Talavera - Night Attack, Game Three

"We had already reached two thirds up the height without meeting any enemy when suddenly we received a terrible discharge of musketry, that in an instant caused us to suffer a heavy loss: nearly 300 men and 13 officers, among which our Colonel, my Chef de Bataillon, our two Adjutant-Majors and our two Carabinier captains, in a nutshell, the principle commanders of our two columns were put hors de combat".
Lieutenant Girod 9me Legere

Last night we played the third and final play test of Talavera - Night Attack to test out some final changes to the play. You can follow the progress in developing this game by checking out the previous two play tests.

Talavera Night Attack Game One

Talavera Night Attack Game Two

I think I might have said this previously, but every now and then you play a game that is so good you know you will remember it long after the event and last night's game definitely falls into that category and I am really excited about this scenario with the changes we have made.

As I write this post, I am talking to Tom, who played the British, and we were talking through the game yet again; and I found myself describing the action in terms of two heavy weight boxers pummelling each other on the ropes and with the fans not knowing who was going to go down first.

The table set up with the blinds and table limits in position

So to set the scene, the table was all laid recreating the positions of the troops involved when the men of General Francois Amable Ruffin's division descended into the valley of the Portina Stream at 22.00 hours, 27th July 1809. This was changed slightly with a tighter set up French formation to test the effects alongside a greater risk of misdirection during their approach march (See Game one for the historical set up).

The British on this occasion were commanded by Tom and the French by Mike, both experienced with playing Carnage & Glory II.

All quiet in the British positions, Donkin's brigade, nearest camera, straddle the objective area
(the four ground markers in a square)

As the whole table is now set up, we were using artillery range sticks to indicate the parameters of our table, with the principle objective of showing when a unit had left the battle. This is particularly important as the units are moving in darkness with visibility down to 100 paces (about 75 yards) and a distinct possibility of becoming disorientated and lost.

Turn 1, 22.00 - The view of our area of play in relation to the battlefield as a whole. The French attack formation is much tighter than historically  which was part of the test.

The scenario is designed to recreate the circumstances of the night attack which started at 22.00 on the 27th July and finished with French troops back in their lines by 01.00 on the 28th. The same French troops would be repeating the attempt in daylight at 05.00! You have to respect the abilities of these men.

Turn 4, 23.00 - The French columns approach the lower slopes of the Cerro de Medellin

It was over an hour of careful marching, with Chef de bataillon's desperately trying to keep their columns coordinated as the darkness closed in reducing visibility from 200 to 100 paces.

Despite the concentration, the 3/24me Ligne found itself alone with just the outline of what appeared as friendly columns close by, but that failed to respond to their calls.

Suddenly shouting broke out ahead of their column as shapes in human form could be seen running to and fro and the realisation dawned that they were in amongst the English camp.

Turn 5, 23.15 - First contact, the 3/24me Ligne (unit 196) hopelessly lost "bump" Low's KGL brigade

Off in the darkness to the right of the 3/24me Ligne, the other two battalions of the regiment had by-passed the lines of Low's 5th and 7th KGL battalions and were themselves becoming aware of dark shapes moving about ahead of them.

Turn 5, 23.15 - First contact, the 1/24me Ligne with General Meunier attached contact the 5/60th Rifles of Donkin's brigade

Suddenly firing erupted in the two distinct areas almost simultaneously and was answered in kind by the men at the head of the French columns. With the surprise of their advance now revealed the French officers were keen to take full advantage of the ragged fire coming from the enemy and equally determined not to allow their men to stop advancing to issue fire.

"En avant, Vive l'Empereur" was the shout as the two French columns charged in amongst the KGL and 60th Rifles. Unable to coordinate any sustainable resistance the two British battalions still had the influence of their officers and nco's to enable a withdrawal and to inflict casualties back on the French as they did so.

Turn 5, 23.15 - First contact, British musketry vastly reduced to recreate the surprise factor, the French columns firing at 33% of their strength.

With the first firings issued both sides were on full alert and keen to call on supports to gain control of the situation.

The French regiments had arrived on the forward slopes of the Cerro de Medellin in two distinct groups of three battalions each, with one group caught up in a battle to drive back the four battalions of KGL infantry under Generals Low and Langwerth, whilst another three were taking on the two and half battalions under the command of Colonel Donkin atop the Cerro.

Sadly for General Ruffin, three of his battalions were no where to be seen and the 9me Legere and 24me Ligne were split between the two groups.

Both sides used the experience gained from previous games and commanders attached early 

The tighter set up for the French caused them to arrive in numbers if a little mixed up

Whilst the French were making do with the troops they had in the positions they were in, the British/KGL brigades were desperately trying to slow the advancing French columns by gathering more men into the firing lines as they were hit by successive charges. It was to their credit that although being relentlessly pushed back, the British battalions refused to break and simply established a new line 150 paces back from the previous one and, under the watchful eye of their respective officers. However this could only last for so long as the French were getting the best of every close encounter and men were throwing away their arms and kit as they sought sanctuary away from the fight in the darkness. 

Turn 7, 23.45 - With the KGL and Donkin's brigades giving ground reluctantly, General Hill with Stuart's brigade arrive ahead of time, far right

General Sir Rowland Hill, known and referred to affectionately amongst the men under his command as "Daddy" due to his paternal command style had had a tiresome night. Struggling to get a Spanish general officer to understand that the Spanish were deployed in the wrong place, he suddenly realised that it was his own troops who were in the wrong part of the line and had spent the last hour and a half picking his way through the rear areas working his way past the cavalry and artillery lines towards the silhouette of a hill known locally as the Medellin.

Conversing to General Stuart as the two officers led the troops through the endless olive groves with the pleasant sound of chirruping cicadas accompanying their progress. The Generals turned their gaze to the hill ahead as the sound of musket volleys split the night. 

