A Small Battle in Spain -1808

This game played was between myself and John Williams. John, like me, has been slowly building up a Napoleonic Army. However instead of Spanish, John has been building up a mix of Imperial Guard troops and Line Regiments.

My Front Rank Spanish – waiting for the French to advance.

Close up of Johns’ Middle Guard – All of Johns’ figures are from Elite Miniatures.

French lancers Vs Spanish Lancers (in this encounter the French came off second best).

The battle was small. Our forces consisted of my small Spanish Division – 13 Battalions of Infantry, 3 Cavalry Regiments and two batteries of foot guns and John 12 battalions of Guard and Line Regiments, 7 Cavalry regiments (again a mix of Guard and Line) and finally 2 Batteries of artillery (one horse and one foot).

Converted Grenadiers a Cheval to the Empress Dragoons. John cut the heads off the former and replaced them with Dragoons of the Line heads. The figures came up great.

A battalion of Elite Miniatures Legere – painted by Leroy Simpson.

The scenario was plain and simple. My Spanish were to try and hold the village from the French and stop them from taking the road to Somosierrra. Well my boys held out very well for a number of turns and only broke after John had run my cavalry from the field and his cavalry had gotten around to my rear, cutting off my line of retreat. Thus with the Division taking 50% causalities and after ten turns, plus being cut off I had to surrender.

Spanish Grenadiers hold a town section against a renewed French attack.

One of the French Guard cavalry attacks which would soon see my beloved Spanish defeated.