In 1811, the number of Light Infantry (Cazadores) battalions in the Portuguese army was doubled, from 6 to 12. 

The yellow lace on the jackets was replaced by black, and many facing colors became in part black; those that were not black were now piped black. 

Each Cazadores battalions had 5 companies; one of these were sharpshooter or “Atiradores”, and usually had black plumes as opposed the green plumes of the other four companies. The Atiradores were at least theoretically armed with Rifles, and some other men of the battalion might have riles as well, as available. 

The 6th Cavalry Regiment was designated as “Braganza”, after the ruling house of Portugal. 

 We pick up the action with Turn 11:

Picking up the action, here was the situation at the end of Turn 5:

Soult (red)  rolls up Cavalry as reinforcements, but gets a total of 3 orders for 6 units; he chooses to leave the newly arrived Cavalry and the two infantry units on his flank unordered. Victor ’s (blue) reinforcement roll results in no new troops this turn, but gets 4 orders, enough for all of his units. Blucher (white) also rolls up some cavalry as reinforcements, and gets enough orders for all 4 of his units. Kleist (black) gets a much needed infantry unit as reinforcements, but only gets 2 orders. “Where are my aides?!  Get my orders to my troops, you laggards!”

Sensing their opportunity (the opposing Cavalry have no Orders to use!), the French Lancers turn 90 degrees and charge the flank of the Prussian infantry. Although they only have 2 (out of a starting 5) Strength Points, they add a die for charging and another for hitting a flank; hitting on a 3+, they score 3 hits; the outflanked infantry suffer no penalty, but still only manage 1 hit, needing a 4+. 

The Prussians have 0 SP now and are eliminated! Situation after the charge; the Lancers occupy the box, and have taken their free change of facing after their victory. 

Both Soult and Victor attempt Rally Orders; Soult’s unit has 4 SP left, and even with the +1 for Soult’s presence, the roll of 1 fails (1,2 no effect, 3,4,5 1 SP regained, 6+ 2 SP, regained, BUT the last SP lost cannot be rallied off). As can be seen, Victor does much better, the French infantry regaining 2 badly needed SP!  “I feel much better!” The remaining French orders are used for various moves and maneuvers.

Von Kleist orders a fresh (7 SP) Brandenburg Reserve Regiment to Assault the newly rallied French, leading the attack himself (which has no effect upon the combat – Ney and a few others might give a 1d6 bonus as a special rule). They lose 1d6 for Assaulting uphill. The French unit had an order, but used it to rally, so cannot fire at the attackers (a factor in Kleist’s decision, along with the big difference in SP’s between the 2 units). Both sides need 4+ top hit, and score 2 hits. Ties go to the defender, so the Prussians are repulsed, although the French unit is back down to just a single SP. “We’re not dead yet!”

Lots of French shooting for Turn 6, most with somewhat lackluster effect, but look at the second unit from the left – it scores 3 hits on its target! As a result, the Silesian Landwehr is pushed back 1 box before they can return fire. Ouch!

Prussian fire: The Brandenburgers score 1 hit, but that’s all that it takes to eliminated the hated French to their front. The Landwehr in the center score a respectable 2 hits, and the repulsed Silesians still manage to get a hit with their Skirmish fire die. 

Overview of the battle at the end of Turn 6. Note that Victor, having been attached to a unit that was eliminated, is lost for Turn 7; a new commander (or one who recovered from his wound or what ever) will reappear at the end of the turn, ready for Turn 8. 

Turn 7:

The French retain the initiative.

Victor gets enough actions for his 4 units, including a new unit of infantry as reinforcements. Soult gets no reinforcements this turn, but does get enough orders for all 5 of his units. Blucher and Kleist both fail to get any reinforcements this turn, but do get enough orders for all of their troops. 

A full strength French infantry  regiment makes a flank assault; the Prussians use their Order to add a d6 in melee; the result is a blood bath, with the French losing 4 SP and the Prussians 5! 

The Prussians are eliminated, and the French regiment occupies the box. 

4 successful French Rally orders!

