Albuera

 Another Black Powder game with Mike. This was last week

Marshal Beresford (Me) with a combined force of British, Portuguese and Spanish troops are trying to prevent Soult (Mike) getting through to Badajoz. Beresford is on the left, holding Albuera but Blake's Spanish have left their rank flank "hanging" which Soult is quick to exploit.

Latour-Maubourg's cavalry division quickly turn the flank as the French infantry and guns keep the Allies occupied on their front.

British heavy dragoons move up having heard about the enemy cavalry incursion

Portuguese light cavalry line the river bank watched by French cavalry and infantry as the artillery open proceedings

Beresford also sends a British infantry brigade across to stiffen the right flank

French infantry pour across the river and attack the Spanish infantry

The French cavalry's initially enthusiasm has stalled (due to failed command throws !)

The Spanish defence crumbles and gaps appear as regiments run

French infantry have caught up with the cavalry and are no doubt asking what's the delay !

At last, they move ! The infantry swarm over the high ground too towards a sole Spanish regiment at the pass

The British heavy cavalry has turned to attack French infantry which has formed a disorganised square, expecting an easy win. Wrong ! They are thrown back with losses.

The lone Spanish battalion has thrown a blunder and recklessly charged the massed French ranks

and it gets worse, a British brigade in march column also throws a blunder and heads for the enemy cavalry - the French dragoons are only too happy to oblige

although the British manage to hold the first round of melee and turn into line, they have taken a lot of casualties

They disintegrate on the second round of combat an the Dragoons crash into the next column

The Allies have lost the high ground that pinned their right flank and heavy French forces head that way

With the collapse of the blundering British infantry brigade and the Spanish gone, Beresford's position is untenable and a full retreat ordered to try and save whats left before the French completely roll up the Allied army.

Never had that before - a whole British brigade in march column blunders and charges an enemy cavalry division - suicide ! Pretty much ruined the game.

That said, I managed to throw six blunders in this game, all of them bad. One best consigned to the bin I think !