Battle of Corunna, Elvina Ridge - Tiny Wargames Played Indoors

Sir John Moore at Corunna - Christa Hook (Osprey Corunna 1809)

If you've been following the recent series of posts by Bill Slavin who is currently working his way through the scenario book O'er the Hills, you might be interested to know that he has now arrived before the Galician port of Corunna in his recent refight of the Battle for Elvina Ridge which captures the key fighting that occurred between the armies of Marshal Soult and Lieutenant General Sir John Moore on the 16th January 1809.

Tiny Wars Played Indoors - Battle of Corunna, Elvina Ridge

Bill's three previous games can be picked up in the link below covering the two scenarios for the Battle of Vimeiro and the Battle of Rolica from the 1808 campaign in Portugal between General Junot and Lieut Gen.Sir Arthur Wellesley.

Tiny Wars Played Indoors - O'er the Hills Scenarios

As with his previous posts, Bill outlines the scenario setup and accompanies his blow by blow account of the battle with pictures of his glorious 1/72nd collection of Peninsular Napoleonics fighting amid his carefully sculpted terrain that really captures the limited line of sight the warriors on the ground would be experiencing amid the smoke and noise of battle.

This is a tough fight for the French under Soult as it was in reality, with a very good British army consisting primarily of veteran first battalions, now refreshed and reequipped after a few days rest by the arrival of the Royal Navy, following their harrowing retreat in the previous weeks across the Galician mountains in winter.

In addition the terrain favours the defence with broken ground making it poor cavalry country and a ridge line offering a ready made defensive position for the British to anchor on and with the French similarly tired and hungry after their long pursuit now in hostile country and very far from any depot.

The battlefield layout with the British to left and the French to the right of picture with Elvina tucked down in the valley between.

However Soult's forces are made up of veterans of Napoleon's Grande Armee who only know victory and have trounced their way through Spain and have chased this British army, taking prisoners all along the retreat route, as the British seemed to be on the verge of falling apart, if it wasn't for a very disciplined rear-guard force holding them at bay.

 

French cavalry, supported by horse artillery, massed on the opposite bank of the Molinos search out a crossing point to try and turn the British right flank 

I remember fighting this scenario several times and with the die rolls for the various British reinforcements and French cavalry finding a suitable crossing over the River Molinos, now in full winter flood, we found every game quite different although all of them were hard fought back and to battles across the valley in front of Elvina.

Massed French columns beating out the pas de charge and supported by artillery advance on the British line

As you can see from this selection of Bill's pictures of massed columns and British lines, together with massed ranks of French dragoons, really capture the drama of his own clash and I was quite exhausted just reading the to and fro nature of the fighting around and in Elvina.

 

Sir John Moore calmly runs his battle

I remember well visiting Corunna on our 2019 Peninsular Battlefield Tour as Carolyn and I drove our way across Spain and Portugal in a long planned retirement holiday taking in these key battle sites and was fascinated by how close to the centre of Elvina the opposing British and French ridgelines are, still clearly identifiable despite now being covered in buildings that have grown up over the succeeding two-hundred years.

The view of the French held ridge from the steps of the church in modern day Elvina, a surviving battlefield veteran itself.
https://jjwargames.blogspot.com/2019/06/corunna-retreat-peninsular-war-tour-2019.html

My local regiment, the 20th 'East Devon's' observe French cavalry crossing the Molinos

British Guards arrive to stem the tide!

Of course any visit to Corunna must include a visit to the last resting place of Sir John Moore in a former gun redoubt on the sea facing city wall overlooking the embarkation point for the British troops after the battle, now a picturesque garden area and from the remembrance poppies laid before it showing it still to be a place of pilgrimage for British visitors to the town.  

Flank Attack at Ventosa , Battle of Vimeiro 1808 - Tiny Wars Played Indoors

 

Mr Bill Slavin, host of the blog 'Tiny Wars Played Indoors', has continued with his adventures into the early years of British involvement in the Peninsular War with his playing of the third scenario from the O'er the Hills scenario book, picking up where he left off in the last game he played, by taking a look at the fighting that occurred out on the British left flank at the Battle of Vimeiro, 21st August 1808 around Ventosa Farm.

