Napoleonic: Probing the Lines

This week saw the French & British camps stir ahead of the main campaigning season with the commanders seeking to probe the enemy lines. With this in mind small parties lead by brave commanders have been dispatched into the Spanish countryside to gain whatever advantage over the enemy they can before the main armies set forth on campaign. 

The opening move  of the season saw both sides looking to kick things off in style after hearing tell of a supply of Spanish wine that had spilled over a nearby road. Both commanders decided their troops could do with some cheer to shake off the winter blues and set forth to make sure the valuable cargo did not fall into enemy hands.

The French force was made up of men drawn from the 100th Ligne and the 14th Dragoons fighting on foot. They where being led by Major de la Croix who despite his aristocratic sounding name had survived the purges. He'd also brought along his special camp companion who he'd promised to show an exciting time too, he just had to make sure she suffered no harm otherwise he's have to warm his own bed that night. 

Major Jean-Baptiste Augustine de la Croix

1 * Grenadier Officer

1 * 10 Grenadiers

1 * 10 Fusiliers (veteran)

1 * Voltigeur Officer (musket)

1 * 6 Voltigeurs

1 * 5 Voltigeurs

1 * 8 Dismounted Dragoons (veteran)

The British had dispatched men on the 28th North Gloucestershire Regiment & 13th Light Dragoons under the command of Major Berkeley. Somewhat of a braggard he had boasted that none of his troops would ever advance as far as he, so he needed to make sure that by the end of the engagement he was the most advanced Englishman on the field.

Major Ballard Berkeley

1 * Light Cav Officer (phlegmatic, carbine)

1 * 6 Light Dragoons

1 * Infantry Officer (phlegmatic)

2 * 8 Grenadiers

1 * Light Infantry Officer (phlegmatic)

2 * 6 Light Infantry (Sharpshooter)

The battle started with the 13 Light Dragoons rushing forwards and seizing one of the small wine barrels and then beating a retreat before the French Voltigeurs could react. The fact they needed to keep this with them meant they played no further active part in the battle as they hid behind some cover. 

Thus the main battle would be centred around the other two barrels, the central one was so large that it slowed down the troops trying to haul it away. Both sides moved up to contest the booty with the British preparing to shoot if the French dared make an advance.

Presumably wishing to impress his mistress Major de la Croix waved his men on and the Dragoons made a dash for the central barrel only to be met with a withering fire from the British. Five men dropped dead in one volley and the rest broke for the hills and did not return to action again.

The French Grenadiers faired better with only three men being felled by the British Light Infantry and they managed to retreat out of sight with a small barrel of wine.

Back in the centre the French Fusiliers took advantage of unloaded muskets to seize the large barrel and attempt to drag it back towards their camp. 

At this point it was looking bad for the British as the French had the lions share of the wine in their hands and just needed to keep hold of it until night fell and they could retreat under cover of darkness.

However, the men of the 28th would not be separated so easily from their spoils of war and with encouragement from Major Berkeley who had ridden over both sections of Grenadiers unleashed a deadly fusillade which dropped so many Fusiliers that the remaining couple of men followed the Dragoons in quitting the field. 

Whilst this had been happening the Voltigeurs had been advancing on the British right and they managed to get some shots off against the section of British who dashed across the road to seize the larger of the wine barrels, the British held their nerve however and managed to complete the dash and lay hands on their prize. In fact they went one step further and fired shots at the French Grenadiers from behind that so dispirited them they broke into rout and dropped their cargo.

Major Berkeley seeing the wine up for grabs spurred his horse onwards and as predicted to his men ended up the most advanced Englishman on the field. Meanwhile Major de la Croix seeing his men streaming from the field decided to head back to camp, at least his companion had not been wounded in the battle, so all was not lost.

The butchers bill, heavy French losses
against only two English deaths

Thus ended the first engagement of the campaign, both sides completed their personal objectives and the British won the scenario so take and early 3 v 1 lead.