Word has reached both camps that a Spanish spy was nearby and whilst their commanders would not reveal what information the spy had it was imperative they be taken alive and brought back to camp. So both commanders set off to a nearby village to seize anyone who looked suspicious.
Major de la Croix had opted to change up his command by adding some dashing Hussar's to his force, no doubt hoping that their swift movement would help him cover more ground in the search ahead.
Major Jean-Baptiste Augustine de la Croix
1 * Grenadier Officer (mounted)
1 * 10 Grenadiers
1 * 9 Fusiliers (veteran)
1 * 5 Voltigeurs (sharpshooter)
1 * 8 Dismounted Dragoons (veteran)
1 * Hussar Officer (swordsman)
6 * Hussars (swordsmen)
Both sides arrived at the same time and spotted three likely looking candidates for the spy, they would need to grab them and then once safely escorted back to friendly lines, question them to discover if they had managed to grab the spy or not.
Major Berkeley had kept his command the same as the previous engagement, after such a handsome engagement he saw no need to alter his force.
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 opposing forces deployed in a mirrored manner with the light infantry and cavalry opposite their enemy counterparts and the line infantry occupying the centre. As neither side knew which was the real spy then they needed to seize all three persons of interest to be sure of getting the correct one.
The early action was on the cavalry wing with both sides advancing and the British loosing off and inaccurate volley of carbine fire.
Whilst this was happening the line infantry advanced in the centre converging on the village in efforts to seize the potential spy. The British arrived first and put themselves on reserve fire, after the accuracy of the British fire in the last engagement this made the French wary to advance.
Back on the cavalry wing the French gained the upper hand after a series of charges and counter-charges that saw both sides take casualties but the British Light Dragoons forced back. The British did manage to kill the French Hussar officer however and inflict roughly equal casualties on the French.
This left Major Berkeley exposed and in an attack that lacked courage he was attacked by four Hussars. Unable to fend them all off he was dropped from his horse by a blow to the head, fortunately his sturdy helmet saved him from a mortal blow.
In the centre with reinforcements having arrived one unit of British Grenadiers dashed forwards to seize control of a suspect and then retired in the face of the advancing enemy. Some covering fire thinned the French ranks and allowed the Grenadiers with the potential spy to shoot down the remaining Hussars to gain some revenge for Major Berkeley.
On the other flank both sides had been trading some sporadic fire with neither gaining an advantage.
Back in the centre the French Grenadiers where subjected to accurate British fire which in the end proved too much for them and they fled.
In the final act of the day the French Dragoons dashed forwards under heavy fire and seized control of the person hiding in the swamp. The British did not have the firepower to force them to flee and as night fell both sides held one suspect.
As both sides retreated back to their camps and had a chance to question their captive they realised that they did not have the spy. Despite being in the middle of a swirling cavalry battle she had somehow managed to escape.
Neither commander managed to achieve their personal objective and no campaign points where scored so the British still lead 3 to 1 in the overall campaign.
No comments:
Post a Comment