After an epic Chain of Command game (see previous post) we were short on time so hastily set up a quick Napoleonic game using 'Backpacks and Batons', my version of Stryker's 'Muskets & Marshals' rules from his 'Hinton Hunt Vintage Wargame Figures' blog.
The scenario involved an isolated French garrison holed up in a church ...
... which the Spanish hoped to overwhelm ...
... before the two relief columns could save it.
In all the French force should be capable of crushing the Spanish, as they include some excellent troops, like the Imperial Guard Fusilier-Chasseurs led by Cambronne himself in the column led by Lasalle.
Bessières' column, while smaller included the super-large regiment of 4th Hussars.
The Spanish forces, as well as the main body advancing on the church, included two small bands of guerrillas, one of each of the two hills overlooking the approach roue of the French relief columns.
But the Spaniards chief hope lay with their newly reinforced cavalry brigade, consisting of the 2o Rgto. Dragones de Almansa and the newly arrived Coraceros Españoles, resplendent in their red uniforms captured French cuirassier equipment.
And to ease their way, one of the Spanish batteries opened fire to soften up Lasalle's lead unit ...
Cambronne, with incoming roundshot and a cavalry brigade coming straight at him seemed unconcerned feeling it was not necessary to put the 3e Légère to deal with this.
He must have felt a bit less sure of himself as, taking only hit from the French volley the Dragones de Almansa, crashed into his men.
And well he should as the melee was a crushing 3-nil Spanish win!
While this was happening the Coraceros had veered off to attack the French 6e Chevau-légers Lanciers, but not quite come to blows yet.
Away from the cavalry action, some orders issued by a commander who seemingly couldn't tell his right from his left, has seen the Guadalajara regiment hopelessly entangled with the Spanish 12pdr battery. The result of this was the Princesa regiment found themselves advancing alone and without artillery support against the French 44e and 46e Ligne regiments.
The question was whether, with their general down, they could hold until the confusion to their rear was sorted out?
They couldn't!
Also, taking advantage of the confusion in the Spanish line were the 4e Hussards, who charged the Spanish 12 pounders, but paid a heavy price as five of them were swept away in a hail of canister, before they cut down the valiant gunners.
By the time your correspondent switched his attention back to the cavalry fight, he found he had missed the melee, but the Coraceros had been put to flight by the French lancers who were in hot pursuit.
Next turn the pursuit continued ...
The curse of the newly-painted unit had struck again!
Elsewhere, the French hussars had fallen back to rally but it left the Guadalajara regiment facing insurmountable odds.
With time running short, and with the balance clearly in the French favour they were awarded the win. The French had lost no units (the 3e Légère had rallied), while the Spanish had lost: the Princesa infantry regiment; the Voluntarios de Valencia skirmishers (outshot by French voltigeurs); the Coraceros Españoles; and, the 12pdr battery, not to mention both generals.
The Spanish had paid the penalty for stretching out their force in line as the two outermost infantry units had hardly contributed anything to the fight. Also, as a postscript the Alamansa dragoons had pursued the 3e Légère who fled behind the Fusilier-Chasseurs to rally. The dragoons' melee with the Fusilier-Chasseurs was a draw with both falling back in disorder.
The rules worked reasonably well, but more changes are required including some slimming down. One bit that did work well were the skirmisher rules which made the Spanish guerrillas a nuisance but not much more. The main difference to skirmishers as in M&M are limits on independent action and how close they may approach the enemy, as follows:
A/A+ Class & Rifles: effective range in the open; close range if in cover; and, do not require infantry support.
B Class: effective range in the open; close range if in cover; and, must have infantry support in the open.
C Class: long range in the open; effective range if in cover; and, and must have infantry support* in the open.
* Irregular skirmishers e.g., guerrillas, are always C Class, they do not require infantry support but must stay out of cavalry charge range unless in or behind cover.
Skirmishers are supported by formed infantry within 6” of their rear.
