A week from today we’ll be playing the Battle of Rio Gevora (or Battle of the Gebora), which took place in February 1811. With Massena’s army mired in front of the Lines of Torres Vedras defending Lisbon, Marshal Soult moved his Army of the South from Andalusia into Estremadura, besieging the Fortress of Badajoz. A large Spanish army under the Marquis de Romana was sent to raise the siege. La Romana, however, fell ill and died before the maneuver could be carried out, and command fell to the less capable General Medizabal. The Spanish Army camped on the heights of San Cristóbal, but neglected to follow the advice of Wellington to entrench their position. Soult ignored the force, proceeding with the siege of Badajoz. Heavy rains made the rivers swollen and difficult to cross. As they subsided, Soult dispatched a force under Marshal Mortier to cross the Guadiana river at night, and then the Gevora. The French advanced at dawn. Dense fog concealed the French from the Spaniards until the French were only a mile away. The Spaniards were in their encampments, and had to form upo very hastily to meet the French Advance.

A good account of the Battle and its background is found here on Wikipedia. 

We will use Field of Battle rules, 3rd edition, with my Hand of Cards variant. The scenario is adapted from that by Michael Hopper, with minor changes to suit my tastes and collection. 

2 regiments each of (recently painted Piano Wargames) Dragoons and Chasseurs hope to sweep around the Spanish right flank. 

Special Rules:

Due to the fog, Artillery may not fire until the 3rd initiative. Spanish Infantry may not form square during the entire first turn. 

French:   19 units, 20 MP

Marechal Mortier  LD 12

Brigade Phillipon  LD 12

1 French Legere  DD8  CD 12

4 French Line  DD6  CD 10

Battery 6# Foot Artillery  DD6  CD 12

Brigade Brayer  LD  12+1

4 French Line DD6  CD 10

1 French Legere  DD8  CD 12

Battery 6# Foot Artillery  DD6  CD 12

Cavalry – General de Division Latour Maubourg  LD 10

Brigade Briche  LD  12

3 Hussars  DD8  CD 10

Brigade Bouvier  LD 12

2 Dragoons DD 6  CD 12

2 Chasseur a Cheval  DD6  CD 10

Spanish:  27 units, 27 MP

General Mendizabal  LD 10

Vanguard – General Espana  LD 8

2 Light Infantry  DD4  CD 10

3 Line Infantry  DD 4 CD 10

1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6  CD 10

1st Division – General Garcia  LD 10

1 Light Infantry  DD 4 CD 10

3 Line Infantry  DD6 CD 10

2 Militia Infantry  DD4  CD 8

1 6# Foot Artillery  DD6  CD 10

2nd Division – General Virues  LD 10

3 Line Infantry  DD 4 CD 10

2 Militia Infantry  DD 4 CD 8

1 Battery 6# Foot Artillery  DD6  CD 10

Brigade Madden  LD 10

1 Cazadore a Caballo DD4 CD 8

1 Garochista  DD4  CD 8

1 Granaderos a Caballo de Fernando IV  DD4  CD 8

Brigade Butron  LD 8

2 Heavy Cavalry  DD 4  CD 12

2 Dragoons  DD 4  CD 10

1 Hussar  DD4  CD 8

Another view of the bulk of the Battlefield. 

 Time to put down the Napoleonics for a bit, and finish up my ECW Scots Covenanter army…

This flag design is recorded as being one used by the regiment. Like the rest of my Scots, the figures are by Old Glory. 

GM Mike entered all the messages that were preserved in to a spreadsheet:

Over 100 messages that I had I typed up, took quite a while.

 

I did not get all the messages.  Unfortunately, Wittgenstein had thrown out the ones he had.

I am sure others did the same… and I noticed gaps, where i have replies but do not have the original message.

 

Still, very interesting and tells the story of the battle of what the Generals knew.

Some fog of war at its best.

  

I find it interesting if you filter on a commander like Wittgenstein, you can see when he received information; that is after a 10-15 min delay that I used to relay messages.  He found out that Blucher was under attack at  the Altenburg table around 12:01 (12:15), and that came from Yorck, not Blucher.  We kicked off at 11:30 am so it was about a half hour for Ney to get to the next table.  Same for Tormosov, about 20 min to get to his 1st table, Dresden, and then another 30 some minutes to get to Altenburg with a Transit town in between.   

 

Some commanders have no messages.  That is because they had Napoleon riding with them.

 

I numbered the messages by team.  you can see the Allies sent out twice as many messages vs the French over the 1st hour of the campaign.  (24 to 12).

The Allies messages go silent after 2:30 as either Wittgenstein was killed, or he had just assumed command of the Barclay troops and did not have time to continue to write messages.  Or he realized every Corps was locked in battle at that time.

 

I need to dig into more analysis, like compare these to the transit logs.

This is the second part of the items from the original Heroes of Might and Magic  II Kickstarter.; there was too much for a single post!

The optional Battlefield expansion facilitates more tactical combat. 

 A pair of Austrian Corps Commanders; Johann Freiherr von Hiller to the left of the picture, and Franz Seraph von Orsini-Rosenberg to the right. 

A mounted colonel of German Grenadiers, and an ADC or Brigade general are to the outsides of the mounted row.

In the front on foot are a Bavarian infantry officer and a leader of the revolt in the Tyrol. 

    In case anyone who is interested is not aware, the latest Piano Wargames Kickstarter has 7 days left. This one includes French Hussars and Cuirassiers, French dismounted Dragoons (including Horse holders), Old and Young Guard infantry, French infantry and Artillery in overcoats, French Personalities, officers, and ADC’s, more Austrian line in jackets and overcoats, Austrian Grenzer, Austrian Cuirassiers, Austrian officers, Austrian Artillery in Greatcoats, and some new vignettes.