114 Barrosa (5 March 1811)

114 Barrosa (5 March 1811)

I played this scenario and two Bayonet Charge cards ensured a bloody fight for the hill, claiming a general from each side!

what to do with the Spanish seems to be the key for the scenario. In many ways they are a thorn in the side for the British, being weak offensively, a hinderance to moving British units though them, and cheaper Victory Banners for the French.

In all of my games, most battles was indeed on the section with the hills.
Therefore the Allies should take his advantage on this section, with a fast support of the british behind, before the French can bring up more units from there backside to this section.
But at last, dice decides and the dice can be cruel

Graham’s Guards and the Spanish win the day, but at great cost. Dilkes provided timely support in the center. Allies win 7-3.

The action was on the French left on the hills vs. the Spanish and British Grenadier Guards. The Spanish crumbled fairly quickly, and despite the Guards best efforts, the French carried the day. A weak hand of card early hindered the Brits too.

7/2 for the Allied on the 1st game and 7/6 for the French for the return. Very interesting scenario based on Infantry power. It is very hard to use Artillery and Cavalry is weak for both sides.

Barrosa – March 5th, 1811
Turn 1: General Eugène-Casimir Villatte marches against the Spanish right flank. The objective is to seize the high ground near Barrosa. The Spanish, under General Lardizabal counters the move and eliminates Villatte’s regiment although the French general manages to escape.

Turn 2: General Villatte regroups and sends in his Voltigeurs to scatter the Spanish forces near the village of Barrosa. He also sends two line regiments to push back the Spanish on the heights above the town. The Spanish under Lardizabal consolidate and fire several accurate volleys against the French light troops who are forced to withdraw. French 2, Allies 1.

Turn 3: Both sides reinforce their forces for another struggle over the Barossa heights.

Turn 6: The French lean on the Leadership of Generals Villatte and François Ruffin and surge forward on the beleaguered Barrosa highlands. The Spanish line infantry are unable to resist the melee and two regiments of Spaniards evaporate. French 4, Allies 1.

Turns 7-9: Both sides are again building up to seize the Barrosa Ridge. Skirmishing on the far left of the Allied line.

Turns 10-11: Fierce hand-to-hand fighting on the ridge. French 5, Allies 3.

Turn 12: The deciding turn! General Villatte urges on his exhausted troops forward for one more assault, this time against Lieutenant-General Thomas Graham’s redcoats who recently arrived to support the Spanish. The French effort is just enough to eliminate a British regiment and, to top it off, General Graham falls in combat. With the Group Victory Banner and the death of General Graham, the victory goes to the French 7 to 3.

90 cards and Tactic cards. First match, 7_2 for the french side in 16 Turns, pressure on the hills. French Elan for the 4_0. Allied Give them Cold Steel for the 5_1.
Second match, Leaders with spanish Line use Leadership to retire the french front Lines. La Grande Manoeuvre for the frech in the center, 2 FA+2 Line move 3 hexes oops. english GG move on the hills and attack vs LN and Heavy Cav a couple of turns. French Cold Steel give 2 banners but English Fire &Hold give the victory 7_3 English/Spanish/Portuguese Turn10

Two British victories which largely mirrored history. French attacks on the ridge initially smashed the Spanish forces, but the Guards pushed them back again. On the opposite flank, initial French advances were repulsed with the loss of the French grenadiers in both games. Attention then switched back to the ridge for the British Guards to deliver the coup de grace. The winning margins were 7-2 and 7-4, thus reinforcing the slight bias towards the British in the stats above.