So here we go.
This morning we played the Battle of Alto Campo, using Fist full of lead, horse and musket supplement.
All figures in 28mm supplied by has.been (cheers Pete).
Game scenario and back details also supplied by has.been.
Welcome onboard Digits, as he joined us today, and got to game in the Lead shed. (Glad you liked it).
Background .......
The sun beat down on the peaceful Spanish countryside. The village of Alto-campo (High field ) dozed in the noon day sun. Quiet also was the small farm of Cielo-Azul (Sky Blue).
Food had been gathered in, ready for transporting to the market town of Agotarse tomorrow.
Troops were nearby, there were always troops nearby, but today both French and British troops were near. The sleepy town did not yet know it, but the sweet smell of the lemon trees was soon to be replaced with that of gun powder. The chirping of the crickets would succumb to the clatter of musket and rifle fire.
Victory points would be awarded for playing the part / food captured / sub plots.
Both sides want / need / must have the food.
As Napoleon himself said “Big Mac and large fries please”, no sorry “an army marches on its stomach”.
Sub plots -
French Old Guard (me) - points for Brits killed or wounded, and if you can’t keep the food you would rather urinate on it than give it to the Brits.
French line (Digits) - Fed up with War. Want to survive. Points for survivors.
French Irish (Ian) - points for wine consumed.
Scottish (Garry) - IN-TA-IM! Points for melee.
95th Rifles (Dave) - points for DEAD Frenchies.
Navy - (JC) - points for keeping the gun safe.
Initial deployment.
Brits coming from the right of the battlefield. French coming from the left.
Farm at the top, town at the bottom.
Initial French advance on the town.
The French Irish also get to the farm quite quickly.
The 95th advance thro the middle of the battlefield, entering the vinyard just south of the farm.
Then the 95th get to what would later be called the “gateway of death” as they try to enter the farm. NB notice top right corner JC’s British naval gun being manhandled to the farm back gate.
Because as they try to get into the farm, my French boys open up on them, killing at least two of them.
Back in the town Garry’s Scotsmen, were made for the night, with a free box of fruit, and a fruity lady turning up too.
Unfortunately Ian’s French boys interrupted the Scots fun, and started kicking off.
So back to the farm, the 95th had been cut down and halted. They bolted for cover behind a low wall, as Digits French boys arrive at the farms front gates.
At the back gate, JC’s naval gun finally arrived.
He then got the gun through the gates and opened up on French troops at the farms rear wall. Boy did that gun make a mess of things.
So with the sun setting the battle came to an end. With the French entering the farm to fertilise the fruit...messy. The 95th still hid behind their wall, as British sailors looked on, wondering what those French blokes were doing to that fruit ?
Garry’s Scottish boys drove off Ian’s Frenchies in the town, but lost a few Scotsmen too.
Winner overall was Digits with his French Irish taking the farm.
It was great fun and we all had a good laugh.
Many thanks to all, and especially to has.been for umpiring and running such a fun game.