Battle Report: Rio Gevora, February 19, 1811

  For various reasons, I haven't had a chance to post a write up of this game we played out a month ago until now.

A reminder of  the starting positions of the two armies. 

The two French Infantry Divisions aggressively pursue the attack on the superior numbers of Spanish on the ridgeline. Recall that the Artillery on both sides was not allowed to fire in the early phase of the battle. I had the far right Spanish Infantry Division, Kevin had the middle Infantry Division and the Spanish Dragoons and Line Cavalry, whilst Sean had the leftmost Spanish Infantry Division and the Spanish Light cavalry. Kyle had the leftmost French Infantry Division opposite me, and the French Light cavalry, while Mike had the other French Infantry Division and the Dragoons. 

French Dragoons advancing rapidly on their right, whilst the French Light cavalry decides to threaten the Spanish infantry on the Ridgeline. An early end to Turn 1 meant the Artillery was in action relatively soon, and the Spanish could form Square sooner than might have been anticipated. 

Kyle's French infantry badly out-rolled my Spanish at most opportunities; you will note three of my 5 infantry regiments doling their impression pf "Run Away!" very early on!

French Light cavalry charging up the hill. 

First charge by the French Dragoons as well.

The Spanish battery is overrun and destroyed by the French cavalry, but otherwise the charge was indecisive. 

French Dragoons defeat two of the Spanish Light cavalry regiments, the Spanish general being laid hors de combat!

In the center, Mike's general is hit by a stray cannonball!

Kyle's Division has pulverized mine, and he is planning to wheel in upon the Spanish Center. 

Facing a bunch of Spanish squares, the French Light cavalry call off any further attacks, and try to move around the Spanish left flank. The Spanish heavier cavalry gives as good as they get in a series of melees with the French Dragoons..  

Cavalry situation later in the game. 

Another view. 

The infantry battle sees new Spanish routers from the center command!

With the last unit of my command now either routed, destroyed, or retreated off the table, my commander seems to have fallen upon his sword rather than face the Junta's inquisition as to his conduct!

General Virues (yo!) in an appropriately Spanish red cap shortly before my untimely demise, with Kevin (playing Generals Garcia and Butron) looks on. 

The Spanish lost all their Morale points by about halfway through the game, but survived THREE Army Morale tests. Still by games end, these were all of our Morale points that the enemy had NOT taken. A pretty decisive result in Field of Battle terms!  We Spanish claimed moral victory, as the army did not break and considerably outperformed the historical result, with the performance of the Spanish cavalry being strikingly better than in history. We were happy to slink away under the cover of an early February sunset....