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RAMCSEARCH- 09-03-2008
Fuentes de Onoro (village)
3rd of May 1811, The attack of Fereys Division.
I've finished the 71st HLI at last , so here is another battle where they can fight against my already finished French from the Coa River scenario...
The village of Fuentes de Onoro was built upon a gentle slope. The ground behind is higher and open across a broad low plateau. I divided the village into three sections, lower next to the almost dry river, middle , and upper consisting of the "church and rocks".
Ferey XX 10 battalions 4200 men part of Loisons 6th Corps
1st Brigade ? who
26th Line 4th 5th 6th Battalions, (1015 men) 24, 24 , 24 Figs
Legion du Midi (385 men) 24 Figs
Legion Hanovarienne 24 Figs
2nd Brigade ? who
66th Line 4th 5th 6th Battalions (1370 men) 24, 24, 24 Figs
82nd Line 4th and 6th Battalions (1031 men) 24, 24 Figs
Artillery one divisional battery 8 guns
The village was defended by a Lt Col Williams with 1800 "Elite" troops. These consisted of th Lt companies drawn from 17 british and 4 Portuguese Battalions, plus 4 rifle companies from his own 5th/60th Rifles and one company from the 95th Rifles, for a total of 28 companies says Oman ! these only come to 26 companies, after much head scratching I discovered that the extra two companies were the two light companies from Lowes KGL Brigade ! So quite a plethora of british uniforms to paint or a chance to use up all my light companies ! 1800 men divided by 28 gives approx 60+ men per company listed below, or 3 FIGS per company and add the extras to the british Lt companies...
There were an additional 460men of 2/83rd Foot described as "in support" or "in the village" depending on which source you read. 24 Figs
(remember this includes its own Lt company)
But how to organise them ? I would suggest due to their different capabilites and weapons
Brigade Lt Col Williams
Portugese light companies from 9th and 21st Regts 12 FIGS
5/60th (12) 3/95th (3) Lowes KGL Lt co's (6) 21 FIGS Rifles
2/24th 2/42nd 1/45th 1/50th 1/71st 74th (3 each)+2 20 FIGS
1/79th 2/5th 1/88th 2/83rd 1/92nd 94th (3 each)+2 20 FIGS
Lt companies of 1st 2nd 5th 7th KGL Line battalions 12 FIGS
(or if you dislike small units combine the KGL and portuguese)
Brigade Nightingale (Reinforcements) Lt companies all removed
1/71st HLI (497 men) 24 FIGS
1/79th (922 men) 42 FIGS
2/24th (371 men) 24 FIGS
Two artillery batteries of 6 guns each, cunningly placed by wellington to fire from the top of the plateau down either side of the village ! Use either British or Portugese batteries.
French lost
British lost 259 killed or wounded including 48 Portugese
5th May 1811, the second attack...
Fereys Division launched the attack again (lucky him) , but was followed up by Drouets 9th Corps of 18 (4th) Battalions, though only 12 actually attacked as 6 were kept in reserve if you are short of French like me. There were also 3 "Battalions d'Elite" made up from all the 18 companies of 9th Corps, and these wore their bearskins as some British accounts confuse them with Imperial Guards !
Fereys XX (as above)
Drouet XXX C-in-C
ADC or Brigadier to command these ? who
Grenadiers Reunis 3 battalions 24 FIGs each
use carabinier and grenadiers in bearskins
Claparede XX ( 4,560 men ) 9 Battalions 24 FIGs each
Two Brigadiers
54th, 21st Lt, 28th Lt, 40th, 63rd, 88th, 64th, 100th, 103rd
The last four not being much engaged
Divisional Artillery battery 8 guns
Conroux XX ( 5,424 men ) 9 battalions 24 FIGS each
Two brigadiers
16th Lt, 9th Lt, 27th Lt, 8th , 24th, 45th, 94th,95th, 96th
The last two not being much engaged
Divisional artillery battery 8 gun
On 5th May these units start in Fuentes I've put Nightingale in command, and the light companies organised as before were fed in slowly in support
Brigade Nightingale
1/71st HLI (497 men) 24 FIGS Lt
1/79th( 922 men) 42 FIGS
2/24th (430 men) 24 FIGS in support at the top of the hill
Some of Brigade Ashworth was also fed into the village...
6th Portuguese and 18th Portuguese Lt companies 12 FIG
whole of the 6th Cacadores 24 FIG
Picton 3rd XX
(arrive when any of the french get to the top of the village !)
