British Units at Casa de Salinas - 1809

British Units at Casa de Salinas
Division Major General Sir Alexander Mackenzie

Mackenzie's Brigade
2/24th Foot (Warwickshire Regt.)
2/31st Foot (Huntingdonshire Regt.)
1/45th Foot (Nottinghamshire Regt.)
Mackenzie'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

As promised I have put together some pictures of Mackenzie's 3rd Division with Anson's Light Cavalry Brigade as a prelude to playing out this rearguard scenario.

MacKenzie's 3rd Division, with Anson's Light Cavalry Brigade at Casa de Salinas

The map below illustrates the terrain for this scenario

The Casa de Salinas area

The strength and losses figures illustrate the historical cost to these units. The scenario will see if we can model something similar.

Lt. Colonel Rufane Shaw Donkin's Brigade, L-R, 2/87th Foot, 1/88th Foot, 5/60th Rifles, Donkin's Light Battalion

Rufane Shaw Donkin

Strength on the 25th July 1809
2/87th Foot - 599
1/88th Foot - 599
5/60th Foot (5 coys) - 273

Losses (killed, wounded, missing, total) suffered at Casa de Salinas 27th July 1809
2/87th (27/137/34/198)
1/88th (9/25/30/64)
5/60th (3/5/19/27)

Maj. General Alexander Mackenzie's Brigade L-R, 2/31st Foot, 1/45th Foot, 2/24th Foot, Mackenzie's Light Battalion

Strength on the 25th July 1809
2/31st Foot - 733
1/45th Foot - 756
2/24th Foot - 787

Losses (killed, wounded, missing, total) suffered at Casa de Salinas 27th July 1809
2/31st (24/93/2/119)
1/45th (4/14/7/25)
2/24th (1/7/1/9)

Maj. General George Anson's Brigade L-R, 23rd Light Dragoons, 1st KGL Hussars

George Anson

Strength on the 25th July 1809
23rd Light Dragoons - 459
1st KGL Hussars - 451

Losses (killed, wounded, missing, total) suffered at Casa de Salinas 27th July 1809
23rd Light Dragoons (-/1/-/1)
1st KGL Hussars (2/2/-/4)

Next up Spanish, some more Brits and the action at Casa de Salinas

3/45e Regiment de Ligne

The 45e Regiment's involvement in the fighting at Talavera spanned both the 27th and 28th of July 1809 starting on the afternoon of the 27th when Lapisse's 2nd Division, spearheaded Victor's surprise attack on the British rearguard of Mackenzie's 3rd Division caught unprepared for such an attack at Casa de Salinas.

This action was modelled over three plays of the scenario last year and you can pick up the details from the following:
Casa de Salinas- Pre Game Set Up
Casa de Salinas Game One
Casa de Salinas Game Two
Casa de Salinas Game Three

After the sharp action on the 27th the Allied army fell back relatively unmolested on to the selected position resting on the town of Talavera and the 45e Ligne along with its divisional comrades were held in reserve until the afternoon of the 28th July when the 2nd Division formed the extreme left of Victor's I Corps alongside the troops of Sebastiani's IV Corps and opposite the KGL brigades and Cameron's brigade in Sherbrooke's British 1st Division.

The details of the attack by Lapisse's men were covered fairly comprehensively in my post of the 3/8e Ligne.
3/8e Regiment de Ligne

Suffice to say the 45e Ligne alongside the 16e Legere were the lead brigade in the attack with the men of the 45e Ligne directly opposite the 2/83rd of Cameron's brigade.

The French attack by the first line of infantry columns was met with a close range single discharge of musketry followed up by a bayonet charge that caused them to break to the rear and fall back behind the second line of columns.  The Guards and KGL over extended themselves in their pursuit of their beaten enemy and were caught by the second line French counter-attack that, after some desperate moments as the British line looked likely to be pierced, was equally repulsed by the reserves on hand.

This attack marked the high-water mark of the French infantry attacks for the day and the battle subsided as they withdrew that evening.