Facing annihilation from TWO French point blank musket volleys, Blucher pulls his infantry off the ridge. Other units move up in support, trying to create a new battleline. 

French Skirmish fire is on target!

Prussians even the score with their shooting!

Situation at the end of Turn 7; Victor returns now. “I feel much better!”

Turn 8:

French retain the initiative, and stay on a roll, Victor receiving another infantry regiment  and Soult an Artillery battery as reinforcements. Both Victor and Soult roll well, getting enough orders for al of their units. Both Kleist and Blucher are guaranteed reinforcements this turn, having received none last time; both receive another infantry unit. The Prussians also receive enough orders for all of their units. 

2 successful Rally orders by Victor’s men (The “2” only counts because of the bonus for Victor being with the unit).

Another French Rally succeeds, as the Artillery Marches forwards. 

Prussian Dragoons Rally off 1 hit. 

Prussian Hussars charge their French counterparts; both are at full strength, but the Prussians get an extra die for charging. None of the dice miss!  Since each cavalry unit can only take 5 hits, the opposing Hussars are both dispersed!

Exchange of musketry is even on the French right…

and with a slight Prussian edge on the French Left. 

Situation at the end of Turn 8; Blucher is down now, having been attached to a unit that was eliminated!

 I wanted to do a solo playtest of  my modification of Steve’s “Eagles Cheaper than Brain Cells”, itself related to Neil Thomas’ One Hour Wargames.  I rolled randomly for a scenario from OHW, and came up with #17, “Encounter”.  I decided to set the battle conceptually in 1813, with the French fighting the Prussians, and decided not to use any optional rules.  I decided to use TWO commands per side, and rolled a D6 for each one, with the condition that none of the 4 forces could be the same; as per Steve’s suggestions, I added 2 infantry units to each force. That resulted in the following: 

Prussia 1st Corps – Von Kleist – Black dice, etc.

1. Infantry

2. Infantry

3. Infantry

4. Infantry

5. Infantry

6. Artillery

7. Artillery

8. Cavalry

Prussia 2nd Corps –  Von Blucher – White dice, etc.

1. Infantry

2. Infantry

3. Infantry

4. Infantry

5. Infantry

6. Light Infantry

7. Cavalry

8. Cavalry

France  I Corps  – Victor –  Blue dice, etc.

1. Infantry

2. Infantry

3. Infantry

4. Infantry

5. Infantry

6. Infantry

7. Light Infantry

8. Cavalry

France II Corps,  Soult – Red dice, etc

1. Infantry

2. Infantry

3. Infantry

4. Infantry

5. Infantry

6. Infantry

7. Artillery

8. Cavalry

As per the OHW scenario, the game lasts 15 turns, and victory is achieved by having undisputed control of the hill. Failing that, if one side suffers obviously higher losses, the other side gains a minor victory. Each command can enter one unit per turn. The unit is determined by roll a D8 for each command at the start of the turn; that unit enters on the baseline anywhere on their half of the board. If they failed to enter a unit the previous turn, keep rolling until a valid unit is rolled that turn.  Commanders enter with the first unit of each command.

Start of Turn 4; Prussians retain the initiative, Soult rolls 6+1 =7 Orders, but Victor only rolls 1+1 = 2 Orders. “Tough luck, that!” observes Kleist, not meaning a bit of it due to his failure to receive reinforcements last turn, Turnabout is fair play, and all that! Kleist and Blucher both roll sufficient Orders for all of their troops. The colored discs indicate that that unit has received an Order. Soult receives yet another infantry unit as reinforcements (lower left of photo), but Victor rolls a 4, resulting in no additional troops. “Couldn’t happen to a nicer chap”, observes Kleist dryly. Of course, with only 2 Orders, Victor would have been hard pressed to utilize a newly arriving unit anyway. Blucher rolled a 4 resulting in no reinforcements there, but Kleist (who is guaranteed reinforcements this turn, not having gotten any, rolls an 8, and some Prussian Dragoons make their appearance on the field! 

Turn 4, situation after Prussian Orders have been carried out. Kleist’s infantry can turn up to 90 degrees at the start of an Assault move, which they do. This potentially leaves their flank open, but Kleist figures his flank charge will defeat the French, and he will thus occupy their box, keeping his men safe this turn.

