V&F - Roughly Rolica

I couldn't really spend all this time building armies and then not use them, so following my recent board gaming session Gary said he would like to try some figure gaming.  So here was a chance to put them on a table with an actual opponent, how could I resist.  I had to proxy some artillery bases as I haven't bought any of them yet but other than that the troops are all Commission Figurines MDF.  I, of course, made some changes to the Valour and Fortitude rules to accommodate the use of 6mm figures on single bases which changes some distances for moves and firing, but mostly the rules remain as written. 

For a first time try out C2 remains as in V&F (all that hard thinking time and then I go and ignore the results, how typical!).  I will trial them next time out, honest.  We used a fairly small table and kept things simple so a French rear guard action against newly arrived British Troops seemed to be a decent script. I based this on Rolica 1808 (roughly).  Around about a brigade sized force for the French with an attached small cavalry force from division trying to delay a British force of around four infantry brigades (remember these are smaller than their French equivalents though) including some Rifles.  It actually comes down to 

Off table Portuguese troops, or in this case Spanish (well I did say roughly Rolica and I don't have any Portuguese painted yet) are moving round the flanks trying to arrive to the rear of the French rear guard.  This is was Wellesley's (he isn't Wellington as yet) actual plan at Rolica, to either trap the French or to force them to retire.  The French have to play a careful hand balancing the need to delay the superior British force against the risk of being trapped and destroyed.

Order of Battle

Anglo - Spanish Lt General Arthur Wellesley

Wellesley's Centre Division of four brigades plus Negrete's Spanish

Hill's Brigade 

5th Foot (Northumberland)

9th Foot (East Norfolk)

38th Foot (First Staffordshire)

Fane's Brigade

5/60th Foot - Royal American Rifles, Light Infantry

2/95th Foot - The Rifles, Light Infantry (small unit only a half battalion present)

Nightingall's Brigade

29th Foot (Worcestershire)

82nd Foot (Prince of Wales Volunteers)

Craufurd's Brigade

45th Foot (Nottinghamshire)

50th Foot (Queen's Own)

91st Foot (Argyllshire Highlanders)

Artillery

2 Batteries of 6pdrs

Negrete's Spanish Brigade (off table at the start)

Cazadores de Antequera, Light Infantry

Provinciales de Badajoz, Militia

Regiment Reina, Line infantry

French General de Division Delaborde

Brenier's Brigade of Delaborde's Division

Brenier's Brigade

1/70th Line Infantry

2/70th Line Infantry

4th Swiss Line (unenthusiastic so factors reduced)

3/2nd Light Infantry

3/4th Light Infantry

2 squadrons 26th Chasseurs de Cheval

Artillery

1 Battery of 8 pdrs

Next post will cover the AAR of the battle