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

Talavera - Dawn Attack Preview

As the Talavera project is developed the plan has been to put together a group of scenarios that  will allow the battle to be fought in smaller games whilst building up the collection to enable the full afternoon attack to played through.

In addition the scenarios should be enabled to be linked together to recreate the two day battle of Talavera, carrying forward casualties, fatigue and morale changes.

First layout of the two sides for the "Dawn Attack" scenario. The range sticks indicate the boundary of the game

So far we played through the first scenario "Casa de Salinas", back in February, which recreated the attack on the British rearguard on the 27th July 1809 as the Allies fell back to the Talavera line.

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/casa-de-salinas-talavera-game-one.html

Then we moved on to the "Night Attack" on the 27th July that recreated Victor's surprise night assault to capture the Cerro de Medellin before the British could secure the hill that anchored the Allied line

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/talavera-night-attack-game-one.html

Victor's two infantry divisions (Ruffin and Villatte) supported by Beaumont's and Merlin's cavalry lined up behind the French artillery of I Corps

Next up on the game plan is the "Dawn Attack" that saw Victor have another go at taking the Cerro de Medellin the next morning; when at 5am a signal gun fired and heralded a 30-45 minute bombardment from over fifty pieces of French artillery.

This bombardment was followed up by an assault by Ruffin's division, which should have been supported by the fresh troops in Villatte's division. A break down in French coordination only saw Ruffin's men attack up the steep slope, only to be dealt with by steady British musketry which together with a sharp counter-attack drove them back to their own lines losing 1,300 casualties whist inflicting about 750 casualties on General Hill's division.

This scenario presents some interesting challenges to designing a game that offers both sides opportunities and threats to manage, together with the peculiarities that affected the troops involved.

Thus I will be looking at incorporating fatigue effects on troops involved in the previous night attack, British attempts to reduce the effects of the French bombardment (lying down, limited reverse slope), trigger points to allow Villatte to follow his original orders to support Ruffin, plus a few other ideas that may come to mind.

Wellesley was set up very much with an eye to holding his centre and the link with the Spanish emphasised by Payne's cavalry brigades in reserve

The British cavalry brigades of Fane, Anson and Cotton support the centre of Wellesley's position

This scenario is designed to either leave the French stranded, as in reality, with just one tired infantry division suffering punishing casualties and unable to press the assault sufficiently to cause a more general action to be brought on that will enable the French to take victory points on into the next game. Alternatively the French force of Ruffin's division can break through on to the summit of the Medellin, enough to convince Villatte that his boss knows what he is doing and that he should reinforce success with an attack of his own on the KGL to his front.

Hill's Division with Stewart's (nearest camera) and Tilson's brigades arrayed on the crest of the Medellin

Beaumont's cavalry tucked in behind the 9e Legere of Ruffin's division

What ever the outcome of the play tests planned to build this into an interesting challenge for both sides it provided a good excuse to get a large part of the current collection on the table to assess the look and gauge the fit of the two armies when it comes to fielding the full battle.

Further along the British line are the two KGL brigades of Low and Langwerth, supported by Donkin's brigade

The pictures are not up to my normal standard as I took them freehand without the tripod and lights, but hopefully they are good enough to give you an impression of the look 13,500 French troops versus 10,500 British.

The French artillery await the signal gun to open fire

So prepare as we get ready to unleash the dogs of war as Marshal Victor launches his veteran battalions at the British leopard, Vive l'Empereur, en avant!!

1/96e Regiment de Ligne

The 96e Regiment de Ligne could trace it's founding back to 1745 in Nassau as one of the many Bourbon "troupes etrangeres" or foreign recruited regiments that were used by the French Royal family to prosecute their European wars through the 18th century.

In 1791, however all foreign units came under suspicion for potential pro-Bourbon loyalty and counter-revolutionary attitudes after the officers of the Nassau and Royal German regiments published a declaration of hostility to the National Assembly which caused them to respond on the 21st July with a decree stating.

"The 96th Regiment of Infantry, previously known as the Nassau Regiment, and the other units previously designated by the title German, Irish or Belgian "Liegiose" Legionary regiments of infantry are all part of the French army. In consequence they are not entitled to any special distinctions and they will henceforth wear the same uniform, have the same discipline and will be treated with respect to pay, appointments and funding in the same manner as other French troops."

Thus the regiment became the 96th Regiment d'Infantrie. In 1796 it formed the basis of the new 96e demi-brigade d'Infanterie de Ligne formed from the following units;

66e demi-brigade de bataille (2e Bat 33e Regt d'Inf, 9e Bat Vol du Doubs, 4e Bat Vol du Var and 1er Bat Vol de l'Eure) Bataillon, Volontaires de l'Eure.

In 1803 the regiment was retitled the 96e Regiment d'Infantrie de Ligne under the command of Colonel Pierre Barrois who as General de Brigade would command the regiment at Talavera.

General Comte Pierre Barrois 1774 -1860

General Pierre Barrois

The 96e Ligne was a veteran regiment when it entered the Peninsular War with the battle honours of Ulm 1805 and Friedland 1807 on its Colour.

