Battle of Alcañiz, May 23rd 1809

Over the past few weeks my Peninsular War gaming partner Brian North and myself played through Brian's scenario, the Battle of Alcañiz. This was, by far, the largest battle we have played together using the Over the Hills rules, with over 100 stands per side. Again, we did this Covid 19 style (see our Combat on the Coa AAR) linking via Facetime with me hosting here at my place while Brian played remotely from Toronto. Since the Coa game I have figured out how to manipulate the units on a map with a vector graphic program I've downloaded on my iPad, a big improvement over last game's pushpin battle map, which allowed me to keep Brian abreast of the big picture. We played on a 6' X10.5' table using my 1/72nd miniatures and Over the Hills rules. I played the attacking French while Brian took command of the Spanish.

The following is from Brian's scenario:

Alcañiz is the first of a series of three linked battles in Aragon (Alcañiz: 23rd May; Maria: 15th June and Belchite: 18th June) between the available forces of the two newly appointed generals Louis-Gabriel Suchet of III Corps (previously the popular commander of the second division of V Corps) and Joachim Blake of the Spanish Army of the Right (previously commander of the Army of Galicia and defeated at the battles of Medina del Rio Seco (14th July, 1808) and Espinosa de los Monteros (10th November, 1808). The global context is the 1809 counter-offensive by the Central Junta that saw the battles of Talavera (27-28th July) and Almonacid (11th August) on the main front.

Summary of the historical battle

The Spanish were drawn up in a strong position, but had their backs to a river only crossable at the bridge immediately behind the Spanish centre on Las Horcas. However, if defeated, the Spanish could retreat to Morella, the next town, along the road behind the Hermitage of Santa Barbara (right hand corner of Spanish baseline on the map) as well as over the bridge. Suchet’s plan seems therefore to have been to attack first on his left against Areizaga on the Cerro del Pueyo. If that attack succeeded, the secondary line of retreat could be cut, leaving only the bridge. A strong assault could then smash through the centre, create chaos and capture most of the troops of the Spanish centre and left as they bunched together trying to get across the bridge.

After driving in the Spanish vanguard from around 06.00, Suchet focused first on his left, sending Laval against Areizaga’s division on the Cerro del Pueyo, in order to force Blake to reinforce his right flank, weakening his left or centre. It is not entirely clear whether Laval was ordered to demonstrate or attack fully; most sources state that it was a demonstration that turned into a full assault. The 3rd Vistula attacked Areizaga frontally, while the 14th line came in onto Areizaga’s left flank. Each regiment attacked with at least one battalion in open order. Areizaga led from the front, rallying his men when they wavered. Blake sent over Menacha with his two battalions, who attacked on the Spanish centre right and helped defeat Laval’s first assault. The Spanish cavalry, also sent over from the extreme left, came under infantry fire as they arrived and were then immediately afterwards ambushed by the French cavalry as they emerged from the wood; they take no further part in the battle. This victory inspired Laval’s division to make a full assault. This time skirmishers covered a single 2-battalion column (approx. 1,000 men), – but this column was also defeated. Laval then pulled back, rallied and reorganised his defeated troops.

After Laval is defeated, Musnier’s division, which had been held back out of effective artillery range up until now, marched onto the field. The main assault that followed was preceded and supported by an artillery barrage from Musnier and Laval’s two batteries, presumably placed on the hills from which the French descend onto the plain. Musnier’s second brigade, the 115th Line, guarded the right flank of the main assault force by threatening the Spanish left on the Perdiguera, and Laval occupies Areizaga by again threatening him on Los Pueyos.

The main assault was made by the five battalions of Fabre’s brigade (114th and 3rd Vistula) up the Zaragossa road straight at the centre of the Spanish position on Las Horcas, where the main Spanish battery is placed.

The assault force is described as one deep column of 2,000, similar to the heavy columns that the French in Catalonia had used successfully to break through Spanish lines at Cardadeu, Molinos del Rey and Valls. Whether there were distances between the battalions or whether they were in two regimental columns (attack columns closed up) is not stated in the sources, The Spanish gunners held fire until canister range. At least part of the Spanish left on the Perdiguera moved forward and fired at the assaulting troops from the flank. The French advanced steadily without stopping to fire until they reached a ditch in front of the guns. Precisely how far in front of the guns is not clear. One source says the French actually reached the guns on their right on the road; another says the ditch was about 100 yards in front of the guns. Whichever is the case, short range canister plus flanking fire destroyed the head of the column and the entire brigade routed completely and fled back to their starting position.

