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Monday 4 June 2018

Peninsular War - First Action

My Spanish and French napoleonics made their first outing into the field with this all Warrior Miniatures outing - the battle of San Ignacio Bridge.  The scenario is made up and depicts a rear guard stand by elements of the retreating Spanish army, that occurs on a river crossing at the small village of San Ignacio. The fast flowing river can only be crossed by the bridge and via a ford further up stream. A Spanish force consisting of five battalions of infantry, three regiments of cavalry and two artillery batteries is deployed along the home bank of the river, apart from the town itself, which is defended by the Spanish Regiment Muerte:

San Ignacio:
The French in pursuit are not far behind arriving on the field with a cavalry and artillery heavy force and a mix of line, light and grenadier infantry.

Te action begins on the left, with a French assault against San Ignacio by two battalions of infantry, supported by artillery:
The Spanish defenders in the town fight hard causing heavy casualties amongst the French and forcing them back several times. The Spanish move a second battalion up to the bridge to reinforce the defenders:
But, the weight of the French attack eventually sees the defence of the town crumble and the reinforcements thrown back across the river:
The French attack pulls in more Spanish reserves and the Spanish heavy cavalry and additional infantry begin to move forwards:

The Spanish Cuirassiers counter attack over the bridge in an attempt to throw back the French infantry, however, the French form a square and the attack is thwarted.

The Spanish heavies pull back over the river.


Meanwhile over on the French right flank an attempt is made to force the ford, which is more lightly defended:
Again the French attack is blunted by Spanish infantry. However, the French reform and supported by cavalry and artillery a second reinforced attack forces back the Spanish:
The remaining Spanish reserves are rapidly deployed to bolster the defence of the ford as the battle sways to and fro. The French so far fail to cross the river:
Back on the French left flank a combined infantry and cavalry assault begins over the bridge at San Ignacio:
French horse artillery provide close support:
The attack is met by volleys from the Spanish defenders:
However, the French infantry storm over the bridge and the Spanish infantry break and rout off the field:
The french have secured the town and captured the bridge, but they badly bruised French infantry have little time to enjoy success as they are swept away by a Spanish dragoons:

The French try again, sending a regiment of dragoons headlong over the bridge, but they are attacked on two flanks by Spanish heavy cavalry and wiped out:
The Spanish cling on to their hold of the river crossings, but casualties are mounting.

Back on the right flank a renewed French assault finally breaks the Spanish infantry when French cavalry smash one of the Spanish battalions:

It looks as though the Spanish left is about to collapse, but a timely charge by the Spanish Hussars sees off the French cavalry and checks the French infantry, who are forced into square formation:

Meanwhile over on the left, the French commit their reserve, guard grenadiers and a second dragoon regiment. This, along with artillery fire, depletes the remaining Spanish defending the bridge:
A French victory is secured when the gallant Spanish hussars are cut down by musket fire from the squares. They break and the Spanish left flank collapses:
The Spanish capitulate, having fought hard and bought precious time for the retreating army. The French pursuit is blunted too. However, the French are victorious on this occasion.
















16 comments:

  1. The terrain, objectives, and situation for your action are very similar to my recent Peninsular War combat at Foz de Arouce.

    Good looking game!

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    1. I took a look at Foz de Arouce - a lovely looking game. I think if my Spanish had tried to defend the enemy bank of the river they would have been very quickly swept away. My Spanish rout easily and take a long time to rally - they would have been doomed with the river behind them.

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  2. Bob,
    An interesting Scenario you have devised to suit the fast flowing river setting. Your Napoleonic Armies look splendid. Cheers. KEV.

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    1. Thanks Kev, it was indeed an interesting game and the Spanish did much better than I thought they would.

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  3. Excellent post - really enjoyed the photos and the account of the battle. Thanks - great start to my morning!

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    1. Thanks, although not as smart as your terrific looking games!

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  4. Nice to see the Spanish doing well for once .

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    1. On this occasion they did well, but I am not sure how they would do on an open battlefield. They break easily and run a long way before they rally - often off the field!

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  5. A very enjoyable battle report. Just what my morning needed!

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    1. Thanks Ross. I am warming to these short sharp actions that can be played in a few hours.

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  6. I only discovered your blog today, it's going straight on my list of favourites on http://hintonhull.blogspot.com/ ! Particularly liked your post from last year on repairing broken swords / bayonets, I'm definitely going to give that a try.

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    1. And now I have discovered your wondeful blog! I see that you paint in a similar style to me, using gloss paints old soldier style. I really like your early Hinchliffe Brunswick Avant Garde. I have a load of those figures in my 'to do' stash. I have added your blog to my list of favourites too.

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  7. What shade of green do you use for your base color, I live that shade, it perfect… do you use commands and colors as your rules system? And judging by your hex size and the classic 25mil models I’d say the hexes are 4inch? I live the old school simplicity of your tabletop impressions.

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    1. Above by Clay- veteran1645@yahoo.com

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    2. Hi Clay.

      The hex size in this case is five inches. I do have a four inch hex mat as well.

      What I did is took a small sample of the mat down to my local hardware store, where they had a colour matching service. The particular colour I am using, after this process, is Dulux Celtic Forest 1. The number one is important as there are four or five shades of Celtic Forest. I buy a 250ml sample tin that lasts for ages and dries as a very flat matt.

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    3. Clay-Veteran,

      Further to the above. If you mean the bases that the figures are mounted on, these are painted using Humbrol Matt 80, Grass green.

      I am slowly repainting my bases in Celtic Forest to match the terrain.

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