The losses reported for the 45e Ligne over the two days were 388 men of which three officers and forty-three men were killed and twelve officers, including Colonel Barri, and three hundred and twenty-eight men wounded and two men missing.

My 3/45e Ligne are composed of figures from AB and the battalion fanion is from GMB flags

Colonel Barri leads the three battalions of the 45e Regiment de Ligne

Sources used in this and the other posts on the 45e Regiment de Ligne;
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
The Peninsular War Atlas - Colonel Nick Lipscombe

45th (Nottinghamshire Regiment) Foot - The Old Stubborns

From the cover of Military Modelling February 1982 - Illustration by Richard Scollins
L-R Private, Grenadier Company, 1/88th Foot, Sergeant, Battalion Company, 1/45th Foot,
Officer, Battalion Company, 2/28th Foot with King's Colour

British Units at Casa de Salinas
Division Major General Sir Alexander Mackenzie

Mackenzie's Brigade
2/24th Foot (Warwickshire Regt.)
2/31st Foot (Huntingdonshire Regt.)
1/45th Foot (Nottinghamshire Regt.)
Mackenzie'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

So the 45th Foot completes the forces that made up Mackenzie's 3rd Division, and his 1st Brigade tasked with the rear guard at Casa de Salinas.

In 1741, during the war with Spain, seven new regiments of the line were formed one of which was the the 56th Regiment of Foot. The new regiment was raised by Daniel Houghton, formerly a Captain in the 1st Foot Guards. In 1748, following the peace, several regiments above it were disbanded and the 56th rose to 45th in seniority.

Soldier of the 45th Foot in 1741

The regiment served in the American War of Independence from 1775-83 and on its return to England was billeted in Nottingham where it began rebuilding its strength around the 100 men that returned. With 300 men from the city joining its ranks, the locals petitioned King George III to add Nottinghamshire to the regimental title.

In 1806 the regiment was part of British invasion forces involved in the campaign against Spanish colonies in South America, before returning home and then being sent to join the British expedition to Portugal in 1808, landing at Mondego Bay on the 2nd August 1808. The regiment was destined to be one of those fairly rare British units that would serve in the Peninsular War from the beginning to the end in 1814.

An Ensign of the 45th Foot - 1814

After taking part in the Vimeiro campaign the 1/45th were not brigaded as part of Sir John Moore's army that was eventually evacuated back to England, although it seems that it tried to join him during the retreat to Corunna. Returning to Lisbon, it was part of the British garrison that was available to Sir Arthur Wellesley on his return to the country in April 1809.

In April the 1/45th were joined by several new untried battalions, the 2/24th, 3/27th and 2/31st and brigaded under Major General Mackenzie, forming part of Marshal Beresford's flank force supporting Wellesley's march on Oporto.

The 1/45th by this time were a seasoned Peninsular battalion and did not suffer the attrition that the other younger battalions in the brigade did. Thus prior to the march into Spain in July they had managed to pick up men from hospitals and detachments and increase their numbers for the forthcoming campaign.

In addition the brigade was restructured with the loss of the 3/27th.

The 25th of July found the 1/45th along with its fellow brigade members at Casa de Salinas overseeing the retirement of the allied army onto the Talavera position. General Mackenzie's 3rd Division was set up, as per normal, with his senior first brigade (2/31st, 1/45th, 2/24th) on the right and the second brigade (1/88th and 2/87th) to the left, note the 5/60th Rifles, part of 2nd brigade, were forward of the line on picket duties.

The 1/45th was in the centre of the first brigade when the position was assaulted and was to the left of the three battalions (1/88th, 2/87th and the 2/31st) that met the full force of the attack causing them to break.

Schematic, not to scale, illustrating the positions of Mackenzie's infantry at Casa de Salinas

The French attack consisted, according to Oman, of a Legere battalion (16eme Legere) in line followed by twelve other battalions, presumably in column. Andrew Field states that General Lapisse looking to take full advantage of surprise launched three battalions of the 16eme Legere into the attack before the other troops were up. He goes on to state that the half battalion of the 5/60th was beyond the frontage of the French attack and able to open fire on its flank. The other, the 1/45th, which had fought valiantly at Vimeiro - "a tough old regiment, was never shaken for a moment" - also held the French up while Wellesley and their own officers rallied the routed regiments.