"General Stuart, ready the men, I expect it's the Old Buffs annoying the French by getting lost, but after the night I have had let's not take any chances"

Donkin's men are pushed towards the back of the objective, as the KGL fight desperately ahead of them to their right

It was 23.45 when Colonel Rufane Donkin checked his pocket watch. His men had recovered from the initial shock of finding French troops  in among their lines and had been fighting desperately to stem the French advance. His men were badly disorganised with companies mixed up taking commands from officers and sergeants they didn't recognise. His soldiers could still shoot straight and would rally to the colours, but without a chance to break contact and reform he knew it was only a mater of time before they would break and be driven off.

Suddenly the 2/87th fell back leaving the 60th Rifles, only about 200 men strong, and the 1/88th to hold the line. Donkin rode along his ragged line as the Connaught Rangers braced themselves for yet another French charge calling out encouragement to hold their fire as he passed. Suddenly a voice from behind caught his attention "Well done 60th, well done the 88th, hold fast, the second division are here to lend a hand if you will allow us".

Colonel Donkin turned in the saddle, "Good evening General Hill, your assistance would be greatly appreciated"

With the 2/87th (Donkin's brigade) reforming after being pushed back, General Hill lends a hand as he direct Stuart's brigade forward

The arrival of General Hill with Stuart's brigade, fifteen minutes ahead of schedule (historically Hill arrived around midnight so we had a variable arrival time set at half an hour either side of that time) threw a life line to the beleaguered British defence. The French forces were tiring, but the British were in a worse state and showed no sign of being able to turn the relentless assault back. For them it required them to stand for at least another half hour as Stuart's battalions replaced them on the front line, able to deliver their steady massed musketry. Equally the French were determined not to allow that to happen by breaking the front line British brigades and cementing their control.

It was now that the missing three French battalions threatened the success of the attack as their fresh troops were sorely missed

Turn 11, 00.45 - Low's KGL are finished and reluctantly surrender the ground allowing the French to "mop up"

The 9me Legere and 24me Ligne with General Ruffin and Meunier in close attendance focused their attention on Donkin's brigade. The charge when it came drove the 2/87th out of the line and managed to catch the 5/60th Rifles in open order trying to evade, wiping out half the unit as they broke back behind the 1/88th.

The 88th held their ground issuing the best volley of the night from the original defenders and grudgingly giving ground as the French infantry stopped to reform.

Donkin's brigade (nearest camera) and Langwerth's KGL get a respite as the 29th and 1/48th (Stuart's brigade) move through them to take up the fight with the 24me Ligne and 9me Legere

With the end of game approaching at Turn 10, 00.30, and with two turns remaining, the game was finely balanced but looking like a French victory with the British force teetering on an army morale collapse at 78% and the French, battered and bruised, on 82%, but dominating the crest of the Cerro de Medellin.

(Army morale is calculated continuously in C&G as it assesses the effects of casualties and fatigue on the forces and is deemed to collapse when it drops below 75%. The effect is to cause a rapid break down in the morale of units, if players press on regardless. Thus it makes a good victory test parameter.) 

Stuart's brigade in a line move up to contest a tired French force occupying the summit, as Donkin and Langwerth try to hold their battered brigades together

With the successful attack on Donkin's brigade the French looked set to break the 1/88th with just one more charge. The two KGL brigades had fought themselves into the ground and Low's men dispersed into the olive groves to evade capture. General Stuart's brigade was now tantalisingly close to engaging the forward French columns but needed one more turn to make their effect felt.

As if anticipating the impending British counter-attack, the French columns shook out into line occupying the objective area and the General officers attaching to the forward battalions. They were confident of dealing with the shaken and disrupted 1/88th with fire power alone, and needed to break them to avoid a stand up duel with the 29th, 1/48th and Battalion of Detachments.

Turn 11, 00.45 - Fire! A crashing volley vomits on to the forward French battalions causing French soldiers of all ranks to fall

The final confrontation when it came had everything to play for, with the British on 76% army morale and the French on 80%. The three British battalions of Stuart's brigade were imperious as their first volleys let fly dreadful carnage on the French battalions with two of them breaking under the attack and General Ruffin falling mortally wounded from a shot to the head and General Meuniers aide killed outright. Even the 1/88th seemed galvanised by the British fire to stand its ground and add its own trifling volleys as an applause.

Despite their enormous casualties in the preceding turn, even the 60th Rifles seemed rejuvenated allowing them to rally behind the line of redcoats.

The French return volleys only emphasised the difference between these fresh reserves taking on the now very tired French assault battalions who had been marching and fighting for nearly three hours.

And then the game was over, the rally phase revealed the damage done to the French force and left only the end of battle check to establish the victors given that both sides were still contesting the objective at game end.

Imagine our surprise to see that, not unexpectedly, the added casualties and another turn of combat had tipped the British force into an army morale collapse situation at 65%, but that the massed British volleys had also tipped the French into a similar predicament at 74%. The British would reoccupy the Medellin, but both armies would be licking their wounds overnight.

Now that it what you call a Pyrrhic victory!

