The Battle of Talavera, The Afternoon Attack - Tiny Wars Played Indoors

Bill Slavin and friends have concluded their marathon play through of O'er the Hills Peninsular War Scenarios with the 'big-one', 'The Afternoon Attack' (link below to Bill's AAR), the concluding Talavera scenario that recreates Marshal Victor's all or nothing throw of the dice that characterised his full frontal column attack on Sir Arthur Wellesley's line at Talavera, when he unleashed a forty-five minute mass bombardment from his artillery as a prelude to the attack by I and IV Corps, preceded by his pronouncement to his staff highlighting his frustration at previously failed assaults;

"If this doesn't work, it is time to give up the war!"

Tiny Wars Played Indoors - Talavera Afternoon Attack, 28th July 1809

This scenario can be linked with the preceding one that Bill played back in July, 'The Attack on the Pajar Vegara' which itself was designed to pin Wellesley's troops around the gun redoubt as this, the main attack, went in soon after, but as is often the case, seeing the plan change on first contact with the enemy.

JJ's Wargames - Attack on the Pajar Vergara

Similarly all four Talavera scenarios that Bill has illustrated, starting with Scenario 8, Casa de Salinas, can be linked into a mini-campaign with casualties and morale affects carried forward from one to another.

However if big games are your thing and big Peninsular War games in particular, this scenario should definitely float-the-boat, as Bills table seen below well illustrates.

Looking from French lines - Talavera, The Afternoon Attack.

Everything is here in this classic Peninsular War battle, a three turn pre-attack French grand battery bombardment of the British line, mass columns of veteran French infantry, the victors of Austerlitz, Jena, and Friedland, supported by massed ranks of French cavalry, foot and horse guns, up against British and KGL infantry, guards and riflemen, backed up by British heavy and light dragoons and Royal Foot and Horse Artillery gunners, having to rely on their steadiness to brave the shot and shell to deliver counter-charges, cannister or a steady volley followed up with the bayonet to see whose will-to-win breaks first.

Bill's British and KGL hold the line at Talavera for his recreation of The Afternoon Attack.

This is not the classic Anglo-Portuguese defensive battle that would come to characterise most of Sir Arthur Wellesley's early encounters with the French, lacking most obviously in the benefit of a complete front covered by a reverse slope position, and thus the British commander has to carefully manage his infantry, artillery and cavalry assets to hold areas of the line that are most heavily pressed making best use of combined arms tactics to compliment those of the British redcoat.

The French columns press home their attack

For the French it is a matter of pressing hard and reinforcing success quickly to unsettle a likely formidable British line, using the rapid manoeuvring capability of the French infantry and cavalry backed up with guns that can come up in support to win where it counts.

Having played this scenario and the full battle of Talavera many times I found myself recalling the euphoria of French commanders unleashing what looks like an unstoppable force, after dishing out the hurt from massed heavy foot guns, and the stoic determination of British commanders relieved and with confidence boosted, as a British line rises to its feet, delivers a crushing volley followed up by a cheering charge in the wake of several recoiling columns, but with a game not over until it was that last throw of the dice moment when concession by one side or the other was inevitable.

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From Bill's account of his game it was really great to see the scenario create the same drama for another set of players and it has been a real pleasure and privilege to follow Bill and his friends progress through the book.

Thank you Bill for sharing your tour-de-force, it has been great fun to follow.

JJ