Battle of the Gebora - 19 February 1811
Historical Background
The Battle of the Gebora was a minor battle of the Peninsular War between Spanish and French armies.
It occurred on 19 February 1811, near Badajoz, Spain, where an outnumbered French force routed and nearly destroyed the Spanish Army of Extremadura.
In a bid to help extricate Marshal André Masséna's army from its position in Portugal—mired in front of Lisbon's defensive
Lines of Torres Vedras—Marshal Jean de Dieu Soult led part of the French Armée du Midi (Army of the South) from Andalusia
into the neighbouring Spanish region of Extremadura and laid siege to the important fortress town of Badajoz. Viscount Wellington
and the Spanish Captain-General Pedro Caro y Sureda, 3rd marqués de La Romana sent a large Spanish army to raise the siege.
La Romana, however, died before the army could depart, and command fell to General Gabriel de Mendizábal Iraeta. Supported
by a small force of Portuguese cavalry, the Spaniards reached the town and camped on the nearby heights of San Cristóbal in early February 1811.
When Mendizabal ignored Wellington's instructions and failed to entrench his army, Soult took advantage of the vulnerable
Spanish position and sent a small force to attack the Spaniards. On the morning of 19 February, French forces under Marshal Édouard Mortier quickly defeated the Spanish army, inflicting 1,000 casualties and taking 4,000 prisoners while losing only 400 men. The victory allowed Soult to concentrate on his assault of Badajoz, which fell to the French on 11 March and remained in French hands until the following year.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?
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Set-Up Order
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Battle Notes
Spanish Army
• Commander: Gabriel Mendizábal / Marquis La Romana
• 5 Command Cards
• (Optional 3 Tactician Cards) 
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| 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
French Army
• Commander: Jean de Dieu Soult / Édouard Mortier
• 6 Command Cards
• (Optional 5 Tactician Cards)
• Move First 
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| 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Victory
7 Banners
Special Rules
• Marquis La Romana and Soult are "Leaders of Honor"
• The Spanish Guerrilla Action rule is in effect. The Spanish player doesn´t start with a Guerrilla Marker.
• The River Guadiana is impassable except on over the bridge.
• Afraid Spanish Cavalry: Each time, if a Spanish or Portuguese CAV wants to attack an enemy unit, roll 1 die for this CAV. If a flag is rolled, this unit flee immediately from battlefield. Such escaped Spanish/Portuguese CAV dont get the French player a victory point.