Field goes to say, "Facing these two steady regiments, the French I Corps was introduced to British firepower for the first time. Although the 9eme Legere could not see the engagement, the sound of it in the distance still made an impression". "It was the first time we had heard the noise of an English fusillade..... indeed never had we heard a rolling fire as well fed as that."

Casa de Salinas revealed the inexperience of some of the British troops who had allowed themselves to be surprised even while their commander-in-chief was in their midst.
To quote the Napoleon Series "This misadventure cost the 1/45th, 7 men captured, 4 killed and Lieutenant Colonel William Guard and 13 others wounded".

The following day, during the Battle of Talavera, the 1/45th would suffer the fate of its fellow brigade battalions, being bombarded by French artillery in the morning and taking part in supporting the Guards brigade by bringing the French counterattack to a halt with steady volley fire. They would go on to lose a further 9 men killed, 133 wounded and 13 missing.

Wellington official report of the Battle of Talavera mentions the 45th.
"Upon this occasion the steadiness and discipline of the 45th Regiment were conspicuous". which given his comments and their record outlined above easily explains the nickname gained at Talavera - "The Old Stubborns".

My 1/45th are composed of figures from the Xan British Line infantry range with the two Ensigns and Lt. Colonel Guard from AB. The Colours are from GMB flags.

Sources consulted for this post were:
Military Modelling Magazine Feb 1982
Talavera - Wellington's First Victory in Spain, Pen & Sword Books
http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/45th-nottinghamshire-sherwood-foresters-regiment-foot
http://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1913_BNJ_10_14.pdf
http://www.wfrmuseum.org.uk/
http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/Britain/Infantry/WellingtonsRegiments/c_45thFoot.html

Next up The British 3rd Division at Casa de Salinas, on parade

3/8e Regiment de Ligne

With the completion of the 3/8e Ligne I can now complete the history of the regiment's involvement in the Peninsular War up to Talavera by looking at their involvement in the fighting over the two days of the battle on the 27th and 28th of July 1809.

1/8e Regiment de Ligne
2/8e Regiment de Ligne

I Corps: Maréchal Victor
2nd Division: Général de division Lapisse (6,862)
Brigade: Général de brigade Laplannes
16th Légère Regiment (3 battalions)
45th Line Regiment (3 battalions)
Brigade: Général de brigade Solignac
8th Line Regiment (3 battalions)
54th Line Regiment (3 battalions)

The 8e Ligne were amongst the first French troops to clash with the British as Victor's Corps pursued Cuesta's Spanish Army of Estremadura back towards the Alberche river bridge and as part of the point brigade under General Lapisse achieved total surprise on the afternoon of the 27th July 1809 when, by crossing higher up the stream, they managed to attack the flank of General Mackenzie's 3rd Division acting as rear guard for the allied army at Casa de Salinas (see the map above for where the action happened)

This small battle was covered in the first scenario of our Talavera series of games "Casa de Salinas"

Casa de Salinas -Talavera game one
Casa de Salinas-Talavera game two
Casa de Salinas-Talavera game three

In the actual clash the British troops were driven back in some disorder, suffering some 450 casualties with an estimated loss of just 100 to the French troops involved.

Position of the French and Allied armies before the main French attack on the afternoon of the 28th July 1809

On arriving in their positions facing the British troops across the Portina stream on the Talavera line the troops of General Lapisse's 2nd Division were not to be called upon until the afternoon of the next day, when following Marshal Victor's failed assaults on the Cerro de Medellin on the previous night and dawn of the 28th July, the combined French forces prepared to launch the main French attack of the battle.

Diagram to illustrate the main French attack - Source Field

As Lipisse's 2nd Division formed up for the attack the front line of six battalions was formed by General Laplannes brigade of the 16e Legere and the 45e Ligne The 8e Ligne together with the 54e Ligne formed the second line of six battalions as part of General Solignac's brigade.

