Here's the flyer that we put out..
The Grumpy Ayton Gamers (Scarborough) present..
Battle of Tamames, 18th October 1809, Spanish Peninsular War.
This was the first Spanish victory in the Peninsular War since Alcaniz 23/05/09, and the most significant since Baylen, right at the start of the war. It was the only significant success during the Spanish Junta’s Autumn campaign of 1809. On 5 October Del Parque advanced from Ciudad Rodrigo to Tamames, and took up a strong position on the hills above the village.
The nearest French force was the weak 6th Corps at Salamanca, commanded by General Marchand. He was significantly outnumbered, but other French armies had won victories over much larger Spanish armies. On 17 October Marchand left Salamanca, hoping to catch the Spanish. The next afternoon, when he arrived at Tamames, Marchand found the Spanish arrayed in line of battle, ready to fight.
The problem with Marchand’s plan was that he did not make his attack on the Spanish left strong enough. Maucune’s brigade saw off the Spanish cavalry, and managed to break through La Carrera’s division, but then came up against the intact Spanish reserves. Belveder’s men opened up to let La Carrera’s division pass though it, and then closed up to face the French. Maucune was outnumbered by three to one on ground that was unsuited to cavalry, and his attack came to a halt.
When Maucune broke through La Carrera’s division, the French launched their attack on the Spanish right, but with much less success. Losada’s division held its ground, and the French column came to a halt when it was only three quarters of its way up the hill. After standing and taking fire for some time, the French turned and fled. Losada’s men launched a counterattack, which forced the French back onto their reserves, and then pulled back into their original position on the hills. Seeing the defeat of the French left, Maucune abandoned his vulnerable position and pulled back from the hillside. The French had suffered 1,300 casualties, including 18 officers killed, and the 76th had lost its eagle. The Spanish had only lost 713 killed and wounded. Realising that the battle was lost, Marchand retreated back towards Salamanca, but then abandoned the city, and on 25 October Del Parque entered the city in triumph. This was the only success during the Junta’s campaign
Links..
(General de Brigade Rules)
http://generaldebrigade.greatboard.com/index.php
(10mm Napoleonic Figures)
http://www.oldgloryuk.com/
(Buildings)
http://www.timecastmodels.co.uk/
(Hex Tiles)
http://www.totalsystemscenic.com/default.asp
(Wargames Site)
http://xsorbit28.com/users5/wargamesroom/index.php (GWP)
(Wargames Site)
forumer.com/index.php" target="_blank">http://wargamers.19.
forumer.com/index.php (TWE)
And the French rejoiced. Look at them, they are rejoicing. :roll:
Whilst on the right, Norman continued to kick butt..