The other French forces then retired back to the hills they had started on and then the entire force retreated in an orderly manner. During the night, this retreat turned into a rout, due to a rumour that the Spanish cavalry were along them.

Scenario

This scenario represents Suchet's assault on the Spanish position at Alcañiz on May 23rd, 1809. It starts with Laval’s attack, which is then followed by Musnier’s.

Alcaniz AAR

The battlefield

Blake takes up position with Areizaga on the right, on the high ground of the Cerro del Pueyo (foreground), Lazan holding the centre in a strong position on Los Horcas and Roca on the left (top) on La Perdiguera. In the olive orchards at far top, on the Spanish far left, is Menacha’s brigade, Ibarrola’s horse and a half battery of horse artillery.

Lazan, with two batteries and a half horse battery in front, from left to right front has the Voluntarios de Valencia, 2/Fernando VII and a battalion of combined grenadiers. In support , under Lazan’s personal command, are 3/America and a small unit of guerillas, the Partida de Guijaro.

Roca’s position to the left of Lazan, with three battalions of Valencia line in front and 2/America and 3/2nd Saboya in support.

Blake's right, with Areizaga holding the high ground with his militias, the Tiradores de Murcia on the right (bottom) and the Reserve de Aragon in support, Tiradores de Doyle are behind the Hermitage and Voluntarios de Aragon and the Daroca battalion are on his left. A dense woods (top), site of some very heavy fighting, separates Areizaga's position from Lazan.

On Blake’s far left Menacha’s brigade (2/Cazadores da Valencia and 1/Voluntarios de Zaragossa) deploy in line in orchards, while Ibarrola’s horse (Hussares Espanoles, Olivenza and Santiago) cover the flank.

With the blessing of a priest, Blake surveys his deployment with satisfaction. Let the French come!

View of Roca’s and Lazan’s positions on the two hills, from the road to Alcaniz.

View of Areizaga’s position on the Spanish right from the Hermitage of Santa Barbara.

And the battle...

Map showing deployment of the Spanish forces and Suchet’s initial plan of attack, with Laval’s brigade and Wathier’s horse advancing on Areizaga while Suchet’s reserve and the French artillery guard his flank.

Laval attacks!

Overview, from left to right.

As Laval pushes his Poles forward, Areizaga throws his Tiradores forward in skirmish formation while the small battalion of Aragonese light infantry occupy the Hermitage of the Virgin. To the right of the hermitage the 14th advances while in front Wathier charges the Spanish howitzer battery. Top left Areizaga pulls his reserve into the high rough ground (cavalry unable to enter). The howitzer, too far forward, limbers up to join in the retreat but is caught by Wathier’s cavalry. The artillery crew evade to the safety of the Spanish line while Coronel Cucalon, also caught in the path of the charge, dashes to the safety of the hermitage to join the Voluntarios de Aragon.

On Laval’s right Suchet brings up his guns with his reserve screening in front.

Suchet advancing behind screening infantry is shelled from Lazan’s guns.

Wathier’s 13 Cuirassiers and two squadrons of the 4th Hussards charge and overrun the Spanish limbered howitzer, then pull up short, unable to pursue the Spanish into the rough ground to which they take refuge.

Laval’s 3rd Vistula sweep Doyle’s Tiradores off the Cerro del Pueyo as the Poles cross the heights in open order to follow up the 14 on the right. They bypass the Aragonese light infantry in the Hermitage, who stay a thorn in Laval's side throughout the battle!

Tiradores de Doyle (in red) evade from first the Poles and then the French horse as they take refuge behind the Reserve de Aragon.

Suchet positions his batteries on the high ground left of centre and begins to shell the Spanish guns. He sends in his combined voltigeurs to clear the half horse battery on Lazan’s right by attacking through the woods.

Voltigeurs assault the Spanish half horse battery. After three rounds of close combat, it’s a draw, with the voltigeurs falling back wavering and the battery limbering up and routing, to reposition on Lazan's left.

In this map the 14th advances on Areizaga while the Poles cross over the high ground and fall in behind. Having overrrun the Spanish howitzer the French horse (top) have pulled back behind Suchet's gun line while Suchet sends his voltigeurs into the woods to clear out the Spanish half horse battery to the right of the gun line on Las Horcas.

View from behind the Spanish line. Hoping for a swift victory, the 14th charge Areizaga’s Daroca battalion in column while the 3rd Vistula move up in support. But Daroca holds and the 14th, unable to deploy into line, fare badly. The 2/14 are routed and the 1/14 fall back wavering.