Rousselot's illustration showing a voltigeur and voltigeur drummer. Note the yellow cuff flaps on the voltigeur

Another illustration of the voltigeur drummer

With regards to the peculiar uniform distinctions worn, some of which I will replicate with my own battalions, are again based on details garnered from the Otto manuscript showing members of the regiment in 1807 in Hamburg. The four plates show the following;
Sapper, Drum Major, Grenadier and Fusilier, Officer of Voltigeurs and a Voltigeur.

The stand out variables include the distinctive arrangements of the shako chords illustrated above in Rousselot's rendition of the voltigeur. The extra chord hanging down on the left of the shako was quite different from normal, but something I will not be adding in 18mm! Likewise fusiliers are shown with flat circular pompoms rather than the more standard woollen ball, again something I will not be doing.

Other than these the dress of the 96th appears quite standard for French infantry of the period, apart from the voltigeurs with their very distinctive yellow cuff flaps. The Rousselot image also shows a distinctive green carrot shaped plume, but the Otto illustration shows the officer with a curiously shaped plume tipped yellow. I therefore intend to have all my voltigeurs with yellow tips, but wearing their fancy cuffs.

My figures are from AB with a cunningly hidden fusilier from the Battle Honours range sculpted by Mr Barton also. No prizes for spotting him but hopefully not too noticeable given the size differences between the two ranges. The Colour on the Eagle is from GMB.

http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/c_frenchinf10.html#96th

Other sources used in this post;
Napoleon's Line Infantry, Osprey Men at Arms - Philip Haythornthwaite, Bryan Fosten
French Napoleonic Line Infantry - Emir Bukhari
Napoleon's Soldiers, The Grande Armee of 1807 (The Otto Manuscript) - Guy C Dempsey Jr.
Napoleonic Armies, A Wargamers Campaign Directory - Ray Johnson
Talavera, Wellington's First Victory in Spain - Andrew W. Field

A Great Day at the Cricket - The Ashes in Cardiff

The England cricket team get a massive welcome on to the pitch at Cardiff yesterday morning

Ok I should preface this post by addressing my Australian cricket friends who follow JJ's Wargames, you might want to look away now.

Followers of the blog will know I do love a game of cricket now and then and there is no bigger game of cricket than when the "Ashes" come round and it's time to take on the Aussies.

History of the Ashes

The Ashes refers back to 1882 when following the Australians first Test win in England at the Oval the British newspaper "The Sporting Times" announced the death of English Cricket and a little terracotta urn containing the ashes of a burnt cricket bail, the little piece of wood that is one of two that are placed on top of the three stumps at either end of a cricket pitch, was created to commemorate this momentous Australian victory. Ever since that "dark day" England and Australia have competed for perhaps the most contested little trophy in a series of five, five day cricket matches called Test matches to establish the bragging rights at opposite ends of the globe.

England's number one strike bowler - Jimmy Anderson who got a little over-enthusiastic yesterday and picked up a warning from Umpire Erasmus for running on the pitch

Both sets of fans and players are passionate for the game and the matches are characterised by affectionate banter coupled with an absolute determination to win that has created a series of games that currently sees Australia holding the Ashes after a terrible tour by England "down under" where we suffered a five - nil thrashing and had to go away and rebuild. The current wins v losses sees the Aussies sitting on thirty-two series won to thirty-one for England and the opportunity for England to come back with a new look team, a more aggressive approach to their game and a big bit of home advantage.

Australian opener David Warner made a determined fifty two runs before falling lbw to Mooen Ali just before lunch

The game yesterday was the fourth day of the First Test being played at the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. That might seem odd that England are playing in Wales until you remember that it is the England and Wales Cricket Board ECB that oversees cricket in England and Wales and there have been some great Welsh players in the England team over the years, so Cardiff is great stage for this show piece cricket series.

Large England slip field - If you know nothing about cricket, the number of fielders standing behind the batsman tells you if the fielding side are on top.

The ground was already packed when we got to our front row seats with a strong following of Aussies who made the trip over to come and support their team. The game was set up for an England first match win in the series with England setting the tourists a total of  412 runs needed to win and with England having two days to bowl them out. The weather reports were suggesting rain on the Sunday so we were all hoping England could get the job done in one day and with the opening fast bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson operating at both ends things were looking positive as both bowlers kept beating the bat and Australia struggled to score.

Stuart Broad in action, for me the pick of the England bowlers yesterday with none of the Aussies looking comfortable at the wicket when he was bowling

With a brand new ball in hand and the pitch and weather looking great, the England pace bowlers made batting very difficult for the two Australian opening batsmen, but with only one wicket down, Chris Rogers caught by Ian Bell in the slips off Broad for just ten runs, and ninety-seven runs on the board, coming up to lunch the England fans were willing another wicket to fall before the break.

Moeen Ali in action yesterday in Cardiff - Ali started the Australian collapse,taking Warner's wicket just before lunch and finishing with three wickets for fifty-nine runs

Cometh the hour cometh the man, with just a few overs left before lunch, Alastair Cook, England Captain, brought on the new England spinner Mooen Ali who produced the key breakthrough moment by catching a well in David Warner, leg before wicket (lbw) looking to play defensive before the break.

