Battle at Visitation (Peninsular War skirmish)

[has.been]

Visit of old friend Gregor (AKA Zingara) is a cause for a
game tomorrow. A skirmish in Napoleonic Spain using a
homebrewed set of rules (Emboscada). We will have six
and a half players (Vodkafan has to go to work & can only
make part of the day) with myself Umpiring.
Some pictures of the set up.

AAR report (& hopefully players' views) later.

1st Picture = Village viewed from the South
2nd & 3rd Pictures = Bird's eye view of the village
4th Picture = Village viewed from the North.

Not clear from the pictures, but the village is
sandwiched between a river on its Southern edge
& a stream on its Northern edge.

Crossing the river, by a ford, is a supply train guarded
by some very nervous Portuguese (Vodkafan mate,
this is you. When you leave for work they will break & run).
Getting ready to 'liberate' the supplies are:-
Two Spanish Guerrilla leaders, the dread Tortilla brothers.
Two French Lt.s
Two British, actually Scottish.
In theory three team, but that horrible umpire (ooh dats me )
has given each player their own instructions.
More latter, hopefully.

[has.been]

Game was played & chaos ensued. Not a big surprise
what with seven players each with their own mission
agenda. With a crowded room & busy umpiring I only took
a couple of pictures from my end of the table (the North).
I leave it to the players to fill in the blanks & hopefully
provide more pictures. They are, working from South to North:-

Supply Train & Portuguese Escort.
 James (AKA  Vodkafan) as 2nd Lt. Macieira.

The two Spanish Guerrillas, the dreaded Tortilla Brothers,
on the east Chris (AKA Mach's Mechas) as Casimro &
on the west Ian (AKA Westbury) as Toriano

Next facing each other were Gregor (AKA Zingara) on the
east as Sgt Arla of the Highlanders and Bob (AKA Flatpack)
as Lt. Fournier of the French Army.

Finally facing off were Garry (AKA Dicemaster) as Lt. Macadon
of the Highlanders on the east & John (AKA JC) as Lt. Charron
of the Imperial Guard.

My pictures are of these last two.

[has.been]

After the gang left, Gregor & I managed a quick
(15 pts a side) Peninsular game using Rebels &
Patriots. Pictures here.
https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=133237.msg1692308#msg1692308

[vodkafan]

Here is the South side of the battle.  (Keen eyes will notice the compass is 90 degrees skew wiff) The supply train off table poised at the ford before the off, being guarded by very nervous Portuguese troops.


All seems peaceful ahead-maybe nothing will happen?


Crossing the ford is slow and difficult


Suddenly there are Spanish Guerillas on the road in front of us!


And another band of Guerrilas to the east


Contingents of French and British troops also appearing the town and suddenly everyone is shooting muskets at everyone, among the houses and the barns and through the orchards. The world has gone mad.


No-one is firing at the supply train though. Lt. Maciera pushes on. Perhaps it will be all right. Some of the wagons are still stuck at the ford and the train becomes separated.


The Guerrillas are shooting at the French and the British; they seem to be providing a screen for the supply train. Lt Maciera thinks about parleying with the leader and giving them some of the supplies in return for an escort through the town. But he doesn't do it.


Suddenly Jacienta a bossy female guerilla declares they will take ALL the supplies. There is a tussle with the reins of the lead wagon's horse, which Jacienta eventually wins.


Lt Maciera and his men decide to abandon the supplies and leg it far more quickly back across the ford than they arrived. Their health is intact, if not their honour.


That was the end of my involvement in the game, as I had to leave for work. I wonder what happened next?

[flatpack]

“Popped in, popped out”
I was given command of the junior French force.
My objective was to capture wagons, but to mainly show up the senior French officer.
With this in mind, I popped on the table, just in front of the wagon train.
I successfully captured a wagon, and got it off the table intact.
I left the senior French officer, doing some lovely marching up and down the road, and fighting off the opposing Scottish forces.

Overall picture of a busy battle.


My French troops “popping on to the table “


My opponents, Spanish riff raff.


My troops having a chitchat at the fountain.


My boys successfully escaping with a wagon.


Leaving the senior French force to fight off the Scotty boys.


Overall, good fun, played in the right spirit.
Thanks Pete for putting it on.

[Grumpy Gnome]

Great stuff! I am loving all of this. I do not see Highlanders in these kinds of battle reports often so that is a real plus.

[Westbury]

Betraying the Portuguese and trying to nick the supply train wasn't the original plan but those dammed Frenchies kept shooting at us so time to head for the hills.
Did rather enjoy clubbing to death an over eager highlander with an empty blunderbuss

[MacksMechas]

I was tasked with commanding a group of Spanish guerrillas for the purposes of fighting, fighting and fighting some more against the approaching British and French troops. We didn't kill many men, but the two nuns coerced into joining my unit successfully convinced a Portuguese supply wagon to follow them to safety at the church.

[vodkafan]

That pic of the nuns pleading with the wagon driver is so funny 

[has.been]

That pic of the nuns pleading with the wagon driver is so funny 

That is because our troops are such miserable 'pleaders'
at least I think that is what people shout at them.

[DonFabrizio]

Reads and sees like a fun game!

[Digits]

I agree.   And yes, I love the picture of the nuns coercing the cart driver!

[Zingara]

One of the great looking buildings on display.

[Zingara]

Some suspicious looking Spanish fellows emerged on our left. Can't trust these Mediterranean types - looked up to no good if I ever saw them. Next thing they are blazing away at our lads - and we're here helping them. What absolute cheek. Well, a few well placed shots downed a number and sent the rest scurrying. They ran away into the Orange Grove, apparently to continue their thieving ways. Well, as compensation for our troubles we managed to liberate some supplies and other spoils of war. All this whilst keeping the left flank secure for that glory hunting commander. Always trouble his type, getting men maimed or worse. We managed to take some pot shots at some Frenchies too - again nice to see the lads with their eye in. Only down side is one of the lads got carried away, and instead of letting a thieving peasant have it between the eyes decided to try and reason with him, slipped on some manure and had his brains smashed out - goes to show can't treat with these natives - they only understand force.