This scenario recreates the uncoordinated attack by General Junot's flank columns as the French commander sought to draw in British reserves with his frontal attack at Vimeiro Hill as his flank columns exploited in behind the British ridge line position and was first play-tested to be included in the O'er the Hills book by Steve M and me back in December 2017, where the uncertain arrival and set up of the French columns really emphasised the replay potential of this scenario with one game likely to be quite different from another depending on the slight element of chance that the French arrival could offer better opportunities than those that occurred historically and that the players could make good use of any advantage.

Over the Hills - Play-test, Ventosa

https://standtogames.co.uk/shop/ols/products/oer-the-hills-rules

In addition, this part of the battle was written about by a participant in the fighting there, which I covered in my account of 'A Soldier in the 71st' and is also captured in the header to this post as the wounded piper of the 71st Highlanders piped his comrades into battle.

Prelude to Ventosa, A Soldier of the 71st

If you are catching up with this series of games played by Bill you can follow the links below to his previous two postings covering Vimeiro Hill and Rolica that preceded this game.

Tiny Wars - The Leopard's Debut, Battle of Rolica

Tiny Wars - Vimeiro Hill, Battle of Vimeiro 1808

As with his previous games, the scenario is brought to life with Bill's great tables together with the games being fought in glorious 28mm and the pictures that accompany his report are a delight.

Bill Slavin's representation of Ventosa Farm and the forces arrayed on the hill around the position

As with the previous games, it is really interesting for me to see how these scenarios translate when played by others and the games they generate when compared with our own play-test games and in this case illustrating the potential for the French to have a better day than was the actual case, which keeps it interesting for both parties.

General Solignac's columns close in on Ventosa Farm, little suspecting the British lines awaiting them on the other side of the hill

The Ventosa farmstead is a significant piece of terrain in this little action, allowing the French to anchor their position if not carefully dealt with by the British commander and if the French can withstand the likely British assault on their position allow their follow up column which includes French dragoons to severely embarrass any overcommitted British attack.

French voltigeurs are hard pressed by British counterattacks

Having fought as the British commander in our run through of this scenario and having had the threat  of French cavalry getting in among my extended British lines as French columns bore down in their wake, I read Bill's account of his game with great interest and well remember the adrenalin rush of some of our critical die rolls when reading his account

If you would like to find out how Bill's game turned out and his thoughts about the scenario then just follow the link below for his post and more pictures like those featured here.

Tiny Wars - Flank Attack at Ventosa, Battle of Vimeiro

Enjoy 

JJ

Vimeiro Hill - Battle of Vimeiro 1808 from O'er the Hills at Tiny Wars Played Indoors

Back in December last year I posted a link here to Bill Slavin's blog 'Tiny Wars Played Indoors' as he and friends commenced a playthrough of scenarios from O'er The Hills, starting with 'The Leopard's Debut' covering the Battle of Rolica.

The Leopard's Debut - Battle of Rolica

Bill and I have conversed over the many years that I have been posting to JJ's and I know we share a love of Napoleonics and table-top terrain to create the look of the battles we are trying to recreate and you only need to take a look at the tables Bill turns out for his games to appreciate the effort he puts in to get the look he does and I love that kind of passion for the hobby.

https://standtogames.co.uk/shop/ols/products/oer-the-hills-rules

So I thought you might like to see his second game played following on from the first with the fighting around Vimeiro Hill at the Battle of Vimeiro on the 21st August 1808, which as it was for the French in the historical battle, a very 'tough nut' to crack with Wellesley enjoying interior lines, great observation of the enemy and terrain, including poor cavalry country and reverse slopes to confound the moves of his opponent.