As the crashing British volley opens up along the line, General Ruffin is mortally wounded with a shot to the head

The butchers bill at the end of Turn 12, 01.00

Carnage&GloryII - Napoleonic Tactical System Module - © 2001-10, Nigel P. Marsh
Talavera Night Attack
End of Game Turn: 12

[D] denotes Dispersed and removed from the field
[W] denotes No Advance
[R] denotes Halt or Retire
[Y] denotes Routing

Division Rowland Hill - Defend
[ 512] Major General Rowland Hill - Active B- [950 paces]

Brigade Ernest Baron Langwerth - Defend
[ 510] Brigadier General Ernest Baron Langwerth - Active B- [350 paces]
[ 519] 1st KGL Line Battalion 0/ 604 C- [sk]
[D] [ 520] 2nd KGL Line Battalion 125/ 553 C- [sk]

Brigade Sigismund Baron Low - Disengaged
[ 511] Brigadier General Sigismund Baron Low - Active C+ [450 paces]
[D] [ 522] 5th KGL Line Battalion 65/ 545 C- [sk]
[D] [ 523] 7th KGL Line Battalion 72/ 485 C- [sk]

Brigade Richard Stewart - Defend
[ 514] Brigadier General Richard Stewart - Active B [450 paces]
[R] [ 529] 29th Foot 46/ 552 C+ [sk]
[ 530] 1/48th Foot 27/ 780 C- [sk]
[R] [ 531] 1st Battalion of Detachments 42/ 567 C- [sk]

Brigade Rufane Donkin - Defend [No Advance]
[ 516] Colonel Rufane Donkin - Active B- [350 paces]
[ 537] 2/87th Foot 24/ 575 C- [sk]
[ 538] 1/88th Foot 35/ 564 C- [sk]
[ 539] 5/60th Rifles 98/ 175 B- [sk]

Strengths:
losses/active
534/ 5400 Bayonets
534/ 5400 Total of all arms
16 Standards present

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Talavera Night Attack
End of Game Turn: 12, 01.00

[D] denotes Dispersed and removed from the field
[W] denotes No Advance
[R] denotes Halt or Retire
[Y] denotes Routing

Division Francois Amable Ruffin - Attack
[ 105] General de Division Francois Amable Ruffin - Mortally wounded D+ [650 paces]

Brigade Claude-Marie Meunier - Attack [No Advance]
[ 106] General de Brigade Claude-Marie Meunier - Active B- [400 paces]
[R] [ 191] 1/9me Regiment de Legere 309/ 278 C [sk]
[ 192] 2/9me Regiment de Legere 0/ 587 C [sk]
[ 193] 3/9me Regiment de Legere 39/ 548 C- [sk]
[D] [ 194] 1/24me Regiment de Ligne 186/ 401 C [sk]
[ 195] 2/24me Regiment de Ligne 0/ 587 C [sk]
[ 196] 3/24me Regiment de Ligne 15/ 572 C- [sk]

Brigade Pierre Barrois - Attack [No Advance]
[ 107] General de Brigade Pierre Barrois - Active B [450 paces]
[R] [ 199] 1/96me Regiment de Ligne. 135/ 452 C [sk]
[Y] [ 200] 2/96me Regiment de Ligne. 193/ 394 C [sk]
[ 201] 3/96me Regiment de Ligne. 0/ 587 C- [sk]

Strengths:
losses/active
877/ 4406 Bayonets
877/ 4406 Total of all arms
3 Standards present

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Talavera Night Attack
Pyrrhic victory for the French Army
End of Game Turn: 12, 01.00

The British Army has suffered losses of:
[ 35%] 2117 men of all arms
including:
[ 7%] 417 dead and wounded
[ 26%] 1583 missing
[ 1%] 117 prisoners
[ 35%] 2117 bayonets
Honours: [ 538] 1/88th Foot

The French Army has suffered losses of:
[ 31%] 1672 men of all arms
including:
[ 14%] 777 dead and wounded
[ 15%] 795 missing
[ 1%] 100 prisoners
[ 31%] 1672 bayonets
Honours: [ 191] 1/9me Regiment de Legere
Losses include 1 General[s]:
[ 105] Francois Amable Ruffin - Mortally wounded

Well played by Mike who as General Ruffin, kept pushing and pushing only to be cruelly shot down in the final attack and well played by Tom who spent the evening moving his general officers about in a desperate struggle to keep his army in the fight. As the observer it was a great night's entertainment with a big surprise to end and the pleasure of knowing we have produced  a really good scenario.

Next up the 4th "Queens Own" Regiment of Dragoons

Westphalian Light Horse Regiment (Westphalian Lancers)

The Westphalian Light Horse Regiment or Lancers were part of the Westphalian contingent supplied to meet Napoleon's demand for allied troops for his invasion of Spain with the infantry crossing into the country from Perpignan on the 5th of May 1809.

The cavalry operated separately from the infantry entering Spain with three squadrons under the command of Colonel Karl Cristoph Wilhelm Hildesheim, in November 1808 as part of Maupetit's brigade in IV Corps commanded by Marshal Lefebvre;

French 4th Corps in the Tagus Valley, Mid-December 1808
General Maupetit
5th Dragoon Regiment (30/430)
Westphalian Chevauxleger Regiment (28/400)
Dutch Chasseur a Cheval Regiment (l6/320)
Source:Balagny, Campagne de l'Empereur napoleon en Espagne (l808-l809)

In January 1809 the regiment stayed near Madrid and the Tagus valley as part of Beumont's brigade attached to I Corps under Marshal Victor;

I Corps: Maréchal Victor, 1 February 1809
Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade Beaumont (1,386)
2nd Hussar Regiment
26th Chasseur à Cheval Regiment
Westphalian Chevauléger Regiment
Source: Oman

In June 1809 the regiment goes back to IV Corps now under General de Division Sebastiani, joining General Ormancey's brigade in Merlin's division.

IV Corps: Général de division Sebastiani - 28th July 1809 at Talavera, source Oman
Cavalry Division: Général de brigade Merlin (1,188)
Brigade: Général de brigade Strolz
10th Chasseur à Cheval Regiment
26th Chasseur à Cheval Regiment
Brigade: Général de brigade Ormancey
Polish Lancer Regiment
Westphalian Chevauleger Regiment

In the time period from its entering Spain up to Talavera, it is little engaged  taking part in a small action on the 11th March 1809 at Hynojola when Victor and I Corps are starting to move up the Tagus valley to support Soult's operation in Portugal. They are recorded as having just five wounded..

Their next action is Talavera where they are primarily in reserve with the rest of the cavalry just suffering two wounded during the day.

