Battle of Salamanca - Move 7

Table at the start of move 7

Rule Notes

The rules used in this game can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Generals must be within 8” to issue orders, this applies to all brigades and artillery. Guns fire at the start of the move, so general must be within command range at end of previous move.

Rule 3 covers corps commander orders

British right

Packenham has lost two infantry brigades in rout, and a third has three casualties. But his remaining infantry and cavalry brigades, supported by his artillery, are causing great havoc.

British centre

Cole is advancing on the French centre and will soon engage them

British left

Once more Leith loses his turn due to the Poor Card. Wellington is with him, but has used his own turn to order Leith to engage the enemy

French left

Thomiere has lost two of his infantry brigades, plus his cavalry and gunners, to rout. The remaining two brigades must stay in square due to the enemy cavalry and will soon be broken by enemy infantry and artillery

French centre

Brennier has lost his cavalry and is under threat from the front and flank.

French right

Clausel is well able to hold the French right flank, but unable to do anything to help the breaking left and centre.

Summary

To make the game interesting the leading French division of Thomiere was given the opportunity to have their cavalry brigade in line to hold off the surprise attack by Packenham.

For the first three moves it appeared that Packenham would fail to break Thomiere. Indeed the British lost two of their four infantry brigades, and the third lost the skirmish fight with the leading French brigade in square. The British hussars turned the tide by riding behind the square and charging the gunners behind.

The two divisions on the Lesser and Greater Arapiles played little part in the battle. Leith was the only Poor commander and suffered badly from the Poor Card. He eventually advanced towards the centre, which pinned Clausel opposite.

The two centre divisions played little part in the battle, but only because it was decided before Cole could reach Brennier.

The collapse of Thomiere prevented Brennier from deploying, and led to Marmont ordering a French retreat.

British casualties were 5 infantry and 2 cavalry

French casualties were 6 infantry and 4 cavalry

Battle of Salamanca - Move 6

Table at the start of move 6

British right

Packenham is saved by the successful hussar charge which captures the artillery and then breaks the support infantry column.

His situation is also helped by rallying his two Routed brigades, which are now Shaken

British centre

Cole is also in a strong position now that his heavy dragoons have broken the enemy lancers.

His infantry are now in position to advance against the French centre

British left

Leith is on Hold orders, it is too risky to attempt to attack with a Poor Commander

French left

Thomiere has lost all of his gunners and one of his infantry brigades

The remainder are all pinned in square by the British hussars

French centre

Brennier has lost the cavalry melee and his infantry columns are now in danger

French right

Clausel now has his infantry in position and has requested orders to advance

Rule Notes

The rules used in this game can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

In some circumstances there is an automatic result called a “Quick Result”, for example when gunners are charged in the rear by cavalry and fail their morale to react.

Rule 8 covers Quick Results

Battle of Salamanca - Move 5

Table at the start of move 5

British right

Despite his early advantage, Packenham is losing his battle.

The French square have won the skirmish fight

He has had to withdraw his leading brigade before they fail morale and rout

Two of his reserve brigades have routed.

British centre

Cole is now ready to advance

British left

Leith has his division fully deployed

French left

Thomiere is winning his fight with his elite brigade in square and his artillery

French reserve

Brennier’s division now in position

French right

Clausel is still moving his infantry into position

Rule Notes

The rules used in this game can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

When a brigade Routs any brigade in supporting distance (4”) must also test their morale.

Rule 17 covers Morale

Battle of Salamanca - Move 4

Table at the start of move 4

British right

Leading infantry skirmish with French square

Remainder move to their right to avoid French artillery

British centre

Artillery and Cavalry cover infantry deployment

British left

Leith deploys his division in column of attack

French left

Thomiere has deployed his division to receive the British attack

French reserve

Brennier’s division arrive between Thomiere and Clausel

French right

Clausel has deployed half of his division between Greater and Lesser Arapiles

He has left them to bring up the remainder of his division to join them

Rule Notes

The rules used in this game can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

A CinC can pass his move to another commander

He must be in base contact

Rule 2 explains the procure in full

Battle of Salamanca - Move 3

Table at the start of move 3

British right

Hussars halt having failed Opportunity Charge test.

Artillery move into range of the enemy.

Infantry deploy towards French

British centre

Artillery and Cavalry cover infantry deployment

British left

Cole moves his division off the Lesser Arapile towards the French

French left

Thomiere’s cavalry have routed

His artillery are firing on the approaching infantry

His square protects the gunners

French reserve

Brennier’s division march behind the Greater Arapile.

He has sent his cavalry forward to protect the advance

French right

Clausel moves his division off the Greater Arapile towards the British

Rule Notes

The rules used in this game can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Cavalry can declare an Opportunity Charge on Shaken enemy

Test morale at start of enemy move

Rule 6 explains the procedure in full

Battle of Salamanca - Move 2

Table at the start of move 2

British right

Hussars move forward around the enemy square.

On the hill the artillery limber to advance into range of the enemy.

The leading infantry brigade has formed column from square

The four infantry brigades are now ready to advance and attack the French

British centre

Cole has started to deploy his division

The heavy cavalry have formed line to protect the deployment

The artillery is moving to support the cavalry

British left

Despite orders to advance, Cole remains on the Lesser Arapile.

He can not issue orders because the Poor Card is in play

French left

Thomiere’s moves his shaken cavalry behind the infantry square

The remainder of his division starts to deploy

French right

Brennier’s division march behind the Greater Arapile.

He has sent his cavalry forward to protect the advance

Rule Notes

The rules used in this game can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Salamanca - Move 1

Table at the start of move 1

Rule Notes

The rules used in this game can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

There is one card for each commander, plus a Poor card

The cards are drawn to determine move sequence

When the Poor card is drawn the next Poor commander drawn may not issue orders

Each commander rolls an average dice at the start of each move to determine how many orders he can issue.

A Gifted commander adds 3

An Average commander adds 2

A Poor commander adds 1.

The photographs are shown in the same sequence as the move was played.

British right

Packenham ordered his hussars to charge the enemy cavalry.

In case they lose the melee he ordered his leading infantry to form square

The remainder of the infantry are in column of attack

British centre

Cole has orders to support Packenham

He is moving between the village and the hill in column of march

British left

Leith has orders to hold the Lesser Arapiles

His infantry are in column of march to move quicker if they have to deploy

French left

Thomiere has lost the cavalry melee and his chasseurs are Shaken

His leading infantry have formed square to protect the rest of the column

The artillery have unlimbered next to the square

The remainder of the division is in column of march

French right

Clausel has orders to hold the Greater Arapiles

His division are deployed on the hill and to the left

Brennier is marching on the road behind them

His cavalry have been sent ahead to protect the column.