During our several playtests of this particular scenario I seem to recall only one French outright victory, when an audacious infantry attack on Vimiero town itself managed to dislodge the British garrison and then resist all attempts to dislodge them for the rest of the game.

It would seem in this latest run through the French had an equally tough encounter, but able to give a very good account of themselves and Bill outlines some of his own thoughts on tweaks he introduced for his game.

I love this way of playing with history and welcome any other ideas as I would never claim to have all the answers when trying to capture the known facts of these actions into a scenario that gives interest to both sides, despite the factors that weigh in favour of one side or the other; and the best scenarios for me are the ones that offer victory conditions other than the simple binary win-lose options, rather instead challenging the players to do a better job than their historical counterparts faced with broadly similar issues to overcome.

As you can see from these pictures from Bill's game, the look of it is amazing, so if you're interested in this subject, take the time to take a look at Bill's report of how their game played together with loads more eye-candy to accompany the comment.

Tiny Wars Played Indoors - Battle of Vimeiro Hill 21st August 1808

I'm really looking forward to the next instalment where I gather there are plans to play the linked game of this scenario and out on Junot's right flank at Ventosa Hill.

Next up Adventures in Vassal with Richard III

The Leopard's Debut - Battle of Rolica 1808 from O'er the Hills at Tiny Wars Played Indoors

 

One of the best parts of blogging about wargaming is that you get to chat with people interested in the hobby from all over the world and to see the distinctive way they engage with the hobby which can only add to your own insights and view point.

About a week ago I had a very pleasant exchange of emails with an old friend and correspondent with the blog, Mr Bill Slavin, from Canada who hosts the 'Tiny Wars Played Indoors' blog and who has been in touch with me via our shared interest ever since JJ's Wargames got going back in 2012-13.

Bill's games and tables have always grabbed my attention with their rolling terrain and restricted lines of sight from ground level that when seen from the models eye view perspective really seems to capture the problems faced by the metal warriors having to manoeuvre and fight over it that their real life counterparts would have similarly had to deal with, an aspect I have always tried to bring to my own tables.

Bill's rolling terrain with restricted lines of sight seen on the recent refight of the O'er the Hills scenario Rolica 

So I was really interested when Bill let me know about his plans to fight the Rolica scenario from O'er the Hills and to see how his game looked and played, as this scenario really stands out in my mind as a really interesting one to play and one that is completely different from the normal battle line versus battle line that one regularly plays in Napoleonic games.

The battle at Rolica on the 17th August 1808 was fought between Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley commanding an allied army of 14,500 Anglo-Portuguese troops and French General de Division Henri-Francois Delaborde, with a force of about 4-5,000 men, after the former had landed on the 1st of August on the coast of Portugal with orders to secure and liberate the country from a French army of invasion commanded by General Jean-Androche Junot, and the latter having been dispatched by Junot to delay the Allied advance whilst his commander pulled his forces together to resist the advance on Lisbon.

My own picture from the early nineties of the imposing ridge overlooking the plain of Rolica, with equally restricted lines of sight. 

Thus the scenario presents the French commander playing the role of Delaborde with the classic 'withdrawal in the face of the enemy delaying action' that can only be completed successfully by, in this case, doing a better job than Delaborde achieved on the day.

The map of the scenario illustrating the routes of march of the allies taken in Bill's recent replay

Thus, with a limited number of turns to play, the French force will occupy, in battle formation, various defensive terrain features, starting with Rolica Hill, looking to force the Allies to deploy off the line of march to give battle, before deftly pulling back to another feature and setting up to give battle yet again whilst avoiding being embroiled into a drawn out fight and being surrounded and cut off.

See what I mean about those sight lines Bill captures on his tables. The Allies close in on the French rear-guard position.

However the best laid plans can often go wrong under pressure from an advancing enemy in force and with the sound of cannon and musketry together with copious clouds of black powder smoke and the cries of the wounded adding to potential confusion when clear orders and instructions are needed to ensure pulling out from a position is conducted at just the right moment; something the 'orders' mechanism in the Over the Hills rule system models rather well and can lead to some interesting situations for both sides when units don't behave as their masters would have preferred.