Westphalian Chevau-legers of the line, illustrated on the left, figures 1a-h from Histofig

http://empire.histofig.com/Chevau-legers-lanciers.html

General de Brigade Ormancey with his two lancer regiments

My Westphalians are composed of French line lancers from AB, not a perfect alternative but pretty good. As you will see the late surtout (tunic) of the lancers is not quite right and I had to file off the turban carried on the lancers helmet to capture the look of the Westphalian model. The trumpeter is a lancer trumpeter with a suitable head transplant.

I have given my regiment four squadrons to cater for those occasions when I may want the extra figures, but for Talavera they will field just the three. The "Lancer Brigade" under Colonel (General de Brigade) Ormancey will make an imposing sight sat behind the serried ranks of French infantry and should help keep the British commander honest by not wanting to see these chaps wading in among any disordered redcoats.

Other sources consulted for this post;
Charging Against Wellington - The French Cavalry in the Peninsular War 1807-14, Robert Burnham
Sir Charles Oman's orders of battle.

Next up, the British Heavies, starting with the 4th Queen's Own Regiment of Dragoons, followed by the 3rd Prince of Wales Regiment of Dragoon Guards, plus the final play test of the "Night Attack" scenario

Wargame Bloggers Quarterly

Just a note to let you know that the free E-magazine "Wargame Bloggers Quarterly" is now out.

Wargame Bloggers Quarterly Volume 1, Isuue 4

The purpose of the WBQ is to help promote wargaming and miniature painting and ensure that the best material generated by participants in the hobby is available to the wider community in the long term.

These principles chime very well with what I want "JJ's Wargames" to be all about and so when I read issue one, last year, I was very keen to get involved.

So I am really pleased to let you know that among five other great articles is my own submission outlining the plans and progress on the current Talavera project. I have to say that the picture quality is stunning and a tribute to the editorial team. 

Talavera - Attack on the Pajar de Vergara

The attack of the German Division reaches a crescendo yesterday at the Devon Wargames Group

Yesterday was a day of firsts at the monthly meeting of the DWG.

I was presenting the first play-through of my new scenario recreating the fight for the Pajar de Vergara, with the first roll out (quite literally) of my new 6 x 4 foot Terrain Mat (my travelling mat) using a new set of paper based rules we were trying out (don't worry C&G fans, I will be re-running this scenario using my preferred rules later on) and the first game using my Germans and Spanish collection

Much fun was had by all and if you would like to know how the game went and see more pictures then pop over to the DWG blog

http://devonwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/talavera-attack-on-pajar-vergara.html

Intelligence Officer in the Peninsula, Letters & Diaries of Major the Hon Edward Charles Cocks 1786-1812 - Julia Page

Back in January I reviewed "Inside Wellington's Peninsular Army 1808-14" by Rory Muir et al.

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/inside-wellingtons-peninsular-army-1808.html

One chapter in the book that really fired my interest to read more about was Robert Burnham's, covering British Observing Officers; that intrepid group of young men who provided Wellington with a British military input to the intelligence gathering network he established. These men were often to be found operating close to the enemy, very often behind their lines, liaising with Spanish and Portuguese guerrilla fighters and locals, reconnoitring the ground and the state of enemy forces, assessing their intentions and providing a continuous flow of information back to the British HQ.

The very nature of their role meant that they had to write their observations down to send them back, but unfortunately not many of these reports have survived the passage of time. The one major exception being the journal of Major Edward Charles Cocks who kept copies of his reports and letters that provide an amazing insight into the role of these men and the often hazardous nature of their work. Julia Page wrote this book back in 1986 and produced a painstakingly chronologically chaptered record of Cocks' service up until his untimely death in 1812 at the siege of Burgos.

A Glimpse of the Enemy 1808 - William Barns Wollen
(Officer and trooper of the 16th Queen's Light Dragoons, Cocks' own regiment).

National Army Museum Online Collection

The book starts with a Foreword from the late great gentleman, Dr David Chandler, who highlights the importance of this book in shedding light on an often neglected aspect of intelligence gathering in the Peninsular War, I would also add "The Man who Broke Napoleon's Codes, the story of George Scovell" by Mark Urban would also fall into this category. I did a brief summary about the latter back in December 2012.

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/peninsular-war-book-review.html

He remarks on Cocks' prosaic style of writing rather than, as he puts it, the colourful narrative (however exaggerated) of Marbot or Harry Smith. I really liked this more matter of fact reporting style and found his series of letters to family and journal records, to the point and factual, as he saw things, with a helping of notes added to his writing explaining his thoughts on a particular matter.

Chandler also highlights the great esteem and affection Wellington had for this highly gifted and educated subordinate officer, and notes the grief Wellington revealed on his death when, at the graveside, he turned to General d'Urban and remarked that 

"..... had Cocks outlived the campaigns, which from the way he exposed himself was morally impossible, he would have become one of the first Generals in England."

and, as he points out, the future Great Duke was not a man who made such comments lightly.

The book then starts with an Introduction by Page setting the family background, leading up to him joining the army, despite his being born with and having to manage clubfeet, having to wear splints up until three years of age to overcome the worst of the condition.  

Cocks took soldiering seriously and was a conscientious student of his profession, always reading and looking to learn. He writes home during his service asking for various books to be sent out and provided a stark contrast to the stereotypical British officer as the gentleman gifted amateur. His library is listed in Appendix B and includes Jomini "Traite de la Grand Tactique", de Saxe "Reveries", "Histoire de Cartes dernier compagnie de M. de Turenne, published 1782" plus Walton's "History of English Poetry" and Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" amongst others. 

After the war Cocks and his work risked fading from the living memory as the veterans of the conflict, who knew him passed, leaving tantalising references to his daring career. Men such as Stapleton Cotton, his direct commander and supporter in the higher command echelons and William Tomkinson, a brother officer, who served with him in the 16th Light Dragoons and whose own diary (The Diary of a Cavalry Officer, 1809-15) later appeared in print mentioning their joint exploits and a moving tribute when his comrade was killed. 

