Second Battle of Porto 12th May, 1809

 Last weekend Alan and I finally got our teeth into the Battle of Porto. This scenario, the third in a series around the expulsion of Soult from Porto by Wellesley’s forces in 1809, concludes the second French invasion of Portugal. It was written by Jonathan Jones for his Peninsular Wars scenario book O’er the Hills.

Once again the French are in retreat, having to react quickly to the unexpected crossing of the Douro River by the Allies upriver from Porto. Soult is literally caught napping, as the British slip across and occupy the Bishop’s Seminary on the eastern outskirts of the city before the French are aware of their presence!

The scenario does a good job of reflecting the actual battle and its tensions, with Foy having to initiate his historic (and doomed) attack on the seminary as his ADC was sent to warn Soult of the British arrival. The French, outflanked and in danger of having their lines of communication cut to Ney’s forces in Galicia, are not in a position to fight but rather have to withdraw the majority of their forces from the table, but this can only begin to happen once Soult is awake and appraised of the situation. Meanwhile the British have to keep their casualties to a minimum as their new forces arrive on the table to help try and keep the French from escaping.

The game was played out over two sessions on a 6’X 9’ table in 1/72nd scale using the Over the Hills rules.

The scenario map showing the principle troop movements in our game. 

The Battlefield

JJ's map doesn't include the river and south shore but I had seen it portrayed that way when he built his own table for this scenario, and was inspired to emulate it. If you are curious about my own build I blogged about it here.

Looking south from the high ground. The ground above the elevation line was considered rough throughout and I took JJ's suggestion to add walls and enclosures which made it quite claustrophobic in the game!

The Battle

1. British cross the Douro

The discovery of some wine barges on the south shore of the Douro allow Wellesley to slip a couple of battalions under command of General Paget across the river and into the Bishop’s Seminary before the French are made aware of their presence.

2. Foy mobilizes

General Foy, in command of the troops to the east of Porto, detects the British troops in the seminary and immediately begins to mobilize them for the attack. (Foy's troops are those above the city.)

3. Looking for Soult

At the same time his ADC is sent into Porto to rouse Marshal Soult and warn him of the British attack.

4. In the streets of Porto

In the town itself the 1st Division under General Merle wait for their orders. None of the French here may move until Soult is awake and about.

5. 15me Ligne in the south part of Porto

6. 4me Legere in the upper city

7. Foy attacks the seminary

In the absence of orders Foy take it upon himself to launch his attack on the seminary, hoping to oust the British before they can get established. (The scenario mechanic obliges Foy to press home the near hopeless attack on the seminary until Soult arrives to call it off. Alan, as the French player, takes on this thankless task with gusto!)

8. Repulsed!

But the seminary defence is already well established and the first attack by two battalions of the 17me Legere are handily repulsed. 

9. 1/17me Legere routed

The 1/17me Legere are routed and flee back into the outskirts of Porto.

10. British cannons open fire

At this point the British artillery that Wellesley has placed on the south bank open fire on Foy’s attacking forces…

11. To devastating effect

12. 1/66th Foot arrive

As the battle rages above more British reinforcements are ferried across to bolster the seminary’s defence.

13. British light infantry deploy out of the seminary

A third attack by the 3/17me meets the same fate as the first two, and with Foy now on the back foot, Paget has Muter send out the light bobs to harass any future attacks from the flanks.

14. 70me Ligne prepare to attack

It is now the 70me Ligne’s turn to press the attack, but as they shake out into open order to try and limit casualties they take more deadly cannon fire, throwing their advance into confusion. Foy’s brigade breaks and he has no option but to begin to retreat, still looking over his shoulder for signs of Soult’s arrival. (Luck was not with Alan this game and was very much with me. The British cannon fire proved deadly, the defence of the seminary crushing and Soult was roused from his bed two turns later than the earliest possible in the scenario!)

