Something Like Salamanca AAR

[DeanMoto]

Thanks to fellow my local Black Powder enthusiasts for a nice Peninsular game based loosely on Salamanca; so loosely that the French won!

One of my buddies, who obviously read the rules on the Follow Me command option, skillfully led the French right. Not only silencing an RHA battery and keeping the 71st Highland LI locked up in the village of Arapile, but totally destroying the Coldstream Guards!

Another buddy aggressively commanded the French left and managed to get his Hussars through the woods to outflank and charge into the 1st KGL Hussars.

The two running the British, had the initial advantage of having all of their units on the table with most in line formation, ended up on the defensive. There was some grumbling overheard in British ranks like, "I didn't think their artillery would end up right in front of us!"

For some pictures of this British fiasco, please refer to this link http://wabcorner.blogspot.com/2012/01/s ... owder.html

Best, Dean

[grant]

Great battle report!

[Big Al]

Nice battle report and some nice fiures too!

[Invisible officer]

A nice sight on the table and everything surely according to the game rule book. But hardly historical.

The French heavies would not point at the centre of the line. Concentrated on the centre the main advantage was lost, the moral impetus and possibility to charge the weak flanks and back. Cavalry won by moral against infantry, getting them to run. Not by physical effect. Against a standing unit with high moral........ A horse is no tank, in most cases of broken steady lines (or squares) a dead horse crashed in the line, creating an opening.

I guess the rules prevent the British to form square being engaged by infantry in close combat. Nice on paper but in that constellation shown here without effect. A steady line, firing and bristling with bayonets, the flank not threatened, a third of them not engaged and firing in the cavalry flank..... Lets assume that the British did not see them due to gunsmoke and are frightened by the sudden.......

And cavalry attacking through a wood and hitting the flank of a unit nearby? They would have to form ranks before charging, giving the enemy enough time to react. The KGL horse was led by men who knew the job.

Well, it's a game.

[Alan Charlesworth]

Nice looking game.

But I notice you allowed the cavalry to move through the woods and that two cavalry attacks were in a formation not mentioned under the rules. Did you have some special house rules in use for this refight?

[NORTIVS MAXIMVS]

Are you using a terrain mat?

I’m considering one of these, you see ...

Cheers
Paul

[DeanMoto]

Thanks for the great comments and critiques, Gentlemen.

The terrain cloth is a fleece fabric from a local craft supply store (Jo-Ann's) - it has a mottled sand/brown finish.

For the French Hussar flank attack through the woods - I hope we did it right using the basic Command/Movement rules. The player opted to use the Follow Me command - passed it the test roll and used the three moves as follows, 9" through the woods (as the unit started right at the edge of the woods to begin with) - unit reform after making out of the woods - and the charge for the third move. BTW, it is one unit and he chose to have them in a sort of attack column - it's just the way I based them - two stands.

As far as the heavy cav attack - entirely non-historical - in fact, most of the players (myself including) are by no means very familiar with Napoleonic tactics - but it does invite more research into the matter! Truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge on it.

Best wishes, Dean

[socalwarhammer]

regardless, it was loads of fun...