115 Albuera (16 May 1811)
25 %
75 %
Albuera - 16 May 1811
Historical Background
The Fortress of Badajoz dominated the southern invasion route from Portugal into Spain. The British had invested the fortress, but had few engineers and no siege train to speak of. The French were not idle. Marshal Soult set out toward Badajoz with a relieving force. Beresford, the temporary army commander, marched a force larger than Soult’s to the small town of Albuera to meet the French. Beresford placed his army on the ridge behind Albuera, expecting to receive a frontal assault to split his army. Soult, however, formed most of his army behind the high ground opposite the Spanish on the right flank.
On the morning of May 16th, General Godinot’s brigade attacked Albuera as a diversion, while Soult’s main force moved unobserved across the Albuera River and delivered a flank attack upon Blake’s Spanish contingent. The first Spanish unit attacked was Zayas’s division, a veteran unit under a good commander. Though pounded by superior French forces, the Spaniards held until Stewart’s British division arrived. Stewart threw Colborne’s British brigade at the French flank and checked French progress, but none of Colborne’ regiments were in square. French cavalry charged and virtually destroyed three of the four regiments. The rest of Stewart’s division went into line behind the embattled Spaniards. The French made a fatal pause to allow a fresh division to come forward. Zayas’s survivors drew off under no pressure. Now a solid line of British muskets awaited the French columns that had been successful against Zayas. As the fresh French and British formations met, both did fearful execution to each other at close range, British line fire prevailed, causing the battered columns to retreat. French reserves (Werle’s division) advanced toward Stewart’s remnants, but help was coming. Sensing disaster, General Cole advanced his British division without orders. His action won the battle, as British line fire triumphed over the French columns, but again at a high cost in British casualties. Soult could see Harvey’s fresh Portuguese division advancing, and with no more fresh troops available, ordered a French retreat.
Although considered a British victory, when Wellington heard he had lost almost 6,000 irreplaceable British soldiers, he was reported to have said, “Another such battle will ruin us."
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
British Army
• Commander: Beresford
• 5 Command Cards
• Optional 3 Tactician Cards
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| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
French Army
• Commander: Soult
• 5 Command Cards
• Optional 5 Tactician Cards
• Move First 
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| 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
Victory
8 Banners
Special Rules
• Albuera town hexes are Victory Banner objective hexes for the French player. If a French unit occupies either town hex at the start of the French player’s turn, the French player gains one Victory Banner. As long as the French unit remains on the objective hex, the French player retains the Victory Banner. If it moves or retreats off or is eliminated, the banner is lost. The French player can gain or lose this Victory Banner more than once
(Temporary Victory Banner Turn Start)
• The Spanish Guerrilla Action rule is in effect. The British player does not start the battle with any Guerrilla counters.
• The entire Albuera River is fordable. In addition, at all ford hexes, a unit or leader’s movement is not stopped.
• Stewart’s Folly. If the French player plays a Cavalry Charge command card, and the card is not negated by a Spanish Guerilla counter, during the French player’s turn the British player may not form square, nor may he play a First Strike command card if he has that card in his hand.
Tags: Expansion 1, Banners: 8, Army: British, Army: French, Army: Portuguese, Army: Spanish, Special Rule: Guerrilla, Special Rule: Stewarts Folly, Special Rule: Temporary VB (Turn Start)
The rules apply still as written, also if the First Strike is now a Tactician card.
For simplicity no other official adjustments (to other Tactician Cards) are neccessary.
But depending on how players wish to play, the Tactician cards (e.g. “Artillery Canister” and “Infantry Combat First") could also be added, but this can and should be determined by the players only.
Richard Borg,
2017 - 01 - 15
So as i said, we should always play first straightforward as the written rules state. Only if this is not (more) possible because of new rules,
we need official rule changes.
And never forget the originally spirit of the "CC system", keep the rules simple and abstract for fast playing fun (if i compare it with other more complex boardgames)
To be strictly historical, this rule should only apply against BRITISH troops, not Spanish, but that's a level of detail too much here. Also missing is the British firing on Zayas troops, who nevertheless held and performed very well. I don't think there are any special rules anywhere in C&C to depict cases of friendly fire
For simplicity i would say/prefer, the rules remain exact as written.
But maybe the Richard see this also different and i add his answer soon here
so, how are rules changed with tactician dck? Does the Folley rule apply to cards similar to FS? For example, charge if charged, infantry melee first, etc?
Nothing changed in the scenario rules. All rules apply exact as written with the Tactician Deck too.
Nevertheless we will check the rules by a request to GMT
Just fixed it.
Thank you
Ale
