Battle of the Garigliano River 29 December 1503

Following the Battle of Cerignola in April the French fell back on their base at Gaeta. The Spanish, led by Gonsalvo de Corboba, followed up and laid siege but to little avail. When French reinforcements arrived Gonsalvo fell back on the river Garigliano where he took up a defensive position. 

The winter weather was appallingly wet, "water answered the spade", and life in the forward positions was reminiscent of the trenches of WW1. To keep up morale the French withdrew much of their army into drier billets away from the river; much of their cavalry withdrew as far as Formia.

Meanwhile Gonsalvo, taking advantage of the French dispersal, planned a surprise flank attack on them. He cleverly had a special bridge of boats constructed, flat pack style, at the Fortress of Modragone: The prefabricated parts of this bridge could be assembled remarkably quickly. On the  night of 28 - 29 December he secretly marched his best troops upstream to Sujo where his bridge was thrown across the river. At dawn, before the French knew what was happening, Gonsalvo's men were across the river in force. 

So started Gonsalvo's crowning glory, the Battle of Garigliano.....

A picture of the initial deployment. Note that, since setting this up, I have moved the gun in front of Formia to the French position near the palisade. Also, I realise that the trees should have no foliage in December but, I don't have winter trees and the set up looks even odder with no trees at all.

Spanish Deployment

1: Commander-in-chief: Gonsalvo de Cordoba - Command rating 10.

2: Prospero Colonna - Command rating 8.

Spanish colunela (4 units).

3: Bartolomeo Alviano - Command rating 9.

Spanish Knights (1 unit). Italian Lance Spezatte (1 unit). Italian Stradiots  (2 units).

4: Andrado - Command rating 8.

Italian Lance Spezatte (1 unit). Spanish Genitors (1 unit). Italian pike (1 unit).

Italian crossbowmen (1 unit). Italian arquebus (1 unit).

French Deployment

A: Commander in chief: Ludovico, Marquis of Saluzzo - Command rating 7.

B (force billeted between Trajetto and Formia): Pierre Terrail, Seigneur Bayard - Command rating 9.

French Gendarmes (3 units). Italian Lance Spezzate (2 units). 

Italian Stradiots (1 unit). Medium artillery (1 gun) 

C: Capitaine Alegri - Command rating 7.

Gascon crossbowmen (2 units). French pike (1 small unit). Medium artillery (1 gun).

D1 and D2 (force equally split at Castelforte and San Cosmo): The Swiss - 
Command rating 8.

Swiss pike (4 units). Swiss arquebus (2 small units).

E: Italian infantry - rating 7.

Italian crossbowmen (2 units). Italian arquebus (2 units).

F: French infantry at Sujo - Command rating 7.

Norman crossbowmen (2 units). Norman pike (1 small unit).

Special Rules and Victory Conditions

For each settlement that the Spanish can take they will receive extra stamina points. These can be assigned however the Spanish player wishes. Castelforte is worth 3 stamina; Trajetto and San Cosmo is worth 2 stamina points; Sujo and Torre del Garigliano are worth 1 stamina point. 

If the Spanish take Formia they automatically achieve a major victory.

The only special scenario rules in effect concern artillery. Because the torrential rain has made the ground very soggy artillery may only move to change facing and furthermore, there will be no save modifier versus artillery hits at medium and long range (as any shot falling short will bury itself in the ground rather than bounce on).

Pike and Shotte amendments:

We will use Pike and Shotte rules by Warlord Games to re-fight this battle but with amended unit characterisation. So you can see where we are at with troop abilities and values, I take the opportunity to show you the unit tables we are currently using. 

I have chosen to increase all move rates and weapon ranges by 33%. My reasoning for this is pretty simple: My table is quite a big one.

Those familiar with Pike and Shotte will also notice that I have also chosen to change certain 'ability' definitions - these include Crossbows being defined as having no short range but being able to give closing fire. The definitions for other things are also somewhat different than standard. I make no apology for this. I think my definitions fit better with what I understand about this particular sub-period. They might not work so well for others. 

I hope it provides food for thought.

