Richard Stubbs's Russian Grenadier army attacks the Line of Torres Vedras (Loa tournament Jan 2021 Game #1)

Richard Stubbs's Russian Grenadier army attacks the Line of Torres Vedras

League of Ancients January 2021 Field of Glory Napoleonic tournament. Battle #1

 

As part of his invasion of PORTUGAL, The EMPEROR NAPOLEON is personally leading a force of his army towards the LINES OF TORRES VEDRAS, a defence line of the highest strength and depth.

An allied ANGLO-PORTUGUESE army is defending the first line of entrenchments, consisting of England, Portugal, Spain, Hanover and Scotland.

Will NAPOLEON smash the defence line, as he has done to so many other armies, or can the defenders hold on long enough to force a check in his advance....

 

. The battlefield, looking north towards the Russian army's advance. 

 

Richard is in the top 3 of FOGN commanders world wide, and went on to win every other single battle of the tournament by breaking the enemy army and causing a complete rout. He has been playing and leading troops in wargames for decades and I would rank him at Napoleons level of skill, knowledge and experience He was the one person I dreaded going up against, and this was to be first ever battle with most of my own army.  Despite him using a Russian Grenadier army, it would be the closest I ever get to fighting a master general in person, so I will call him the Napoleon of this tournament.

The hills are all gentle hills. A small marsh is to the north east and a plantation to the west of the T-junction. A difficult to cross river has two bridges crossing it. 

I had hoped to force the battle into a smaller area with the river cutting a corner off, but the Russian army was smaller again than my own, so this plan didn't quite work

As part of the defence of the Line of Torres Vedras, all towns, vegetation and cover had been removed north of the defence line in a scorched earth policy.

A distinct lack of towns or terrain north of the hills. The scorched earth policy beyond the line had removed everything, including 2 towns.

To defend the main north-south highway, the first line of Torres Vedras covered it with 2 entrenchments between the hills. Portuguese conscripts guarded the western most one. Portuguese Line Infantry the east. Intelligence had indicated a Russian probing attack would be coming down the main highway. 

The Anglo-Portuguese army deployed to defend the road junction

To the far west a Spanish irregular guerrilla unit defended the olive plantation. The British LIGHT DIVISION  held the left side of the road. It was made up of the Loyal Lustrian Light infantry, the 95th Rifles and a Highlander infantry brigade.

To the right side of the highway defending the two main hills on the reverse slope was two large British Infantry brigades with artillery and light infantry companies.Behind them was another Highlander infantry brigade.

The Corps reserve was the cavalry division, south of the secondary road. Made up of a brigade of Portuguese Dragoons and IMPETUOUS British Dragoons to their right. The IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSARS had advanced to be next to the Highlander brigade.

Corps command was on the largest hill, watching north of the main highway.  

(6 units of the army were my own, the majority belong to Richard Gorden's who gave my kind permission to use it).

Two large Line Infantry units with Artillery and Skirmishers are the main body of the army. A superior elan Highlander unit is the Divisional reserve/fire brigade.

The First infantry division stayed on the reverse slope, knowing of the Russian love of heavy artillery.

. Each infantry division has one Highlander brigade in reserve.

The Light division held the left flank of the Highway.

Portuguese Dragoons on the left and British Dragoons on the right, lead by a Brigade commander.

The British Cavalry division was in reserve.

The Russians are coming!

Corps command looks north to the empty and dusty ground to the north.

Suddenly, a Russian infantry division of two brigades came racing down the eastern road.

I'd made a critical mistake here. The one unit in my army that can advance out of my deployment zone for the first two turns, and hence the only one that could defend the bridge directly, was the Irregular Spanish light infantry...on my left of the army. If I had placed them on the right to defend the bridge, they could have done it for a few turns, or forced the Russians to deploy cavalry away from the main battle. Perhaps I should have put a cavalry brigade  there too. 

Two Russian infantry brigades came down my right flank, and I needed something to slow them down.

Russian guns deploy in front of the hill.Another infantry unit covers its deployment.

After several bruising losses, I had learnt my lesson and followed Wellington's practice- place the infantry on the reverse slope! The Russian artillery played hardly any part of the battle, despite it being a large veteran unit with commander. Nullifying the Russian artillery was the best thing I did in the battle.

The second Russian infantry division arrives

The Russian reserves arrived immediately. Made up of elite Grenadier Guardsman, this was the first time I'd ever outnumbered the enemy, and not something I expected.

The Anglo-Portuguese army maneuvers.

With at least 1 and maybe 2 more enemy divisions coming, I maneuvered my army to face them. The cavalry was to face across the river while the 1st Division would defend the northern hill. The Light division would hold until I saw where the other enemy reinforcements were coming.

A Russian infantry division advanced down the secondary road towards the highway.

I should probly have moved one of my large British brigades to face them, but they were north of the road and hard to turn around to get back to the bridge. I had not expected such as fast an advance.

Russian infantry climb the hill.

I had three Russian infantry brigades with (mostly masked) artillery and cavalry support. I didn't think i could hold them on the other side of the hill, but I thought maybe my light infantry could flank them.

Russian Cavalry march to the sound of the guns.

Unfortunately for me, the third Russian division of cavalry arrived as soon as they possible could. A brigade of Cossack's lead two heavy cavalry brigades. The Cossack's would immediacy race for me left flank and spend the entire battle trying to reach my Line of Communication. Fortunately they had to get around the marsh and were held up by the western redoubt and Spanish Guerrillas and played no other part in the battle. 

CHARGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HAZZAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With only the cavalry in a position to slow down the outflanking infantry about to cross the second bridge and unhinge my entire line, I sent in the IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSARS to charge and maybe slow them down.

The infantry recoil and stop their flanking movement!

The Hussar's succeeded! Failing to form square, the Russians were disrupted. They caused the Russian infantry to recoil into their 2nd brigade and stalled their attempted outflanking movement. They then failed every morale role and played no further part in the battle. The spent IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSARS fell back to the British side of the bridge and held it for the rest of the battle, with the Portuguese dragoons in support.

IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSARS hold the bridge

With the front brigade disrupted and stalled, it took several turns for the 2nd brigade to untangle itself and move right to be able to engage across the river.

The centre attack gets under way

A wave of Russian infantry came over the hill crest and stood facing the British Infantry battalions. The left side of the Russian division looked a bit vulnerable, perhaps I could advance the Rifle brigade and flank it?

The initial Russian shooting was aimed high.

The Russian shooting didn't do much, just causing the British infantry to check to advance.  The Russian infantry must have been firing high over their heads.

The IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSAR are spent following their charge.

I had snarled up my British Dragoons and it took some time to extract them from behind the IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSARS.  The Portuguese Dragoons took over watching the Bridge.

Coming to the decisive moment of the battle!

With the right flank secured for the moment (though the second Russian infantry brigade had untangled itself and advanced to the river) I thought now was the time for the 95th Rifles to flank the enemy centre assault.

Lurking Russian Cavalry!

Lurking like a Genestealer next to an open door on a space hulk, it was a trap. Lured out the defenses, the 95th took a heavy cavalry charge into it's flank! A ploy worthy of Napoleon himself.

The British gunfire slow down but does not disrupt the Russian infantry on the crest of the hill.

The 95th was able to form square but not quickly enough to prevent the Russian cavalry from doing some damage.

There WAS a Highlander infantry brigade right here!

They then kept going and annihilated the Highlander brigade on the other side of the hill! Not expecting Russian Calvary to show up behind the lines, the Highlanders had no time to foam square and were completely destroyed!

The defence line is unhinged!

My Heavy Dragoons were coming up to plug the hole but were too far back to reach it. The Loyal Lustrian brigade was now forced into square and practically immobile. The British infantry was falling back away from the hill.

A storm of Russian infantry comes over the hill.

Now slowed down now, the British Infantry battalions were unnerved. The Portuguese infantry int he redoubt was barley hanging on. The 95th Rifles have broken after being charged a second time.

Spanish Guerrillas enter the lines  as the British centre threatens to rout.

The Spanish Guerrillas had been watching the Cossack brigade out of shot to the far left and was now retreating back into the main defence line. It was now next to the Portuguese conscripts locked in their western redoubt. 

British Dragoons ride to face Russian heavy cavalry with the Portuguese Line infantry hold on to their redoubt.

The Dragoons were coming forward, but it looked like centre cannot hold. The Portuguese line infantry are still holding onto the redoubt despite being charged and having units around them routed.

The Russian army takes the centre hill.

The center of the defence line was collapsing. However, the British heavy Dragoons with the IMPETUOUS BRITISH HUSSARS charged and broke the blown Russian heavy cavalry. One unit routed! I call a success.

Things are looking a little sticky wicket.

The Russian infantry opened fire and routed the British brigade.

There was a British Brigade here a minute ago...

Russian infantry streamed down the hill,

GAME    OVER

With the centre of the defence line broken, the Anglo-Portuguese had just HELD THE LINE. The Russian army had won on points, but had not yet broken my army. With the skill and experience of Richard Stubbs, I'M CALLING THIS A DRAW and a VICTORY to the mission of HOLDING THE LINE OF TORRES VEDRAS as none of the redoubts had fallen by night fall.

 

RESULT: Draw, as the battle was ongoing as night fell on the battlefield. 

 

Final Score  17 to 8. Richard would go on to win the tournament by routing every other enemy army., Except mine. 

(Richard won the battle as far as the Tournament was concerned, causing 30% of my army to break, compared to 10% of his). 

 

Afterthoughts:

* I should have put the Spanish irregulars defending the east bridge. They can advance out of my deployment zone and wouldn't cost much to lose, and force a bigger attack to be sent to that flank. 

* I should have disentangled by heavy Dragoons sooner  and placed them closer to the front.

* Moving the rifle brigade forward out of the defence line cost me the battle. Despite the battle of Fuentes de Oñoro telling me otherwise! Don't fall for the Battle of Hastings ploy!

* Redoubts are awesome, though I need to put my thought on their facing. (In the next battle, I do, and it has major impacts...)

* When defending behind a hill, stand BACK from the base of the hill. If the enemy comes down, they need to be on flat ground and not have a up-slope charge advantage. 

* I should bring my own terrain of the right size for my army. Long, thin ridges and smaller sized towns. Marshes and Forests that are easy to tell the difference between rough and (very) difficult terrain to move through. 

* I should have put one of the infantry units to watch the bridge.

* When I make my own hills, mark where the crest is with a dotted line, and confirm with my opponent where that crest is before deployment. 

* I hate Cossaks. You can never catch them and they will always be going for the Line of Communication! AND YOU CAN'T STOP THEM! 

 

* If you write the battle report, you can always claim it wasn't a defeat. It worked for Napoleon!