Needless to say I smiled and winced with recollecting our own several play-tests of this particular scenario after reading Bill's equally entertaining account of his game, with some twists that seemed to mirror the historical battle that saw the death of a certain Colonel Lake and several of his men of the 29th Foot after a rather disastrous decision taken by him towards its end.

If you are interested in this period and would like to read on to see how the game turned out then just follow the link to Tiny Wars below.

Tiny Wars Played Indoors Blogspot - Rolica August 17th 1808

I have also attached the link to my own set up that Steve and I played during the play testing for the scenario book.

Over the Hills Play-test Rolica, 17th August 1808

And if you are interested in getting a copy of the scenario book O'er the Hills you can get one via Stand to Games in the link below or by clicking on the image, top right.

Stand to Games -O'er the Hills Scenario Book

Thanks to Bill for the 'heads up' on his recent game and the link to his AAR and I look forward to seeing how Vimeiro plays out.

Next Up: The run in to the Xmas holiday starts this week and like most of us I will be looking forward to spending time with family and thinking about plans for the New Year ahead which is likely to hold plenty of surprises if this year has been anything to go by.

So before signing off for the holiday I will be posting a final book review for 2020 before reposting between Xmas and New Year with anything topical and of course an annual year review and look forward to plans for 2021.

More anon

JJ

O'er the Hills, Early Peninsular War Scenarios - Up and Running

Last night the Kickstarter campaign to publish 'O'er the Hills' finished, raising £1,840 against the required £1,500 from 58 supporters of the book. Wow!, I was amazed to see that people who wanted to see the book published hailed from ten countries across the world, from the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and Portugal. Thank you to everyone who backed this publication and I hope you enjoy the read and playing the games presented as much as Steve and I had in putting them together.

I thought in anticipation of the publication I would share some thinking about why this collection looks specifically at the time frame indicated as this has come up in other forums and it might help those that have not followed the blog to get an understanding of my thinking behind it.

The book is very much a culmination of the project started pretty much when the blog did, back in 2012 when I set myself a plan to put together a series of games looking at and recreating the early battles in the Peninsula of Sir Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington.

Followers of the blog have seen the collection and a series of games unfold together with a focused look at the armies involved, their commanders and the individual units that participated in those early battles that reached a crescendo at the Battle of Talavera where Wellesley wielded the largest British army committed to the theatre so far.

Massed ranks of French infantry assault the British line during the Afternoon Attack scenario in O'er the Hills

The battle marks a watershed in the Peninsular War in that it was the last time that the main force British army operating alongside Peninsula allies would fight as a solely British force and that from 1810 onwards, the Duke of Wellington would lead an Anglo-Portuguese army organised in the divisional structure first used at Talavera, but with Portuguese brigades attached to those divisions.

This partly explains the cut off point for this particular book which sets out a series of engagements that I think shows the development of the British component of that Anglo-Portuguese Peninsula Army that Wellington would lead over the Pyrenees in 1814.

Of course the development of that British component was not entirely led by Wellesley and we have the period of oversight led by Sir John Moore who differed form Wellesley in that he never considered Portugal defensible from French incursion and a suitable operating base for conducting a war alongside the Spanish.

The Corunna play-test in full sway

His command was short lived when his plans to operate as an allied contingent alongside the Spanish evaporated as Napoleon carved through the Spanish armies and set Marshal Soult off in pursuit of Moore as he led his army north west towards an evacuation rendezvous with the Royal Navy at Corunna and where his death in battle led to the resumption of Wellesley's command.

The British army depicted in these early battles is very much re-learning battle skills lost since the close of the American War of Independence and grappling with a new drill book imposed following the disastrous campaign in Flanders led by the Duke of York prior to the turn of the century.