The twelve battalions of the division were drawn up opposite General Sherbrooke's 1st Division and their planned attack would cause them to contact the four battalions of KGL infantry and the 2/83rd foot, the left flank battalion of Cameron's brigade (see the map above to show the positions at the start of the attack).

lst Division: Sherbrooke
Brigade: Campbell
l/Coldstream Guard Regiment (970)
l/Scots Fusilier Guard Regiment (l,0l9)
5/60th Foot Regiment (l coy) (56)
Brigade: A. Cameron
l/6lst Foot Regiment (778)
2/83rd Foot Regiment (535)
5/60th Foot Regiment (l coy) (5l)
Brigade: von Langwerth
lst KGL Battalion (604)
2nd KGL Battalion (678)
Det/lst KGL Light Battalion (l co)(l06)
Brigade: von Lowe
5th KGL Battalion (6l0)
7th KGL Battalion (557)

Laplanne's brigade (16e Legere and 45e Ligne) was arrayed in battalion columns but with the columns having just six paces (about 4.5 yards) between them, suggesting no intention to deploy into line. The following battalions of Solignac's brigade (8e and 54e Ligne) were described as formed in battalion mass or close order columns and deployed as such to allow them to move up quickly to exploit any breakthrough gained by the front line.

At 14.00 the French guns opened up a tremendous barrage across the whole British front with nearly all their guns, and with most of the British line in full view the red coats could only lie down and pray.

The barrage lasted a full hour and it wasn't until 15.00 that the divisions of Lapisse  and Sebastiani started their advance. The second line of battalions were kept well behind to act as the reserve, finally stopping behind a stone wall to await the results of the initial attack, but close enough to take advantage of any success.

The Guards brigade were also part of Sherbrooke's division and are seen here in combat with Sebastiani's 28e and 58e Ligne 

An ensign of the 3rd Guards recalled
"The French came on over the rough and broken ground...... in the most imposing manner and with great resolution."

The French skirmishers pushed back the British light troops with ease and crossed the Portina without interference from the silent red line beyond. Sherbrooke's division covered more or less the same frontage as the two French divisions that were advancing against it. General Sherbrook had issued strict orders that the first volley should not be delivered until the French columns were only 50 yards away, and the volley was to be immediately followed by a bayonet charge.

When the French columns approached to within extreme musket range and the expected volley failed to happen, the troops within the advancing columns became more agitated as the range decreased with every step. A French officer described the attack

"The French charged with shouldered arms as was their custom. When they arrived at short range, the English line remained motionless, some hesitation was seen in the march. The officers and NCO's shouted at the soldiers, 'forward march, don't fire'. Some even cried, 'They're surrendering'. The forward movement was therefore resumed; but it was not until extremely close range of the English line that the latter started a two rank fire which carried destruction into the heart of the French line and stopped its movement, and produced some disorder. While the officers shouted to the soldiers 'Forward: Don't fire', the English suddenly stopped their own fire and charged with the bayonet. Everything was favourable to them; orderliness, impetus, and the resolution to fight with the bayonet. Among the French on the other hand, there was no longer any impetus, but disorder and surprise caused by the enemy's unexpected resolve. Flight was inevitable."

The first French line broke and rushed back over the Portina and began to reform behind their second line. The British charge became uncontrolled and swept on after the fleeing French, with only Cameron able to halt his brigade short of the Portina. The Kings German Legion troops began to receive fire from the French guns on the Casajal and were then met by volleys from the 8e and 54e Ligne who then charged with the bayonet and routed the Germans back the way they had come.

