Battle of Orthez - Move 7

Table at start of move 7

Wellington’s right flank starts to disintegrate

Davout orders his centre and left to attack

British Left

On the left Cole continues to move to his left

On the right Alten moves towards St Boes

Once again the artillery fails to inflict any casualties

French cavalry and occupation of St Boes make any advance impossible

British Centre

Picton is pinned by St Boes in front and the hill behind

Only one infantry brigade and his artillery are in place to meet the French attack

British Right

Stewart’s whole corps has broken in rout

Only one infantry brigade remains to cover the retreat, and they are shaken

French Right

Although out numbered two to one, Reille continues to hold his position

His cavalry hold his right, and St Boes his left

He has broken the enemy cavalry, making any allied advance very risky

French Left

Clausel on the left and d’Erlon on the right advance

Stewart’s corps in front of Clausel have broken and routed

Picton’s corps in front of d’Erlon are unable to deploy

Table at the end of the game

Game Notes

This has been a most unusual complete disaster for Wellington. And all the more unusual because he outnumbered the French four to three.

The result was partly due to consistent poor dice for the allied army.

Credit must go to Davout for deploying his reserve against the weak allied right flank.

Wellington had to take St Boes, and failed to do so. Worse Davout defeated his two leading corps, Cole and Stewart, and they were unable to take sufficient ground for the tow reserve corps, Alten and Picton, to deploy

The complete collapse of his right flank caused Wellington to order an immediate withdrawal.

Casualties were very light:

British casualties 2 infantry, 7 cavalry, 4 gunners

French casualties 2 infantry

Result – a convincing French victory

The rules used can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Orthez - Move 6

Table at start of move 6

Wellington attempts to redeploy his army

Davout has deployed his army to meet the attack

British Left

On the left Cole moves his corps to the left

On the right Alten deploys his corps in front of St Boes

Once again the artillery fail to inflict any casualties

Cole is pinned by the lancer brigade opposite his far left

He has managed to rally his routed highland brigade

British Centre

Picton has orders to attack to the right of St Boes

He is trying to move his corps to the right

French artillery causing casualties

French cavalry preventing infantry advance

British Right

Stewart is faced by odds of two to one

His cavalry have lost the cavalry melee and are in rout

Both his artillery and Portuguese square are shaken by the rout

French Right

Reille has suffered no casualties and is waiting for the British to attack

His lancers on the right flank are pinning the enemy infantry

French Left

Clausel has deployed his corps to the left of the road

His cavalry have routed the British dragoons and shaken their gunners

The rest of his corps is almost in position ready to advance

Game Notes

The British are having a long run of very poor dice

Their artillery consistently fail to inflict any casualties

They have lost half of their cavalry in melee

The failure of their attack on the flanks has halted the advance

They must take St Boes to break the strong French position

The rules used can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Orthez - Move 5

Table at start of move 5

Wellington’s army is badly deployed to meet the French reserve deployment

Davout has committed his reserve corps on the far right

British Far Left

Artillery fire and miss

Infantry on the right move to the left flank

Highlanders fail morale test and continue to rout

British Left

Artillery fire on St Boes but no casualties

Infantry advance 8” towards the village

Hussars advance 10” to cover left flank

British Centre

Artillery limber and move 4”

Right hand brigade advance 4” and form column of attack

British Right

Artillery fire on nearest infantry but no casualties

Portuguese square advance 2” to support gunners

Dragoons retire 6” facing enemy

French Left

Clausel is taking position on the left of the road

D’Erlon is in position to the right of the road

D’Erlon moves his cavalry to his right flank

French Right

Artillery fire at close range at enemy infantry but fail to hit

Lancers withdraw 6” to main battle line

Game Notes

Both sides need some time to get their corps in position

The French is almost complete.