After the damaging retreat to Corruna and the shattered army that was repatriated back to the UK, Wellesley was left with a new army largely composed of second battalions and inexperienced troops and commanders as the cream of the British army that survived Corunna was shipped off to another disaster in the fever ridden dykes of the Walcheren campaign in 1809.

French columns thread their way forward through the trees at Casa de Salinas

As Sir William Napier described the poor British rearguard at Casa de Salinas just prior to the main battle of Talavera and the failure to set a proper picket line;

"We were by no means good soldiers in those days!"

Those were the guiding words that I had in mind whilst working on this set of scenarios and, I think, rather defines the British army of this early period that I have chosen to close on Talavera.

Veterans from Austerlitz, Jena-Auerstadt and Friedland

The army that marched back to Portugal after Talavera was quite different from the one that had fought in the earlier campaigns. They had gone 'toe to toe' with I Corps led by Marshal Victor and arguably the most powerful corps in the French Imperial Army at that time composed as it was of veterans from Austerlitz, Jena-Auerstadt and Friedland led by very experienced and capable commanders.

I Corps - Arguably the most powerful corps in the French Imperial Army

The two days of battle had exposed glaring weaknesses and poor command and control and a new realisation on the part of Wellesley about the reliability and capability of his Spanish allies.

The Spanish forces at Talavera - a question answered about their reliability and capability

However at the end of the battle the Anglo-Spanish army were left in control of the field with several captured cannon and casualties inflicted on the enemy that were significant and punishing even when set against the casualties suffered.

The 2/83rd - British infantry in line capable of delivering telling musketry accompanied by an irresistible bayonet attack

In addition the reliability and steadfastness of British infantry in line capable of delivering telling musketry accompanied by an irresistible bayonet attack had been thoroughly proved as a battle winning concept and would haunt French aspirations for the rest of the Napoleonic conflict.

The Portuguese - Relatively untried, but a formidable addition to the new army that emerged in 1810

The British army that would emerge the following year to contest the advance of Marshal Massena into Portugal, supported by relatively untried Portuguese allies operating to the same battle practises, now coupled with a commander free to give battle independently on terrain of his choosing, though not the finished article, was by far a much more potent force than that that had marched along the valley of the River Tagus the previous summer and marks a perfect new paragraph in the career of Wellington, as he now was, and the army that would develop under his leadership.

I hope this little post goes some ways to explaining my thinking behind this collection of scenarios as at first glance the casual reader might think why 1808-09 as a specific period to focus on and why not look across the war as a whole.

By looking at a narrower period in the conflict one is able to get a better feel for the army that was operating at that time and that principal applies equally to the French, Spanish, Portuguese and other minor forces involved.

In addition I have tried to look at some very familiar battles with a different slant and have attempted to model aspects that I wanted to see included that I feel captures the essence of those particular actions very much with the focus on trying to put the players in the 'hot seat', occupied by their historical predecessor who did not have the luxury of balance, points or force selection and had to make the best of the situation as it presented on the day with the forces he had.

My feeling is that playing an historical scenario is all about that comparison between the result achieved historically and that result achieved in the game as a marker of success or failure and there lies the intellectual challenge of this type of game. If in the process we can have some fun and learn to appreciate some of the challenges faced by these warriors from history then we have the basis of a good game.

The final caveat to this however is that I have put these scenarios together based on my own biases, based on the books I have read and the priorities I have chosen to model. I think I am not unusual in joining the ranks of all scenario writers, past and present, in saying, if you don't like something in a scenario, change it, as I certainly would, and if it seems to work and give a better feel for the battle as you see it let us know in the various forums so we can all have a go.

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have got behind this book with their support on the Kickstarter and also the very kind messages I have had from friends, people I know personally and those I have never met in person but have come to know through this blog and who share a passion for the hobby and the period. Those include many friends from the Carnage and Glory community and especially Nigel Marsh who has greatly influenced my thinking around the project as a whole and who provides an excellent computer moderated platform for players who would like to use the book with C&G II.