General Langwerth seized a Colour and attempted to rally his men and was promptly cut down before he could gather any of them together. As the defeated redcoats fell back from the attack the 16th Light Dragoons moved forward to occupy the ground vacated by their two brigades, allowing the Germans to form in their rear. The KGL battalions were very hard hit in this desperate retreat with the 1st Battalion losing half its numbers (387 men) and the 5th Battalion over 100 men as prisoners alone

It was then that Wellesley seeing the gap in his line and how hard pressed the KGL brigades were, directed the only battalion he felt able to release from the defence of the Cerro de Medellin and hold back the attack of the 54e and 8e Ligne. The 1/48th were still nearly 800 men strong and under Colonel Donellan advanced on the two French regiments and issued "a close and well directed fire" that arrested the French advance. Indeed the first volley was all it took to cause these two regiments to turn and flee back the way they had come allowing the Germans to rally and recover some of their order.

This final action was not without cost to both sides with General Lapisse killed outright and Colonel Donellan falling wounded from a musket ball hit that shattered his knee and would cause his death a few days later. The KGL brigades had lost Langwerth and his two battalions were reduced from 1,300 men to just 650 men at the end of the fighting; Low's brigade was also left with just 600 men losing 350 casualties in the afternoon battle which included 150 prisoners to the French.

As far as Lapisse's division was concerned, they had lost their divisional commander killed together with 1,767 men killed, wounded and missing, the most casualties lost in any of Victor's divisions. The 8e Ligne in particular lost 437 men over the two days of battle, with 44 killed and 393 wounded.

My 3/8e Ligne is composed of figures from the AB range, from Fighting 15's and carry an adapted fanion from GMB Flags.

Sources used in this and the other posts on the 8e Regiment de Ligne;
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
The Peninsular War Atlas - Colonel Nick Lipscombe

Next up the 54e Regiment de Ligne

Casa de Salinas - Talavera, Over the Hills

Yesterday was a a bit different from a normal second Saturday of the month as I would usually have been at the regular monthly club meet up of the DWG.

This month however, clashed with our local show hosted by the Exmouth Wargamers, "Legionary" and so we decided in the main to relocate our meeting to the show by running two games, a 'Pickett's Charge' game in 28mm and my 18mm Napoleonic collection to run a test game of Casa de Salinas 1809 using 'Over the Hills'.

http://legionaryshow.co.uk

Things are still in a bit of a state of upheaval at home but here is all the stuff ready for the game, Saturday morning with bare floor-boards awaiting the new flooring on Monday.

All set up ready to go on Saturday morning

Legionary is a really nice local show and we got to the venue at 9am to have everything ready for 10am and doors opening. As usual the day was a gentle hub-bub of wargamers enjoying themselves, interrupted by old friends popping by to say hello as we got ready to play the game.

Legionary in full swing with happy gamers enjoying the day 

I have been trying out several of my scenarios using Over the Hills recently, including Vimeiro and Barrosa which were reported on at the DWG Blog

http://devonwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/vimeiro-hill-over-hills.html
http://devonwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/battle-of-barrosa-1811-over-hills.html

This would be the first test of the Casa de Salinas scenario which is the first in a series of games that recreates the fighting over two days, 27th-28th July 1809, at Talavara.

The situation is that on the 27th July, at around midday, the last units of Cuesta's Spanish Army of Estremadura made their way back over the River Alberche after a difficult march whilst pursued by the now combined French I and IVth Corps under King Joseph.

Map to illustrate the Casa de Salinas battle site in relation to Talavera

To relieve the tired Spanish troops and allow them to fall back unmolested onto the Talavera position, Wellesley placed the British 3rd Division across a nearby road junction to act as a rearguard against the pursuing French.

With infantry defending the wooded thick undergrowth in front of the deserted Casa de Salinas farm complex and with Anson's Light cavalry brigade covering the open ground to the south, the position looked like a sound one for the British troops to delay the French by at least forcing them to deploy off the march.

The British troops at this stage of the Peninsular War were still relatively inexperienced and a combination of poor picket duty and Marshal Victor's knowledge of the terrain allowed the French infantry to pass over the Alberche further to the north, unspotted by Sir Arthur Wellesley observing other French troops crossing further south from a high tower on the wall surrounding the farm.