The 1/14th (in white) in full retreat as they are routed by Areizaga’s Daroca. In the foreground Suchet’s 121 pulls back, still covering the rear of the guns, worried about a sally from the Spanish infantry inhabiting the Hermitage.

Laval's Vistula move in as the 14th is driven off by Daroca.


As the 14th fall back Laval's 3rd Vistula move in on the attack. But a devastating first volley from the Aragonese militia (!) drive the Poles back, as Areizaga holds tight on his high ground. Laval starts to realize that the Spanish right might be a harder nut to crack than he had thought.


Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the battlefield, Ibarrola's Spanish cavalry, spotting Musnier's division advancing on the Spanish centre, ventures out from Blake's left to move across Roca's front.


Musnier enters in assault columns, as Lazan's guns start to seek them out at long range. Ibarrola's horse form up in line upper right.

Overview. Areizaga battles it out with Laval on the high ground (foreground), Suchet advances guns (mid upper right) while beyond the guns Musnier arrives top right. Top left Lazan and Roca hold tight in preparation for Musnier’s attack.


Fabre leads with his Poles against the Spanish centre.

With Areizaga retreated to the high rough ground, Wathier's cavalry gallop to Suchet's right flank to receive new orders from Suchet - attack the Spanish horse!


Blake, now knowing the French attack will fall on his centre, relays orders (delayed in their arrival) that send Menacha and his troops on a long march to bolster the Spanish centre right.

Menacha at the head of his Cazadores.

In face of the Spanish guns, Musnier's entire division goes into open order.

Moving closer, Suchet's batteries shell the Spanish guns from the flank, driving back one of the Spanish batteries.

As Suchet starts to feed his reserve troops into the woods, hoping to turn Lazan's flank, Menacha marches to Lazan's right to link with Areizaga's Tiradores de Doyle already in the woods.

Meanwhile, as things shape up for a slugfest in the woods, the cavalry battle it out on Musnier's right flank. Battalions from the 114 and 115 form square in case it goes badly for Wathier's horse.

Wathier's Hussards drive off the Spanish Hussares de Espanhol, but in return are routed by the Spanish Cazadores de Oliveira.

But Musnier's squadrons and the Cuirassiers hold fast.

French cannon begin to soften up the Spanish centre in preparation for Musnier's attack. Some excellent shooting drives back Hernandez' Grenadiers and destroy one of Lazan's foot batteries, opening a hole to the right of the Spanish gun line.


Musnier's lead troops, the 3/1 Vistula, take advantage of the breach in the gun lines to storm the ditch.

This map shows the 3/1 Vistula breaching the ditch (centre) as the rest of Musnier's troops follow up. On the upper left top Wathier's Hussards come close to routing from the field before they are rallied, while below the 1/115 and 3/114, although still shielded from the Spanish horse by Musinier's Hussards and the Cuirassiers, form square to protect Musnier's right.
In the woods Suchet's reserve and Lazan's 14th battle it out with Menacha's troops and Doyle, while the 3 Vistula retreat to hold against Areizaga around the Cerro de Pueyo on the right of the map.

Meanwhile, on the Cerro del Pueyo Laval, hard-pressed by Areizaga, Laval calls off his attack and pulls his 3rd Vistula back to hold the French left.


Regrouped and rallied, the 1/3 Vistula form column and charge the Daroca battalion. Daroca breaks, and the Vistula fall back into line.

On Areizaga's left the French clash with Menacha and the Tiradores de Doyle in the dense woods. It is all close combat and volleys at close range here, as visibility in the woods is almost nil.

Menacha's Cazadores break Suchet's 121 and throw back the combined voltigeur battalion. Fighting alongside Doyle, the 1/14th are also hit hard and rout for a second time.

Overview. At the bottom 1/3 Vistula breaks Daroca while 2/3 Vistula confront Areizaga's militia units. In the woods in the middle Menacha holds out against the French troops trying to infiltrate Lazan's flank while above Musnier breaches the Spanish gun line. At the top Roca still holds the high ground known as La Perdiguera as Blake sends over orders to move his three battalion Valencia brigade to support the Spanish centre. Pronto!


Musnier reforms his troops in column and marches them behind the French guns, following up on the Poles' success. At top right Blake pulls his Oliveira horse back in front of his guns, forcing the second Polish battalion into square.

The French guns continually push forward, managing to get one battery in enfilade on the remaining Spanish artillery.