Mackinnons Brigade Counter attacked to recover the village in two columns of the 74th and 1/88th, with 1/45th in support.
1/45th (508 men) 24 FIG
74th (485 men) 24 FIG
1/88th (467 men) 24 FIG
British Batteries Today a total of 4 batteries each of 6 guns two each side of the village, Two Portuguese (Sequeira, and Rosado) , and Two British (Thompson and Lawson). this gives each side 24 guns in the vicinity, though Wellinton may have had more ? add Preto Portuguese
9th XXX lost 835 men, Ferey XX lost 400 more
British lost 458 (inc 119 prisoners from 1/79th) 160 from the skirmishers and Mckinnons brigade only lost 116 men.
Totals defenders lost 800 men out of 4000 engaged
attackers lost 1,300 men out of 7000 engaged
Footnote: The 74th and 1/88th repulsed the combined grenadier battalions from the top of the village and made a firm lodgement in the upper and centr , "but it was impossible to maintain a position in the lower village where the houses were swept by French artillery fire from the opposite bank"
Sources Osprey Campaign 99, Fuentes de Onoro
Oman Vol IV
RMD- 06-29-2009
Simon,
I'm sorry this is a tad late, but here's my orbat for Fuentes (Eclaireur provided a lot of good info):
Fuentes de Oρoro - 5th May 1811
CENTRE & RIGHT OF THE ANGLO-PORTUGUESE ARMY
Lieutenant General, Viscount Wellington
Cavalry Division General Stapleton Cotton
Slades Brigade
1st (Royal) Dragoons (20 figs)
14th (Duchess of Yorks Own) LD (20 figs)
Von Arentschildts Brigade
16th (Queens Own) LD (20 figs)
1st Hussars, KGL (20 figs)
1st Division General, Sir Brent Spencer
Stopfords Brigade
1/2nd (Coldstream) Foot Guards (40 figs)
1/3rd Foot Guards (40 figs)
Guards Light Companies (8 figs)
1 coy/5/60th (Royal American) Foot (detached to Lt Col Williams command)
Nightingales Brigade
2/42nd (Royal Highland) Foot (30 figs*)
1/79th (Cameron Highland) Foot (40 figs*)
1 coy/5/60th (Royal American) Foot (detached to Lt Col Williams command)
Howards Brigade
1/50th (West Kent) Foot (30 figs*)
1/71st (Highland Light Inf) Foot (30 figs*)
1/92nd (Gordon Highland) Foot (30 figs*)
1 coy/3/95th (Rifles) Foot (detached to Lt Col Williams command)
Von Lφwes Brigade
1st Line Battalion, KGL (30 figs*)
2nd Line Battalion, KGL (30 figs*)
5th Line Battalion, KGL (30 figs*) <2nd line>
4x ½ coys/1st, 2nd, 5th & 7th KGL Line Scharfschόtzen (detached to Lt Col Williams command)
3rd Division General Thomas Picton
Mackinnons Brigade
1/45th (Nottinghamshire) Foot (30 figs*)
74th (Highland) Foot (no tartan!) (30 figs*)
1/88th (Connaught Rangers) Foot (30 figs*)
3 coys/5/60th (Royal American) Foot (detached to Lt Col Williams command)
Colvilles Brigade
2/5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Ft (30 figs*)
2/83rd Foot (30 figs*)
94th Foot (30 figs*)
Powers Portuguese Brigade
1/9th (Viana) Infantry Regiment (30 figs*)
2/9th (Viana) Infantry Regiment (30 figs*)
21st (Valenca) Infantry Regiment (30 figs*) <2nd line>
7th Division General Houston
Sontags Brigade
1/51st (2nd Yorkshire LI) Foot (30 figs)
85th (Bucks Volunteer LI) Foot (30 figs)
Chasseurs Britanniques (30 figs)
8 Coys/Brunswick-Oels Jδger Regt (30 figs) <2nd line>
Doyles Portuguese Brigade
7th (Setubal) IR (30 figs)
19th (Cascaes) IR (30 figs)
2nd (Moura) Caηadores (30 figs)
Light Division General Robert Crauford
Beckwiths Brigade
1/43rd (Monmouthshire LI) Foot (30 figs)
4 coys/1/95th (Rifles) Foot } (30 figs)
1 coy/2/95th (Rifles) Foot }
1st (Castello de Vide) Caηadores (30 figs)
Drummonds Brigade
1/52nd (Oxfordshire LI) Foot (30 figs)
2/52nd (Oxfordshire LI) Foot (30 figs)
4 coys/4/95th (Rifles) Foot (30 figs)
3rd (Villa Real) Caηadores (30 figs)
Independent Units
Ashworths Independent Portuguese Brigade
6th (1st Oporto) IR (30 figs)
1/18th (2nd Oporto) IR (30 figs)
2/18th (2nd Oporto) IR (30 figs) <2nd line>
6th (Oporto) Caηadores (30 figs)
Massed Light Companies of 1st & 3rd Divisions Lt Col Williams (OC 5/60th wounded on 3rd May)
Rifle Companies (19 figs) Skirmishers
1st Division Companies (21 figs) Skirmishers
3rd Division Companies (16 figs) Skirmishers
Artillery
Lawsons Field Battery, RA (3 models) Ammo:
Thompsons Field Battery, RA (3 models) Ammo:
Bulls Troop, RHA (3 models) Ammo:
Sequeiras Portuguese Battery (3 models) Ammo:
Rosados Portuguese Battery (3 models) Ammo:
Pretos Portuguese Battery (3 models) Ammo:
Notes
1. Fuentes de Oρoro had initially been occupied by the 2/83rd Foot and the massed light companies of Stopfords (5/60th only), Nightingales, Howards, von Lφwes (KGL), Mackinnons, Colvilles and Powers (Portuguese) brigades; giving a total of 1,800 men in 28 companies, commanded by Lt. Col. Williams of the 5/60th. Fereys Division attacked this force in the evening of the 3rd, pushing the defenders back as far as the church, before the situation was stabilised by the intervention of the 1/71st. Williams was seriously wounded in this engagement. On the morning of the 5th, the light companies were back with their divisions, with Fuentes de Oρoro being held by the 1/71st, 1/79th and 2/24th.
2. Poηo Velho was occupied by the 85th and the 2nd Caηadores on the morning of 5th May, while the remainder of 7th Division was deployed on the heights south-west of the village.
3. Battalions that have had their light company detached are marked with an asterisk. Note that Stopfords Guards Brigade did not detach its light companies.
4. Some units suffered losses in the fierce skirmish of the 3rd. Almost all of these casualties were suffered by the light companies, and have already been deleted from the order of battle.
5. I have consolidated the Allied order of battle by incorporating some low-strength battalions with their neighbours in the line particularly in the Portuguese brigades, where the battalions were often of very low strength. Among the casualties were the 2/24th (Warwickshire), the 53rd (Shropshire), the 2/88th (Connaught Rangers), the 7th KGL and a few Portuguese 2nd battalions. Note that where there are detached light companies, I have already taken this into account.
6. If a regiment has its light company detached to Williams command, it may (if it is veteran or better) deploy another company as skirmishers.
7. The British cavalry pursuit modifier does not apply in this scenario the British cavalry were heavily outnumbered, and they knew it! They were kept in hand throughout the day and behaved admirably (far better control than the French in fact!).
8. Bulls Troop RHA may start the game attached to Cotton, Houston or Crauford, at Wellingtons discretion. All other Allied artillery must start the game in the main position above Fuentes de Oρoro.
9. Wellington, Picton and Crauford are rated as Excellent C-in-Cs for the purposes of initiative and changing of divisional orders. All others are Average.
RMD- 06-29-2009
Fuentes de Oρoro - 5th May 1811
CENTRE & LEFT OF THE FRENCH ARMY OF PORTUGAL
Marιchal Andrι Massιna, Prince dEssling
VI Corps Gιnιral de Division Louis Henri Loison
Division of Gιnιral de Division Jean Gabriel Marchand
Brigade of Gιnιral de Brigade Maucune
1/6θme Lιgθre (36 figs)
2/6θme Lιgθre (36 figs)
1/69θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/69θme de Ligne (36 figs)
Brigade of Gιnιral de Brigade Chemineau
1/39θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/39θme de Ligne (36 figs)
1/76θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/76θme de Ligne (36 figs)
Division of Gιnιral de Division Julien Mermet
Brigade of Gιnιral de Brigade Menard
1/25θme Lιgθre (36 figs)
2/25θme Lιgθre (36 figs)
1/27θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/27θme de Ligne (36 figs)
4/27θme de Ligne (36 figs) <2nd line>
Brigade of Gιnιral de Brigade Taupin
1/50θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/50θme de Ligne (36 figs)
1/59θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/59θme de Ligne (36 figs)
Division of Gιnιral de Division Ferey
1st Brigade
4/26θme de Ligne (36 figs) <2nd line>
5/26θme de Ligne (36 figs) <2nd line>
Lιgion du Midi (30 figs) <2nd line>
Lιgion Hanovrienne (30 figs) <2nd line>
2nd Brigade
4/66θme de Ligne (36 figs) <2nd line>
5/66θme de Ligne (36 figs) <2nd line>
4/82θme de Ligne (36 figs) <2nd line>
VI Corps Cavalry Gιnιral de Brigade Lamotte
3θme Hussards (8 figs)
15θme Chasseurs ΰ Cheval (8 figs)
This brigade has poor mounts.
