Rearguard Action

Rearguard Action

Somewhere on the retreat to Corunna

The British 1^st Flank Brigade (Brig Robert Craufurd commanding) supported by elements of the Reserve Division and 15^th Hussars have been ordered to delay the advance elements of Marshal Soult's II Corps d'Armee. To highlight the importance of the mission, Marshal Soult himself has taken personal command of the advance guard.

Length of game: 12 turns

Victory Conditions

Decisive French Victory - Two thirds of force off the British player's table edge

Tactical French Victory - Half of force off the British player's table edge

Marginal French Victory - One third of force off the British player's table edge

Draw - less than one third of force off the British player's table edge

Marginal British Victory - less than one quarter of force off the British player's table edge

Tactical British Victory - less than one tenth of force off the British player's table edge

Decisive British Victory - no French troops off the British player's table edge

Special Rules

British may employ hidden deployment and movement. However, once a unit fires or moves into line of sight of any French unit, it loses its hidden status.

The river may not be crossed except at the bridge. There is possibly one ford along the river at either one of the sites marked "X". Move the unit to the point marked X - roll 1D6 - a result of 5 or 6 means that there is a ford at that point. There is only 1 ford. If neither side rolls a 5 or 6 at either of the points marked X, then intelligence was inaccurate and there is no ford along this stretch of the river. Units crossing at the ford move at half speed and emerge unformed at the other side.

Special Command rules:

Brigade Commanders are all rated -1 for morale and control purposes.

Soult is rated -3 for morale, -1 for control

Craufurd is rated -3 for morale, -2 for control

Both C-in-Cs may urge their men to greater efforts during the game (+1 modifier to melee or fire die roll where C-in-C is personally present - ie within 50m of the unit concerned).

Order of Battle

French

C-in-C Marshal Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult, Duc de Dalmatie

Brigade Reynaud

bn 2e Leger

bn 15e Ligne

Brigade Thomieres

bn 36e Ligne

bn 2e Suisse

Cavalerie Brigade Debelle

8e Dragons a Cheval (2 escadrons)

22e Chasseurs a Cheval (2 escadrons)

Artillerie

1 Cie Artillerie a Cheval - 4 guns (6 pdr - 120 men)

British

C - in - C Brig Robert Craufurd

1^st Flank Brigade

1^st bn 43^rd Regt - Monmouthshire Light Infantry

2^nd bn 52^nd Regt - Oxfordshire Light Infantry

2^nd bn 95^th Rifles (veteran)

Disney's Brigade

1^st bn 28^th Regt - North Gloucestershire

1^st bn 91^st Regt

Cavalry

3 sqns 15^th Hussars (veteran)

Artillery

1 RHA bty - 3 guns (6pdr) 90 men

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