Back to Le Feu Sacre
Shot Mum" and "Up Your Cara al Sol" have been given recent ample airings.
I decided that I'd like to host a smallish game of LFS, just to keep us simmering.
Clive had written this scenario some time ago and as it required little terrain, and few figures really,
we decided that there might be a nice thursday night's gaming to be had.
Loosely based upon Vimeiro, the British forces of the dashingly handsome, but socially inept,
General Illwindy were defending against one of Napoleon's favourites; the dogged General Junipia
Berrie.
French Orbat
hills which were the dominating feature of the battlefield. Vimtoria stands at the western end of the
low ridge with the hamlet of Crianza at the eastern end. There were a couple of open woods and a
marsh making it very difficult to approach Vimtoria other than along the main NS road,
The French were to arrive for the most part anywhere on the Southern table edge, in the vacinity of
Tortilla.
The French flanking force of Trollope's Brigade, arrives at point A, dependent upon the score
obtained on the roll of a D6.
I was aware that the British would probably be defending the low ridge and both Vimtoria and
Crianza.
would position my HQ close to Tortilla where I could assess the situation and change any unit
orders if necessary.
I wrote down locations of, and wrote initial orders for, my troops before Clive arrived and deployed.
I deployed Languedoc's Division opposite Vimtoria with orders to take the village, after I had
prepared it with artillery fire. Most of the Battalions with Languedoc were of a reasonable standard
and I planned to make an assault on the village with Moncets Brigade to the fore, where their higher
skirmish ratings may help tip the balance once the village had been penetrated.
Marcillac's Combined Veteran Grenadier Battalions were to support this initial advance, refused on
the left flank and slightly to the rear.
Kelametre's Division, less Trollope's Brigade, were deployed in the centre of the French deployment
area, with orders to advance to the road fork, hopefully fixing the attentions of the British. If the
British were deployed on the ridge I hoped my artillery component would cause some spoiling
casualties. I did not want Thermestat's Brigade on attack orders, charging over the ridge to face a
wall of bristling British bayonets. Well not yet at least.
Amoran's Cavalry Brigade were to to Support Kelametre's right flank preventing hopefully British
troops being re-deployed as Trollope's Brigade had orders to manoeuvre behind Crianza and
attack what I expected would be the flank of the British left, denying them the advantage of reverse
slope tactics and their low ridge position. This was risky as I wouldn't know where the flank of the
enemy was initially and also the exact timing of Trollope's entry onto the battelfield.
I would then hope to change Marcillac's and Kelametre's orders to attack the centre whilst their
flank and rear were engaged.
A bold plan but would it work?
Clive brought his Brits, mostly Minifigs I readied my Essex Miniatures French. One word though I
decided to replace the Swiss Battalions with Polish ones instead.
things were going to be really tough.
Naively, I had assummed that Clive would deploy
behind the main ridge line to take advantage of British
reverse slope tactics.
His left was anchored on Crianza and his right on
Vimtoria but several blinds were deployed in advance
in the valley, whilst some were deployed just behind
the ridge. It was also obvious to Clive that I was going
to make some attempt on Crianza as my line
ovelapped his deployment.
Obeying orders I advanced the whole of the line. In the
centre the fact that both sides blinds were on the
opposite side of on of the small hills meant that no
spotting could be undertaken. However, Languedoc's
Division was spotted advancing towards Vimtoria,
Clive voluntarily revealing an artillery battery to the left
of the village, causing a casualty.
Clive then advanced one blind from behind the village
through the wood and onto Vimtoria hill.
My Cavalry Division was spotted advancing rapidly
supporting and guarding my right flank. The first turn
it had refused to move as a result of their commander
being Poor and the Poor/Cautious chip being drawn
already. Clive had revealed a battery opposite it which
had caused a brace of casualties on 3eme Dragoons. I
managed to identify Mound's Brigade lining the ridge
with their left flank anchored on Crianza.
Trollope's force arrived on time and as no formed
troops were within 16" made a rapid advance up the
table and around the flank of Crianza, enveloping it.
I managed to spot what that it was British Cavalry
occupying Vimtoria hill and formed two of Marillac's
Grenadiers into squares to protect both themselves
and preventing their frontage being crossed in an
attempt to attack Languedoc's troops.
Illwindy's Cavalry now made an opportunity charge
upon the Grenadiers who easily passed their test to
form square; being B class, in an attack column and
the cavalry charging from over half their movement
rate. The British cavalry halted blown at 4", we both
took a casualty each and stalemate ensued.
Clive now benefitted from the extra PIPs added for the
'Gifted' rating of Illwindy. As he could see that his left
was the target of a major effort he changed orders of
one of his, as yet unidentified blinds behind the ridge.
Spotting Vimtoria successfully, Languedoc's artillery
fired upon the village causing a casualty on its
defenders. One Battalion peeled off and engaged his
flanking battery, though supported by a British
Battalion. Three other Battalions led by Languedoc
himself assaulted the village.
