Friday 14 June 2013

Bailen 1808

This was another Command & Colours game and saw the debut of some Spanish troops recently acquired by John and I.  I brought all the French and the terrain.
The scenario can be found here, so I'll not bore you with too much of an introduction.  Most of the photos are taken from the French left/Spanish right.  Actually a fair chunk of each army was made up of Swiss mercenaries which we represented using a variety of Germans from the 'French Allies' box.  The photo above shows the position early on.  A unit of (French) Swiss has occupied the wood in the foreground.
The French soon sent forward a light cavalry unit...
...seen here being cheered on by the Swiss.
Meanwhile the (Spanish) Swiss stood by to welcome them.
The sherry-swilling Spaniards, Jerry and John.
And the garlic munching Frenchies, Peter and Martin
The cavalry charge actually went quite well - here can be seen the Swiss survivors trying to form a very small square...
On the other flank (the French right), Gen Chabert was leading his troops against the Spanish guns.
The cavalry having seen off one unit of (Spanish) Swiss, the other was soon engaged by some (French) Swiss. 
A real grudge match ensued with a stunningly lucky dice roll eliminating the former.
Over on 'Gun Hill' (there's one in every game), Chabert's lads had seen off a host of enemies..
...but the Spaniards still had reserves of uncommitted units.
The failure of this last-ditch cavalry charge clinched a narrow (and unhistorical) victory for the French. 
As with pretty well all the C&C games we've played, this was an entertaining and at times, tense encounter.  

11 comments:

Martin Rapier said...

A particularly entertaining addition was the provision of an electronic flag for the French to wave, which also played the national anthem.

Win or lose, we had fun with that.

Phil said...

Looks like a good scenario, very nice report...may be on our table soon! Great pics!
Phil.

Archduke Piccolo said...

An unhistorical French victory, but by no means an implausible one. Dupont had had quite a good record in Napoleon's army hitherto, but one feels he was utterly out of his depth in southern Spain.

Interesting scenario, the French fighting literally for their lives.

Paul said...

Good looking game Tim. I like the clean look of the table.

John Curry Editor History of Wargaming Project said...

I second that, excellent looking game

Tim Gow said...

Martin Rapier
So are you saying it was the flag which secured a victory, ranger than your generalship?

Tim Gow said...

Phil
It was an unusual scenario in that the French didn't have to attack as costs a river and then uphill!

Tim Gow said...

Andrew Saunders
Thanks - Hexon terrain and an assortment of 15mm toys.

Tim Gow said...

Archduke Piccolo
If only the real DuPont had had the benefit of a musical flag.

Tim Gow said...

Paul
The Hexon tiles seem to fit particularly well with 15mm toys.

Tim Gow said...

John Curry
Thanks John.