Over The Hills Play Test - Second Battle of Oporto

"Let the men cross" - Wine barges pictured in the 2014 recreation of the Second Battle of Oporto

We first recreated the Second  Battle of Oporto way back in 2014 when I put together a model of the famous gorge created by the River Douro, flowing past the Bishops Seminary high above the river on the outskirts of the city.

Not everybody wants to go to that extent to re-fight this famous assault crossing and so in this recreation of it for our Over the Hills play-test we had to redesign the table without over compromising on the ground scale and layout of the original game.

In addition, we wanted to create a scenario that captured the historical narrative with the chance for a variation to that narrative to play out, whilst also testing the result against the battle itself.

This scenario proved the most challenging of all those played so far and, in our determination to work it through, required two play-tests to balance the various components which sees the French having to change posture from an all out attack to defence and withdrawal in the same game. This alongside variable arriving British columns, restricted order options and off table units able to fire onto the table

Game I

Oporto outskirts with the Bishops seminary. The edge of table right is where the cliffs start above the River Douro

So the table presented here is what you might call "Oporto Light" with the key features readily identifiable as with the on and off table forces, but with the boundary to the table focusing the action around the seminary and the town outskirts perched on the hills on the road north to the Spanish border.

Looking from the foothills above the town with the road leading north to the Spanish border, left centre

The road leading along the Douro from the ferry crossing at Barca d'Avintas, with Murray's infantry and Cotton's cavalry brigades set up to enter later in the game

These few pictures are from the first run through of the game that revealed immediate changes to the draft set up, but also that the concept and framework provided enough scope to build upon.

General Foy's brigade set up on the outskirts of the city close to the seminary

The 3rd Buffs and 48th Foot occupy the seminary, loopholing walls and erecting fire-steps

The first challenge was developing the rules around the seminary and the fight between Foy and Paget's garrison which the historical accounts talk of it being carried out with great elan by the French troops and seeing General Paget lose an arm in the fighting.

The two battalions of the 70me Ligne, part of Foy's brigade

".... the drums beat to arms, shouts arose, the citizens, vehemently gesticulating, made signals from their houses, and confused masses of troops rushing out from the higher streets threw forward swarms of skirmishers, and came furiously down on the Seminary." 
Lt Gen. Sir William Napier, English Battles and Sieges in the Peninsula

15me Ligne occupying the residential and waterfront areas of the city

Any wargamer playing the French and seeing massed redcoats lined up behind stout walls with a fire-step has nightmares of Hougoumont and other such like encounters flashing through their mind and thoughts of why should I attack that thing when I know we will be withdrawing soon.

Off course poor old General Foy didn't have the benefit of hindsight and at this stage of the Napoleonic Wars, French infantry had a pretty high opinion of themselves and their capabilities, and rightly so after their string of victories against equally well emplaced capable enemies.

Across the road the 4me Legere garrison the northern outskirts of the city

To recreate Foy's estimation of the situation and his decision to press an immediate attack to eject the redcoats from the seminary we have him on 'attack' orders from the start with only Marshal Soult, on his arrival on table, able to countermand his decision and start the process of getting his army clear of the threatened encirclement of his diminished force.

The French brigades await the order to withdraw unaware of the threat developing in the seminary

The 3rd (Buffs) and 48th Foot occupy the seminary, building a fire-step along the boundary wall

The battle for the seminary was hard fought and General Paget commanding the brigade ensconced behind its perimeter lost an arm during the combat that would see him out of the war until his return in 1812 only to be captured by French cavalry whilst conducting a forward patrol. A very capable general, he gets additional command benefits in this game but due to his nature of being in the front is liable to be severely wounded and needing to be replaced by General Hill.

In the first run through the fighting was also very heavy with several rounds of French artillery fire hitting the defences, degrading them and together with the hand to hand fighting leading to several fires breaking out plus Paget's wounding in the process. All this before the 66th Foot had been able to land and bring the brigade up to full strength behind the walls.

The alarm is raised as General Foy orders the 17me Legere and artillery to attack the seminary garrison

As the first French troops go into action messages are sent to Marshal Soult to alert the rest of the army

As General Foy's infantry fell back from it's second attack Murray's and Cotton's brigades made their appearance on the eastern table edge and still Marshal Soult had failed to respond to General Foy's aide, desperately trying to convince the general that the observed redcoats were not the Swiss bathing in the Douro.

General Foy now able to bring the 70me Ligne into the attack launches an all out assault causing fires to break out

The attack is made with great elan but also heavy casualties

As General Foy made preparations to receive Murray's and Cotton's troops whilst warily observing the troops in the Seminary for any sign of offensive activity from them, Soult finally reacted with orders issued to the other brigades to begin the withdrawal.