Wathier, with his Hussards returned, charges one more time. It is a crucial moment, and this time Santiago is broken, causing the rest of the Spanish horse to withdraw from the field.

Roca's  three Valencian battalions (rear line in white) arrive and form line behind Lazan's flagging centre.

Just as Roca's Valencia (bottom left) arrive to bolster the Spanish centre, Vistula 2/1 routs Lazan's 3/America and falls on the still battered Spanish grenadier battalion. They in turn are driven back through America, who break in the chaos and flee the field.


With the grenadiers and 3/America dispersed the victorious 3/1 Vistula suddenly finds itself deep behind the Spanish gun line on a wide open Spanish flank.

Overview. At the bottom Areizaga, despite the loss of Daroca, continues to frustrate Laval's attempt to break the deadlock. 

In the woods (middle) the seesaw battle continues while in the Spanish centre, despite the arrival of three fresh battalions from Roca, things are starting to give.

Top right the cavalries clash for the last time while top left Roca's two remaining battalions on La Perdiguera form square.

Map of above overview. On the right Vistula 1/3 takes Tiradores de Doyle in the flank, but misjudge the difficulty of attacking infantry on the edge of a woods and are sent packing. To Doyle's left 2/14 attack Menacha's Cazadores, who are routed, although the Voluntarios de Zaragoza still stand firm. In the centre Musnier throws his troops into assault columns, marching behind the guns and towards Lazan's right, where the 2/1 Vistula are about to knock a big hole in the Spanish line.

1/3 Vistula rout after failing to dislodge Doyle. This is the third battalion of Laval's that Areizaga has sent packing!

Victorious Tiradores de Doyle about face to confront the French advancing through the woods.

1/14 rally for the second time and march back into the woods.

In the Spanish centre things suddenly collapse. With Ibarrola's cavalry withdrawing Musnier's Hussards, unleashed, charge up the road in column of squadrons, hitting Laval's remaining battery as it limbers up and tries to pull back. (The horse battery successfully withdraws to safety.)

Musnier's second Vistula battalion also form column and charge, but the guns are overrun just as they arrive. (Both these photos are screen captures from Brian's Facetime feed as he gets a ground's eye view of the unfolding battle!)

The Hussards's charge carry them past the guns and into Roca's Valencians who have no time to form square. Two battalions in line are broken by the French horse in quick succession and the Spanish centre is shattered!

With the centre broken and the Spanish guns gone Musnier's division surges forward, while the French guns are limbered up and join the chase.

View from behind the Spanish line as the battered Spanish begin to fall back from their positions.

Blake fires his priest.

Overview of Spanish centre, with only one Valencia battalion remaining and, now a broken brigade, forced to withdraw. Little stands in the way between Suchet's French and the road to Alcañiz.

Final overview. At the bottom of the photo Areizaga's Reserve de Aragon and Tiradores de Murcia hold line on Cerro del Pueyo. Mid-right one of Laval's two Vistula battalions continues to rout and Areizaga holds a line of retreat past Santa Barbara.
In the woods in the centre the French begin to get the upper hand, but it is immaterial as Blake's centre has crumbled and most of Lazan's and Roca's troops are in full retreat. Two of Roca's battalions, along with the Spanish horse artillery, are still in square at the top, but with a division of French and a brigade of enemy cavalry between them and safety things don't look good.
We called the game at this point as Brian had a flight to catch back to Europe. The Spanish army was not yet broken, but close to it as the writing was on the wall. We agreed that his virtual connection, despite the Facetime link, photos and updated maps, still made it difficult to always capture the big picture. But this was the fourth time in playing this (three times played solo by Brian) that the French have won a battle that historically was one of those few that went to the the Spanish. Again we agreed that Areizaga and the Spanish horse did surprisingly well and that there were key moments when things could have gone either way, so a great and well-balanced scenario, for certain! Next fight, the battle of Maria where Blake and Suchet face off for a second time. Stay tuned...

Legion du Midi

Unfortunately arriving too late for my Combat of the Coa, this unit is the latest in my ever-growing army of foreign troops that fought under the French flag in the Peninsula. They will join my Italians, Westphalians, Swiss, Nassau and Poles in my Peninsular battles.

These figures are Hat’s Légère, with a few head swaps and trimming of the plumes. They are probably a bit fancy for a Legion of mediocre troops, with more braid on the shakos than I would have liked, but the Legion du Midi, in their brown jackets, were kitted out as light infantry, although they mostly fought as line infantry.

I hope you enjoy the results.

Command stand.

