Campaign Battle Report: The Road To Badajoz.

 With everyone present we got going ASAP.

The British set up first: A line with their left echeloned back, cavalry in reserve.

It looked like the villages would be something of a hindrance to Bereford.

Then the French deployed. They decided to hold their centre and left in strength. Their extreme right was covered, some way off, by cavalry

The left and centre.

The centre right.

The Anglo-Portuguese, bless their cotton socks, attacked from the off. The French artillery began to tell immediately. This did not have the look of half measures.

With the allied advance the French cavalry holding the right advanced into uncontested ground to threaten their left flank.

In the centre left the action was hotting up quickly as the skirmishers of both sides became emmeshed. 

Note: On the extreme French left, Mark has begun to counterattack. 

Note: In the foreground the allied Cavalry is moving to counter the early French movement here. This will result in one French unit of cavalry destroyed by British Guard Dragoons and the Portuguese cavalry being forced back shaken. 

The allies had taking the brunt of it coming in but, they were not doing badly. The lines were forming up at musketry range: A firefight, then; a duel of cards and initiative (with the odds slightly favouring the allies). Shortly after this shot was taken the sides withdrew skirmishers and the volley fire began in earnest.

On the French left, the French pressed home a counterattack. This attack will cause the outnumbered Portuguese division to flinch, losing an infantry unit. However, they do hold.

Almost the last action on the night: On the extreme allied right, Portuguese Cacadores came out of the village onto the flank of French light infantry moving through the woods in extended line: They fired, they charged. The French Legere were sent packing: A classic ambush.

Importantly, this was just the end of turn one (four turns to go) and the French have turned two Stratagem (reinforcement) cards. Soult may well arrive early!

To be continued....