Peninsula War : Black Powder

On Friday, Steve and I fought a Spanish Peninsula battle between the British (me) and the French (Steve).

We had agreed 1400 points a side and Steve diced for terrain.

I opted for three brigades of standard veteran infantry (19 battalions in total) and a light cavalry brigade, Steve went for two big infantry brigades, various sizes and qualities (23 battalions), a light cavalry brigade and a heavy cavalry brigade.

The British will be on the left, the French enter on the right

First on, a British infantry brigade, forming line from their initial march columns, Rifles nearest the camera

Next, another British infantry brigade on the left, lining out along the road

KGL light infantry are ordered to enter the woods in the centre

Wellington and staff watch proceedings

A French brigade enters the field on their left and artillery occupies the hill in the background

These Polish infantry have been ordered forward in attack columns

Drums beating the Pas de charge !

The French commander orders the guns to open fire

Right of centre, a second French brigade advances in line

View from behind the French right of centre at this stage

The third British brigade marches on in column, slap bang in the middle but squeezed for space !

British troops have formed behind hedges to counter the Polish threatened attack on this flank

and in the centre, the Rifles are behind the field dominating the centre of the battlefield

The KGL light battalion has advanced to the edge of the woods and can now see the enemy infantry 

The last to arrive - a KGL light cavalry brigade 

the British brigade in the centre changes into line and advances towards the enemy 

French cavalry make their way around the right flank to threaten the left end of the British line

An over view of the battlefield at this juncture

The Polish have changed into line as the Rifles occupy the walled field

An exchange of infantry fire plus French cannon 

The British artillery fire at the French infantry lines

Charge ! French lancers try to catch the RHA and infantry off guard but a well placed volley and closing fire from the guns

sees off the French cavalry this time

The French infantry are ordered to advance across the fields towards the British lines

The Rifles chase off the French light infantry but stop short of an oncoming French column !

The British field commanders are having a busy time trying to manage casualties

The Rifles have pulled back as the Scots engage enemy columns beside them

The French make a determined attack against the British right flank

which coincides with a clash just left of centre of the advance British position

the British win this melee and the French flee

but the French have smashed through the British right flank and a desperate rear guard action takes place to hold our lines

fortunately, British shooting disorders the foremost French column

but the British right is under duress and Wellington has galloped down to reform the Rifles as his brigade commander steadies the red coats

the British left is holding the line so far with the help of the KGL cavalry

which has forced some French into square

but the threat remains 

Wellington has ordered a charge into the rear of French infantry locked in combat with a British unit on its back foot 

This is decisive, the French break taking their supports with them which takes the whole brigade into broken brigade status - they have to withdraw from the field.

At the same time, the other French infantry brigade charged the British lines and took too many casualties. A quick totting up of numbers showed that this brigade had broken too, so all the French infantry has gone.

The KGL cavalry thinking the day is theirs for the taking, charge the enemy dragoons - and get a beating for their trouble, so the French can pull back unmolested as the British cavalry has gone !

A hard fought battle which the French looked like winning at one point but because the British managed to contain their losses, this made the difference in the end.

That plus British firepower in line edged it - phew !

Even allowing for a break for lunch at The Bell at Tolleshunt Major, we fought for eight hours so were absolutely shattered by the end of the day. All good fun though.