down.

Desperately, he flings forward the remains of a Voltigeur unit to the wall adjacent to the taverna - watched by a worried El Murrio.

but with most of his line troops dead

and the British firmly in control of the approaches to the church, his mission has failed

Indeed, another British volley into the Voltigeurs in the orchard kills half their number, despite the hoped-for protection of the walls.

French morale collapses and the game is up - Father Nino Grande is saved !

A welcome return to Sharp Practice in the Peninsular.