Heretical Gaming is my blog about my gaming life, featuring small skirmishes and big battles from many historical periods (and some in the mythic past or the far future too). The focus is on battle reports using a wide variety of rules, with the occasional rules review, book review and odd musing about the gaming and history. Most of the battles use 6mm-sized figures and vehicles, but occasionally 15mm and 28mm figures appear too.

Monday 30 September 2013

The State of the Allied Armies in the Iberian Peninsular at the Beginning of August 1808

Abbreviations as for the French Army, with additionally Br = British, Pr = Portuguese


Location Unit Headquarters Leader Strengths Total
Cadiz Garrison 6R, 1C
Gibraltar Garrison 3BrV, 3BrT
Gibraltar ID Spencer 4BrV, 1BrT 5
Malaga Garrison 2R
Huelva Garrison 3R
Andujar Army of Andalusia Castanos
Andujar ID Venegas Army of Andalusia 1V, 4T, 1DT 6
Andujar ID Coupigny Army of Andalusia 6T 6
Andujar ID Jones Army of Andalusia 4T 4
Seville ID La Pena Army of Andalusia 6T 6
Andujar ID Espana Army of Andalusia 3T, 1LCavT, 1DT, 1A 6
Seville Garrison 4T, 9R, 1LCavR
Andujar ID Reding Army of Andalusia 5T, 1R 6
w of Granada Garrison 5R 5
Granada Garrison 3T, 1LCavR, 1LCavT
Badajoz ID Moretti Army of the Centre 3T, 1R,  1LCavR 5
Ciudad Rodrigo Garrison 1T
w of Almaraz Army of the Centre Cuesta
w of Almaraz ID Zayas Army of the Centre 6R, 1DT/E 7
Burgos Army of Galicia Blake
Burgos ID Maceda Army of Galicia 2T, 1LCavR 2
Burgos ID Cagigal Army of Galicia 1V, 2T(1sh), 1R 4
Burgos ID Martinengo Army of Galicia 3T 3
Burgos ID Riquelme Army of Galicia 4T 4
Burgos ID Portago Army of Galicia 6T 6
Palencia ID Trias Army of Galicia 3T, 1R 4
Villafranca Garrison 4R
Ponferrada ID Virues Army of Galicia 6R 6
La Coruna Garrison 2R
Vigo Garrison 3R
Leon ID Acevedo Army of Galicia 3T, 6R 9
Gijon Garrison 2R
Cartagena Garrison 3T, 1R
Murcia Garrison 2R
Albacete Army of Valencia Cervellon
Albacete ID Adorno Army of Valencia 3T, 2R, 1A 6
Albacete ID La Serna Army of Valencia 2T, 4R 6
Albacete ID Llamas Army of Valencia 2T, 6R, 1DR 9
Valencia ID Villalva Army of Valencia 2R 2
Zaragoza Army of Aragon Palafox
Zaragoza ID O'Neille Army of Aragon 3T, 7R 10
ne of Tarragona Army of Catalonia
ne of Tarragona ID Caldagues Army of Catalonia 5T, 1R 6
Tarragona Garrison 1R
Tortosa Garrison 6T
Rosas Garrison 3T
Gerona Garrison 3T
Santarem British Army Wellesley
Santarem Ferguson British Army 4BrV, 3BrT 7
Santarem Anstruther British Army 3BrV, 4BrT, 2PrR 9

The State of the Imperial Armies in the Iberian Peninsular at the Beginning of August 1808

Abbreviations: T/L = Trained/Line (same thing), V = Veteran, R = Raw, E = Elite, Sz = Swiss, It = Italian, Np = Neapolitan, SpSz = Spanish Swiss, Ge = German, Leg = Legion of the Vistula, Pol = Polish, D = Dragoon, LCav = Light Cavalry, Cu = Cuirassier, A = Reserve Artilery, Gd = Imperial Guard, RG = Royal Guard (i.e. Joseph's Guards)

A strength of '1' = 1000 troops or 18 guns.  All divisional HQs have an inherent 6-gun battery of appropriate type.

