Mosborough & District Wargamers

 
The Battle of 'Bloody' Albuera 1811
 Sheffield Triples 2004
By Dave Taylor

What follows is a short resume of the clubs display game at the Sheffield Triples show. The game had been planned during February, with Ob's created and terrain made, the final part before the game begun was meeting, transporting and set up.

Six thirty Saturday morning and the alarm clock is going off, lord above what's all this about then ?; a wargames show of course, that morning grogginess was gone in seconds, the alarm turned off and straight out of bed and into the bathroom (accompanied by the wifely words 'you don't usually get up that easily !').

Figures packed into the car and off round to the club house where six other club members were waiting to load up the terrain, 10 minutes later of we are on our way. We arrived in Sheffield just after 7:30, parked up and had everything in the hall for eight. Orders of battle were finalized as the terrain was put together, coffee needed at this point but none was available until nine o clock, torture that's what that is. 

The allied set up was straight forward, 3 Spanish divisions arrayed on the ridge of Alburea, supported by Cavalry on the right and General Von Alton's Kgl on the left in Alburia itself (His Brigade was supported by 2 Spanish battalions & a regiment of British hussars. The French only had Girard's division to deploy, anywhere along the front of the 8 foot ridge, orders to assault the Spanish holding the area. The French chose to form 2 Brigades into mass column with respective gun batteries in the centre, not even need the Infantry was their considered opinion; they were not expecting Spanish of Veteran class!

Nine o'clock, everything set up & at last the coffee was inbound, smell those beans. Time to start, one of the things we like to do at shows is ensure the game is played allowing any interested parties to return to the table throughout the day and see what is / has happened, what an hour before jo public get in; yep, we then have a moving game from the start of the show & something to tell people already.

The first couple of turns saw the ever confident French in the centre advance in the same old way towards the Spanish positions, the single Spanish battery failing to cause any real damage. The Cavalry to the allied right started to see more and more French horsemen arriving to their front, orders to engage were given, accepted and off they went. On the left a French infantry division arrived with the obvious intention of attacking Albuera. The KGL battery delivered its first salvo but with little effect. Time to hand out some order changes to the rear right Spanish Infantry to move down in support of Von Alton, poor Brigade commander, poor Division commander meant a throw of nine was required on two d6, no chance so they sat watching with the unfortunate commander hurling abuse at them (Yep, that was me !).

Turn four brought British reinforcements to the allied ridge and further French to the allied right. Order changes again attempted for the Spanish to support Albuera, don't need to tell you do I! useless beggars. Charges to declare and the Spanish at the front of the ridge were up against it, in the French came. Surprisingly most of the French closed to combat but didn't win any of the melees outright so carry them forward to the next turn. However this meant the freshly arrived British bridges having to sit on hold orders to see what happened were.

The following turns saw the first attempts to clear Albuera, both were bounced out following some tough fighting. On the allied right, on the ridge, the French were getting the upper hand with Spanish units starting to break and Brigade test being required. On the allied right the Spanish cavalry had locked horns with their French counterparts, not a pretty sight I can tell you, and they were going down piecemeal, all that is except for the lone Spanish lancer regiment, they not only trounced a French chasseur unit, but pursued it enabling them to hit a dragoon unit unformed, yep they did it again and rolled to rally on the spot. This minor success stemmed some of the French advance. More British were now arriving, including a Portuguese brigade and De Grays heavy cavalry, but over on the very far right another fresh French infantry division arrived.

Five o clock already, 12 turns played and time to call a halt to proceedings for the day. On reflection the French had achieved most of their objectives, the allies were starting to run out of space and troops, they were desperate for their remaining troops to arrive and deploy quickly. Oh yep that Spanish brigade did eventually accept the order to go & support Albuera on turn 7 just as Gerard's columns reached the ridge crest and routed the Spanish, in effect in moving all they had done was offer an exposed flank to the Frenchies! I think that most of the people who looked in on the game enjoyed watching the day's action, there were some very nice comments made about the game which are always appreciated.

Home to try and explain the purchases to the Paymaster General, real fear at this point ! (Did I really need all those paints, the Bavarians, the Vikings , oh and those few Perry's AWI - enough to roof a church, oh dear, oh dear; never mind she might fail her observation role, like yep).