VIII Corps Gιnιral de Division Andrι Junot, Duc dAbrantes
Division of Gιnιral de Division Clausel - Detached on lines-of-communication duty
Division of Gιnιral de Division Solignac
1st Brigade
1/15θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/15θme de Ligne (36 figs)
1/86θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/86θme de Ligne (36 figs)
Brigade of Gιnιral de Brigade Thomiθres
1/65θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/65θme de Ligne (36 figs)
2/Rιgiment Irlandais (36 figs)
IX Corps Gιnιral de Division Jean Baptiste Drouet dErlon
Division of Gιnιral de Division Claparθde
1st Brigade
4/21θme Lιgθre (30 figs) <2nd line>
4/28θme Lιgθre (30 figs)
2nd Brigade
4/63θme de Ligne (30 figs)
4/88θme de Ligne (30 figs)
3rd Brigade
4/64θme de Ligne (30 figs)
4/100θme de Ligne (30 figs)
Division of Gιnιral de Division Nicolas Conroux
1st Brigade
4/16θme Lιgθre (30 figs) <2nd line>
4/9θme Lιgθre (30 figs)
4/27θme Lιgθre (30 figs)
2nd Brigade
4/8θme de Ligne (30 figs) <2nd line>
4/24θme de Ligne (30 figs)
3rd Brigade
4/94θme de Ligne (30 figs)
4/95θme de Ligne (30 figs)
4/96θme de Ligne (30 figs)
Massed Grenadiers & Carabiniers of IX Corps
1er Btn des Grenadiers Rιunis (30 figs) <ιlite>
2θme Btn des Grenadiers Rιunis (30 figs) <ιlite>
3θme Btn des Grenadiers Rιunis (30 figs) <ιlite>
IX Corps Cavalry Gιnιral de Brigade Fournier
7θme Chasseurs ΰ Cheval (14 figs)
13θme Chasseurs ΰ Cheval (13 figs)
20θme Chasseurs ΰ Cheval (12 figs)
This brigade is well-mounted
Reserve Cavalry Gιnιral de Division Louis Pierre Montbrun
Brigade of Gιnιral de Brigade Cavrois
3θme Dragons (5 figs) }
10θme Dragons (7 figs) }
15θme Dragons (11 figs)
This brigade has poor mounts.
Brigade of Gιnιral de Brigade dOrnano
6θme Dragons (16 figs)
11θme Dragons (9 figs)
25θme Dragons (11 figs)
This brigade has poor mounts.
Artillery of the Army of Portugal
1er Companie ΰ Pied (8 pdr) (3 models) Ammo:
2θme Companie ΰ Pied (8 pdr) (3 models) Ammo:
3θme Companie ΰ Pied (8 pdr) (3 models) Ammo:
4θme Companie ΰ Pied (8 pdr) (2 models) Ammo:
Elements of The Army of The North Marιchal Bessiθres, Duc dIstrie
Imperial Guard Cavalry Brigade Gιnιral de Brigade Lepic
1er Chevauxlegers (18 figs)
Chasseurs ΰ Cheval (12 figs) }
Mamelukes (4 figs) }
Grenadiers ΰ Cheval (10 figs)
This brigade is well-mounted
Light Cavalry Brigade Gιnιral de Brigade Wathier
11θme Chasseurs ΰ Cheval (12 figs)
12θme Chasseurs ΰ Cheval (9 figs)
24θme Chasseurs ΰ Cheval (10 figs)
5θme Hussards (9 figs)
This brigade is well-mounted
Artillery of the Army of the North
Garde Volante (8 pdr) (3 models) Ammo:
Notes:
1. 1er & 2θme Companies ΰ Pied are attached to Drouets IX Corps, 3θme Companie ΰ Pied is attached to Marchands division, the 4θme Companie ΰ Pied is attached to Solignacs division and the Garde Volante Company is attached to Wathiers brigade.
