Wednesday 15 July 2015

Talavera - Dawn Attack Preview (Part Two, A review of the lines of battle)


With the posting showing the set up for the "Dawn Attack" scenario I have had requests for close ups of the armies and units involved. So as a pre-game warm up I thought I would take you on a tour of the two lines.


The rules we are using are Carnage & Glory II and the labels to the rear have a unique identity number for the unit or commander (large number at the top) and for units a smaller number below which identifies the direct commander of that unit. All this keeps things very straightforward during a large battle and players simply call out what they want to do with unit or commander and the number.


1st Battalion of Detachments covering the centre left flank of the Cerro de Medellin, part of Brigadier General Richard Stuart's brigade 
The centre of the British line on the Cerro de Medellin. The General officer (top Right) is Major General Rowland Hill, bottom right are the 1/48th, next to their sister battalion 2/48th. To their front are Rettberg's (nearest camera) and Heyse's KGL artillery brigades with 6lbr medium guns. On the forward slope Tilson's Brigade Light Battalion
View of the French lines, with Marshal Victor in the centre and General de Division Ruffin on his right.
The newly painted 24e Regiment de Ligne in columns next to General Ruffin behind and their commander General de Brigade Meunier bottom left
The cavalry regiments have been broken up into units of two squadrons to allow flexibility in their deployment. Artillery units are shown with two bases and a limber. Note the British limbers on the Medellin have been taken to the rear.

General de Brigade Beaumont commanding 2e Hussars, 5e Chasseurs a Cheval and the 1/3e Artillerie a Cheval. Ahead of them are the 9e Legere
General de Brigade Ormancey (top right) commanding 1st Vistula Legion Lancers and the Westphalian Light Horse. The 27e Legere part of General de Brigade Cassagne's brigade are in front.
General de Brigade Cassagne (centre left) with to his right the 27e Legere and to his left the 63e Ligne preceded by their voltigeur battalion 
The 1st and 2nd KGL line with Brigadier General Baron Langwerth behind and Lieutenant General Sherbroke (top right). To their front are Eliott's RA Brigade with 6lbr Mediums
The view of the British lines with from left, the four battalions of KGL line supported by Donkin's brigade left rear and Tilson's brigade on the slopes of the Medellin. Low's KGL Brigade Light Battalion are on the forward slopes centre right.
Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley centre right oversees Generals Hill,left and General Stuart, right front
Brigadier General Henry Fane commanding the British Heavy Cavalry brigade, 3rd Dragoon Guards (left) and 4th Dragoons (right)
Brigadier General Anson commanding 23rd Light Dragoons, with the 1st KGL Hussars behind
Brigadier General Cotton commanding 14th and 16th Light Dragoons
Brigadier General Tilson (513) with the 2/66th Foot (527) and 1/3rd Buffs (525) of his brigade. To his front are 5th KGL (522) and 7th KGL (523) commanded by Brigadier General Baron Low (511)
Brigadier General (Colonel) Rufane Donkin's (516) brigade with 1/88th Foot (left), 5/60th Rifles (centre) and the 2/87th (right). The brigade light battalion is forward (540)
General Hill (top left) offers words of encouragement in the early dawn
View across the Portina towards French lines
That's all for now, AAR to follow

19 comments:

  1. Waouh, very impressive sir! Let's the game begin...outstanding armies!

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    1. Hi Phil, thanks mate, I thought you might like the view. I cant' wait to play.
      Cheers
      JJ

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  2. Beautifully set, atmospheric and with an air of expectancy. Nicely done indeed.

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    1. Thank you, glad you like it. More fun to come

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  3. What a handsome collection you have arrayed for battle.
    Looking forward to the refight.

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    1. Cheers Jon, you and me. It's these scenario games that keep you focussed on bringing the "big one" to the table.

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  4. Good preamble of a type am very fond of and familiar with. Only two words required...
    FIRE - CHARGE

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    1. Yeah I had you down as a sword and bayonet, get stuck in, kind of player. Me too, can't wait.

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  5. Absolutely awesome!
    All you need now is a dry ice machine.
    Good luck to all involved in the game.
    You mentioned that you were considering dropping Ruffin's commands fatigue levels. I think that makes much sense given their exertions the night before. You could of course make the same argument for the British in Hill's command and the KGL. I'm sure they'd been on high alert during the night since the midnight assault.

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    1. Thanks Nigel. All the orbats are set up. I have my new red, yellow and white counters prepared and a mass French artillery line to unleash in a 45 minute bombardment. All very exciting.

      Yes I picked those commands for including in the "I cant believe it's 5am" group. I aim to play around with the fatigue settings based on the comments discussed on the group, just to gauge for myself the parameters. I am finding new stuff with the rules with every game, it's great fun.

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  6. Wonderful photographs of some great looking units JJ. Looking forward to the battle now.

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    1. Hi Carlo, glad you like them. You can't beat Napoleonic colour and bling when it comes to a tabletop battle.

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  7. It has all come together beautifully, and everything including (what I assume to be) the Terrain Mat looks great. I am sure I have a couple quite similar in the Green Steppe and have always been very happy with his products. I'm looking forward to the commencement of battle!

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    1. Hi Lawrence, it's getting there. The forces on show are just under half the total when we get to do the full thing, so this gives a bit of snap shot on the overall appearance.

      Terrain Mat do a fine range of products and have about five mats, this being the largest. The mat still catches peoples eyes and makes a fine stage set for the metal actors to play on.

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  8. Very good looking games JJ. Lovely troops and terrian and I very much look forward to the AAR.

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    1. Thanks Stefan, and welcome to the blog. We had a fun time playing this one. AAR to follow.

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  10. It's great looking at it coming together the pictures of the units remind me of the start of Pickets charge in the film Gettesburg when they do the panoramic shot of the units . Lovely stuff !
    Regards Furphy .

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