As the fighting grows heavier still, General Paget is seen to fall with a severe wound to his arm

And still the French keep coming

With the battle for the seminary still raging, Soult orders an evacuation with Franceschi's cavalry arriving north of the city to cover the road out

As both armies started to amass on either side of the table and the French busied themselves with a rapid change of posture, we stopped the game due to time constraints but decided to replay the scenario to a conclusion to determine how the second half of this game would look whilst replaying the opening with all the modifications written up from the first test.

The British threat develops with the arrival of Cotton's and Murray's brigades, having crossed the river lower down stream

Marshal Soult arrives to order Foy to break off the attack and to cover the retreat

Game II

In our second play-test Steve and I reversed our roles and I took command of the French and as in the first run through, threw my regiments at the seminary although not as successfully as Steve, failing to start fires or wound their illustrious commander and then encountered the 'perfect storm' of events with Murray defying history and turning up as early as he could with Cotton's cavalry.

If that wasn't bad enough Soult was dragging his feet responding to my ADC and so we ended up with perhaps the worst position for the French to be in, other than Soult taking another turn to react which as you will see would have made things even more of a challenge.

The French forces under Foy assault the seminary wall, with casualties mounting on both sides

This time the early approach of Murray's KGL brigade prompts a relocating of the artillery and voltigeurs to cover the flank of the French attack

Foy's men are repulsed from the wall and come under British artillery fire from across the Douro

As it was the sight of all that KGL infantry and British light cavalry forced Foy's brigade to fight on two fronts with the voltigeur battalion and foot guns repositioned to challenge the new arrivals whilst my infantry rallied off the effects of the combat they had had on the walls of the seminary.

General Murray's brigade arrives as Foy's men fall back from their second assault

Marshall Soult arrives to order Foy to break off as the retreat from the city commences

As soon as Soult arrived on table he joined Foy and gave him his new orders to withdraw and act as rearguard to Reynaud's brigade whilst Franceschi's cavalry division was ordered to hold the road exit open on the northern heights.

Now with Cotton joining Murray and the brigade in the seminary at full strength, the French are under pressure to get clear of the city

At this stage, the game was perfectly poised, as General Paget prepared to leave the confines of his fortress and direct the British offensive, whilst Soult and his general officers started to sort out the congestion of traffic starting to fill the road north whilst directing the units detailed to defend the retreat route.

As the waterfront area is relinquished by the French the Portuguese citizens set off in boats to bring yet more British troops across

There is something really satisfying about this type of game, quite different from the usual attack and defend battles we have all played, and the mental challenge of organising a retreat in the face of a large and pressing enemy force really gets the adrenalin going, as both sides strive to get an advantage.

The road north starts to fill with French troops

General Foy has the unenviable task of now acting as rearguard as his troops revert from the offence to the defence 

General Foy's men had taken a terrible battering not only from the seminary battle but also by a gradual accumulation of hits from British artillery units from across the Douro.

The retreat well underway as French officers try to maintain discipline and order

Their selection as rearguard was almost by default as by any merit for the role as they were where they were needed and, with the help from the French cavalry who managed to prevent any disasters from rapid British cavalry attacks, they by forming squares amid the cavalry along the road, prevented Cotton's men from closing off the escape route.

However the British artillery kept on plugging away at my tail end units and it only took one to tip into a rout to cause me to lose two more of my rearguard battalions as they tipped over from wavering into rout themselves reacting badly to the sight of their comrades in panic.

Murray and Cotton contest the road with Franceschi's cavalry forcing the French infantry and guns to divert behind them in their effort to get clear

By this stage with just a couple of turns to get the required number of units off the table, Foy's brigade was broken but that only caused the remaining good order units to carry on retreating alongside the rest of the army.

Foy's men form square alongside the cavalry to protect the men marching to their rear

The pressure becomes to great for some of Foy's hard pressed battalions and they break and rout towards the north threatening to panic other French troops

As Murray's infantry caught up with Foy's men closely followed by the seminary garrison the French position was looking more and more precarious, however the infantry were still managing to inflict casualties on the pursuers getting them close to the point where they would prevent an immediate British pursuit thus improving French chances of getting a positive result.

Cotton's cavalry charge in to the mass of French troops to be met and pushed back by French cavalry operating among the squares

The rear of the French column can see salvation in sight as they near the northern edge and with fatigue growing in British ranks

Soult and his generals oversee the withdrawal of the rearguard as the battle draws to a close

With Reynaud's brigade off the table bar one battalion and the artillery battery, Cotton's dragoons made a last ditch charge to close the road and break the French army morale. In response the French 1me Hussars and 8me Dragoons met the attack and succeeded in driving the enemy back and taking the British over their fatigue threshold but also seeing the French army teetering on a rout as the last turn was completed.

