The Battle of Fort Avila, part 2

The Battle of Fort Avila, part 2

Turn 3


For the third time the French won the initiative and moved up to the fort with the 4th Legere, leading the way. French re-enforcements turned up, the Cavalry 1st Brigade containing the 23rd and 25th Dragoons, Ian then moved these toward the closest bridge. The British 1st Brigade advanced and started to cross the bridge, an angry group of Spanish villagers joined the British to try and take revenge on the dirty French. From the fort the French once again took heavy casualties, the 70th line lose 4 casualties causing a morale check which they luckily passed. The 2nd Heavy gun in the fort changed targets this turn and fired at the 1st Hussars causing 1 casualty. Lastly the 4th Legere lost 2 figures from infantry fire from the fort.

The Battlefield turn 3

The 4th Legere move up to the wall while the rest of the French line follow up behind. The 70th on the far right received fire and lost 4 figures.

The 23rd and 25th Dragoons move onto the table, to threaten the British on the bridge.

The British 2nd Marines lead the way over the bridge.

A close up of the 4th Legere as they advance to the walls, while the Spanish look on.



The British 36th Line from the 2nd Brigade.

Turn 4

The Anglo/Spanish alliance won the initiative for the first time in the game. This was a disaster for the French as it meant they would not get to the bridge by the village first with their cavalry. The 1st and 2nd Marines took advantage of this and advanced over the bridge. The French Cavalry decided to set themselves up to charge next turn. As the 1st Hussars advanced toward the other bridge they saw some movement in the small wood to their left, a unit of Spanish guerrillas moved to the edge of the wood. After taking a battering the last two turns the main French army moved down toward the beach to an undefended wall of the fort, as they advanced they saw the undefended wall was actually defended, Merd!! By a unit of Aragon light infantry. Meanwhile at the front of the fort the 1/14th took 6 casualties, then they wavered and failed their morale and moved back 8 inches. In a very desultory fire phase (actually bloody useless), the French miss all but one Spanish unit, but they do take two figures from the No1 Spanish gun in the fortress. Reducing their firing strength for the rest of the game.



The 1st and 2nd Marines make ready to be charged.



The 10th Chasseurs a Chavel, 23rd and 25th Dragoons get into
position for next turns charge phase.



Another view of the French Cavalry setting up for a charge.



The Spanish No1 gun received musketry fire taking 2 casualties, he he!!
The only good piece of fire by the French this turn.

The French advance onto the beach to the empty walls, but find it covered by
the 1st Aragon Light Infantry

The 5/60th Rifles are the first to cross the bridge, heading for the fort.

The left bastion, manned by the No 2 gun and the Tuy Militia

 Turn 5

The French cavalry declare two charges against both British Marine units. The 25th Dragoons charge the elite 1st Marines who fail their morale and flee back over the bridge in disorder. The 10th Chasseurs a Cheval charge the 2nd Marines, who manage to form square as the French move in, not good for the Chasseurs! Even worse is the fact that they then lose two figures going in, they then failed their morale to close in.
To all of our surprise, especially Richard’s the French get some more re-enforcements, and what re-enforcements they were, 4 battalions of elite combined Grenadiers and a heavy gun, they come on, in the middle edge of our side of the table and move immediately forward to try and cut off the advance of the British 2nd Brigade, on the far side of the table. Then in the Allied movement turn there’s another surprise, this time against the French, the 5th Spanish Borbon Horse and the 5th Villavicosa Dragoons appear behind the fort and immediately move right to make their way around to the beach to threaten the French at the side of the fort. Another unit of Spanish guerrillas appear in the woods behind the 23rd Dragoons, who lose 1 figure.
Another absolutely useless round of firing by the French (me!!!), was made worse when the Spanish threw very well again (Damn you Elders!!) and there Heavy gun No1 killed 2 more figures from the 1/14th, while No2 inflicted 4 hits on the 3/2nd Vistula Legion. In the French fire phase the 2/14th and 3/14th Line both fire and destroy the Spanish No1 heavy gun.



The 25th in the centre alting at the point where the 1st Marines fled. Note the
Spanish Guerillas at the top right who fire on the flank of the 23rd Dragoons.



The French re-inforcements arrive, 4 units of Combined Grenadiers



The Spanish re-inforcements also turn up, although Richard the Spanish commander
decided when they appeared on the table top, This threw an almighty spanner into my French plans!!



The French move up to the side of the wall, all French fire misses its target!!

The 1st, 2nd & 3rd Battalions of the 2nd Vistula Legion, start to move
toward the fort. They had been holding back to support the attack, but were
moved up to join the attack

A view of the French advance along beach, the leading coloum is the 70th followed by the
Paris Municipal Guard and the 4th Swiss

Another closer view of the attack along the beach, the red coats of t
he 4th Swiss are now more clearly visable.



And so ends part two, part 3 to follow shortly.

Thanks

Ray