The Bridge at Matagorda

[has.been]

Vodkafan wanted to try Sharp Practice, and was rash enough to offer to umpire,
or more accurately 'plumpire' (play & umpire) as it would just be the two of us.
I had played SP before, but several years ago & James was borrowing my copy of
the rules, so I would not be much help.

Pictures from the set up, the opposition forces & the table.

[Digits]

Great looking table guys!

[has.been]

You ain't seen nothing yet.

[has.been]

Spain & another hot & dusty day's march was in prospect for the escort of Frenchies.
The Brigadier wants his mistress, Fanci Bitt, brought to him. From Venta De Pantalones
(Trouser Stall). Trouble is brewing, the local bandit chief, El Supremo, captured by the
Brigadier, is due to be hung in the Banos Y Mendigo (Baths & Beggar) town square
this Sunday.  All the nearby towns are unfriendly: Dolores (Pain), Malcocinada (Under Cooked),
& Matagorda (Kill Fatty) where the only bridge crossing the river Tregas is.

The local Guerillos & their British allies are active.
Lt. Highfell Tour wiped the sweat away & stared down the long dusty road. He felt it
deep down, something was going to happen. God he hated this country.

(By the way all the town names are genuine Spanish towns)

Pic 1) Cacadores move carefully through the town, looking for a good ambush site.
Pic 2) Townsfolk are gathered by the local firebrand, Jacinta.
Pic 3 & 4) At Jacinta's bidding the Guerillos come down from the hills.

[has.been]

Thing are stirring in the valley.
Pic 1) The French convoy arrives.
Pic 2)  The Brigadier has ordered help to come from the Dolores garrison.
Pic 3) Voltegeurs spread out, expecting trouble.
Pic 4) & 5) Spanish start to take up positions.
Pic 6) Even making use of a ruined, old Roman aqueduct.

[has.been]

Pic 1) Highlanders arrive.
Pic 2) Scots Greys advance towards the French convoy.
Pic 3) 4) & 5) Jacinta orders the Spanish to cut off the french relief troops.
Pic 6) The Scots Greys go into a gallop at first sight of french uniforms.
         At speed they smash into the lead french unit... It breaks & runs.

[has.been]

Pic 1) Jacinta, local heroine.
Pic 2) & 3)  The Spanish dig in.
Pic 4) 5) & 6) The shooting begins at Matagorda.

[has.been]

Pic 1) French relief  force fire a volley into the Spanish.  'How do YOU like it?!'
Pic 2) Voltigeurs pour accurate & heavy fire into the Scots Greys at point blank range.
        They day is over for the cavalry.
Pic 3) & 4) The Highlanders form line  on the road, and block any further French advance.
pic 5) with the Voltegeurs fully occupied with the Scots Greys, they do not notice that the
hill behind them is now crawling with 95th & Cacadores. It is their turn to be cut down by
short range accurate firepower.  Shock inflicted from ambush is doubled!!!!  This is the
end for the French.
We called time, as Vodkafan had to go to work. How I hate that that horrible four letter word
 gets in the way of important stuff, like playing with toy soldiers.

[has.been]

Some Eye Candy. Pictures I managed to sneak when James was looking up rules.

The seemingly  random placement of cattle was nothing of the sort. They were used
to mark possible places the British/Spanish might appear. This was to keep the
French guessing. 1 cow = position No 1, 2 cows = position 2 etc.

Did we make mistakes with the rules? Heck yes! But we will be better next time.
If we get bored with Sharpe Practice we can do the Peninsular with Rebels & Patriots,
or our home-brew set, 'Embuscada'
Did we have fun? Yes.
I hope you get to see James' photos & hear his version of events, before too long.

[flatpack]

Very nice.

[ragbones]

Beautiful scenery and figures. 

[has.been]

Thanks guys. I like good looking games, though I am hankering for some kind
of back drop to cut out things in the background, like the distracting washing machine.

[vodkafan]

I did a lot of looking up rules! So that's why has.been has taken so many nice photos. My very first try at directing a game and it is jolly hard work, many thanks to Peter for his patient forbearance.
My few photos to follow.

[vodkafan]

Voltigeurs of the 26me Regt de Ligne doing a quick recce before the game starts:


All seems quiet in the sleepy town...


And some troops are on their way from the other direction and meet us half way! What can go wrong? It's only a mile to the bridge...


The carriage containing the Officer's lady love sets out with infantry escort...(sorry bad pic)


Oh no! That mean old Brit, Colonel Sir Richard Codpiece plans to intercept us


His Heavy Dragoons crash into the leading group of the escort at full gallop.  Those who don't succumb to the slashing swords run away  through the rear unit, shaking them.


Colonel Le Plonque rallies off some of the shock and also is within command range of the Voltigeurs, who he directs to fire a devasting first volley. "Avez-vous some of zat, you stinking Rozbeoufs!" :


Meanwhile Spanish Guerrilla units are flitering through the town:


"Dicky" Codpiece is still spoiling for a scrap, and advances up the road towards me. The coach isn't going any farther up this road for a while...

[vodkafan]

It was an amazing layout to game over.