The French rear of their column has got clear of Pagets brigade from the seminary and marches north

The pictures above and below shows the positions of the two armies at the close with the French rearguard contesting the road north but with the bulk of French forces now marching away from the city and the battles ahead, avoiding Portuguese guerrillas and Beresford's Anglo-Portuguese column to be followed in turn by the rest of Wellesley's army.

The French have held the line of the road as the battle closes

When I say the French were teetering on a rout, the card below shows just how close, with one fatigue point remaining. That said Reynaud's brigade, force card 2, escaped practically unscathed and the French cavalry were still in good fettle to protect the rear.

The numbers tell the story with Soult's hard pressed army just one point away from breaking

Brigade 3 is General Foy's command broken and withdrawing at the rear of the army, following their all out attack on the seminary earlier

The British cards reveal a force still full of fight if a little battered with the Seminary brigade on just 7 fatigue points remaining and the army morale, force card 1, reduced by over 25% by the action.

The British were in better shape, but having lost over 25% of their army break points were deemed to have halted to replenish in time for a pursuit the following day.

So that concludes the second of these four remaining scenario play-tests and a game both Steve and I thoroughly enjoyed by taking it right to the end as neither of us could call it until it was over.

Next up the rearguard action that preceded the Second Battle of Oporto as Wellesley's main army try to encircle the French troops south of Oporto as they fall back before his advance.

Vindolanda - Adrian Goldsworthy

My last book review of 2017 focussed on my summer holiday reading, Empire IV by Anthony Riches and I have since October last year rapidly read my way through the first four books in his Empire series.

Due to a mix up by Amazon just before Xmas when I knew I would be needing the next book to take me over the holiday, I ended up with some romantic novel whilst some lady in Durham ended up with my Roman adventure and I couldn't say which of us was the more disappointed.

With the Xmas post period coming to an end and with a few hours to spend on Xmas shopping I spotted Adrian Goldsworthy's (AG) Roman novel 'Vindolanda' set during, perhaps one of my favourite periods in early imperial Roman history, the time of Trajan on the northern frontier of Britain before any great stone wall had been constructed and during a time of great upheaval as it was any time a new emperor came to the imperial throne.

Rather than go through the set up and storyline of this book which can be followed on Dr Goldsworthy's site;

http://www.adriangoldsworthy.com/romanfictionbk1.htm
http://www.adriangoldsworthy.com/vindolandaquest.htm

I thought I would outline what I really enjoyed with this particular book that saved my Xmas reading time.

With my own collection of EIR and Dacian figures very high up on the 'get done next' list this kind of literature is very good for feeding the imagination and inspiring scenario ideas. What is even better is if that literature is not only entertaining but written by one of the foremost authorities on the Roman Army and a wargamer 'to boot'.

The book, as AG describes it, is very much like a western with a distinct feeling of a frontier policed by a force in occupation but not necessarily accepted by all the locals. Throw in a fanatical druid and his likewise fanatical followers, tribal politics with the frontier kings and a 'who dunnit' detective style thriller looking for traitors in the camp and you have a heady mixture of Roman warfare and all the 'politicking' that went with it.

Not only that but I was intrigued to see that AG had built his characters around the little that is known of the people who were living in and around the early frontier fortress of Vindolanda based on the most recent finds among the Vindolanda tablets naming several of the individuals mentioned.

Then there are the period and location details that just add to that sense of feel for this era and place, such as the title 'Centurio Regionarius' associated with the lead character, Titus Ferox who we learn is a Briton and a centurion from the II Augusta now detached from his legion in this role of being responsible for the Pax Romana on his section of the frontier, a role outlined in the Vindolanda tablets.

As I was reading the descriptions of the Roman punitive force marching into the Caledonian foothills I found myself imagining a similar tabletop force and those that opposed them, all this knowing the descriptions were coming from the pen of an expert in the field.

The phrase 'I couldn't put it down' is perhaps a shorthand cliché reserved for those book critics favoured by some of the more salacious tabloids, but that describes my reading over Xmas. I think Carolyn is perhaps not looking forward to me reading the next book in the Vindolanda series as more than once I was told to put the light out and go to sleep.

I really enjoyed this first adventure for Centurion, Legio II Augusta, Titus Flavius Ferox, Centurio Regionarius, or should that be 'sheriff in these parts"and his sharp associate (perhaps deputy), fellow Briton and comrade in arms Vindex, Brigantian Scout leader.