I should also extend a huge thanks to Adrian McWalter and Quinton Dalton for their input into creating this book and the rules 'Over the Hills' that Steve and I had a lot of fun playing them to. Thanks chaps for a great set of rules and your humorous support and approach to the hobby in general, I look forward to catching up at Legionary.

If you would like to know more about the book, the scenarios, the armies, my approach to the modelling or stuff regarding rules then drop a message on the blog.

Thanks you all and onwards and upwards

JJ

Over the Hills Playtest - Rearguard at Grijo

This final scenario play test carries on where the previous 'Retreat from Albergaria' left off and is designed to allow both to be linked up.

Retreat from Albergaria

General Franceschi skilfully fended off the British pursuit and the French troops marched overnight and up the Lisbon road to join forces with General Mermet's troops positioned in the hills covering the road at the little village of Grijo.

To quote Napier:
The French were posted across the road on a range of steep hills, a wood, occupied with infantry, covered their right flank, and their front was protected by a village and broken ground, but their left was ill placed."

The road leading to Oporto with the village of Grijo astride it

As before, a key responsibility of the French command was to ensure safe passage for Marshal Soult's baggage wagons as well as getting the bulk of the French force safely back across the River Douro and into Oporto to join the rest of the army.

The countryside characterised as rolling hills with small open woods

This second scenario differs in that the Anglo-Portuguese crossed the River Vouga below Albergaria and regrouped before setting off in pursuit of Franceschi, now with flanking columns of infantry looking to cut in behind the French as Wellesley attempted to pin them with a close pursuit using the bulk of the allied army.

The picture below shows the two forces arrayed with the French preparing to move out through Grijo and with Wellesley, two infantry brigades, one of guards and artillery ready to press the French rearguard.

The two armies drawn up with the French holding a ridge in front of Grijo

Now with Mermet's brigade of infantry, Franceschi's force of cavalry and legere posed a significant force to be used to keep the road open and escape via the northern end of the table.

Sir Arthur Wellesley inspects the French position before giving the order to advance

However with two brigades of allied infantry marching to intersect the road at various times through the game the French cavalry would be kept busy trying to stem the allied attacks and allow their infantry and wagons to get clear.

The French drawn up to hold their position as the wagons and other elements prepare to march

This was the last games in our series of play tests and we aimed to play this one right through to completion and it was important to have everything set up ready to go when needed.

Pre-game preparation with all the forces laid out by command and the force morale cards set up

We have got into a set up routine, be the game large or small, and we like to have all the force cards set up with the orders allocated and the dice towers primed for action.

The Anglo-Portuguese set up similarly prepared

The French were tasked with setting up first and then Wellesley could arrange his force accordingly to prepare to attack or move or both depending on the French set up.

All is set and ready to go - turn one

In the last game I played the French, so this time we switched things and I played British to Steve's French.

The 31me Legere are in reserve following their gruelling march from Albergaria the previous day

On observing the French looking to make a fighting stand below Grijo, to allow their wagons to get a good start, I immediately put my battalions into line and moved my guns to the flank, to allow them to rapidly move on to a nearby hill and get a good view of the French sheltering on the ridge line opposite.

Franceschi's cavalry on the flank and able to police the table for the French

The Royal Artillery boys duly did their stuff and managed a few early hits with a bit of plough through onto rear units. With drums beating and fifers playing the redcoats advanced into the attack.

The RFA move on to a nearby hill and open fire on the French ridge as the British line advances

With the British intention obvious the French threw forward their cavalry on their right flank to threaten the British lines, which forced the infantry to push out a couple of squares to cover the exposed flank and slow the attack.

In response to the British move the French throw forward their cavalry to threaten the British flank

Meanwhile two French infantry brigades and the wagons headed off down the road towards Oporto, with Franceschi detaching two squadrons of dragoons to shadow the road as they did.

As the opening shots are traded, the legere escort the wagons along the road to Oporto

As the rearguard started to exchange musketry with both sides light battalions closing, the French force on the road were suddenly faced with several British battalions in column of companies making best speed to cut the road.