Location Unit Headquarters Leader Strengths Total
Lisboa VIII Corps Junot
Lisboa ID Delaborde VIII Corps 5T, 1SzT 6
Lisboa ID Travot VIII Corps 10T 10
Lisboa CD Kellermann VIII Corps 1DR, 1LCavR 2
Lisboa Art VIII VIII Corps 2A 2
n of Santarem ID Loison VIII Corps 3T 3
Almeida Garrison VIII Corps 1T
Elvas Garrison 2T
Miranda II Corps Bessieres
Miranda ID Dorsenne (Imperial Guard) II Corps 2GdV/E, 1GLCavV/E 3
Miranda Art II II Corps 2A 2
Miranda CD Lasalle II Corps 1LCavV 1
Santander ID Merle II Corps 2V, 1T, 5R 8
Santander Garrison 1R
Burgos Garrison 1Gd
Tudela Army of Spain Joseph
Miranda ID Mouton II Corps 3V, 9L, 1DV 13
Tudela ID Saligny (Royal Guard) Spain 3RGdT/E, 1RGCavT/E 4
San Sebastian Garrison 2R
Pamplona Garrison 2V
Zaragoza ID Verdier Spain 4LegV, 5R 9
Zaragoza ID Lefebvre-Desnouttes Spain 2V, 3T, 1PolCavV 6
Madrid ID Gobert X Corps 8R 8
e of Ocana ID Morlot III Corps 6R 6
e of Ocana CB Wathier III Corps 1C 1
s o f Cuenca CD Grouchy III Corps 1CuT, 2GLCavV/E 3
s o f Cuenca ID Frere III Corps 1L, 3R, 1SzT 5
s o f Cuenca III Corps Moncey
s o f Cuenca ID Musnier III Corps 1L, 4R, 1GeT, 1LCavT 7
s o f Cuenca Art III III Corps 2A 2
n of Baylen Garrison 1R
n of Baylen ID Barbou X Corps 5R, 1SpSzT 6
Figueras Garrison 1V
Olot VII Corps Duhesme
Olot ID Chabran VII Corps 4V, 2T, 1LCavT 7
Hostalrich ID Lechi VII Corps 1ItV, 2ItT, 1ItCavT 4
Barcelona Garrison 2NpR
Perpignan ID Reille VII Corps 3V, 1T, 1R, 1ItV, 1ItT 7
Bayonne ID Desolles 6V 6
Bayonne Garrison 10R

Wednesday 18 September 2013

Campaign Battle 01: Baylen Revisited

I have just finished playing through the first battle of my second recent attempt at re-fighting Peninsular Campaign (after IT difficulties and a two-foot Godzilla wrecked my previous attempt).  Amazingly enough, the battle was almost identical to the Battle of Baylen, both in situation and outcome.  Dupont had divided his force, keeping the divisions of Fresia and Vedel busy requisitioning supplies around Andujar while detaching Gobert to incorporate a couple of battalions of raw infantry then occupy the position at Baylen.  Unfortunately, Castanos and Reding were able to take advantage of this, Reding occupying Baylen and interposing himself between the two forces.  Castanos then launched an attack across the river towards Andujar so Dupont left a rearguard to delay him and tried to burst through Reding's defences.

The terrain:

View of the battlefield looking South, with Andujar in the top-right.
The Forces:

Imperial French:
C-in-C Gen Dupont (Plodding)

1st Infantry Division (Gen Vedel - Plodding)
2 Bns Raw Infantry SK2, 12 Bns Raw Infantry SK1, 4 Bns Trained Swiss Infantry SK0, 1 8lb Foot Bty

Cavalry Division (Gen Fresia - Plodding)
3 Regts Raw Heavy Cavalry (unarmoured Cuirassiers), 3 Regts Raw Light Cavalry, 1 4lb Foot Bty

Spanish:
C-in-C Gen Castanos (Competent)

1st Infantry Division (Gen Venegas - Plodding)
2 Bns Trained Infantry (SK2), 2 Bns Trained Infantry (SK1), 4 Bns Trained Infantry (SK0), 3 Regts Raw Dragoons, 1 8lb Foot Bty

a further three infantry divisions comprising another 13000 Infantry (26 Bns), 2000 Cavalry (6 Regts) and 30 Guns (5 Btys) were deemed to be following up Venegas' Division and could enter the table as space allowed and need required.

