No en la cara: New Spanish Allies

Spain, 1810

To take on the French army in Spain, Wellesley's British army must join forces with the troops of Spain. 

While the Spanish army lacks the training, discipline and experience of the British, can their patriotic zeal and desire to rid their homeland of French oppression make up for their shortcomings?

We used the Road to Glory scenario cards for this battle. I played the French against Michael as the British and Chris as the Spanish.

Spanish General Esposito
(Something about the artillery sponge-man on the right of this picture reminds me of Bob from Bob's Burgers.)

The Spanish ( a few British Hussars filling in as Spanish cavalry)

The French Army

The British Army

The Allied Army, deployed.

The Spanish army, with some of their irregular troops in the foreground. 

The French advance. I deployed heavily on my left, especially with cavalry. The center of my line was bogged down with terrain and would hold up my advance, so I tried to avoid it.

The British move up to hold the line of the stream.

The French troops advance to hold a position over the crest of the hill with the convent, opposing the British line behind the stream.

Second turn: Turns out I'd drawn a turning maneuver as the scenario, and my reserve troops arrived on the left flank, in a position to charge the Spanish lines.

Crash! The French cavalry destroy the Spanish light cavalry division.

The French cavalry advancing on the Spanish, struggling to handle the French divisions assaulting their flank.

The British and Spanish cavalry counter-charged against the French, but the French dragoons cut into their flank and saw them off leaving several divisions of French cavalry threatening the Spanish position on the right of the British lines.

The last of the Spanish cavalry are punished by the French dragoons.

Combined infantry and cavalry charges do serious damage to the Spanish lines. 

In the face of repeated charges, the Spanish infantry start to crumble.

The French Royal Cavalry, waiting in the wings for an opportunity to charge.

British reinforcements arrive, and try to plug the gap but waves of retreating Spanish troops keep disordering them as they fall back from French charges.

The French veterans move into the orchard to clear out the Spanish troops with musket and artillery fire.

Meanwhile, the British dragoons charge the French light cavalry between the two olive orchards, but an ineffective combat turned into a stalemate with each side knocking back one stand.

The British infantry charge the French, hoping to drive them back but the waves of cavalry seem relentless.

Having broken through the Spanish positions, the French cavalry carry on into the British troops...

...and push back the allied defense. The last Spanish division holding a position in the middle of the field charged against the French, and with the support of some artillery put a dent in the French advance.

The French veterans in the orchard charge the Spanish defenders, but are pushed back in a desperate (and surprising!) defense by the Spanish troops.

As the Allied right flank crumbles and the French begin the threaten the main supply route, the British commander makes the decision to withdraw and save his army to fight another day.

Victory for the French!