Voltigeurs on their magnetic base (detachable as two stands of two). These were the HaT Light Infantry Chausseurs with the colpaks swapped for shakos.

In line with skirmishers deployed in front.

Grenadiers

A bit of history

First established as the Legion Piemontaise, the legion was a Franco-Italian unit raised from the French departments in northern Italy. It was one of many foreign raised legions that fought alongside the French throughout the Napoleonic Wars. Renamed the Legion du Midi in July 1804, only three battalions were raised, two of which were sent to the West Indies where most of the soldiers perished due to disease, the remainder being incorporated into the 82nd Line. The third battalion was renamed the first and sent to Spain with Junot’s third army, where it first fought alongside the Legion Hanoverienne. It continued to operate in Spain under various commanders, participating in the battles of Beja, Corogne, Busaco, and Fuentes-d’Onoro as well as smaller actions, such as that at Coa. A second battalion was raised but soon losses reduced the Legion once again to a single battalion.

The Legion du Midi did not have a stellar record, raised ostensibly as light infantry but fighting more as line throughout their time in Spain. They served in Spain until August 1811 when the battalion was disbanded with the remainder being incorporated into the 11e and 33e Légères. 

Combat of the Côa, July 24th 1810

My regular Peninsular War gaming partner and co-conspirator Brian North and I battled out the Combat of the Côa this week - Covid19 style through a Facetime video link up! The scenario was one that I had just finished writing and play-testing solo last week, so it was great to have a live if somewhat disembodied opponent at the table for this go around. The scenario has since been polished up even more. A link to a downloadable pdf can can be found here.

Gaming in the age of Covid19

For those who might be interested our interface worked something like this. Brian was at his home, linked up with his iPad and computer while the table and toys were here in my house. I had my iPad, and we connected through Facetime. Mostly I had the screen recording the table, rigging up a little base made up of a heavy bookend and small bungy that allowed me to quickly move the iPad about the table and hold itself up, giving Brian a very exciting battlefield eye view of the action while I moved things about. On his turn he would give me direction, I would scan the iPad over his set up afterwards for an aerial view to get his approval, before moving on to my move and doing the same. 

My hight tek iPad set up, with a bungy cord and a weighted book end.

The only other tool we used was a map on foam core with pinned units that I updated every few turns, photographed and e-mailed to Brian along with three photos of the left, centre and right of the battlefield. 

Foam core mounted map with pinned units.

As the person running the show I kept up a running commentary of what I was doing and facilitated any needs Brian had of seeing different points of the battle. Sometimes this also meant moving his troops as directed and then allowing a tweak once he saw how they were positioned. I also took it on to make sure that his units didn’t fall out of command by being careful about the placement of his commanders.

It all worked surprisingly well. The only tweak we made was that as the facilitator I was exhausted by the end of the day and we agreed spreading it out over shorter sessions was the way to go.

The Scenario

The scenario map showing the start positions for the Light Division. This is the version we played although the scenario and map have been revised since.

The game was played out on a 10.5’ X 6’ table with 1/72nd scale toys. Our rule set was Over the Hills, certainly our favourite for battalion level Napoleonics. The scenario (linked on my OTH scenario page) was based on the action on the Côa when Crauford, unwisely lingering on the west side of the Côa in support of the Almeida border fortress in the face of Massena’s invading army, was caught unawares by Ney’s entire 6th Corps. Belatedly realizing the size of the force in front of him, he was forced to beat a hasty retreat over the Rio Côa, executing one of the most difficult maneuvers an army can attempt, a succesful withdrawal over a single bridgehead while under attack. The scenario differs from most as it is almost entirely maneuver, with the Anglo-Portuguese force rewarded for a successful withdrawal over the river and the French rewarded for thwarting that as much as possible.

The Battlefield

The walled area where much of the action takes place and key to the Allied withdrawal.

The bridge over the Côa, over which all of Crauford’s Light Division needed to withdraw.

The Battle

Crauford’s Light Division, arrayed in line of battle, with the 43rd on the division’s left (foreground), the two Caçadore battalions in the centre and the 52nd on the right ( top). The 95th is skirmishing in front. The bridge they need to retreat to is in the upper right, with the walled areas bordering the road on the right.

The French advance in column, with Ferey sending the 32nd Legère off to his left to try and outflank the 52nd.

Our pin map showing Crauford’s opening positions, with Ferrey attacking Barclay’s brigade (left) while Simon engages Beckwith (right). Crauford’s guns and cavalry are on the road at top retreating towards the bridge.