The surprise attack developed quickly, catching the infantry of Donkin's brigade (2/87th and 2/88th) sat around on the ground enjoying the shade of the trees in the hot Spanish sun and narrowly missed capturing Wellesley as he sprinted to his horse tethered close to his observation post but having its reins grabbed at by French voltigeurs as he spurred it away. The short fight would leave the British division with 400 fewer men and the French about 100, but would also deliver a hard earned lesson that would not be the last for the British forces in this battle.

The view of the table looking east from the French table edge with the 16me Legere set up in the woods with the 45me Ligne ready to follow them on

The French Order of Battle
General de Division Pierre-Bellon Lapisse
2me Division Divisional
2/6me Artillerie a Cheval 156 men  4 x 6pdrs, 2 x 5.5” Howitzers

General de Brigade Jean Bartholomew Rouger Laplanne
1er Brigade Brigade
1/16me Regiment de Legere 477 men
2/16me Regiment de Legere 477 men
3/16me Regiment de Legere 477 men
16me Voltigeur Battalion 285 men
1/45me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
2/45me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
3/45me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
45me Voltigeur Battalion 285 men

General de Brigade Jean Baptiste Solignac
2me Brigade Brigade
1/8me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
2/8me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
3/8me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
8me Voltigeur Battalion 285 men
1/54me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
2/54me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
3/54me Regiment de Ligne 477 men
54me Voltigeur Battalion 285 men

The view from the western edge with Anson's cavalry set up in the open plain guarding the retreat route of 3rd Division

The British Order of Battle
Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley
3rd Division - Sir Alexander Mackenzie

Lieutenant Colonel William Guard (45th Foot)
1st Brigade Brigade
2/24th Foot (Warwickshire) 708 men
2/31st Foot (Huntingdonshire) 660 men
1/45th Foot (Nottinghamshire) 680 men
Mackenzie's Brigade Light Battalion 228 men

Brigadier General Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin
2nd Brigade Brigade
2/87th (Prince of Wales Own Irish) 539 men
2/88th (Connaught Rangers) 539 men
5/60th (Rifles) 220 men
Donkin’s Brigade Light Battalion 175 men

Brigadier General George Anson Ready
Anson’s Brigade Brigade
23rd Light Dragoons A 230 men
23rd Light Dragoons B 230 men
1st KGL Light Dragoons A 225 men
1st KGL Light Dragoons B 225 men

What follows is a description of our game as it unfolded.

The 2/87th and 2/88th set up in a disordered line to indicate their unprepared order for the French attack

All seemed quiet as the last of Cuesta's Spanish troops trudged past the Casa de Salinas farm and Sir Arthur Wellesley doffed his hat towards his Spanish counterpart as he road into the yard to climb the nearby tower and observe the French pursuit.

The likely hood of any major attack this late in the day couldn't be ruled out but seemed unlikely given the French would be just as tired from their march pursuing the Spanish as the look of the Spanish troops betrayed as they passed by.

Sir Arthur and his Staff in the farm unaware of the approaching French troops

As Wellesley rested his glass on the arched window ledge of the tower he now looked out from, he could see the blue columns snaking their way down the slope of the higher ground on the east bank of the Alberche as the French began to cross on the Talavera road that followed the course of the River Tagus.

The 2/24th and 1/45th of Colonel Guard's brigade with the 'light bobs' forward

He was vaguely aware of the occasional pop, pop of musketry as forward pickets exchanged compliments, but then seemed to become more insistent as suddenly the 60th Rifles of Donkin's brigade were called to arms by the sounding of their bugles and the redcoats turned to look in the direction of the tree line as light infantry skirmish companies suddenly appeared falling back firing at, as yet, unseen pursuers.

GdeD Lapisse oversees the French attack as the Legere move forward in open order

Suddenly massed columns of French Legere charged out from the trees catching the 2/88th as they desperately tried to form line and issue some defensive fire.

Two of the columns kept on coming and the Irish troops fired as they fell back, stopping the attack but only by trading ground.

The 16me Legere were chosen by Marshal Victor to lead this attack

As Donkin's men fought hard to retain their position, with the veteran 60th Rifles managing to repel the attack on them and hold their position in front of the road, more French columns could be seen to their right heading towards Guard's brigade in front of the farm.