Sunday morning, 8.30 & I'm on my way .. It actually happened, HQ failed its spotting role (Actual my dear wife was out walking the dog, but it's the same thing), that means I can get away with additional Sunday purchases should I see that really needed odd item or so.

I arrived at the show, fresh and ready for battle at nine, most of the guys were there or arriving so we decided to have a heads up on both sides and plan the day's operations. I can't comment on the French plans, as for the allies we agreed to get the De Greys British heavy cavalry into the small French light brigade over near Albuera itself and then try to get round the back of the front of the ridge !! - I new what was expected of me. 

In the centre pull out the Spanish, deploy a strong British line and let the Portuguese launch a counter attack in support of the heavy cavalry. Over to the right the British fusiliers were due to arrive on the first turn so they would have to stem the tide of blue. We all agreed a hard days fighting, the only secure point on our whole front was the village itself.

Battle commenced with the British taking the initiative, order changes required and Brigade actions completed and De Grey's heavy Cavalry brigade successfully requested the Light dragoons attached to Von Alton were released back to his command. The British Fusiliers arrived on the British right in line as the British line battalions started deploying into line on the ridge behind the retreating (Running full pelt !) Spanish withdrew. Harvey's Portuguese Brigade arrived on left of the Ridge in column, looking a little better despite more Frenchies arriving to our far right.

Next turn saw de Grey change his orders to Assault, declare charges from the Guard & line Dragoons at the French Hussars and Dragoons respectively. Morale tests passed, counter charge completed and they were in melee. To the front of Albuera the French were reforming into Attack columns. The Centre was becoming a slogging match with the British volley fire starting to slow down Girard's columns, then shocks started with the British filers faltering from French volley fire, the cavalry melee started well with the Dragoon Guards kicking the living daylights out of the Hussars who routed, not so the Chaussers who fought with terrific passion and fought the British heavies to a draw.

Now it was really warming up, the faltering fusiliers receiving a charge from a fresh column and two columns charging the right hand side of Albuera. On the plus side the Spanish were moving down the ridge to support Von Alton boys now covered by Portuguese columns plus the Heavy Cavalry and the Infantry lines were formed on the ridge. The faltering Fusiliers produced the goods and stopped the column in its tracks, however the British heavies that were fought to a draw last turn now turned and fled (Double Six, I cannot believe it !), saving grace being that the Chauseurs could not follow up but the Spanish columns quickly moved into squares, oh well Von Alton could hold a while longer couldn't he. You would never guess it though, the massing French to left of the village let a volley of, double six and risk to general, down goes Von Alton just as the French columns hit the right of the village which they took with ease.

The jubilant French now massed further columns to assault the leaderless KGL in the left of the village, our only safe point on the front my foot. A further charge was ordered on the still faltering fusiliers who again showed their metal and once more stood like rocks throwing the assault back. The KGL battalion turned tail and fled out of the left of Albuera as two fresh columns came on, the Chauseurs were compelled to return to their own lines, De Grey ordered his cavalry to move forward and the Spanish Brigade was able to come out of Square but needed new orders to carry on with their advance to support the remains of Von Alton's shattered, leaderless Brigade - No they didn't role high enough to achieve that !

In the centre the French were trying to form their own lines as the British volleys cut into them and the combined Grenadiers, fully aware of the threat of De Greys cavalry moving around their rear, scrambled up the ridge in support.

The game was drawing to a close but there was still time for a third and final charge on the faltering fusiliers, this time screamed the Froggie commanders. Baited breath and the French got through the volley, passed their morale test and closed to combat. Not to be though, the fusiliers did it again and sent them reeling.

The show was winding down at this point so we decided to call it a day, review the battle and tidy away. It had been a great game that had changed dramatically over the day, we decided that it was a victorious draw to the French. Another Triples comes to an end, a good weekend enjoyed by all from Mosborough & District, the wind down always takes me a few days (Have to bring those little packets in from the car day by day) but I am now looking forward to our next outing which will be Partisan in May were we are putting a little AWI game on organized by Phil (Look out for the prelude write up soon). 

On the club front we are having a crack at Gettysburg over 3 days in August, bound to be a Union victory & maybe a run at Croanne, we will see.

I hope you enjoyed the write up

Regards
Dave

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