1808 - Bridge Demo!

 

Daniel came up with a small game scenario for this week's Valour & Fortitude game, adapted from a Black Powder mission - Bridge Demolition!

Central Spain, November 1808. Sir John Moore commands an increasingly outnumbered British Army whose Spanish allies have failed to concentrate in support and are being defeated in detail. Reluctantly, he orders a retreat to the distant coast where the Royal Navy is standing by...

To give the army a lead over the hot pursuit, the bridge must be blown, hopefully without sacrificing too much of the rearguard! Sappers are slowly manhandling six large barrels of gunpowder to the bridge, of which three must detonate successfully to blow the bridge. The arrival and emplacement of the powder and fuses is calculated using FOW immediate reserve rules, and successful detonation of each barrel is on a 4,5,6D6. 

The British commander has to make an acute decision as to when to order the bridge blown - too soon and he may not get three barrels to blow, and leave too much of the rearguard behind, too late and the French may capture the bridge! However, he has an ace up his sleeve - whilst he commands two fine Heavy Cavalry regiments, the French only have light horsemen...

In addition to the cavalry, the British have three line infantry Brigades and a composite Rifle Brigade. The French have four infantry Brigades and two light cavalry brigades. In the haste of departure and pursuit, no guns are present. The French southern column, have been sent on a long detour, have to reroll activation dice but still manage to arrive on scene in good time...

and immediately get stuck in!

The British Heavy Dragoons impetuously rush up in support...

As the horizon darkens with massed French columns, 

the French light cavalry set up a trap for the Enniskillens and Greys...

The Dragoons inevitably cut down many Hussars and Chasseurs, but the Heavy Brigade is eventually routed. Meanwhile the northern French column is also attempting to cut its way to the bridge...

Forming a pincer movement with the southern column:

The British bridgehead contracts:

Whilst the Sappers desperately attempt to bring up the powder - the first few rolls have unlucky!

As the French melee ever closer to the bridge, Sir John Moore, joining in combat after combat to no avail, falls mortally wounded and is carried to the rear. He takes solace from a report that all six barrels are now in place and fused...

With his last, dying, breath he orders the bridge blown. Detonation is successful! 

With the majority of the rearguard having been withdrawn in good time, the outcome is a British victory to sustain them over the bitter retreat to come...