The Encircling Sea

In addition I am really looking forward to reading the second book in the series 'The Encircling Sea' due to be published in May and hearing the author present at Crusade 2018 later this month.

A good read

Bomber Command Teaser - Tell me what this is!

Ok the pictures you see here are of an item acquired by a friend, Ian, who asked me if I could identify it.

As you can see we are looking at a rather large round that has a slug in it with what can only be described as a 'pencil sharpener' type of blade.

This item would have been found on a Lancaster II bomber as seen below and was very much part of the aircraft's defence systems particularly when operating at low altitude.

Answer to follow unless anyone reading the post who thinks they knows what we are looking at cares to share the answer in a comment.

Over the Hills Play Test - Corunna (Two Hundredth and Ninth Anniversary Game)

Few and short were the prayers we said,

And we spoke not a word of sorrow;

But we steadfast gazed on the face of the dead,

And we bitterly thought of the morrow.

Today is the two hundred and ninth anniversary of the Battle of Corunna so picking up where we left off in 2017, it seemed very appropriate to start the first of the four remaining Over the Hills Peninsular War scenarios with this scenario of the battle.

Looking from the French lines towards the village of Elvina and the Monolos river

The Battle of Corunna is often remembered as the British 'Dunkirk' of the Peninsular War where General Sir John Moore saved Britain's main army from destruction following a harrowing pursuit over the Galician mountains in the height of winter, to turn, face and beat Marshal Soult's army before evacuating to the awaiting transports only to see Moore fatally wounded at the moment of his triumph.

The British army that fought at Corunna was Britain's premier force with the vast majority of the infantry composed of first battalions and despite Moore's best efforts of returning 80% of it home, would see the rest of this force wasted in the Walcheren expedition in July 1809 as Moore's replacement and vindicated Sir Arthur Wellesley battled with the cream of the Grand Armee at Talavera with many junior second battalions among his ranks.

The other end of the French position on the lower slopes of the Altos de Penesquada

The quality of the British troops must be born in mind when looking at this battle as despite the situation Moore found himself in, his soldiers were more than capable and equally determined to give a good account of themselves when Marshal Soult sent his columns forward into the attack at about 13.45 on the 16th January 1809.

View of the French positions from the British line above Elvina atop the Monte Mero ridge

In addition, despite the harrowing conditions experienced during the retreat to the port city, the British had had almost three days to recuperate before its walls before the arrival of the transports and the French, so were in better shape than when they first arrived.

With the ships came new uniforms, weapons and some ammunition, offset by the destruction of many of the cavalry mounts as horses were slaughtered on the docks and neighbouring cliffs to create space for troops and stores, with only nine pieces of artillery left on the slopes of the Monte Mero ahead of the coming battle.

Bentick's brigade with the 1/4th Foot and supported by just three RFA six pounder cannon cover the road from Elvina

On the 16th of January at midday Moore issued orders to General Paget to prepare his reserve division for immediate embarkation to the transports and the men were in columns, contemplating a return to 'Blighty' when the French guns began a preparatory bombardment drawing the attention of sailors and soldiers alike as Moore immediately rescinded his orders to Paget and headed back up to his rearguard brigades atop the Monte Mero ridge.

Soult's three columns of four battalions from the 47me Ligne, 31me Legere and 122me Ligne

To General Paget's and his mens credit all thought of home was abandoned as they immediately sloped arms and headed back towards the British stop line behind the villages of Elvina and Piedralong.

GdD Houssaye with GdB Caulaincourt's brigade of dragoons and supporting horse artillery

It would be before the former of the two villages and furthest away from the sea and any naval interference that the French under Soult would press their main attack whilst demonstrating before the latter in an attempt to confuse the defenders.

The weight of Soult's attack was designed to turn the British line in front of Elvina with cavalry feeling out the British right flank

Major Charles Napier commanding the 50th Foot described the scene as General Moore arrived on the ridge above Elvina as the French columns assembled on the slopes opposite behind their thick screen of skirmishers.

"Thrown on its haunches the animal came, sliding and dashing the dirt up with its fore feet, thus bending the General forward almost to its neck; but his head was thrown back and his look more keenly piercing than I ever saw it." 

Lieutenant General Sir John Moore rushes to the Elvina position alerted by the midday bombardment from French guns

Moore had expected Soult to attempt to attack his right flank with Bentick's brigade positioned to take the brunt of any French assault, and with Warde's Guards brigade in support on the rear slopes of the Monte Mero together with Paget's reserve held back to be ready to extend the British flank and block any turning attempt whilst protecting the direct route into the city.