15. Muter’s brigade takes the offensive

With the arrival of the 66th at the seminary and seeing the French wavering, Paget orders Muter to prepare for the offensive. The British begin exiting the seminary, forming up into line in preparation for the advance while their light infantry skirmish from the orchards.

16. Overview

Foy’s battered brigade (left) begins to fall back towards Porto’s outskirts as the British sally out of the seminary. The French First Division still sits tight in the city, lacking orders to begin their retreat.

17. Cotton's Dragoons arrive

At this point Cotton’s light dragoons, the first of the Allied troops that had crossed further east over the Douro, arrive on the battlefield. Cotton rides up to Paget who, in the absence of Wellesley, is in overall command for this battle. Paget sees that the French have yet to have begun their withdrawal from Porto, and orders the cavalry north to cut the road exiting the city.

18. Soult finally arrives

Soult, finally convinced that the British have indeed managed to cross the Douro, arrives on the battlefield only to find Foy’s brigade in full withdrawal and the British advancing on the city. He immediately sends out orders that will get Merle moving the French out of Porto and onto the road north while word is sent to Franceshi’s cavalry, patrolling west of the city, to join in the retreat.

19. Overview

Foy continues to fall back towards Oporto (left) while Muter forms up his brigade in front of the seminary (lower right). Far right Cotton’s 16th and KGL Light Dragoons arrive on the field.

20. Cotton’s cavalry sent to cut the road

21. Murray's KGL arrive

Soon after Murray’s brigade of KGL along with the 14th Light Dragoons, also having crossed further upstream, march in from the east. Adjutant General Charles Stuart arrives with a message for Murray and immediately takes command of Murray’s dragoons, riding off to do battle with the French. (Again, luck was on my side as I immediately rolled a 2 on a d10, needing a 1 or 2 for Stuart to take command of Murray’s horse. The remainder of Murray’s force, historically slow to respond in this battle, is limited to move and hold orders and cannot initiate an attack.)

22. Muter's 3rd and 48th press Foy

With the 66th in reserve, Muter’s two lead battalions march towards the retreating French. This has the effect of throwing Foy’s battalions onto the outskirts of Porto just as Merle is trying to get Reynaud’s brigade organized and marching north.

23. French finally begin to exit Porto

Retreating Legere take fire from the British cannon as they march up the road. All is in chaos as the French finally get moving. But with Foy broken, Merle is in a position where he has to get his force retreating while at the same time throwing up some sort of ad hoc rearguard to take over from Foy. 

24. 4me Legere exit through orchards

To help free up the roads the 4me Legere exit to the north of the city, making their way through the tangle of orchards and vinyards that surround the city.

25. Franceschi's cavalry arrive

At this point Franceschi’s cavalry belatedly arrive on the north edge of the city. Soult orders them to immediately move and hold the road open for the retreat.

26. As do Cotton's cavalry, cutting the north road!

However Cotton’s cavalry get there first, cutting the road and squaring off against the French horse.

27. Overview

At the bottom right Franceschi’s cavalry ride in as Cotton’s dragoons (bottom centre) form line east of the exit road. By the farm house Murray’s 14th Light Dragoons ride up in support and top left Murray’s KGL infantry, also ordered to cut the road, march north.

On the right French troops start to filter out of Porto through the orchards and form up on the road, while top right Muter marches on the French rearguard.

28. Chaos on Porto's outskirts

Reynaud’s and Foy’s brigades get intermeshed as they try to get their troops moving up the road, while at the left Muter’s light infantry are now engaging the French from the surrounding orchards.

29. Fresh French troops move to relieve Foy

As Foy withdraws some of Reynaud’s fresh battalions replace them as rearguard, taking up strong positions behind the orchard walls east of the city.

30. ADC sent to command rearguard

Merle sends one of his ADC’s to take command of three of Reynaud’s battalions now serving as an ad hoc rearguard, freeing up Reynaud to supervise the retreat of the remainder of his brigade. (We have house rules that allow the use of ADC’s to take command of small forces in extraordinary circumstances.)

