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Thursday, March 31, 2022

Combat at Foz d'Arouce BatRep

In the previous post, I presented a teaser for the weekly UK remote game.  As noted, it was my turn at the hosting helm and I chose to bring 28mm Napoleonics back to the table.  Turnout was excellent with six remote players taking commands.  The players were split evenly between the Anglo-Portuguese and French.  Chris, as Picton, took command of the Anglo-Portuguese with Will and Richard as subordinates.  Graham settled into his role as Ney with Ian and Phil picking up brigadier commands.  Each subordinate commander on the field had at his disposal at least one infantry brigade.

As is becoming commonplace in some of my recent hosting efforts, the number of in-game photos is quickly approaching zero.  Moving units and game adjudication leave little time for respite to snap a quick pic.  I need to work on that and make an effort to allow some time to chronicle the action.  I did manage to jump around the table to grab a screenshot or three during the game but not really enough to suit my tastes.  Even without a sufficient photo record, the game is still fresh in memory.

Off to battle. 

Initial dispositions and battle plans
As the attacker, Picton could activate one brigade first before the other commands were selected by lot.  Picton chooses to activate Beckwith's Light Brigade and it swings into action by a brisk advance along the British left under cover of a rocky outcropping. 

After Beckwith activates, each command's activation sequence is governed by a random die draw from a tin. 

Beckwith advances on the British left while
Mermet attacks out from Foz d' Arouce.
As the British advance slowly in the center, Mermet wastes little time in advancing quickly upon the enemy.  Menard on the French left occupies the farm before the enemy can do so while Taupin garrisons the center.  On the French right, Maucine holds Poisao preparing for the attack that he knows is inbound.

The French do not wait long.

Both Beckwith and Colville pounce upon the French deployed in and around Poisao and the fight is on.  Close range firefights erupt as Poisao is immediately under heavy pressure.  The French guns in Poisao fire but cannot discourage the attackers.  Lining up along the outer walls of the village, the redcoats pour fire into the town.  Isolated, the gunners limber-up and quickly evacuate the village while they still can flee.

The 1/6 Legere deployed in the woods on the French right are under stress too.  Harassed by fire from both the 95th Rifles and the 1st Cacadores, the 1/6 wavers.  After sending a volley into the legere, the 43rd Lights charge.  The already wavering leger are forced out of the woods and back toward the bridge.  

The British attack!
In the center, the crack 5th Foot hits the 1/50th Ligne.  Casualties are heavy and the 1/50 is forced to retire.  Coming up in support of 1/50 but a little too late, the 2/6 Legere engages the 5th Foot.  The 5th Foot is forced back but the 2/6 Leger suffers heavily too.  Maucine is in great peril but has he stabilized the French right?  The contest on the French right still holds in the balance.  For now. 

Fighting intensifies near Poisao.
On the French left, however, Menard is attempting to thrust deep into the British positions and turn their right.  Fighting escalates at the farm as each commander commits more troops into the fire fight.  Casualties mount as the combatants clash in close quarters inside the farm compound.  If MacKinnon can hold, Beckwith may gain the bridge and cut off Mermet's Division.  Ney could be bagged!

Powers arrives and Beckwith races toward the bridge.
Maucine's position on the French right collapses suddenly.  Beckwith's brigade nearly reaches the bridge before Maucine's 69th Ligne can deploy.  Is the bridge lost and Ney's command cut off?  

Through the smoke, Ney spots a dense enemy formation on the main road to Foz d'Arouce.  The English have been reinforced by a brigade of Portuguese.  The situation is worse than it seems.  Time cannot be wasted!  Ney leads one of his battalions in against the enemy to his front.  In the chaos, Ney goes down.  He does not rise.

Mermet attacks!
Seeing Ney fall, Taupin realizes he must delay the Portuguese attacks until Menard can push on into the British right flank.  If he does not hold the center, he will be overrun and the bridge taken.

Taupin heroically holds the center.

Hearing reports that Ney has fallen, Menard redoubles his efforts.  A fourth battalion is sent into the fight at the farm.  This edge in manpower tips the balance.  The 88th Foot is driven from the field as it defends the woods while both the 45th and 74th Foot are ejected from the farm.  In hot pursuit, both battalions scatter.  The British right has been turned!

The British right collapses!
Back at the bridge, the 1/69 Ligne fans out into line just before the 43rd Light attacks.  With support from the gun at the wall, the redcoats are driven back. 

Battered but not yet broken, the French hold the bridge as Picton begins to worry about the disintegration of his right.  With MacKinnon's brigade destroyed, Colville's brigade broken, and night enveloping the battlefield, Picton orders a withdrawal.  Today's fight is over but what will tomorrow hold?

French hold the bridge.
Whew!  That was a hard-fought battle.  After a little over three hours of fighting the armies and host are exhausted. 

In the final tally, despite the loss of Ney (and the loss of many a general on this day), the French gained a victory at Foz d'Arouce.  The French maintained control of Foz d'Arouce and the bridge while suffering fewer casualties than they gave.  That was a good day's effort.  Ney fought a successful rearguard action even though he disobeyed Massena's orders.  Fortunately for Ney, he will not need to defend his actions.

With darkness on the battlefield, Massena arrives to order the bridge blown after overseeing all surviving French moved over to the north bank of the Ceira River. 

The battle's end.
As always, the players gave me much to contemplate post-game. I may put together a retrospective on the game and rules another time. In the meantime, another playing may be in the cards.

44 comments:

  1. That was a late turnaround in French fortunes. Sounds like a great game. And a nice clear AAR, keeping us guessing to the end.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the battle report! Hopefully, the players enjoyed it too. Had the British broken through at the bridge, victory would have likely tipped to the British.