With a three to one superiority and led by a General I
rated my chances as quite good. Unfortunately we
had forgotten to deploy Clive's General Massey. We
decided to dice randomly for which Battalion of his
Brigade he was accompanying. Sadly it proved to be
disasterous for my forces as he was with his garrison.
My troops were forced back shaken.
I was luckier though in that the attack on his artillery
battery was successful and it was driven off.
My luck changed again though as Clive masterly
ordered his battalion to charge my victorious troops,
General Illwindy accompanying them personally into
the fray. My Battalion routed prior to contact! Not only
that but the three Battalions of Languedoc's Division
which were shaken also routed too, carrying away the
last battalion which was deployed behind them.
Disaster, one entire Division routed in one move.
Things didn't get any better when Trollope's force,
now on attack orders committed themselves into
attacking Curtsey's Brigade which had sealed off his
left flank by forming up behind Crianza. Curtsey's men
had wisely formed square in response to seeing
Trollope's 5eme Dragoons. The 2eme and 4eme
Legere charged but were beaten off after a savage
firefight by their B class 32nd Line, lead by yet another
British General!
By now I realised that there was absolutely no way I
could possibly win the game but decided to try to
make a closer thing of it, if possible.
Even this hope was removed when Thermestat's
Brigade, which had advanced in the centre so far,
managed to spot Awstruth's Brigade, its right
anchored on the wood. Together with Mound's
Brigade, this meant that Thermestat was outnumbered,
by an uphill enemy, 5:3 in infantry and 2:1 in artillery.
Not an enviable situation for any commander.
Luckily his orders were to manouvre, not to attack so
his infantry halted and formed into line to try to
minimise potential casualties from the close range
guns opposite him.
I missed a small chance of success when one of
Mound's Battalions decided to form square in
repsonse to the close proximity of Amoran's Cavalry. I
completely forgot to test for an opportunity charge.
Chances are though that my cavalry would have failed
due to it being close to its maximum movement range.
My C-in-C, General Junipia Berrie, had manouevred
over to Vimtoria when disaster beckoned. He was now
in no position to prevent Trollope's other two
remaining units from obeying their attack orders. The
last remaining Battalion charged uphill to assault
Crianza as the 5eme Dragoons baulked at attacking a
square and halted blown with a casualty. Being D
class troops and attacking uphill into a village held by
B class troops is not exactly a guarantee of success in
any set of rules and as expected I was routed.
Another British blind appearred on Clive's baseline
and upon receipt of orders moved over to his right,
towards Vimtoria.
The battle now developed into an artillery duel as my
troops on movement orders couldn't move and Clive's
troops were quite happy defending.
I gained a rare and minor success when I managed to
rout the 40th Line near Vimtoria which was deployed
opposite two Batteries of my artillery, and had been
grimly taking casualties from cannister for several
turns. Tit-for-tat one of Thermestat's Battalions was
also routed by the British guns as the artillery duel
intensified in the centre.
My C-in-C vainly tried to change the orders of Trollope
to disengage but the distance was too far and so upon
the drawing of his chip the 2eme and 4eme Legere
charged again into close contact with the 32nd, and
Brigadier Curtsey. This time, against all odds they
won, forcing their opponents back shaken. Cursey
managed to survive yet another attempt on his life.
Brigadier-General Massey however, was not so lucky,
succumbing to a cannister round from Languedoc's
guns now firing on Vimtoria.
Dewaters Brigade, now revealed itself. It had arrived
on Clive's baseline and had progressed throughout
the game over to his right flank. Two Battalions now
charged a French Grenadier square forcing it back.
The battle was really quite good fun, inspite of the fact it was pretty obvious that my task was near
impossible after Languedoc's Division was routed.
Outnumbered by British Battalions defending villages and ridge lines, with the same number of
Batteries, I stood little chance perhaps. My cavalry superiority was totally nullified by the close
terrain. I admit to being at a loss to what to do with them once it was clear that my outflanking
attempt had been blocked. In comparison Clive's judicious use of his 23rd Light Dragoons on
Vimtoria hill had really isolated Marcillac's Grenadiers from taking part in the rest of the battle. they
were forced into square and could do little else without cavalry support.
My one chance was to try to outlfank the British position early on or alternatively a massive assault
on Vimtoria itself. Neither option had much real chance of success.
The real deciding factor was the amount of Generals that the British had available.
One could argue that allowing Brigade commanders to have LFS factors was too much of an
advantage for the British making a French victory impossible.
Their attachment to key Battalions tipped the balance in their favour. Granted attaching Generals
restricts their ability to command the units of their respective commands but when they are well
deployed, and defending successfully no PIPs are required, and it is a good call.
My artillery did manage to cause quite a few casualties on the enemy. Deploying behind the ridge
line would have saved Clive a lot of losses. The French suffered 2,000 casualties or 19% of my
force, the British 1,150 or 14%, largely due to artillery fire.
Taking nothing away from Clive, the key move was attaching his British C-in-C General Illwindy to
the 36th Line and charging into the 82eme Line routing them which triggered the disintegration of
Languedoc's Division.
Anyway a pleasurable evenings gaming. Clive still has an unbeaten record using LFS. Next time
Clivey...there's always a next time...
