After having failed to take the spy into custody both sides received fresh intelligence on the location of the now un-masked agent. She was traveling with a small escort towards the sanctuary of a local church. Determined to make sure they captured her this time each side was ordered to withhold their fire on any men near her but also to not spare the bayonet on anyone standing in their way.
The spy was setup on one table edge and would advance 6" each time a clock card was drawn from the deck, making her movement unpredictable.
The spy was setup on one table edge and would advance 6" each time a clock card was drawn from the deck, making her movement unpredictable. Her escort would fight to defend her but not use their muskets for ranged attacks.
Major Berkeley kept faith with his previous force composition and setup his slower troops nearer the spy's entry point.
Major de la Croix opted to bring some extra line infantry in place of the dismounted Dragoons so fielded an additional Grenadier unit.
In the early stages of the battle both sides advanced on the river flank with the French making greater progress in the centre as the British Grenadiers got off to a slow start.
At this point the spy hadn't made much of a move but the forces on the hunt for her had started to close the door on her line of escape.
The spy then suddenly started to make a dash for the church which carried her mostly past the French and British troops sent directly towards he starting position.
The action then started to hot up on the river flank with Major Berkeley charging forwards at the head of the 13th Light Dragoons towards the French 2nd Hussars.
Seizing the initiative the gallant Major led his men into the Hussars and running a man through himself led them to victory. The Dragoons lost one man and the Hussars a couple of men but then the French started a run of poor morale rolls ( 0, 1, 0) which saw the Hussars rout from the table.
The action then centred on the river flank with the French Grenadiers launching a charge against Major Berkeley who like Lieutenant Darling last week beat off an assault on his own. This allowed the 13th to charge into the Grenadiers and caused them massive casualties.
At this point the Voltigeurs opened up a galling fire and with men dropping from their saddles the British cavalry started to retreat towards cover.
The action then switched to the centre where the French Fusiliers had failed to capture the spy despite charging her outnumbered guard. This allowed one of the British Light Infantry units the chance to leap over a wall and charge themselves, this time capturing the spy.
By now the British Grenadiers had reached the action and one unit unleashed a volley that felled Major de la Croix from his horse, but caused little other damage.
The French Fusiliers then launched another charge and routed the British Lights and themselves seized control of the spy. With the light failing all they needed to do was hold on for darkness so they could make their escape.
This lead to a series of desperate British assaults on the Fusiliers led initially by Major Berkeley who was felled from his horse and then the remaining 13th Light Dragoons who where repulsed.
With the last move of the game the remaining British Lights managed to charge in and the Fusiliers courage finally failed them as they suffered more casualties and finally retired empty handed. This must have been a bitter pill for the French to swallow as they'd almost held out for victory and then had it snatched away at the last moment.
This leaves the British in control of the spy and also leading 9 - 2 in the overall standings. Major Berkeley achieved his personal goal by killing a Frenchman in melee whilst Major de la Croix did not achieve his goal.
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