2. Like the Allied battalions, the strength of individual French infantry battalions is largely artificial. Most of the 3rd, 4th & 6th battalions have been absorbed to consolidate units into playable strengths. If youre wondering why the French have such low quality when compared to the Allies, this is the reason most two-battalion regiments listed above were actually three-battalion regiments, including the 4th or 6th battalion.
3. Lepic refused to commit his Guard Cavalry Brigade to the fight without orders from his commander in chief. However, Bessiθres was nowhere to be found until late in the battle, and so the Guard Cavalry was never committed to the fight. Lepic may be manoeuvred so as to be in reserve, though the engagement of the Guard Cavalry will only occur under the conditions listed in the special rules below.
4. Fereys and Marchands divisions should have 33 casualties distributed prior to the start of the game, to account for losses suffered during the assaults of the 3rd. Ferey suffered the worst of the damage on the 3rd.
5. Marchand is classified as Excellent for the purpose of changing divisional orders. All others are Average.
RAMCSEARCH- 07-01-2009
Thanks thats wonderful, and not late at all, as I'm still painting the 1/79th ! Also need to paint another 24 French Grenadiers in the correct headgear. I like to get my orbats sorted long before I start painting.
Have been somewhat distracted of late, but 4 battalions of KGL are now well advanced :-)
Thanks again.
RMD- 07-01-2009
No worries.
Be warned however, that the Fuentes battlefield covers a very wide area. Even when you leave out the northern flank (which is essentially two formations glowering at each other across a gorge), you're still left with a table frontage of some 20 feet from Wellington's main position to 7th Division on the extreme right. We actually 'chopped' four feet out of the centre to make it fit on a 16-foot table and to give the Light Division a fighting chance of getting out there and back within the time available for the game.
By the way, sorry I missed you in Normandy!
Colbert de Chabanais- 07-02-2009
rmd whats with ammo on guns
RAMCSEARCH- 07-02-2009
I'm planning to do this as two separate battles, essentially separating Fuentes Village, and the 7th and Light divisions action. That way I dont have to paint so many French Infantry !
I've put a link to the Gold Beach photos at the end of the Arnhem Corridor thread in Battlegroup Panzer Grenadier section. The best shots were in camp photos 8 taken by a local french villager ! Maybe next time for the 70th Anniversary, though sadly fewer veterans will be there.
The convoys to Trungy and Tilly went so well that I think the Garrison Guns and possibly Signals and Recce are planning to go again next year.
Now back to Napoleonics !!! :D
RMD- 07-02-2009
Colbert,
The ammo system is a way to save time in very large games (and indeed, I do it for all my games now), as it discourages people from pissing about with constant, pointless long-range artillery fire and only firing one gun from a battery at six at some partially-obscured target. It also means that players tend to conform to the historical practice of maintaining an artillery reserve.
If any part of the battery fires, mark off one ammo.
If you roll a double 1 and get ('low ammo'), simply mark off half the remaining ammo (odd numbers are rounded up) and DO NOT apply the Low Ammo negative die modifier.
Simples.
It also adds a bit of tension and fun to the late stages of the game - in our first Mega-Game at AB HQ ten years ago, Dave Brown was having severe difficulties trying to storm Eggmuehl Bridge in the face of Grenzer skirmishing and an extremely luck Austrian Cavalry Battery.
After losing the bulk of the Wuerttemberg elite Light Infantry Brigade, all Dave had left to throw in was a couple of regiments of Wuerttemberg light horse. He knew that Mike Hickling was running low on ammo and might even be bluffing with empty guns, so he took a gamble and charged across with a regiment of chevauxlegers in coloumn... Only to be pasted by Mike's very last round of cannister and a double 6... ;o)
Mike was then whipping his horses into a froth trying to get his guns and very empty limbers away from some very annoyed Wuerttembergers... It was great fun and actually added something to the game.
Similarly, in our later refight of Auerstaedt, the tension in the French ranks as their artillery began to run out of ammunition at the height of the Prussian cavalry assault, was quite something.
Colbert de Chabanais- 07-02-2009
thanks for quik reply rmd i will try to get carlo and the boys at nws to give it a go
thanks again
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