DUKE COSIMO'S PERUCKE
THE WAR CONTINUES...
Forcing the RIO RAZON
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Following the repulse of our stalwart Expeditionary force at Cresta Larga the Duke of Oxford decided on brisk remedial action and led the army on a flank march to try and threaten the supply lines of the Cardinale-Infante's force.
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The less than speedy nature of the advance allowed the Spanish force to adopt a defensive posture on the Rio Razon...
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It should be said here that the good Doctor Jones and myself were trying out our new promotion rules to the Warre Game, which are described in a little more detail on the blog.
This allows for special attributes to be adopted by Regiments that perform well and there are choices to be made...which school or doctrine (ATTACK -DEFENCE - MANOUVRE) and then at each level of promotion there is an 'either or choice'.
We knocked up some cards to remind us what we had chosen for each Battalion.
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Here is a shot of Rob's rather nice casualty marker (base by warbases) (figure by Front Rank) alongside the promotion cards adoptd by his aggressive Irish exiles!
The British force advanced in a rather stately fashion and the Spaniards were tempted into precipitous action, cutting a long story short the Oxford Blues resting on a low hill on the right flank (true to previous form) met the Spanish Lanceros charge at the halt with pistols blazing...
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Checked them and then counter-charged down the slope of the Collina Ingles to send them back in confusion which dissolved into a second ignominious rout as the Blues followed up with back-swords!
In the centre despite the advantage of cover in a wood the Spaniah Regt. Bomberos were eventually ousted by the combined fire of the Queen's and Dumbartons second Battalions.
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The key moment of the battle came when the 1st. Battalion Dumbarton's Foot advanced into the desultory fire of the Marquis de Tumbonas Regt. defending th riverbank...
Pausing briefly to salvo - they launched a furious charge across the river and fell on the Spaniards pell mell.
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The resulting melee was short and sharp and saw the enemy choosing discretion as the better part, withdrawing (hastily) from the field towards the safety their fortified base at Rio Arroyo.
There were other twists on the day and not even the Wild Geese were able to resist.
you can read the full account here http://captaingeneral.blogspot.co.uk/ (http://captaingeneral.blogspot.co.uk/)
Both Generals have promised reinforcements as the Expeditionary Force close in on the key Spanish town for what promises to be the climax of this Summer's campaign and if Rio Arroyo falls it will spell the end of the blockade.