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| The 60th Rifles played a key role in holding back the French attack at Casa de Salinas |
Talavera Plans
So the first scenario to be played is the small rear guard skirmish that occurred at Casa de Salinas as Wellesley covered the withdrawal of Cuesta's army onto the Talavera position. Sir William Napier in his "English Battles and Sieges of the Peninsula" summed up the clash,
"Victor first marched on the Caza de Salinas, a house situated in the plain below. To reach it he had to ford the Alberche and penetrate two miles through the forest, yet the position of McKenzie's division was indicated by the dust, and as the British cavalry had sent no patrols, the post was surprised. England was then like to have lost her great commander, for Sir Arthur, who was in the house for observation, very hardly escaped capture ; for the French charged so hotly that the English brigades were separated, fired on each other, and were driven in disorder through the forest into the open plain. In the midst of this confusion the 45th, a stubborn old regiment, accompanied by some companies of the 60th Riflemen, kept good array, and on them Sir Arthur rallied the others and checked the enemy, covering his retreat with cavalry ; yet he lost four hundred men, and the retrograde movement was hastily made in face of both armies."
The action involved the French division of General Lapisse and the British brigades of Sir Alexander McKenzie, Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin and George Anson. The French forces are already done and so it requires the brigades of Donkin and McKenzie together with the 1st KGL Hussars in Anson's cavalry brigade. These units will then be used in the full battle of Talavera.
So over the next few weeks I will build the balance of British troops required, starting with the 1st KGL Hussars, before rolling out the scenario with a play through.
Division Lieutenant General Sir Alexander McKenzie
McKenzie's Brigade
2/24th Foot (Warwickshire Regt.)
2/31st Foot (Huntingdonshire Regt.)
1/45th Foot (Nottinghamshire Regt.)
McKenzie's Brigade Light Battalion
Donkin's Brigade
2/87th Foot (Prince of Wales Own Irish Regt.)
1/88th Foot (Connaught Rangers Regt.)
Donkin's Brigade Light Battalion
Anson's Brigade
23rd Light Dragoon's
1st KGL Hussars
Sounds like a "close run thing". Not often you see British on the run and getting beasting in wargames scenarios, so it could be an interesting game.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many British players would attempt to form a firing line & tough it out ?
Vince
Hi Vince,
DeleteYes the British troops at Talavera are not the battle experienced army that Wellington would come to rely on in future years. There inexperience is exposed by the veterans in Victor's army here and in the night attack on the Cerro de Medellin where on both occasions the failure to post adequate pickets to warn of any French attack cost them dearly in needless casualties. The challenge will be in managing the problem of rallying troops that have run whilst holding the French attack with the more steadier units. It should make an interesting game.