Pike and Shotte master list for the characterisation of units during The Great Italian Wars
CAVALRY UNITS
Unit	Unit Type [move]	Melee Dice #	Shooting Dice #	Morale save	Stamina	Special
French Gendarmes	Heavy Horse [12”]	10	-	3+	4	Heavy Cavalry: add D3 melee hits. Elite: 4+ to rally disorder.
French Argulets	Light Horse [16”]	4	1 [16”]	5+	3	Cautious: may use free move to retire. Crossbow: no close range
Spanish Knights	Heavy Horse [12”]	10	-	3+	4	Heavy Cavalry: add D3 melee hits. Elite: 4+ to rally disorder.
Spanish Genitors	Light Horse [12”]	6	1 [8”]	5+	3	Fire & Evade: can give closing fire & evade. Javelin: no close range. Marauders: Do not count command distance. Skirmish: Freely change order; shoot at full effect.
Italian Casa / Famiglia	Heavy Horse [12”]	10	-	3+	4	Heavy Cavalry: add 1 melee hits. Elite: 4+ to rally disorder.
Imperial Men-at-arms	Heavy Horse [12”]	10	-	3+	4	Heavy Cavalry: add 1 melee hits. Elite: 4+ to rally disorder. Wedge: re-roll one melee miss [large unit only].
Elmeti Condottiere	Heavy Horse [12”]	10	-	4+	4	Heavy Cavalry: add 1 melee hits. Brittle: quit if rally failed when shaken.
Elmeti Lance Spezzate	Heavy Horse [12”]	10	-	4+	4	Heavy Cavalry: add 1 melee hits.
Mounted Crossbows	Light Horse [16”]	4	1 [16”]	5+	3	Cautious: may use free move to retire. Crossbow: no close range.
Mounted Arquebus	Light Horse [16”]	4	1 [16”]	5+	3	Cautious: may use free move to retire.
Stradiots	Light Horse [16”]	6	1 [8”]	5+	3	Fire & Evade: can give closing fire & evade. Brittle: quit if rally failed when shaken. Javelin: no close range. Marauders: Do not count command distance. Skirmish: Freely change order; shoot at full effect.
INFANTRY UNITS
Unit	Unit Type [move]	Melee Dice #	Shooting Dice #	Morale save	Stamina	Special
French Pike	Pike Block [8”]	5	-	6+	5	Hedgehog: no flanks / rear; shelter shot; static only. Brittle: quit if rally failed when shaken.
French Crossbows	Battle Line [8”]	3	2 [16”]	6+	3	Crossbow: no close range. Brittle: quit if rally failed when shaken.
Spanish Colunela	Battle Line [8”]	5	3 [16”]	5+	5	Pike company: cavalry count as pike armed. Elite: 5+ to rally disorder. Colunela: add 1 melee hit Vs pike. Volley Fire: Add 1 dice to closing fire shooting value. Hedgehog: no flanks / rear; shelter shot; static only.
Spanish Pike	Pike Block [8”]	7	-	5+	5	Hedgehog: no flanks / rear; shelter shot; static only.
Spanish Arquebus	Battle Line [8”]	3	3 [16”]	5+	3	Hedgehog: no flanks / rear; shelter shot; static only. Volley Fire: Add 1 dice to closing fire shooting value. Hedgehog: shelter with associated pike; static only.
Spanish sword & buck’	Battle Line [8”]	5	-	5+	3	Sword & buckler: +D3 melee hits Vs pike, +1 Vs other. Close fighters: re-roll melee misses in town fighting.
Swiss Pike	Pike Block [8”]	7	-	4+	5	Hedgehog: no flanks / rear; shelter shot; static only. Elite: 4+ to rally disorder. Ferocious: re-roll misses when charging. Bad War: melee break test +1 Vs Land’s / Swiss.
Swiss Halberdiers	Battle Line [8”]	6	-	4+	3	Elite: 4+ to rally disorder. 2 Handed Weapons: -1 to enemy saves. Ferocious: re-roll misses when charging. Bad War: melee break test +1 Vs Land’s / Swiss.
Swiss Arquebus	Battle Line [8”]	3	2 [16”]	4+	3	Hedgehog: shelter with associated pike; static only. Elite: 4+ to rally disorder.

Pike and Shotte master list for the characterisation of units during The Great Italian Wars
INFANTRY UNITS
Unit	Unit Type [move]	Melee Dice #	Shooting Dice #	Morale save	Stamina		Special
Landsknecht Pike	Pike Block [8”]	7	-	4+	5		Hedgehog: no flanks / rear; shelter shot; static only. Bad War: melee break test +1 Vs Land’s / Swiss.
Landsknecht Halberdiers	Battle Line [8”]	6	-	4+	3		2 Handed Weapons: -1 to enemy saves. Bad War: melee break test +1 Vs Land’s / Swiss.
Landsknecht Arquebus	Battle Line [8”]	3	2 [16”]	4+	3		Hedgehog: shelter with associated pike; static only.
Italian Pike	Pike Block [8”]	6	-	6+	5		Hedgehog: no flanks / rear; shelter shot; static only. Brittle: quit if rally failed when shaken.
Italian Arquebus	Battle Line [8”]	3	2 [16”]	6+	3		Hedgehog: shelter with associated pike; static only.
Veteran Italian Arquebus	Battle Line [8”]	3	2 [16”]	5+	3		Hedgehog: shelter with associated pike; static only. Skirmish: Freely Change formation; shoot at full effect.
Italian Crossbows	Battle Line [8”]	3	2 [16”]	6+	3		Crossbow: no close range. Hedgehog: shelter with pike; static only.
Italian Sword & Buckler / Schiavonni	Battle Line [8”]	4	-	6+ / 5+	3		Sword & buckler: +D3 melee hits Vs pike, +1 Vs other. Close fighters: re-roll melee misses in town fighting. Schiavonni: do not count command distance; freely change order; shoot at full effect.
Italian City Infantry	Battle Line [8”]	4	-	6+	3		Brittle: quit if rally failed when shaken.
ARTILLERY UNITS
Unit	Unit Type [move]	Melee Dice #	Shooting Dice #			Morale save		Stamina	Special
Light Artillery	Artillery [8”]	1	1 - 2 - 3 [32” - 16” – 6”]			6+		2
Medium Artillery	Artillery [4”]	1	1 - 2 - 3 [48” - 24” – 6”]			6+		2
Heavy Artillery	Artillery [0”]	1	1 - 2 - 3 [64” - 32” – 6”]			6+		2