31. Opposing cavalry face off

On the north side of the city the opposing cavalry forces square off.

32. Murray's Dragoons move to block the road

At the same time the 14th Dragoons under Stuart spot the French infantry moving up the road and move to block their progress.

33. Overview

Bottom the evenly matched cavalry forces face off as the 14th Dragoons (on road) move to block. On the mid left Murray’s infantry also approach the road, while Muter engages the French rearguard (top right) in the orchards on the city outskirts.

34. Charge!

35. 16th routed

The French light cavalry best the British, routing one unit of the 16th and breaking the second. The KGL Dragoons survive but Cotton’s cavalry force is broken and forced to withdraw.

36. Overview from the south

For no good reason, just hadn’t shown those nice cliffs and river for a while!

37. Moving through the streets of Porto

With the roads clogged and blocked by the enemy some of the French battalions are forced to make their slow way north through the streets of the city.

38. Road blocked

Finding their way forward blocked by Stuart and the 14th Dragoons, the lead French battalion forms square. The following French are forced to detour into the maze of walled fields and orchards north of Porto as their exit becomes firmly barred. Things are not looking good for Soult!

39. Muter charges the French rearguard

Hoping to close the trap, Muter launches his battalions against the French ad hoc rearguard, firmly positioned behind orchard walls. But the British luck holds, driving one French battalion back from its defending wall with a devastating volley by the 48th which then charges, along with the 3rd, against the enemy.

Against the odds, the 3rd Buffs also fight their way over the orchard walls, routing the 2/70me while the 48th breaks the 1/70me.

40. Muter's brigade arrives on Porto's outskirts as French rearguard collapses

41. Murray's KGL arrive to help box the French in

The KGL now arrive on the road and take up blocking positions across the road, freeing up the 14th Dragoons to confront the French cavalry.

42. The 14th and 8me Dragoons face off

The French light horse, badly winded and battered, also fall back after breaking Cotton’s cavalry as the British 14th Dragoons and Girardin’s doughty 8me Dragoons, (heroes from the Road to Porto), now face off in a grudge match.

43. Overview

At the bottom the two fresh cavalry forces face off while to their right lead elements of Reynaud’s 4me Legere work their way around. Unless the Dragoons can win their way through, with time running out the road forward remains blocked to the French. Mid-right the KGL blocks the road while the French mill about around Porto, trying to find an escape route. At the top right Muter continues to pressure the enemy rear.

44. Final cavalry clash

This time, outnumbering the enemy two to one, it is the British horse’ chance to prevail, besting the enemy Dragoons and sending them packing.

45. 8me Dragoons routed

46. Rearguard parting shots

Muter is briefly held back by a vicious last volley from the remaining battalion of the rearguard before it too falls back up the road. On the left the last of the French march into the upper town.

47. Final Overview

We called the game, slated for ten rounds, at the end of the ninth. With the KGL astride the north road, the French Dragoons routed and Stuart’s 14th Dragoons still in position blocking the French light horse, there was little scope for the French to proceed (the scenario called for them to exit in the proximity of the road). Needless to say, the battle was a complete schmozzle for the French, largely because Soult failed to wake up early enough. Foy was already beaten back to the outskirts of the city and the road north cut by Cotton’s cavalry before Alan could even begin to try and organize a withdrawal.

Again, if Stuart hadn’t successfully taken command of the 14th and been able to bring them along, the French cavalry might have capitalized on their early success against Cotton and opened the road. But regardless, with Soult’s late arrival on the battlefield enough time had gone by that, with the KGL astride the road, the French still would have been hard-pressed to get anyone off the table.

It was an interesting game, frustrating, I’m sure, for Alan as commander of the French (and a bit of a cake walk for me!) but he took it all with good grace. Lady luck was definitely on the side of the British and I would be eager to give this another go sometime to see how it would have unfolded with different circumstances at play.