Action at the River Côa, 24th July 2010—Version 2

What a difference a set of rules can make to the experience of a game!

We first played this scenario using a set of rules called Grand Battery. This lead to a game, that, while a bit of fun in itself, did not bear any resemblance to what we consider to be a representation of a Napoleonic battle; based on our collective 100+ years in the hobby!

For our second attempt at this game we used the Shako II rules, with its growing list of ANF amendments. Not only did it have more of the "feel" of a Napoleonic wargame, it was a more closely-fought and engaging contest and played out similarly to the real thing—in so many ways.

The situation, battlefield and armies are provided in the first report of this action on our blog, but the map has been reproduced below.

Figure 1: Map of the battlefield used in the game. The squares are 300 x 300 mm²

Turn 1

Refreshingly, the game was instantly more sensible, with the British piquets forced back by the advance of Lamotte's cavalry.

Photo 1: Having pushed aside the piquets, VI Corps advances on the Light Division

Turn 2

By the second turn the French cavalry had reached their initial objective of the Alvercas Stream, where they awaited new orders.

Photo 2: Lamotte and Gardanne’s cavalry at the Alvercas Stream

Turn 3

Both commanders issued new orders. Craufurd began his withdrawal with Barclay's brigade ordered over the river first, followed by Anson's cavalry.

Ney ordered a full attack. His orders were slow in being dispatched so that, while Simon and Lamotte received theirs, the aide sent to Gardanne was slow in reaching him and the one sent to Ferey was killed by a stray bullet!

Beckwith's infantry formed square in readiness for the French attack.

Photo 3: Beckwith’s troops form square to cover the retirement of the remainder of the Light Division. Lamotte’s cavalry approach in the foreground, while Almeida with its garrison can be seen in the background

Turn 4

Lamotte's chasseurs charged the 43rd Foot in square, breaking in the process. The 3rd Hussars in turn charged Beckwith's caçadores, also in square, and they too broke. Not surprisingly, this resulted in Lamotte's brigade being demoralised.

Photo 4: Lamotte’s light cavalry try in vain to break the squares of Beckwith’s infantry

Photo 5: Another view of the combat, showing Anson’s cavalry and Barclay’s infantry retiring to the bridge in the foreground and Gardanne’s dragoons approaching in support in the background

Turn 5

Gardanne sent his 15th Dragoons against the square of the 95th rifles. They were worsted in the encounter, but not broken, rallying behind the remainder of the brigade.

Photo 5: Gardanne sends the 15th Dragoons to charge the square of the 95th rifles with it’s flanks hinged between Almeida and the mill

Turn 6

Lamotte's horse battery was destroyed by the combined fire from the Portuguese heavy battery in Almeida and Ross' RHA. The French batteries in turn fired on Beckwith's squares and inflicted heavy casualties.

Undeterred by the experience of the 15th, Gardanne sent the 25th Dragoons against the square of 95th Rifles, which had been weakened and disordered by the artillery fire. This time the punt paid off and the cavalrymen were successful!

Photo 6: VI Corps artillery fires at the squares of Beckwith’s brigade in the distance. Simon’s 2nd Brigade can be seen advancing in support in the foreground

Photo 7: In a lucky blow, the 25th Dragoons charge and break the square of the 95th Rifles

Turn 7

Leading the advance of the French infantry, the Chasseurs du siege of the advance guard took heavy losses from combined fire from Portuguese heavy battery and Ross' RHA. In contrast, the French artillery failed to damage Beckwith's remaining squares (caçadores and 43rd Foot). However, Beckwith's caçadores took casualties from skirmisher fire, which was sufficient to break the unit. Seeing their opportunity, the Chasseurs du siege charged Ross' battery and broke it.

Miraculously, Beckwith's brigade passed its 'divisional' morale. So the 43rd fought on.

Photo 8: Covered by Beckwith’s rearguard, Barclay’s brigade retires over the famous bridge, with Anson’s cavalry following

Turn 8 and 9

The square of the 43rd Light Infantry was broken by a charge of the Chasseurs du siege and retreated to the Côa. Anson's 16th Light Dragoons were forced back by a charge of the 15th Dragoons, but rallied in front of the Côa.