Steve Smith comes to the wicket to resume the Australian innings after David Warner's dismissal

Cricket is a funny game and one that really exemplifies that curious maxim of the mind being the key to events. A team playing on the second day of a test match in its first innings with every thing to play for and a certain mental freedom to perform is not necessarily the same team that plays on the fourth day in it its second innings chasing a total of 412 runs facing a team high on the adrenalin of success with a crowd willing them on to further efforts. Suddenly the Australian task of seeing out the two remaining days, let alone passing the required number of runs seemed that much more unlikely and the batsmen at the wicket seemed unsure of whether to attack or defend.

Joss Butler, England wicket keeper and Alastair Cook, England captain ready themselves behind the stumps

At moments like these, the crowd can sense that uncertainty and just add to the mental pressure with cheers heralding the England bowlers run ups followed by the long ooooh as another ball narrowly misses the edge of the bat as it whistles through to the wicket keeper.

The fall of Warner's wicket before lunch seemed to unleash that uncertainty upon the Aussie batsmen as Stuart Broad caught the sense of the moment, bringing Steve Smith's thirty-three run innings to an end when he was caught in the slips by Ian Bell.

Mitchell Johnson the epitome of Aussie defiance in the face of adversity, produced an excellent seventy-seven runs before falling to Joe Root's bowling 

There then followed a collapse as England took five Australian wickets in an afternoon session that caused me to lose my voice. The trumpet call was sounding as the whole stadium was taken up with the chants of the "Barmy Army". A few spots of rain were felt and a few of the Aussie fans were seen putting up their umbrellas in a desperate attempt to convince the umpires to take the teams off. However the momentum of the game had irretrievably swung to the home side.

With the break for tea and Australia having slumped to 162 for 7 we knew it was only a matter of time before England had the first win in this series and there was a buzz of excited chatter in the ground as we all looked forward to the third and hopefully final session as England wrapped things up a day early.

Joe Root who finished the game as man of the match and with two wickets for twenty-eight runs to finish off the Aussie tail enders

Mitchell Johnson is Australia's experienced key fast bowler and has had torrid tours to England in previous series with his bowling performances. He is, however, no slouch with the bat and yesterday he showed what a difficult player he can be to get out, whilst knocking off seventy-seven runs that included nine fours and a pair of sixes for good measure.

Yours truely, Steve M and Tom, very happy England fans

England played, as they have done through this match, a clever game of bringing on spin bowling at both ends which offered the lower order Aussies the chance to score but left them at risk of getting out to the good ball. With plenty of runs on the board, the tactic relied on errors from lower order batsmen and they duly came with Johnson and Mitchell Starc falling to England player of the match Joe Root and Josh Hazelwood to Moeen Ali fittingly caught on the boundary by Root to finish the match with an almighty roar from the crowd.

Just what summer is all about - living the dream at the Ashes - Me, Carolyn and Tom following a fantastic day in Cardiff

We stayed on for the closing ceremony and comments by the two captains. I always feel what a hard job it is for the captain of the losing side to have to stand in front of the cameras straight after a hard fought defeat and answer questions about a performance before having had time to really assess the play.

Michael Clarke, Australian Captain doing the post match interview

Michael Clarke has always struck me a a thoroughly good chap and great leader of the Australian team and he came out and gave a very generous response to the England team. I know that England can expect a big fight back in the next test at Lords and this result has set up a very exciting series for the summer.

The England captain, Alastair Cook very pleased with the start but not complacent on what to expect from Australia after this result

The new look England set up is a breath of fresh air after the debacle in Australia and the Twenty Twenty World Cup and, with new management including an Australian head coach together with half the team made up of new players, it really seems like the beginning of a new era for English cricket.

This summer started with a bang with the tour of the New Zealand team who played with a high tempo and plenty of aggressive intent and was the model for the new look England style of play. The Kiwis ended up being well matched by England and the spirit of the play seems to have carried through into this Ashes series of matches epitomised by the comments of the England player of the match and in form Joe Root.

Joe Root - Man of the Match, an exciting new England player for the future

Joe Root seems to play his cricket with a boyish enthusiasm for the game which I hope he keeps throughout his career. In these days of extreme professionalism in all sports and with money driving a lot of the activity it is really great to see a player expressing an enjoyment for the game, whilst so many other players seem to carry a face of earnest intent. His play and attitude to the game seems to be a talisman for the team and it is obvious that he likes to win which can only be of strength to England if they hope to regain the Ashes this summer.

We had a fantastic day in the sun watching England at their best. This is our second visit to Cardiff to watch the cricket and the lovely people of Wales make this a very welcoming venue to come to. Perhaps its the welsh side of me that makes it feel home from home and the singing is certainly an attraction. Here's looking forward to an exciting Ashes series for the rest of this summer.

Next up - Its back to the painting with the 1/96e Ligne and then later this week we will play "Talavera -Dawn Attack".