23. Action at Oropesa - 7th February 1809

This is a continuation of the skirmish that was fought (or rather not-fought) at the Spanish east-coast village of Oropesa in late January.

The Spanish division commanded by Marques de Caldagues is just south of Oropesa watching the French and has observed an enemy messenger escorted by a small party of light cavalry arrive in the village yesterday, the 6th. Now on the morning of the 7th there is activity in the French camp. The invaders are stirring! New orders must have arrived.

During the skirmish of a couple of days ago both sides managed to gather a good appraisal of their enemy - the French have a weak infantry brigade of three battalions and a weak cavalry brigade of three Chasseur a Cheval squadrons. The Spanish have two infantry brigades, one of three battalions, one of four. The French battalions are very understrength, about 350 men each. The Spanish are much stronger numerically, some are almost twice that strength, others are around ~500 to 600 men. The French have noted that the Spanish soldiers seem untrained and cautiously led.

The first part of this minor but somewhat brain-teaser-y action was fought a couple of weeks ago by Matt and I on the French side and Pepe and Morsey on the Spanish. Again we only need 2 to 3 players per side. It would be best if the original two C-in-Cs were present again for the sake of continuity but that's not essential. If needed I can take an observer role by commanding one of the higher level generals who is not actually present.

To Pepe and Morsey who had a very uneventful battle last time I promise this one will be more fluid. Something will definitely happen!

Campaign Map:



Battlefield:



We are playing on one of the newer Prussian annotated maps. This must be a region of eastern Spain settled by German-Polish immigrants!

Oropesa is Brudzevo and the Lenczyo Strasse is the main coastal highway. Where the Lenczyo Strasse and the road from Stowizcyn meet at the south edge, the road continues south to Valencia. North is to the top of the map. The east edge is considered to be the sea and the west edge and that area west of the Prozna Fluss is deemed to be the foothills of the mountains and is out of bounds for all units of both sides. The minor road that leads north-west towards Alcaniz is represented by the network of roads (any and all are valid and usable as they represent a network of minor tracks serving small coastal villages and farms) that allow a route from Brudzevo to Gollin. The minor road shown on the strategic map is the one that runs off the map edge north from Gollin.

I don't think we need a Doodle for this. I will run this scenario at 20:00 BST / 21:00 CET / 15:00 EST tomorrow, Friday 29 May. As we only need a few players and if more than needed turn up, if someone else wants to run another game at the same time that would be very helpful.

Digby wrote: Something will definitely happen!

I don't know what to say.

Should be able to make it tomorrow.

That's 66% of our Spanish team organised then

I should be able to play too.

Excellent. Now we just need some French.

I am working. Good luck to the French enacting my genius level strategic 'cunning plan'.

if I am needed - I can play - if not - no worries...

please let me know before hand...

You are extremely welcome Roland. You're also one of our best role-players; another bonus.

I second that statement!!! Here here etc etc.......

I have been trying to get used to commanding a Division as often as I could - thus my "roleplaying" improved as of late.... some time in the distant future it may have improved that much that I don't have to use it as an excuse anymore

I'll be ready by 2000 - wouldn't wanna miss out on an opportunity to give Morsey another damned good thrashing....

small hint: don't move the guns in the first position of the column with dashing Austrian Hussars withing striking distance

AW crap he can make it!  Now I am going to miss it since I wanted to be the best role player.


Roland your boys must have showered whoops bathed that day usually I can smell them for miles.....LOL

don't move the guns in the first position of the column with dashing Austrian Hussars within striking distance Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil

I saw the replay of that. Very nicely done! One light cavalry brigade turned back a whole division. Go to the top of the class.

Advice to Morsey - well done also; if you're going to screw up, screw up big time then people will think it was really bad luck and not your fault. Little screw-ups are easier for planting the blame.

LOL THX Martin aka Digby.

Both sides are claiming a victory after this rather sanguine encounter. General Morlot had received orders to withdraw his extended outpost from the coast and at 9:00am on the 7th marched his small force out on the road to Gollin to the north-west. General Caldagues sent one of his brigades under Riera to swing in from the south and cut the French retreat at Rostrschutz. Here a brief and bloody encounter followed, mainly involving the French light cavalry, Riera's infantry suffering some 500 losses in a matter of minutes.

Caldagues then ordered Riera to fall back and observe the enemy.

After a half hour with the French clearly falling back from the coast and with Oropesa village and the coastal highway secured, Caldagues halted his pursuit.

General Morlot continued his march unmolested into the mountains and towards Alcaniz. He had lost fewer than two dozen men.

Both sides achieved their objectives. With the French causing far more losses to their opponents but the Spanish holding the field at the end of the action and securing most of their wounded and stragglers the action was a draw.

Having the clear evidence of a victory before him and being the "victor who writes the history", General Caldagues has sent a self-serving despatch to Valencia claiming glory and success. The fellow will go far in politics after the war is over, most likely.

I think it was Rojo's brigade the one that fought. His and Caldagués' behaviour is vey spanish like.

It was a chance for Roland and I to practice coordinating the actions infantry and cavalry against an enemy. And wouldn't you know it, Morsey was the victim.

I think an interesting variation would be to place the entire Spanish force in the woods north of the Warta River and force the French to break through along the road. The cavalry would be spectators until the action broke into open ground.

Hmm, my filing system appears to have failed me and I can't find a game dump of this.

Did anyone save one? If so can you Dropbox it for me please? Ta.

Sorry, I don't.  I can tell you that the French cavalry suffered 6 casualties.  I think the infantry had 1.

yup - that I can confirm...

Ha. And I know Morsey the Spanish suffered circa 500. I can work something with those numbers.

I know how may I had left and how many points I had and that is it Digby. Those bookies on the French side are a bunch of number shavers. LOL