In an effort to secure his place in the history of the conflict, the family passed his eleven volume diary and 138 Peninsula letters to Napier in the hope that he might use them for his history, only to have them referenced in the index to it.

Page then summarises the importance of his journals being, as she says, an extraordinary record of daily occurrences, topographical detail and a continuous discussion on the war, in which Cocks debates tactics, comparisons with previous ancient and modern campaigns, questioning the decisions of the various commanders.

The book then presents a sequence of journal inputs in date order together with letters home covering in, twenty four separate chapters, the dates 18th September 1808 to 8th October 1812. This period captures the British involvement in the Peninsular War right up to its turning point in favour of the Allied cause. These notes cover the important campaigns of Oporto, Talavera, Andalusia and Cadiz, Operations on the Coa, Busaco, Torres Vedras, Fuentes d'Onoro, Badajoz, Cuidad Rodrigo and the Salamanca campaign which ended with Cocks' death at Burgos. These chapters are interpersed with a summary of the events being described together with Cocks' own descriptive diagrams, plus period drawings and simple maps illustrating where the key towns and villages were in relation to one another as mentioned in the text.

The journal chapters are followed by six Appendices looking at specific aspects of Cocks' work and reporting, covering his descriptions of Gibraltar and its defences, his library, observations on the tactics of piquets and attacking small parties of the enemy, his list of guns used in the siege of Badajoz in 1812, together with his journal records of the siege and his military thoughts section that he started to write in the journal from August 1811.

There is then a full and complete list of sources, references and index.

To give you an idea of the way Cocks writes and discusses his observations I thought I would pull out a few of the entries to give a flavour of the book.

The first quote comes from Cocks' observations of the squadron of KGL Hussars who were working with his own 16th Light Dragoons whilst covering the French along the River Coa as they lay siege to Cuidad Rodrigo.

9th July 1810 - Encampment near Fuente de la Conception

"We are acting here with some German Hussars. Though I have not a very high opinion of the infantry belonging to the German Legion, yet I must bear the most unqualified testimony to the courage, skill, zeal and marked good conduct of the cavalry - the fact is, the first are foreigners of all descriptions and exactly the same species of troops except being finer men, as the French armies - the cavalry are old Hussars, almost all Hannoverians, and many of them men of great respectability. These men are perfectly to be depended on and understand outpost duty better, and take care of their horses than British dragoons."

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/1st-regiment-kings-german-legion-hussars.html

With Massena, VI and VIII Corps entering Portugal via Almeida and Reynier's II Corps approaching Guarda from the south west, Wellington had to guard against the French army advancing on Lisbon south of the Mondego via Coimbra or, the less likely route because of the poor roads, north via Viseu. 

Eventually Massena would rendezvous with Reynier at Viseu on the 19th of September, north of the Mondego allowing Wellington to bring his army together at Bussaco blocking the road to Lisbon. 

Officers like Cocks were vital in Wellington's plan to keep an up to date picture of where the French spearheads were and where they were heading, so he could preempt their movements with movements of his own army. The following extract is highly illustrative of this process in action and benefits from a detailed record of events made by Cocks.

6th September 1810 - Wellington issues instructions to Cotton;

"I wish you would strengthen the party on Guarda and get Cocks to go out to the front towards Sabugal and discover what they are about; whether they have really moved cannon from Almeida by Sabugal; whether it is cannon of a heavy calibre; whether the troops of Ney's corps have moved that way; and let me know the number of any regiment that has marched and I shall know to what corps it belongs."

Map illustrating Massena's invasion route and showing the map area illustrated below

9th September 1810

"I patrolled by Villa Mendo, Marmeliero to Villa de Toro. My intention was to go on, either in the direction of Alfayates or Sabugal ... but at Villa de Toro I saw 300 infantry and some dragoons entering Pega, about half a mile from me. This was at 1pm. I learnt from the peasants that the enemy entered Alfayates (Alfayates not shown on the map) in force yesterday and marched from thence this morning. As it is three leagues*(12 miles) from Alfayates to Sabugal and four (16 miles) from thence to Guarda, I had no idea the enemy would advance beyond Pega today and had some idea  of waiting at Villa de Toro to see if more came. Thinking it, however, of consequence to give immediate information to Lord Wellington, I returned to Guarda at the trot. As I passed the woods near to Adao I heard a drum, I had not been in Guarda above an hour when, at half past four, the head of the enemy's column appeared in sight, they marched seven leagues (28 miles) without halting. There were 800 infantry and 50 cavalry ... but when my piquet began to skirmish they fell back and the infantry pushed forward."

*1 league is about 3.5 to 4 miles

Map from the book covering the area above showing the villages and towns in the area

Period map showing Alfayates (spelt Alfaiates) in relation to Sabugal

An observation by Cocks of French cavalry in combat whilst covering the retreat to the lines of Torres Vedras.

9th October 1810 - covering the retreat to Torres Vedras

"At nearly 12 o'clock I received a report from Captain Linsengen that the enemy was driving in him and unfortunately , in endeavouring to bring off a man whose horse was killed , he allowed the enemy to press to close to him. 31 French Houssards were sabred but he lost 15 or 16 men and horses besides, some wounded, and driven in on me in great confusion with the enemy close in his rear.

I formed my squadrons off the road, on the brow of a hill, and threw out some skirmishers. The enemy, however, came on so fast that I found it necessary to charge, and drove them back twice but the Hussars (1st KGL Hussars), whose horses were quite tired were unable to support me and we were ultimately overpowered. Many of the enemy were cut down and two prisoners brought off and three or four horses, but we lost three men and six horses.

