The Battle at San Sebastien

Following on from Wednesday's game, On Sunday we played with the larger group, adding another six players.

On the Isabellino side were three new commands:

• The British Auxiliary Legion (BAL)
• 1 battalion of marines
• 4 battalions of line infantry
• 1 battalion of Spanish infantry
• 1 field battery
• 1 rocket battery
• 1 lancer regiment
• Isabellino First Brigade
• 2 battalions of guard infantry
• 1 battalion of light infantry
• 3 battalions of line infantry
• 1 line cavalry regiment
• 1 light cavalry regiment
• 1 horse artillery battery
• Isabellino Second Brigade
• 2 battalions of guard infantry
• 4 battalions of line infantry
• 1 line cavalry regiment
• 1 field artillery battery
• 1 mountain battery

While the Carlist reinforcements were:

• Carlist Brigade
• 1 battalion of Valencian Volunteers
• 4 battalions of line infantry
• 2 cavalry regiments
• 1 mountain battery
• Carlist Brigade
• 1 battalion of guides
• 5 battalions of line infantry
• 1 cavalry regiment
• 1 field artillery battery
• Carlist Brigade
• 1 battalion Cabrera's guides
• 4 battalions of line infantry
• 1 cavalry regiment
• 1 field artillery battery

Wednesday's game had determined which side the reinforcements arrived.  The positions of the troops that fought on Wednesday are shown on the map below, with the Carlists in Blue and the Isabellinos in red. The deployment restrictions for the reinforcements were:

The BAL had to arrive at A, while the other two Isabellino brigades could arrive at either B or C. The Carlists could could arrive at C, D or E. Only one brigade can arrive at each point in any one turn.

If both sides decided to try to bring on a force at C, players would roll 1xD6 for each unit in their command and add the scores together. The higher score will arrive at C on Turn 1, while the lower would arrive at B if Isabellino or D if Carlist, on turn 3.

The Carlist chose to bring on one brigade at E and two at D. The Isabellino brough one brigade on at B and one at C, much to the concern of the Foreign Legion commander who felt he was left without direct support.

The FFL and the Carlists around the Abbey were content to stand back and trade a few artillery rounds while the other brigades got into position.

On the right of the FFL, on the other side of the dividing hills, General De Lacy Evans advanced with the BAL under the cover of the lancers.

The Carlist mountain gun threw a few rounds into the deploying British, but without much effect.

Then a Carlist cavalry unit charged a battalion of BAL infantry. Caught before they could form square, things looked grim for the infantry, but they held firm and repulsed the cavalry.

The BAL infantry followed up against the retreating cavalry, but the cavalry rallied and pushed them back.

After this brush with the BAL, the Carlist on this side of the hills, struggled to keep control of their force and both sides resorted to exchanging artillery fire while moving across the hills to support the FFL.

At the far end of the field, one of the Carlist brigades attempted to support the force in the Abbey, but was forced to direct most of his force to the Isabellino brigade that arrived at B, while the right most Carlist brigade had to deal with the Isabellinos that came on at C.

In front of the Abbey things began to heat up as both sides in this sector began to advance.

The FFL cavalry charged...and were repulsed

In the center and on the Carlist right the battle intensified in open field where the infantry could deploy en-masse.

The Carlists, with a number of priests in their ranks fought valiantly.

But  the Isabellino troops managed to form up into more stable lines and they piled on the pressure.

The townspeople were just happy none of the troops entered the town.

In front of the Abbey the FFL cavalry charged again and were driven back again.

The FFL had been knocked around badly, but still held. When the BAL came through the ridge and deployed, the Carlists were on the back foot.

The Isabellino command was happy as they watched the Carlists begin to crumble.

The final positions...victory to the Isabellino forces

An a few random 'spare' images

Many of the images here are provided by John L.

An Affair at San Sebastien - The Opening Action

Our game takes place near the small town of San Sebastien, that lies in a lush valley about 100 miles west of Valencia. It is an area of mixed loyalty and Don Carlos' banner has been raised and the Carlist have been recruiting. Those that have answered the call have been told to gather at the Abbey.

A shipment of arms has been secretly shipped to San Sebastien and is being stored by Señor Garcia, a local merchant and Carlist sympathiser. A small Carlist force consisting three trained battalions of Carlist infantry, two units of Valencian militia, two units of lancers and a mountain gun. Has been despatched to pick up the muskets from Señor Garcia and get them to the Abbey.

Four battalions of the French Foreign Legion, supported by two battalions of militia, a unit of lancers and a mountain gun have been sent to seek out any Carlist forces and disperse them.

The terrain, below, features a broad broken ridge (with a spur on which the Abbey stands), only passable by the road and two mountain tracks. At the far end of the table is the mouth of a mountain pass. San Sebastien stands near the centre of the table.

The quiet village of San Sebastien with the French Foreign Legion firming in the distance.

The Legion cavalry enters the town. Their entry spurs Señor Garcia to end the muskets off with his servant Pedro - the last thing Señor Garcia needs is for several crates of muskets found in his cellar.

The Carlist force approaches the gaps in the ridge.

The whole field from the Carlist end of the table

The Legion infantry move to the right of the town...

...and flank the Carlist, who scramble to reposition around the Abbey

The Legion closed and opened fire on the Carlist infantry. One of the Valencian Volunteer units was hard hit and decided that this soldiering lark was not for them and scattered. The Legion cavalry charged one of the Carlist units, but was repulsed. At this point the Legion commander decided that he was not strong enough to storm the Abbey and backed out of range. He decided to take a position and called for support.

The Carlists also settled down for the night and called out for reinforcements.

And so the initial skirmish ended with both sides awaiting support in the morning. That action will take place on Sunday and will be reported accordingly.