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  2. Looks like an awesome game, and a busy one to GM. What were the rules?

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    1. The session was a busy one, for sure. One must be in good form to keep up with this group. The rules are of my own work.

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  3. Fantastic looking report as always Jonathan!
    Watching and reading is pure pleasure!
    best regards

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    1. Much appreciated, Michal! Thanks for your encouragement!

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  4. I really thought that was going to end in a British win Jonathan so a French victory was a surprise, especially with the loss of Ney along the way. I would imaging hosting and taking photos is a mammoth task. I never remember to take any when there are four or five of us playing face-to-face.

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    1. You know, the British came very close to seizing the bridge. If not for the collapse of the British right, the outcome could have been very different.

      I need to make time to snap an in-game photo or two. Not the first time I have stated this. One day, I may actually act!

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  5. Looks a superb game. I often forget to take photos of games, mostly because I have become engrossed in the action

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  6. Nice report and a good looking game, well done for putting it together by remote, dedication above and beyond.

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  7. Fantastic looking game Jon...Napoleonics are always pretty! Your AAR reads a closer contest than Marshal Ney wrote from beyond the grave over at Wargaming for Grownups! It did seem like the Allies were within spitting distance of victory but were thwarted by desperate French defence.

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    1. 20 VPs to 8, by my count, so not close at all in the end. Jon's just trying to soften the blow for the losers.

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    2. Glad you enjoyed the battle report, Keith! The allies were within striking distance of winning the day but the British suffered greatly on their right.

      Can you expect a battle account to be coming up roses from an author pushing up daisies?

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    3. Graham, I computed a different total but the result is the same. French victory.

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  8. What a splendid game, it certainly looked to be a win for the allies. The French did well to turn the tide, the players morale held well there.

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    1. Thanks, Phil! It looked like a British victory to me too until the last turn. Maucine decided to send the remainder of his brigade over the Ceira River just in the nick of time. I mean, REALLY in the nick of time!

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  9. Very interesting movements. I thought that the British would win.

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  10. An excellent game, Jon, and thank you for hosting.

    As always, my report to the London Gazette will make no mention of MacKinnon's rough handling by "vastly superior numbers of Frenchies". You can be sure though that the death of that upstart, Ney will receive full coverage as I report my splendid victory! :-)

    Yours, aye

    Picton

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    1. Thanks!

      Taking down a Marshall of France will receive headline news, no doubt. As a British reporter, I would lead with that angle too.

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  11. Sounds like a ripper of a game, and looked fantastic. Sorry to hear of Ney's fall, but let's be honest, discretion was never his strong suit.

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    1. Glad you liked it! The outcome looked to hang in balance. Well, until the final count, that is.

      Redheads!

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  12. Crackin game Jonathan!!! I understand you may be hosting a game for the Rejects soon? I do hope so?

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    1. Thanks, Ray! Reject Remote Rendezvous is a definite possibility. We can work out logistics and topic.

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  13. Great looking game, sounds like the French did well at critical times,you were very busy!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thanks, Iain! The French did very well in making their stand at the critical moment. Crushing the British right helped too!

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  14. That’s a great turnout and sounds like the game was fun for everyone. Ya can’t be blamed for not taking many photos; I usually only manage to take only a few before I get sucked in and forget. You’re doing the hosting and have to move all the units as well! πŸ˜€

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    1. Six players makes for a nearly full house. Even remotely. Actually, shepherding six plyers remotely is more work than F2F, I think.

      I need to take an occasionally time-out for photos. Often, any brief pause is filled with answering questions, making clarifications, and offering tactical suggestions.

      As for fun, the French may have enjoyed the contest a little more than the Anglo-Portuguese.

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  15. What a great report Jonathan. That certainly makes up for any worries about the number of photos. You have a nice turn of narrative style. The battle looked splendid. Kudos.

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    1. Thanks so much, Richard! Very pleased to see a compliment on writing style. You give me motivation and encouragement to press on.

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  16. What a great game there Jon and full of action. Shame the Anglo-Portugese didn't manage a win, but at least old Ney went down which I suppose is some consolation.

    I think the annotated photos and the text in between each gave a fine account of the battle. It's always nice to have more pics but this gave me a good idea of how the game played out and didn't put too much stress on you as the host.

    If you have time, some post match thoughts would be nice.

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    1. Thank you, Steve!

      While the sun had set and the British right had been turned, the Anglo-Portuguese were not without possibilities.

      When Ney went down, there was much cheering...on BOTH sides!

      I have the battle reset and replaying it on Sunday. After that action, perhaps post-game thoughts are in order?

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  17. A fine game and in the 'right' scale tooπŸ˜‰ No wonder you were wacked by the end though! A French win though? We can't be having that!😁

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    1. Thank you, David! The larger figures make seeing the battlefield from a webcam much easier on the eyes. I should get these lads out more often.

      I am replaying the battle on Sunday. Let's see if the outcome can be reversed.

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  18. Always a treat to see a great collection of Napoleonics out on the table. The hard fought scenario really showed off the period. It is tough to remember taking photos in a game, much less one you're hosting and adjudicating.

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the display! I need to make more effort at chronicling the game.

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  19. Fabulous gaming with great looking troops, Jonathan. Well done!

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  20. Another great report and again a lovely table.

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  21. 3+hours is a lot for any game. But it was fun to follow and that result was not expected considering the French fortunes up until the surprise turnabout.

    I see I am four or five posts behind now… either you post too frequently or I am a laggard in need of a good kick in the rump. :)

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    1. Glad you enjoyed the battle report!

      Now, catch up! You are falling behind!

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