Peninsular DBN Game..

Here's a Peninsular DBN game we had a while ago. As always with DBN rules, it's an easy set up, and a quick playing and free flowing game was had. The British/Allies were defending and so set up first, mostly behind the ridge line out of sight, and the French set up to attack.

Over to the French right was a defile, and the French moved quickly to secure it, with a column of light cavalry and infantry..

Whilst the main French force waited to assault the hill in the centre, fronted by lots of Light Infantry supported by Muskets and Artillery.


The French plan was to deny the Left flank, secure that defile on the Right, and to move the Lights quickly up to the ridge line in the Centre, then to be supported by Muskets ..the plan went well to begin with..


Lack of space hampered the French, as did lack of movement pips..(excuses excuses eh!)..which delayed the not very supporting Muskets..
The Lights swiftly secured the Ridge, but were left unsupported by the Columns behind, as the British Light Division moved in to take them on.
A general firefight ensued, with the British taking the broken ground. Being Lights Elite, this wasn't a problem for them.

Over on the Right, a Light Cavalry unit was pushed forward to nag at the British, and took a hit from the Artillery. Ouch!

So they quickly set upon the Spanish Militia, expecting an easy victory. Wrong! They were thoroughly slapped and destroyed in Close Combat.

In the centre, the British Lights firepower was decisive, taking out several French elements, but only after the French Lights had taken out some British Guards. For need of Control the French General made his way forward, settling into some rough ground..with staff, picnic tables and so on..

Which was a big mistake as some Guerrillas popped up..(He had been warned that this could happen before the game started!)..and promptly robbed, kidnapped and horribly bumped him off.

On the Right, the French column, headed by Elites, went in against the Artillery and Spanish Militia, causing and taking casualties.

Though being Horse Artillery, they could easily withdraw and fire.

Back in the centre, things went from bad, to worse, to awful (for the French)..as British reinforcements moved up in the background, French Light Cavalry took on the British Heavies..

And got totally trounced.

Whilst of the French Lights, only one clung to the hill top.

The main French Army, having lost its General, could not get moving at all, and had to endure the taunts of the Guerrillas relating to their General's sordid and untimely death. Rough bunch, those Spanish peasants.

Needless to say, the French lost decisively due to elements lost.
The British Commander, General Testopops, released the following report..
"What a battle, in years to come historians will write about it and ask that intriguing question why?
Why, when all was in the balance, did that great and experienced Marshal of France ‘Le Peeler of Eastern Ayton’ boldly (some say contemptuously) move with all his headquarter staff through that treacherous broken, rocky terrain, knowing that at any moment the wild, unkept and somewhat smelly Spanish Guerrillas could leap out and attack him, and as all historians will note, …. they did. His saving attempt was some what feeble (and some would say fatalistic) and the rest is history, he died an inglorious death at the hands and feet of the local Smelly Brigade. But it must be said that it was to the great delight and relief of his opponent, that great, great conqueror of giants ‘The Lord of North Bay Marshal Alexander’.
Battle honours must go to the French Light division who stormed up hill, held the high ground and made a mess of the limp wristed British Guards. Also honours to the highly skilled British Light Division who made themselves very much at home amongst the rocky outcrops of the high ground. The British 33rd Foot who held their ground and destroyed two French Light Regiments, the British Heavy Cavalry who did the same and finally the Bold, highly motivated French Grenadiers who stoically advanced into British Canister fire pushing back and badly shaking the British Artillery. What a battle."
Well, indeed it was. Poor Peeler, with cries of 'Yehaa you lost' still burning in his ears, could only thank his host for such an entertaining game, retire to his local hostelry, and partake of strongish beer to console himself.