This week at the Wollongong Wargamers, Daniel, centre, organised a game set at the pivotal moment of the Battle of Albuera 1811. Daniel would command the Allied army, whilst Peter, left, and David led the French.
Even using Valour & Fortitude rules, the entire battle could not be played out in an evening. Daniel's scenario was just focussed on the scramble between the two armies for the undulating ground as the British finally woke up to the French deep outflanking movement to their south.
Not your typical 'Brits lining a peninsula ridge and seeing off all comers' scenario - this would be a fluid and bitty engagement as the British and Portuguese arrived brigade by brigade. But the fighting would be suitably bloody to commemorate the bloodiest battle of the Peninsula campaign!
However, the French did come on in the same old way...
Although brigade activation difficulties did mean they advanced in two distinct pulses...
The first couple of British brigades on scene were soon overwhelmed!
A brigade of Light Dragoons arrived only to find themselves the principal reserve!
But they were soon committed in a desperate attempt to create some deployment space:
Initially they did well...
But the 'Headstrong' trait led them too far into disaster!
Fortunately by this point more reinforcements had arrived - an infantry brigade:
Daniel and I dared to relax for the moment!
But the French cavalry wanted to capitalise on success:
Wiping out an oncoming Portuguese brigade before it had even time to get into position...
Even Voltigeur detachments were feeling the fury and taking on entire battalions!
The game ended as a shattering French victory - not only did they possess both ridges, but they had inflicted five defeat points on us to their one!
Nevertheless, an engrossing and enjoyable game. The outcome probably better matched Marshal Beresford's original draft despatch than Wellington's more positive spin!
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