Just as French voltigeurs pushed back the British light troops, Sir Arthur Wellesley emerged through the front gates to be greeted by some well aimed shots, one of which seemed to graze the British general's right shoulder as he and his staff spurred their mounts back up the road towards Anson's cavalry.

As Laplanne's brigade moved forward, Solignac's brigade moved up behind and across the road to attack the farm

The clock showed an hour and fifteen minutes had passed since the French attack had begun and both British brigades had recoiled under the ferocity of the attack but had not had any of their units broken; with the 2/88th the seemingly worst affected battalion causing both General's Donkin and Mackenzie to ride over and help steady the new battalion.

Contact as Laplannes Voltigeur battalion opens fire on Donkin's Light troops

The French had also been surprised by the resistance shown by the British troops who didn't seem to behave like Austrians or Prussians and seemed to refuse to acknowledge when they had clearly been bested.

Wellesley rushes for down the stairs of the tower as the scale of the French attack is revealed

At the halfway stage of our scenario both British and French brigades had suffered around half their fatigue allowance lost, but the French had failed to get clear of the trees on their left and the passage of lines added to the difficulty of operating in formed columns in this difficult terrain was only adding to their problems.

The British on the other hand were now well aware of the attack and were busy rallying off the shock and forming their lines in anticipation of the French moving to occupy their former position.

At the halfway stage with just over an hour passed the troops of Donkin's brigade have reeled back beyond the road

On the French left in front of the farm, their commanders could congratulate themselves in forcing Wellesley from the battle slightly wounded and unable to help oversee events from now on.
The terrain though slightly more open was not much better and the French troops were forced to contend with the veteran 1/45th who were more than capable of stopping their attacks.

Solignac's brigade was however in better shape, fatigue wise, than those troops on the right and so lead the attack in the second half of our battle with two columns managing to contact the 1/45th and win the subsequent combat driving the British battalion back into the farm and behind its walls.

On the British right Wellesley has been wounded escaping from the farm and the 45th have been pushed back in the first attack.

With the fighting now in full swing and the volley firing clear to all nearby units, General Anson led his cavalry brigade forward at the trot passing Sir Arthur and his staff as they made their way back towards Talavera.

Donkin and Mackenzie join the 2/88th to rally of the fatigue caused by the shock of the French attack

Now rallied Donkin sought to take the pressure off of Guard's brigade by leading his brigade forward to push the French to his front back into the trees from where they had emerged.

The two sides swapped musketry and the British line seemed to waver only to see their French counterparts turn and rapidly fall back into the trees.

Both sides ready themselves for the final push

Donkin's men were shattered but had seen off the attack to their front and now were preparing to pull back as Anson's men drew near to cover their withdrawal.

The increased musketry in front of the farm revealed the intensity of the battle before it, as Solignac's French brigade pushed hard to break the British to their front only to reel under a crushing volley delivered by the 2/24th as the junior battalion stepped up to relieve the hard pressed 1/45th.

That and the firing from Mackenzies light troops who added to the fire of the line was enough to drive the second French brigade back.

With fatigue levels in single figures for both French and British brigades, Donkin's men hold with just two points remaining

Our game finished with just one turn from the ten in the scenario left to play and both sides had battered each other to a close finish and answered lots of questions I had in my own mind about how to model this little battle within a battle.

The French attack on the farm is suddenly stopped in the penultimate turn as the 2/24th and the light troops deliver telling fire 

Thank you to Bob, Steve M, Ian and Si for being great play test guinea-pigs for the day. The good humour and gaming experience they brought to the table made this a very interesting and exciting game to play through and has contributed hugely to the fine tuning of this scenario.

Also thanks to all those who stopped by the table and said hello during the game. I was able to renew several old friendships during the day and look forward to welcoming new attendees to future DWG meetings.

Thanks also to the Exmouth Wargamers for another well organised Legionary Show which is a real highlight in the calendar for our neck of the woods.