5th Infantry Division (Gen Reding - Decisive)
2 Bns Trained Infantry (SK2), 2 Bns Trained Infantry (SK1), 2 Bns Trained Infantry (SK0), 6 Bns Raw Infantry (SK0), 1 8lb Foot Bty

The Deployments:

Two brigades of Vedel's Division guard the town and the hills opposite the river, while the remainder of Dupont's force is ready to march East (left); Reding's Division approaches from the East, Venegas' troops can just be seen over the river

 The initial moves were centred on Dupont's attempt to get troops across the stream and Reding's attempts to occupy the defensible positions on the hills.  Venegas attempted to bring up more troops whilst bombarding the Swiss troops defending the hill to the East of the town. All three were more or less successful: Dupont got a large proportion of his troops over the stream, Reding occupied one hill (northernmost) exclusively and disputed possession of the other, Venegas' artillery proved very effective and forced one of the Swiss Bns back.

The first crisis:

 












































Looking West towards Andujar.  Reding's Division attempt to block the French breakout while leading elements of Venegas' Division have destroyed the Swiss occupying the hills to East and West of Andujar and bypassed the brigade defending that town.  Time is running out for Dupont's men...

A closer view of Venegas' troops' progress

The Final Throw:

Some of Dupont's infantry, supported by Light Cavalry are thrown back by Reding's regulars with conscripts supporting (red markers indicate disorder levels, with units being broken when they reach three).  A subsequent bayonet charge destroyed the French brigade in the best 'volley and charge' style.
Reding's other regular brigade repulse the French in similar fashion.

At this point the game ended as the French force's morale collapsed.  A pity, as the Spanish infantry above also failed their morale check which would have allowed a small fraction of Dupont's force to escape although the arrival of Venegas' troops ruled out the escape for the majority of the French.  As it was the capitulation was total and history was more or less re-created...




Thursday 12 September 2013

Peninsular War Campaign Set-Up (part two)


And the starting strengths for the Spanish and the Anglo-Portuguese:


LOCATION  UNIT HEADQUARTERS  LEADER  STRENGTH  TOTAL
Gibraltar  Garrison  3V, 3T
Gibraltar IDSpencer  3V, 2T  5


LOCATION UNIT HEADQUARTERS LEADER STRENGTH TOTAL
Cadiz Garrison 6R, 1LC/R
Malaga Garrison 2R
Huelva Garrison 3R
Utrera Army of Andalucia Castanos
Utrera ID Venegas Army of Andalucia 5T, 1LC/T 6
Utrera ID Coupigny Army of Andalucia 6T 6
Utrera ID Jones Army of Andalucia 6T 6
Utrera ID La Pena Army of Andalucia 6T, 6R, 2HC/T 14
Seville Garrison 2T, 9R, 1LC/R 12
west of Granada ID Reding Army of Andalucia 3T, 8R 11
Granada Garrison 3T, 2HC/R 5
Badajoz ID Moretti Army of the Centre 2T, 1LC/T 3
Ciudad Rodrigo Garrison 1T
Benavente Army of the Centre Cuesta
Benavente ID Zayas Army of the Centre 6R, 1HC/T 7
Astorga Army of Galicia Blake
Astorga ID Maceda Army of Galicia 2T 2
Astorga ID Cagigal Army of Galicia 5T, 1R 6
Astorga ID Martinengo Army of Galicia 7T 7
Astorga ID Riquelme Army of Galicia 5T 5
Astorga ID Portago Army of Galicia 4T, 2R 6
Villafranca Garrison 4R 4
La Coruna Garrison 8R 8
Vigo Garrison 3R 3
Oviedo ID Acevedo Army of Galicia 9R 9
Gijon Garrison 2T 2
Cartagena Garrison 2T, 2R 4
Murcia Garrison 2R 2
Valencia Army of Valencia Cervellon
Valencia ID Adorno Army of Valencia 3T, 2R 5
Valencia ID Saint-March Army of Valencia 2T, 4R 6
Valencia ID Llamas Army of Valencia 4R, 1HC/R 5
Valencia ID Villalva Army of Valencia 6R 6
Zaragoza Army of Aragon Palafox
Zaragoza ID O'Neille Army of Aragon 2T, 7R 9
Tarragona Army of Catalonia Palacio
Tarragona ID Caldagues Army of Catalonia 5T, 2R 7
Rosas Garrison 2T 2
Gerona Garrison 3T 3