Infantry roll 1 die for each remaining SP (both units had suffered losses from prior shooting); the Prussians get an extra die for attacking a flank. Infantry hit on 4,5,6. Thus the French take 2 hits and the Prussians 1. 

Aftermath of the Assault – French, having suffered greater losses are pushed back the difference in hits (1 box); the victorious Prussians can either move forward 1 box or change facing; they do the later!

Situation after the French execute their Orders. 

The Prussians, having the Initiative do their (non-artillery Bombardment) first. Fire is not simultaneous, any losses inflicted buy the Prussians will occur before the French can fire back. However, losses do NOT effect Infantry or Artillery fire, and a unit is not removed from play until the end of the turn, so even “dead” units will get a final shot. Note that Artillery Bombardment, which is an Order, is resolved during the Orders phase (a good way to soften up the target of an Assault!). Finally, if the fire of a single infantry unit causes 3 (or more) losses, the target is immediately forced back 1 box, and that WILL take effect before they can fire back, if applicable. Once again, a 4, 5, or 6 is a hit for Infantry Fire (but only a 5 or a 6 for Light Infantry). Thus, left to right, the Prussian fire inflicted 1 hit (Over 1 box range, so just the single “Skirmish Fire” die), 2 hits, no hits, and 1 hit. The dials track the SP remaining. 

The French return fire, again, left to right, scoring 2 hits (Column loses a die), 2 hits (Line rolls 3 dice, added one for using an otherw2ise unused Order as a bonus, but lost 1 die for shooting at Light Infantry), 1 hit, none  and none (skirmish Fire by the last 2 units). 

Situation at the end of Turn 4; the Prussian Light Infantry, which had suffered losses earlier, and have only 5 SP to begin with, have been eliminated! “Scheiss!” mutters Blucher. 

Turn 5:

The French seize the initiative (D6 vs D6, must win by 2 to flip)! 

Soult gets 4 Orders this turn, and Victor, 3. Soult gets yet another infantry unit as reinforcements, whilst Victor gets a much needed French Cavalry unit (just out of the picture at far left). Kleist again rolls a unit that has already entered, so no reinforcements for him this turn, and adding insult to injury, only 3 Orders for his 4 units on the table. Blucher rolls another infantry unit as reinforcements, but only 2 Orders this turn; a bad moment for the Prussians for sure!

Situation after execution of the French Orders (the French Lancers Marched 4 boxes onto the table, and a French regiment has Maneuvered onto the flank of Blucher and his accompanying Infantry). ). 

French Column Assaults some Silesian Landwehr (count the same as everyone else for this game!). The Prussians use a Order marker to fire back at the attacking French, scoring 1 hit. 

French Assault falters, shaken but the Prussian fire, perhaps? Prussians score 3 hits to the French 2; the French are thus pushed back 1 box… back to where they started! 

Situation after the resolution of the Assault. 

Prussians execute their orders, including a charge (Assault) by the Prussian Dragoons upon the newly arrived French Chevaux-Leger Lanciers! Kleist’s outflanked infantry have Maneuvered their way out of severe danger, and Blucher’s infantry have in turn maneuvered onto the flank of the offending French!

Cavalry hit on a 3, 4, 5, or 6 in Melee; thus the French scored 4 hits (nearly eliminating the Prussians, as cavalry have only 5 SP’s), to a mere 2 for the Dragoons; they are repulsed and pushed back 2 boxes as a result. 

French firing – 2 hits on the Prussian column, and 1 hit (Skirmish Fire bolstered by an unused Order) on Kleist’s infantry.

The French volley mows down 2 Prussian SP. 

Fire by von Kleist’s men – q skirmish fire hit of the French Lancers, and an augmented skirmish fire hit on the French line. 

Blucher’s men fire – they can manage but a single hit on 5 dice. “HimmelHerrGottKreuzMillionenDonnerwetter!” swears “Marshal Vorwarts”! His column manages a respectable 1 hit on 2 dice. 

The unsettled situation at the end of Turn 5.