Reille is on the right

D’Erlon is in the centre

Clausel is on the left

Wellington has more problems, because there is less space to redeploy

Cole is on the far left

Alten is moving into position to the right of Cole

Picton is trying to move to the right of St Boes

Stewart is holding the right

The rules used can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Orthez - Move 4

Table at start of move 4

Wellington’s army is badly deployed to meet the French reserve deployment

Davout has committed his reserve corps on the far right

British Far Left

French lancers charge routed British cavalry and cut them all down

Cole orders his corps to halt

Left hand brigade forms square to protect infantry from lancers

Shaken brigade fails morale test and routs

British Left

Artillery halt and unlimber

Hussars advance on left and form line

New orders arrive from Wellington

Engage St Boes village

British Centre

Picton moves his cavalry to the left flank out of artillery range

Artillery advance off hill and unlimber

Infantry advance off hill

Wellington sends orders to face right and support Stewart

British Right

Wellington orders Stewart to Hold

Artillery fire on French infantry and inflict casualties

French pass morale test for casualties

Portuguese infantry form square to protect gunners

French Left

Clausel is trying to deploy the reserve to the left of the road

D’Erlon has deployed his infantry to the right of the road

His artillery are also right of the road, fire on British infantry and miss

His cavalry brigade is on the left, and mingled with Clausel’s advance

French Right

Artillery fire at close range at enemy infantry but fail to hit

Lancers charge routed British hussars and cut them all down

Game Notes

When a routed brigade is caught they are all cut down

This is one of seven “quick results” which are automatic

Rule 8 covers Quick Results

Wellington is finding it difficult to react to the French reserve

His far left has been halted by Reille and will be lucky to hold their ground

On his far right Stewart is facing two corps and must also halt

In the centre both Alten and Picton must redeploy to meet these set backs

The rules used can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Orthez - Move 3

Table at start of move 3

Wellington’s army are now approaching French artillery range

Davout has not yet committed his reserve

British Far Left

Cavalry lose melee with French lancers and rout

Infantry have formed column of attack and artillery unlimbered

French artillery have caused casualties on highland brigade, who are shaken

British Left

Wellington has joined Alten to decide where to commit him

Meanwhile Alten had advanced 8”

British Centre

Picton has advanced 4” and is moving down the hill towards St Boes

British Right

Artillery fire on French cavalry, but are out of range and cause no casualties

British infantry form column of attack

Artillery manhandle guns 2”

Portuguese infantry form column of attack from square

French Left

Artillery fire on British cavalry and cause casualties

British cavalry pass morale test for casualties

Three French infantry brigades form square

French Reserve

Clausel advances 16” to support d’Erlon

French Right

Artillery fire at close range on highland brigade and cause casualties

Highlanders fail morale test for casualties and are shaken

Lancers charge downhill at British hussars

British hussars pass morale test to counter charge

Lancers skirmish melee

British hussars lose melee, receive casualties and rout

Lancers test morale for pursuit, pass and halt disordered

Game Notes

There are two types of cavalry melee.

Skirmish melee is usually less decisive

Attack melee normally results in heavier casualties

Attacker decides which type of melee, depending on his orders

Rule 14 covers cavalry v cavalry combat

There are four types of morale. Formed, Disordered, Shaken and Rout

Failure to pass morale test can result in shaken or rout

Rule 18 covers morale tests

The rules used can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Orthez - Move 2

Table at start of move 2

All of Wellington’s army is now on the table

They have all taken multiple moves are they are more than 16” from the French

Davout has not yet committed his reserve

British Far Left

Cole has advanced within 16” of St Boes

His hussars have moved forward to counter the French cavalry on the hill

Wellington has changed their orders to Engage

British Left

Alten advances 8” towards St Boes from the south

He is now within 16” of the enemy and can not take multiple moves

British Centre

Picton advanced 8” to the edge of the hill overlooking St Boes from the south

British Right

Stewart advanced 8” towards d’Erlon

He has unlimbered his artillery

He has also put his Portuguese in square to protect the gunners

French Left

D’Erlon has ordered his artillery to fire on Stewart, miss and no casualties

French Right

Reille is waiting for the enemy to come within artillery range

His cavalry have moved forward to the crest of the hill

French Reserve

Clausel is in reserve behind d’Erlon

Waiting for orders to deploy

Orders arrive to move forward, but arrive too late for this turn

Game Notes

The are now unable to make multiple moves because they are within 16” of the enemy.

Rule 5 covers movement

Wellington has changed Cole’s orders to Engage so that he can attack the enemy

Rule 4 explains what action can be taken on Move, Halt, Hold, Engage or Attack orders.

The rules used can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/