Peninsular War Campaign Set-Up


These are the starting strengths for the Imperial French forces at the beginning of the July 1808 turn in Tomb for an Empire .  Some of the values have been edited (slightly) by me, in some cases because I disagree with the authors, in some cases so that it fits in better with the rules used for the battles i.e. Polemos Napoleonics  An example of the first case is that there are a lot of 'Veteran' Spanish infantry: in my view this overstates the capabilities of the Borbon Army in absolute terms, but also because this is the same rating as given to Napoleon's veterans when they turn up as reinforcements.  An example of the second is that Tomb for an Empire just rates cavalry as 'Cavalry' whereas the Polemos rules use different types (Cuirassiers, Dragoons, Lancers, Light Cavalry etc.).

Infantry = V (Veteran), T (Trained), R (Raw/Recruit)
Cavalry = HC (Heavy Cavalry), D (Dragoons), LC (Light Cavalry)
Artillery = A (Reserve Artillery i.e. 8lb guns for the French, 9lb guns for the Anglo-Portuguese, 12lb guns for the Spanish)

1 point = 1000 men or 12 guns

LocationUnitHeadquarters Leader Strength Total

Lisbon VIII Corps Junot
Lisbon ID Delaborde VIII 6T 6
Lisbon ID Travot VIII 5T, 1R 6
Lisbon CD Kellermann VIII 1D/R, 1LC/R 2
Lisbon Artillery VIII VIII 2A 2
Setubal Garrison
4T
Almeida ID Loison VIII 4T 4
Elvas Garrison
2T
Burgos II Corps Bessieres
Burgos Imperial Guard II 3Gd, 1GdLC 4
Burgos Artillery II II 2A 2
Palencia CD Lasalle II 1LC/V 1
Santander ID Merle II 2T/7R 9
Miranda Garrison
1R 1
Vitoria Army of Spain Joseph
Vitoria ID Mouton Spain 12T, 1LC/V 13
Vitoria Royal Guard Spain 3RG, 1RGC 4
San Sebastian Garrison
2R 2
Pamplona Garrison
2T 2
Zaragoza ID Verdier Spain 4V, 6R 10
Zaragoza ID Lefebvre-Desnoettes Spain 2V, 3R, 1Lncr/V 6
Madrid ID Gobert X 8R 8
Madrid ID Morlot III 6R 6
Madrid CB Wathier III 1LC/R 1
Madrid CD Grouchy III 1D/R, 1GdC, 1GdLC 3
Cuenca ID Frere III 2T, 3R 5
west of Albacete III Corps Moncey
west of Albacete ID Musnier III 1T, 6R, 1LC/R 8
west of Albacete Artillery III III 2A 2
north of Andujar Garrison
1R 1
Andujar X Corps Dupont
Andujar ID Barbou X 1Gd, 1T, 4R, 1SpSw 7
Andujar ID Vedel X 1T, 4R, 1 SpSw 6
Andujar CD Fresia X 1HC/R, 1LC/R 2
Figueras Garrison
1T 1
Barcelona VII Corps Duhesme
Barcelona ID Chabran VII 6T, 1Cu/R 7
Barcelona ID Lechi (It) VII 1V, 2T, 2R, 1LC/T 6
Perpignan ID Reille VII 1V, 4T, 2R 7