Note: When they have the worst of it the French cavalry have a way which must not be allowed. They cry for pardon but still keep galloping to the rear, or perhaps throw themselves on the ground, and it is impossible to get the prisoners off when you are certain of being attacked yourself by a superior force. We are obliged to cut down or shoot several who did this..."

Whilst occupying the lines of Torres Vedras a cavalry officer had time to arrange for new equipment to replace old and ineffective items.

22nd December 1810, Malhaquejo - Letter to Thomas Somers Cocks Esq.
"...would you order me a new hussar saddle with accouterments complete, from Whippy........I wish the pads for the valises to be made very large and fixed to the saddle. The saddle is to be strong, roomy and extremely high in the withers......
Third would you order a new helmet from Hawkes. I wish it to be very light and very low. If he has forgot my measure then there is an old hat of mine at Cavendish Square. 
Fourth a new sabre and belt from Prosser. It should be roomy in the handle and not too heavy at the point. Will you be so good as to have it proved. My present sabre is a very bad one. It should be too broad at the point. I have no particular liking for Prosser and if you know any cutler esteemed better it would perhaps be desirable to employ him. I do not like the handle roughed with fish skin. 
Fifth, four pairs of new hussar boots, not open, from Gilbert, three pairs of laced half boots with spurs to them all.
All these things will make a pretty good package and had better be sent out together. I know I need to apologise to you for the trouble I am giving you. 
The only thing I want more are a few books, would you send me these.......

I hope from these extracts you can see the fascinating detail revealed in Cocks' writing and I came away with a very clear idea about the life of a young cavalry officer working on the front line day to day and the details of his observations as well as the routine issues of command and maintaining oneself on campaign.

I really enjoyed this book written by an obviously intelligent thoughtful young man who took his chosen profession of soldiering seriously and studied and wrote about his and others experiences with a view to capturing the lessons they illustrated. In addition the book revealed a young man interested in the other aspects of life, in his descriptions of the country, the people and the beautiful girls he encountered on his travels.

A very good read - recommended.

1st Vistula Legion Lancer Regiment, later the 7th Lancers

If you ask any student of the Peninsular War to name some famous cavalry units that come to mind, the Vistula Legion Lancers are bound to be included in the list. They would immortalise their part in the history of the war in company with the 2nd and 10th French hussars by the destruction of Colborne's British infantry brigade at Albuera in 1811; taking advantage of a fortuitous down pouring of rain that masked their approach and defeating any attempted defensive musketry as they took the 1/3rd (Buffs), 2/48th and 2/66th Foot in the flank, destroying the three battalions, with the 2/31st Foot just managing to form square and save itself, and almost turning the battle. However as the regiment took post at Talavera, all this lay in the future.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Albuera

The Vistula Legion was the second component of Polish troops that served in the Peninsular War, with the Legion infantry and lancers serving separately from the troops of the army of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw.

The 1st Vistula Lancers entered Spain with the other units of the Legion in June 1808 with four squadrons and a strength of 717 men under the command of Colonel Jan Konopka as part of Marshal Lannes Corps that was sent to lay siege to Saragossa where Colonel Konopka was wounded.

In August 1808, following the Spanish victory over Dupont at Bailen and the eviction of Junot's Corps from Portugal,  Napoleon realised that the situation in Spain would require his personal attention and the army as a whole was reorganised for the second invasion. This reorganisation found the Vistula Lancers attached to III Corps under Marshal Moncey as part General Watier's cavalry brigade:

III Corps: Maréchal Moncey - 15th November 1808, source Oman.
Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade Wathier
3/1st Provisional (13th) Cuirassier Regiment (7/101)
1st Provisional Hussar Regiment (24/237)
2nd Provisional Hussar Regiment (20/216)
Cavalerie de Marche (12/28l)
Polish Lancers (33/674)

III Corps played a leading role in Napoleon's assault on the River Ebro and the second siege of Saragossa in 1809.

January 1809 brought more changes in the organisation of the French forces with Napoleon realising his need to prepare for a coming war with Austria and the Vistula Lancers found themselves briefly attached to General Lasalle's Light Cavalry Division with the 9th Dragoons as part of Montbrun's cavalry brigade based at Talavera. However this new division only lasted a month as three of its generals left for service on the Danube with the Emperor between January and March and with Lasalle himself recalled in April.

In February 1809, the regiment was back under the command of General Watier as part of III Corps under General Junot, who replaced Marshal Moncey during the second siege of Saragossa on the 29th January 1809 seeing the city surrender, after an epic struggle, on the 20th February.

III Corps: Général de division Junot - 1st February 1809, source Oman.
Cavalry Brigade: Général de brigade Watier (1,652)
13th Cuirassier Regiment
4th Hussar Regiment
Polish Lancer Regiment
1st Provisional Hussar Regiment
1st Provisional Light Cavalry Regiment

In April 1809, the regiment was reassigned to General Ormancey's Light cavalry brigade part of Merlin's division in IV Corps commanded by the recently appointed General Horace Sebastiani and operating south of Madrid. It would be under this command that the regiment would be present at Talavera.

IV Corps: Général de division Sebastiani - 28th July 1809 at Talavera, source Oman
Cavalry Division: Général de brigade Merlin (1,188)
Brigade: Général de brigade Strolz
10th Chasseur à Cheval Regiment
26th Chasseur à Cheval Regiment
Brigade: Général de brigade Ormancey
Polish Lancer Regiment
Westphalian Chevauleger Regiment

The brigade commander, Colonel, Baron Francois Leon Ormancey was one of the older officers commanding in the army at 53 years old and would not be confirmed as a General de Brigade until the following year being the second oldest colonel to be promoted among all Peninsular cavalry generals. The average age of a newly promoted General de Brigade was 37 years old.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_L%C3%A9on_Ormancey

The regiment was in reserve to the division for most of the day briefly relocating in the afternoon to support French manoeuvres in the northern valley. They suffered casualties of just two wounded, reflecting their passive posture during the battle. They would certainly vent any frustration from their first meeting with the redcoats two years later, but that, as they say, is for another day.