Major Charles Napier commanded the 1/50th Foot seen here overlooking the village to their front

Inspired by the sight of Moore ignoring shot and shell as he inspected the French attack, Napier rode across the front of his regiment, the 1/50th, moving to the right where the fire seemed the strongest, looking to share the dangers endured by his men and noticing that each time a cannon shot whistled over head the men all ducked.

'Don't duck' he told them cheerfully. 'The ball has passed before you hear the whizz'. But the instinct was irresistible. Only one man was able to restrain himself. He was uncommonly short and as his neighbours continued to bob their heads compulsively above him, he maintained a rigid composure as he looked calmly down the slope at the advancing enemy.

'You are a little fellow', Major Napier called to him, 'but the tallest man in the 50th today for all that - come to me after the battle and you shall be a sergeant.'

Major General Coote Manningham's brigade with the 3/1st Foot and 2/81st Foot forward

This scenario presents a relatively straight forward French attack on a British defended rear slope ridge with British reserve elements on call or with a variable arrival time plus a French dragoon brigade looking to unhinge the position before said reserves can take a hand.

French foot guns prepare to soften up what they can see of the British position

The 17me and 18me Provisional Dragoons prepare to scout out the difficult terrain

In this test of the timings of the French march across the valley and the timings of the various force arrivals, not to mention the difficulties of the terrain imposing itself on the contending armies, both Steve and I followed our historical predecessors battle plan,

Marshal Soult accompanied by GdD Mermet checks all is ready to begin his assault

Thus my French columns set off across the valley at the best possible speed hoping to impose themselves upon the two British brigades before the arrival of their supports whilst also sending Houssaye's dragoons off in search of a ford over the River Monelos to add to that discomfort.

The 47me Ligne preceded by a thick screen of voltigeurs prepare to assault Elvina

Steve likewise opted to follow Moore's prescription of holding his two brigades back behind the ridge line thus avoiding the worst of the French artillery and diverging from the script by choosing not to send the 50th and 42nd Foot forward to contest French occupation of Elvina.

The 31me Legere with the 122me Ligne to their right prepare to advance

These French battalions are not made of the same stuff as fought for Junot at Vimeiro, only on average numbering some 500 men, so I had to be judicious about where to press the attack, especially being aware of that powerful British Guards brigade being held in reserve.

Houssaye's dragoons scout the Monolos river for a suitable crossing point

French confidence levels were high as at the halfway stage their columns were on the forward slope and Houssaye's dragoons had discovered a crossing looking to cover the area with their horse guns as new orders were issued to support the attack of the infantry.

The French assault columns closes on the British position

The French guns do their best to support the attack in the face of a 'canny' British line using the reverse slope

As the French columns pressed they were met by British six pounder canister and accurate skirmish fire from the British light bobs who held firm in front of Bentick's brigade driving back the voltigeurs of the 47me Ligne.

Half an hour into the French advance with the broken ground doing nothing to make things easy for the French attack

The French columns have moved onto the Monte Mero ridge as Warde's Guards brigade are called forward by Moore 

As the battle began to rise in tempo the Guards made their appearance, and with two new formations now on the table, needing changes of orders, the new order die proved perfect for indicating the arrival of the respective aides delivering the new orders and reminding us to test for receipt on the next turn before replacing the die on the Force Morale card.

The 47me Ligne close on Bentick's brigade with both sides light battalions contesting the advance

Meanwhile the pressure builds on Coote Manningham's brigade as the French close, but now opposed by the Guards having advanced into the centre of the British position

As the French dragoons began to deploy on the other side of the Monelos river the second British brigade also managed to arrive setting the scene for the finale of the fight for control of the Monte Mero Ridge.

Having discovered a suitable ford, new orders are issued for the dragoons to attack

Likewise Warde's  Guards brigade are issued new orders to revert from 'reserve' to 'hold' in support of the forward brigades

As in the previous game tests this was very much about proving the concept and checking the timings of various events to set the scene for the final clash.

We came away satisfied with the the set up but with modifications discovered necessary to the orders of battle and some units positioning.

In addition we were able to define the role of our Combined Specialist Light Infantry battalions with some additional rules about their use clarified and to be further tested in upcoming scenarios.

The struggle reaches a climax as the formed infantry closes

The actual battle, saw the death of Sir John Moore and his subsequent burial that night before the evacuation of the troops which began at about 21.00. Sir John Hope who assumed command on Moore's death assessed the losses at seven to eight hundred killed and wounded, with the French estimated to have lost about double that number.

Next up we will be looking at the scenarios designed to model the key actions of the Oporto campaign.

Dedicated to the memory of John P Bowden