Spanish Battle and new Terrain pieces

This last week I was working on some new terrain pieces for my table.  The first project was some scratch built river sections using simple cardboard and quick drying spackling.  I was pleased with the result.  Second, I picked up a cheap doormat at Lowes and turned it into some new fields.  Again, I think they turned out well.

New fields and river sections

Close up of the river sections

The new fields up close

I continue to try to master the General de Brigade rules.  I set up a small encounter between a large Franco/Swiss brigade and a Spanish rearguard supported by cavalry trying to hold a hill. 

A French horse battery supports the attack

Three French battalions prepare to assault the waiting Spaniards.

The Spanish position is formidable.

Being on assault orders, the French must be aggressive.  An attack goes in on the left flank against a large conscript unit.  The French take enough casualties in the approach to cause them to falter.  The first attack is unsuccessful.

The casualty markers testify to the losses sustained in the first attempt to attack the Spanish right flank.

A similar result occurs on the opposite flank.

The attack on the right also is halted.

But the French stand fast against the Spanish resistance and work a battalion onto their right flank in preparation for another attack.  The conscript fires a pathetic volley at the unit attacking their front, causing no damage.  Both attacking units pass their morale tests.  It is now time for the conscripts to test.  Being conscript and being attacked on their flank makes their chances of standing slight.  A roll of 3 only makes matters worse.  They rout from the field.  This forces two other units within 15 centimeters to test their moral as well.  Both are forced to retreat.  This, in turn, forces the entire brigade to test morale.  With over 25% of its units routing or retreating and its overall status being conscript/2nd line, it isn't looking good.  The dice are rolled and the net result is a five.  The entire brigade is forced to withdraw 30 centimeters.  This clears the ridge and the French, despite significant casualties, take the hill.  The supporting Spanish cavalry are unformed by the retreating infantry and are unable to counter attack.  The French have won a glorious victory, but at a high price.

The French center fills the space vacated by the fleeing Spanish battery.

The Swiss take the ground that had been defended well earlier.

The victory on the French left started the dominoes falling in their favor.

The victory, as sweet as it was, had a high price.

The three French casualty stands testify to the stoic efforts of the Spanish artillery battery.  But they were eventually swept away by the flight of the rest of the brigade.

After thoughts: I am liking the mechanics of the General de Brigade rules more and more.  In this case, the inferior Spanish units were able to hold up pretty well for the first two turns.  But their fragile nature was revealed once they suffered a setback.  I think this captured the essence of what battle was like on the Peninsula.  Next time, I want to have a combined Spanish and English force take on the blue columns of Napoleon and see how that goes.