Lancer dress, top right and sheepskin cloth,bottom right. Note the plain fronted Czapka, quite different from the GDW Uhlans

Trumpeter, top right, and the red and white lance pennon used in the Peninsular War bottom right

The illustrations above are from the excellent resource that is Histofig
http://empire.histofig.com/-Les-legions-polonaises,183-.html

My Vistula Lancers are composed of figures from AB using the Grand Duchy of Warsaw range of Uhlans. The Vistula Lancers portrayed by AB have them using pointed shabraques (saddle cloths) and the classic illustrations of the Lancers has them using French style sheepskin saddle cloths with yellow dogs teeth edgings, hence the recourse to using the Uhlan figures after removing the eagle badges from their Czapkas.

Next up, "Intellegence Officer in the Peninsula" - Book Review, Talavera - Attack on the Pajar de Vergara and the Westphalian Cheveau Legere.

Other sources consulted for this post;
Charging Against Wellington - The French Cavalry in the Peninsular War 1807-14, Robert Burnham
The Peninsular War Atlas, Colonel Nick Lipscombe
Sir Charles Oman's orders of battle

Paris 2015

Military review in front of the Tuileries in 1810 - Hippolyte Bellange

This Bank holiday weekend Carolyn and I spent time with my sister and brother in law visiting my son Will and his girlfriend in Paris before his work placement comes to an end later next month. Taking any excuse to enjoy the delights of Paris and the fantastic restaurants I took time to grab some pictures that I hope will appeal to the Napoleonic history buff.

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel was originally erected as a gateway to the Tuileries Palace and now sits majestically in front of the Louvre. The picture above by Hippolyte Bellange gives a great impression of the arch in its day, playing host to a march past by the Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard.

This classic Roman style triumphal arch (modelled on the Arch of Constantine in Rome) was built between 1806 and 1808 to celebrate the glory years of Emperor Napoleon's rise to be master of Europe; with the victories of Austerlitz in 1805, Jena-Auerstedt in 1806 and Friedland in 1807 and with the the Treaty of Tilsit signed between Napoleon, Czar Alexander of Russia and King Frederick William III of Prussia, bringing a temporary end to hostilities and leaving Great Britain as the only opposition to his dominion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulm_Campaign
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Austerlitz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jena%E2%80%93Auerstedt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Friedland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaties_of_Tilsit#Franco-Prussian_treaty_.289_July.29

Peace in her chariot sits atop the arch - Peace was not to be dominant for long. The dragoon figure is well preserved on the left

Two of the better preserved statues can be seen with the sapper (left) and cuirassier (right)

The arch looking back towards the Louvre

The arch is in remarkably good condition although sadly, several of the statues of French soldiers that fought during the period have been damaged by pollution, The best preserved are the French sapper and light infantryman seen above top right and the cuirassier and dragoon on the other side.

On our previous trip to Paris last year, I spent some time looking at the surrender of Paris in 1814 with the allied victory in the fighting around Montmartre. The hill and its windmills were a prominent landmark in the open countryside north of the city where the fighting took place.

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/weekend-in-paris.html

This time we were able to go to the fantastic roof top restaurant on the Galerie Lafayette
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeries_Lafayette

The store is an amazing building in its own right and a shoppers paradise. The view from the top gave me a chance to see and photograph the remaining windmills on the hill, though the passage of time has seen the open fields succumb to the development of modern Paris.

The view of Montmartre from the Galerie Lafayette with the windmills visible

The closeup shows them looking rather incongruous in the modern urban landscape

Whilst lunching close to Notre-Dame Cathedral we took time to visit the crypt which was opened in 1980 to display the archaeology of ancient and medieval Paris discovered in the preceding decades and that illustrate the growth of the Roman city of Lutetia on the Ile de Cite in the heart of Paris.

http://www.carnavalet.paris.fr/en/museum-carnavalet/archeological-crypt-notre-dame-and-catacombs-paris

A model illustrating the layout of Roman Lutetia in the 1st Century AD with the forum nearest to camera and the island fortress centre background

The expansion of medieval Paris is shown in this model with the Bastille visible on the city wall to the right

The remains of the early city are well laid out for the visitor to get an idea of the buildings on show and their purpose with additional audio-video displays to help put them in their context.

The video of a boat landing alongside the quay side with audio sounds of the workers really brings these stone wharfs alive.

I am currently enjoying listening to Mike Duncan's new podcast covering Revolutions and we are well into the French Revolution at present. One building that gets quite a few mentions, as the guillotine feeds on the children of the revolution and heroes are interred, is the Pantheon dedicated as a last resting place and to record their great deeds only to find a new regime disinterring them once they have fallen from grace.

In more peaceful times the Pantheon is a tour of the great and the good of French modern history dating back to the revolution and although sadly having some much needed repair work done to its dome is a fascinating visitor attraction.

Having visited the Pantheon in Rome it is easy to see where the inspiration came from it its design.

The Pantheon in a rather wet Paris

Needless to say, my eye was drawn to the revolutionary and Napoleonic era pieces and those turbulent days are well captured in the monuments and artwork within.

The epoch of French military success is captured in this dramatic picture of French cavalrymen of the Napoleonic era carrying the captured colours of their vanquished foes up to Victory in the heavens

See if you can spot the various cavalry types on show. The Mameluke, the Carabinier in bearskin, the early and late period Cuirassier, the Chasseur and Polish Lancer of the Guard, the early Chasseur a Cheval in Tarleton helmet and leopard-skin turban. Alongside the single British King's Colour can be seen a captured Turkish or Mameluke standard with the crescent moon atop the pole. A similar standard was taken by the 88th Foot at Salamanca (see the link below) from a French battalion and renamed the Jingling Johnny after the noise made by the metal decoration it carried.

http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/detail.php?acc=1956-02-491-1

A captured cavalry standard is carried by a Mameluke on the left

The "Jingling Johnny" can be seen in the centre 

General Lazare Hoche

The very impressive statue of the very capable General Hoche, better known to British Napoleonic enthusiasts as the leader of the ill fated French invasion of Ireland in 1797.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazare_Hoche

Out of all the famous individuals buried in the Pantheon there was one tomb that I was keen to visit.