The remainder of the Light Division continued its retirement to the bridge over the Côa. The French advancing on their heels.

Photo 9: Having dispensed with Ross’ battery RHA, the chasseurs du siege followed up and broke the square of the 43rd (centre). Ferey’s brigade is advancing in strength in the foreground.

Photo 10: Barclay’s brigade have nearly cleared the bridge and Anson’s 1st KGL Hussars prepare to follow

Photo 11: ‘Under the shadow of Almeida’: 25th Dragoons advance in support of the infantry

Turn 10

While the Portuguese heavy battery in Almeida continued to inflict casualties on the advancing French infantry, the French 25th Dragoons charged and broke the 16th Light Dragoons. Beckwith successfully rallied the 43rd Foot which took up a position on MacLeod's knoll.

Photo 12 and 13: French 25th Dragoons charged and broke 16th Light Dragoons, while the advancing French infantry suffered from the fire of the Portuguese heavy gun in Almeida (at left)

Photo 14: Pleasing progress: Maréchal Ney and his staff watch, contented as his troops close on the retiring British

Turn 11 & 12

The fire from the Portuguese heavy battery continued, this time firing down the flank of the French columns, inflicting heavy casualties. The 15th Dragoons charged the 43rd Foot on MacLeod's knoll, but were beaten back, causing Gardanne's brigade to retreat.

Ferey's foot artillery then fired at the 43rd, causing sufficient casualties to break the unit. Beckwith's entire brigade had now ceased to exist as an effective fighting force.

As French troops began to move over bridge, lead by skirmishers, Barclay's brigade formed a defensive line to contest the crossing.

Photo 15: While the Almeida garrison looks on, the French 15th Dragoons launch their unsuccessful charge on the 43rd light infantry. Note French skirmishers crossing the bridge over the Côa

Photo 16: Barclay’s brigade, supported by the 1st KGL Hussars prepare to defend the bridge

Turn 13

The Portuguese battery changed targets and fired at Ferey's foot guns, but for once failed to inflict any damage. 

Defending the bridge, the 52nd Foot fired a volley and dispersed Ferey's skirmishers.

Turn 14

Learning from the folly of their change of target, the Portuguese heavy guns returned to firing on Ferey's infantry, inflicting further casualties on them!

Barclay's 52nd Foot successfully defended the bridge against the attack of the first unit of Ferey's brigade, the 4/66e ligne, who also lost a staff officer killed by their devastating volley.

Turn 15

The penultimate turn of the game was a dramatic one.

The 52nd suffered losses from artillery and delivered an ineffective volley against the attacking 5/66e ligne, so were pushed back in mêlée. While the 52nd rallied and formed a new line further down road, this opened up the bridge to a French crossing. The French were buoyed further as Gardanne's brigade of dragoons rallied.

Photo 17 and 18: Critical turning point? Suffering from artillery fire, the 52nd Light Infantry are charged and pushed back by the 5/66e ligne

Turn 16

The 5/66e and 6/66e ligne lead the advance of Ferey's brigade over the bridge. Timing it perfectly, Craufurd sent the 1st KGL hussars against the lead French unit, the 5/66e ligne. The infantry did not have time to form square and were broken. Building on this initial success, the KGL Hussars followed up and charged the next French unit, the 6/66e ligne, which also failed to form square and was in turn broken. These losses were sufficient to cause Ferey's brigade to break.

At this point Ney called off the attack.

Photo 18: While Craufurd looks on, the 1st KGL Hussars prepare to launch the charge that he had put them in place to deliver

Photo 19: Saving the day: the 1st KGL Hussars break the 5/66e ligne. They went on to also break the 6/66e ligne, which broke Ferey's brigade and saved the day for the Light Division

The battle was a draw by the scenario victory conditions. The Light Division had escaped by a whisker. The sacrifice of Beckwith’s brigade being the price paid.

The River Côa makes for an interesting and challenging game, which we highly recommend. Please feel free to utilise our scenario for this action. We think it is a particularly good game to use as a test for a new set of rules.