Simon’s troops, breaking into open order behind a dense screen of skirmishers, attack Beckwith’s brigade.

As Ferey’s lead troops charge the 95th, the Rifles melt away (right centre top) evading back towards the walled areas. The 52nd and 3rd Caçadores also fall back in skirmish order.

Beckwith’s brigade also retreats as Lamotte’s light cavalry threaten Crauford’s left (bottom right).

Simon’s troops surge forward, skirmishing with the retreating Rifles.

Lamotte’s cavalry enters the fray, charging in on the 43rd's flank. They are shelled in enfilade from the guns in the Almeida fortress, but still manage to come within spitting distance, threatening the 43rd.

Barclay’s Rifles reach a walled orchard, and stop to fire at the pursuing 82nd.

Ferey’s 32nd Legère try to gain the 52nd’s flank as the British retreat brings them to the rough ground sloping down to the Coa.

Beckwith’s brigade (except the Rifles, still skirmishing with Simon’s skirmish screen) reach the safety of the walled areas before the French horse can make contact. Beyond them the two Portuguese battalions and Barclay’s Rifles are now all lodged behind walls.

The 52nd, on Crauford’s far right, form line on reaching the rough ground leading to the Coa.

Crauford, afraid that the French horse might try to get in behind Beckwith's retreating 43rd, calls the KGL Hussars off from retreating and sends them back to confront the French horse. Just in time, as Lamotte, his pursuit barred by the tall orchard walls, turns his attention towards the road. 

Beckwith continues to pull his brigade back as Loison’s troops prepare to enter the walled area.

Things heat up on Crauford’s right as Ferey’s troops, in open order, stream down from the high ground. The 52nd stand fast, with their Rifles and the 1st Caçadores formed up to their left. In order for access to the bridge to stay open it is vital that this flank hold.

Beckwith’s Rifles in retreat.

Loison’s guns, slowed by rough ground, finally unlimber above the Coa and begin some long distance and ineffective shelling of the enemy.

Simon’s troops swarm down to the walled area but Beckwith continues to put distance between him and the French.

Overview. In the foreground Lamotte and Anson's cavalry square off while above that Beckwith begins to put some space between him and Simon. At the top Barclay, needing to protect the road leading to the bridge has stopped and formed up, offering battle to Ferey’s massing troops.

On Crauford’s right the 52nd take advantage of the 66th, whose battalions have bunched up in their pursuit of the enemy. A hard fought battle sends 4/66th and 6/66th back in a rout, but leaves the 52nd badly battered. Ferey forms up the 32nd and 5/66th in column and charges the 52nd while the 82nd engages the Rifles. The 52nd are routed and flee across the river but the attacking French are too beat up to pursue.

Lanmotte leads the 3rd Hussars in a charge against the KGL who countercharge. A vicious fight sends both sides reeling back badly battered. Lamotte is killed in the fray.

Meanwhile, on the road to the bridge, one of the British supply wagons have overturned - blocking the road!  French prisoners try to right it at gun point.

The retreating 3rd Caçadores are forced to make their way around. The British guns and Dragoons have already crossed the bridge and taken up supporting positions on the far bank. 

The KGL, seeing that all the infantry have almost made it to the bridge and are safe from cavalry attacks, make a break for the bridge. They escape the pursuing French cavalry but are destroyed by enfilade fire, receiving a volley as they storm past the advancing French infantry.

Below the 43rd and 1st Caçadores have made it to the river edge, while the Rifles cover the retreat from a forward positionand the 3rd Caçadores slip over the bridge.

The French cavalry give pursuit, but Crauford’s division has disappeared into the Coa’s valley.

3rd Caçadores march away to safety, with the Royal Horse Artillery now firing in support from the west bank of the Coa.

The 43rd fall back from the knoll to the banks of the Coa. Simon’s troops are still well out of contact and Ferrey’s brigade too beat up to pursue.

The 43rd follow the 1st Caçadores over the Coa, with Barclay’s 95th forming the rearguard. The Rifles endure a bit of desultory sniping from the approaching French but slip away intact well before Loison can make contact.

Final overview. The 43rd crossing the bridge with the Rifles forming a rear guard. Simon’s troops, intact but never able to close, too late come pouring down towards the river. Both sides lost one unit (Crauford lost the KGL Hussars while Ferey lost his battered 32nd to artillery fire) and the French also suffered the loss of Lamotte. Because Crauford managed to get all but one of his units over the Coa, the Anglo-Portuguese score a very narrow win!