Perhaps alongside the Emperor Napoleon, Marshal Louis-Nicolas Davout and Marshal Andre Massena, Marshal Jean Lannes is rated as one of the most capable senior general officers of that period. As a personal friend of Napoleon he was granted the permission to address the Emperor in the more personal "tu" rather than "vous" and his early death in 1809 at the Battle of Aspern Essling affected Napoleon greatly, reducing him to tears at his loss.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Lannes

Our final day was spent looking at Empress Josephine's personal residence and where it seems Napoleon felt most at home, Chateau de Malmaison situated in the north west leafy suburbs of Paris and close to the end of the metro.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Malmaison

The apartments were decorated very much in the imperial style seen at Fontainebleau, that we visited last summer, but unlike Fontainbleau, Malmaison, being much smaller has the sense and feeling of being a home, where the cares of state could be forgotten if temporarily. Indeed this was the place that Napoleon headed for, following the trauma of the defeat at Waterloo in 1815, surrounded by the home created by the love of his life Josephine de Beauharnais who had died the year before.

http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/france-2014-fontainebleau-chateau.html

The two portraits below show the two most important women in the life of Napoleon, certainly up to his marriage to Marie Louise, the Austrian Hapsburg Princess. I have read that the two ladies did not get on with Madame Mere considering her first daughter in law not quite good enough for her son.

Josephine was described as a brilliant hostess, with dark brown hair, hazel eyes and a silky charming voice but, due to her bad teeth, very rarely smiled. She was known to like spending money and bought Malmaison in 1799 for 300,000 francs when Napoleon was away in Egypt on the promise that General Bonaparte would be easily able to cover the cost of the purchase and the many repairs needed, on his return.

The Egyptian expedition was not exactly a success and Napoleon was not too pleased to see what Josephine had committed him to on his return, but Malmaison proved to be an asset and Josephine turned it into a home.

Empress Josephine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9phine_de_Beauharnais

Napoleon's mother Letizia Buonaparte nee Ramolino "Madame Mere"

Napoleon's mother appears to have been a very formidable lady and very influential over all her children.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letizia_Ramolino

One of the rooms I was keen to see was, as at Fontainbleau, the Emperor's study and library. I would love a room like this and one can really get a sense of the man when standing in his office.

The Emperors desk by the study window. As at Fontainbleau, there is a hidden door to the right that leads upstairs to his apartments.

The glorious book cabinets and portraits on the ceilings of the great ancient writers and military thinkers

On display are some of the many sabres carried by Napoleon over the years, these examples are from the time of Marengo and Jena.

The pictures below are immediately recognisable to anyone interested in the period, showing Fist Consul Napoleon passing soldiers of the Consular Guard, and of course Napoleon emulating Hannibal's famous crossing of the Alps with his own expedition against the Austrians.

Empress Josephine's bed

Josephine's favourite room in the house, her boudoir with the afternoon sun light pouring in through the corner window

On the upper floor of the house is an exhibition of items relating to Napoleon's second abdication following his defeat at Waterloo. The plan to escape to the United States of America on the frigate La Saale is covered along with his eventual surrender to the Royal Navy after finding the port of Rochefort blockaded and preventing any escape.

A 1/48th scale model of the French frigate La Flore, the same class of ship as the La Saale provided by the provisional French governement under Fouche at Rochefort

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_frigate_Flore_%281806%29

http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/battles/hundred/c_chapter7.html

Napoleon ended up avoiding certain death at the hands of French royalists and Blucher's Prussians by being taken aboard the British 74 gun ship of the line, HMS Bellerophon or as known more commonly by the men of the Royal Navy, the "Billy Ruffian".

This story has a Devon link as the Bellerophon was anchored off Torbay and Plymouth for several weeks in that summer of 1815 as the British government decided what to do with the massive problem that they had been presented with. Not wanting to allow the former Emperor to set foot on British soil and aware of the fame and celebrity his presence would attract to any republican supporters at home they were keen to pack him off to St Helena as soon as the decision was confirmed.

HMS Bellerophon with Napoleon on board is mobbed by boats of sightseers off Torbay

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Bellerophon_(1786)

The display had some artifacts from the Bellerophon including a speaking trumpet, which was probably in constant use as the ships officers issued warnings to sight seeing vessels to stand off, whilst the occupants strained for a sight of the French Ogre.

Captain Frederick Lewis Maitland - HMS Bellerophon's last captain

The other item appears to be a silver terrine that would no doubt have adorned Captain Maitland's dinner table as he and his officers entertained their imperial guest and his entourage.

The final display was in one of the outside buildings, which had some of the last vehicles used by Napoleon, the last being the hearse that carried his remains to Les Invalides on his return in 1840.

The carriage used by Napoleon in the Waterloo campaign
and captured by the Prussians in Wavre

A second vehicle used by the Emperor to carry belongings and staff personnel during the Waterloo Campaign

A travelling trunk used by General Junot

The hearse used to carry Napoleon's remains returned to France in 1840

Well I hope you have enjoyed this little travelogue to Paris that really sets the scene for our expedition in June to visit the battlefields of the Waterloo campaign. On my return it will be back to the plan with the "Talavera Night Attack" scenario to bring to a conclusion, the Vistula Lancers to complete, a new scenario, "Talavera- Pajar de Vergara", to try out at the Devon Wargames Group and a book review. So much to do, so little time!