British Napoleonic Commanders

In working out an OOB for the Battle of Orthez I realised I was quite a few command stands short.  This has now been fixed (almost I think).

Divisional commanders

Corps commanders.

A small army commander.

Old Nosey

He'll be glad to see the back of the French.

All together.

Military Dress of the Peninsula War

This is a classic and one of my all-time inspirational books for the Napoleonic period.  As part of my research into what is now the 1813-14 campaign, I read chapters 7 and 8 and have now gone down a Battle of Vittoria rabbit hole.

In this book I found a very useful map of the Battle of Vittoria and think I can readily adapt it for Napoleon's Battles.

Burgundian Ordonnance versus Burgundian Ordonnance

My seasoned Burgundians take on Dave's newish Burgundians. I will refer to the two sides as Maximilian versus the Revivalists.

The Revivalists out scouted Maximilian's forces and deployed on a hill 

with flanks secured by a lake and some difficult going.

It was like looking in a mirror.

Both sides advance.

Seeing the Revivalists holding the initiative, Maximilian halted.

Bad move as his forces received some telling fire.

More long-range shooting occurs, with both sides taking casualties.

The shooting continues although rather inconclusively.

The ineffective shooting was testing whose patience would run out first.

Maximilian was determined to hold his ground.

The Dukedom belonged to him by rights of marriage to Mary of Burgundy.

Both sides advance their feudal crossbowmen.

The Revivalists crossbowmen lose heart and flee.

Maximilian has moved with his knights to the left.

The Revivalists order their pikeman forward.

Maximilian moves his organ guns ready to inflict some flanking fire.

Maximilian also advances his crossbowmen on his right to get them into range. 

With their pikemen now advancing, 

the Revivalists launch their knights.

Maximilian's feudal crossbowmen miraculously stand their ground,

this proving to be a sign from God that right (eh luck) is with Maximilian.

The Revivalist's soon collapsed.

Their pike failed against Maximilian's pike.

Maximilian himself rode down the Revivalist knights including their commander.

A quick and decisive ending to a slow and cautious start.

RAF

Introductory scenario for the operational level game of the Battle of Britain.  We played it twice through, changing sides to get the full feel for the game's systems. The scenario was just on day of raids, the cards for which are listed on the right-hand side (a random/hidden draw).

First time through we made a mistake with deployment giving the RAF had a few extra squadrons.

Second play through resulted in very similar outcome.

Next, the four-day scenario.

Hunters and Gatherers

The game I have played the most and blogged the least.  I play this with my partner after dinner, two or three times a week.  I have learnt not to overly encroach on her territory.

Very easy to set up and start playing immediately.  Not too hard to pack up when finished.  Perfect.

I play black and oh, look, I won:.177 to 139.

Portuguese Infantry

It's not just all reading, I'm actually actively creating more units for my Peninsula related army.

Old Glory figures of some sort, not meant to be Portuguese I think,

 but in that generic British uniform that was supplied to Portugal.

Flag from the Internet and embellished with some extra paint.

A purpose made casualty stand, sans marker.

These have been painted to represent the Regiment 19 Cascais

as that was a place I stayed in Portugal last year.

Essex this time and again not meant to be Portuguese but that is what I have painted them up as.

Getting ready to invade France.

The Peninsula War 1807-1814 by Michael Glover

Continuing my research, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Chapters 17 to 22 covering the period after the Battle of Vittoria to Napoleon's abdication. 

Published in 1974 and I've no idea how I came into its possession, but I'm glad I did.  Maps are excellent. The text most informative and inspiring.  The chapter on the east coast activities were very interesting as was the coverage of the Battle of Toulouse.  The latter so much so that I am now working on a scenario for that.