These troops were Sir John Murray's KGL and their light bobs, some armed with rifles, soon started to take telling pot shots at the French wagons as the dragoons came across to instill a sense of discretion into the German troops as the legere quickly looked to cover the road from the new comers.

First surprise, General Sir John Murray and his KGL brigade threaten the road

As the French battled to pin down Murray's brigade along the road, the French rearguard started to draw down on its force in and around Grijo as three battalions formed into column and st off to catch up the wagons.

The French are midway through their withdrawal using cavalry to stymie both British threats

Eager to prevent ideas of further withdrawal, the British moved up onto the ridge over Grijo, calling forward the guns to begin a softening up of the French rear units with massed musketry and artillery rounds.

The ground prevented Franceschi's cavalry from intervening and so they pulled back to cover the escape route should the French infantry feel so compelled.

The KGL deploy rapidly with rifle armed skirmishers moving into the woods to attack the French wagon train

The move to bring the dragoons over to cover the wagons had been a good one and so Murray's troops had to content themselves into pouring volley fire into each and every unit that tried to pass their position.

Meanwhile the 1st KGL move towards the road countered by French dragoons in the distance

The French start to draw down on their rearguard in Grijo

With the game past the halfway stage the French were eager to get their force into the second half of the table whilst the British were still looking for Hill's brigade to appear.

The KGL fire starts to cause casualties on the French troops trying to get to the Oporto crossing

The legere battalions were doing a grand job fending off Murray as the first elements of Mermet's rearguard infantry started to pass behind them, and with the wagons almost clear the French could congratulate themselves on a good job so far.

The French dragoons menace any further advance on the road

Then General Hill decided to show up with his brigade coming in from the opposite flank, just behind Grijo.

With their wagons safely withdrawn, the French cavalry hold back Murray's KGL as the French try to extract their rearguard

Suddenly an opportunity presented for the British to snatch a result from a game that was slipping away from them with the bulk of the French force sitting pretty on the road to Oporto.

Wellesley forces the Grijo position as the 1/2nd Guards storm into the village and rout the 2/47me Ligne

Not needing a second invitation, the 1/2nd Guards charged into the little village and smashed the French battalion trying desperately to resist, but breaking in rout after the first shock of combat.

The position around Grijo becomes untenable as Hill's brigade move in to cut off the road and hope of escape

Meanwhile the foot guns sent a few rounds of round-shot up the road to dissuade any French cavalry of thoughts of a rash move to rescue the beleaguered garrison.

Franceschi is stranded as his force looks on at the beleaguered rearguard

With just one move remaining the British brigades moved in to cut off the 47me Ligne from any escape, as Franceschi and Mermet had to settle for a withdrawal less two battalions as part of the bill.

The two battalions of the 47me Ligne fight bravely as the trap closes around them

The 1/16th Portuguese Line join Hill's brigade in the advance to seal off Grijo 

The British main force advance as the Guards close in

Steve's rearguard had lingered a few moves too long and the arrival of Hill's brigade sealed their fate as the first tentative steps backward were being contemplated towards the waiting cavalry.

Sir Arthur Wellesley oversees the taking of the village

General Franceschi prepares his cavalry to withdraw

The game proved to be an interesting challenge to both sides with the French doing an excellent job fending off the early threats to their column and getting the wagons off save a few musket hits, and the attack of the Guards nailing a better result than Wellesley managed by snipping out two battalions that wouldn't feature in the 2nd Battle of Oporto.

The British line advances on both sides of Grijo as the envelopment develops

The 1/2nd Guards mop up in Grijo

We hope you have enjoyed this series of game reports even though I have been frustratingly sparse on the details. I hope to remedy that situation soon.

In the meantime I have made available the play aids we created for these play tests and hope you will find them useful in your own OTH games.

If you want to check out all the posts referring to these OTH play-tests and other related OTH stuff then follow the link below.

Over the Hills

Next up, bows and arrows and Vikings and Saxons.