This game uses the the Fog-of-War/chance cards as opposed to the re-rolls, to find
these cards and to find out about the troops and terrain used in this battle check the
Hypothetical/Fictional scenario section of the Unofficial Napoleon's Battle Webpage.
It has no historical content in it aside from the names and nationalities of the generals
involved. There are as yet no Pictures of this battle.
The Battle of Casa Nostra: June 11th, 1812.
Intro: After helping the people of Spain liberate themselves from the hated rule of
Ferdinand, the French soldiers' rest and recuperate. Portugal discounting the French
guarantees of sovereignty call upon their allies to help against the coming French. The
British and the Russians seeing their interests in peril by Franco-Spanish occupation of
Portugal rush troops to help defend it. Finding out, from spies in foreign Courts that
England and Russia intend to attack and re-oppress the people of Spain, the French
generals hurriedly mass their troops and drive into Portugal. Lisbon hears quickly that
the borders of Portugal have been violated and demands the British drive out the invaders.
Rather than await the arrival of their Russian allies, the army moves out towards the
oncoming French and they soon bump into each other, rather than fight on more suitable
terrain and under orders to not give up an inch of Portuguese soil, Whittingham decides to
fight near the town of Casa Nostra.
The British set up Hope with the 1st and Mixed divisions plus 2 batteries on Boomerang
hill. Whittingham with the 2nd and the all British divisions and the remainder of the
artillery in the middle near the town while York defends the Ford with the 3rd Division
and the cavalry behind them. The Allies plan is to see what develops and counter it with
internal line of communications by shifting troops from quite areas to where they are
needed.
The French had I Corps hugging the east bank of the river as far forward as possible with
II Corps on its Right, in March columns behind II Corps was III Corps with the Independent
cavalry attached. The French plan was devised to take into account the superior mobility
the French troops, I and II corps were to pin the Allied Center and left in place while
III corps conducted a flanking maneuver sweeping outside the H2 woods and fall upon the
Allies from the rear.
Turn 1 saw I corps move out and following the river then aligning to face the British and
Portuguese on the west edge of Boomerang hill and between the town and the hill. II Corps
moved forward to the edge of the hill, while III Corps Marched to II corps right flank
beginning its flank march. II corps took several disordering hits on it light Brigade. The
British expecting the attack from this location quickly changed 3rd divisions to combat
columns and began wheeling to move to the threatened flank the, Cavalry waited while the
infantry began it evolutions. On the Allied Left Bentnick either misunderstanding his
orders or frightened by the size of the oncoming Frenchmen immediately about faced and
began to move to his board edge. (What happened in actuality was the French had drawn the
command confusion card, which allowed him to move all in command units of a division, and
he made them do this. In future I will add more command confusion cards to the deck but
limit their effect to a single brigade)
Turn 2 saw I corps shake his 1st div into line and unlimber his artillery, while the 2nd
div moved towards the hill. II corps seeing Bentnick's withdrawal raced his 2nd div up the
hill but fortunately for the Allies only managed to catch the Portuguese from behind (its
width was shielding the other units of division) while his 1st division drove the British
9 pounders off the hill (they evaded when contacted). III corps seeing the withdrawal of
the Allied left immediately changed plans and while the 2nd and cavalry units changed to
combat columns, the 1st division and the Corps artillery drove towards the gap between the
big woods and boomerang hill still in March columns. The Portuguese lost the melee and
routed away. The British seeing the disruption on their Left immediately had Bentnick's
remaining Infantry face towards the enemy and place his Portuguese cavalry in command
(till now they had been out of command just behind the gap. The Cavalry Division and 3rd
began moving to the left flank leaving the ford unguarded. The center moved forward a
little (leaving a Portuguese brigade in occupation of Casa Nostra) to bring the French I
corps under fire.
The next few turn saw the French getting undisputed control of Boomerang hill, at one
point a British line hit a French column in the flank and the British ended up routing
away while the French took only two casualties. There was also some wild cavalry action,
with the British heavies routing a brigade of French lights, then losing control and
hitting a pair of French infantry brigades while they were still in March column, but it
couldn't rout them both so instead bounced off, then it was attacked by the infantry March
column and a couple brigades of light cavalry and managed to avoid being routed (because
the Infantry were the modifying unit was the Infantry) so all the cavalry bounced away.
Meanwhile the British centers' artillery shot it out with I corps but a series of great
rolls saw the British inflict very few casualties and they were constantly being doubled
when fired upon, I corps lines crept forward.
I Corps commander (seeing that the Allies were fully committed to their left, and wouldn't
be able to counter it) then raced his cavalry brigade over the river towards the ford with
the intention of capturing that objective. The Allied C-in-C seeing this and noting that
it was almost dinnertime decided that the battle was irretrievably lost and ordered an end
to hostilities.
Aftermath: Thus the French forces drive deeper into Portugal while the Allies fall back
towards Lisbon and await the arrival of their Russian allies, and are heartened by rumors
that the Austrians may make an appearance on future battlefields (if my order ever arrives
and I get them painted in time).
This is the second time I have run this battle and both times it has gone to the French
(but both times the French players have had very good dice and have won what is coming to
be called the card game I.E. they get more better cards). Another factor that may
contribute to both French victories is that all the players have little experience with
these rules and those that have played them before, played them many months ago with many
different rules and time periods played in between, but that is a side effect of my group
where variety is norm, and since everyone had a good time I guess it doesn't matter.
