07. Battle of Barcelona - 19th July 1808

Game update! Now planning for w/e of 29/30/31 Aug. New doodle link below! Please indicate your availablity asap.

http://doodle.com/pmvn6iaebr7gup3a



Alpine map with some additions. Thanks to Kevin's wizardry we have 'fortifications' representing Barcelona's city walls. They use the Culps Hill breastworks sprite so look like a mass of abbatis rather than Vauban fortifications but it works quite well. They are quite deep so you can deploy a limber just at the rear of them to get the cover bonus and the gun then deploys and pokes out the front.

There are fortress guns so its quite a warm place to get close to if the French decide they don't like your face.

Note orientation of the map relative to north and the red X in the NE corner is where the coast road heads off towards Gerona and is where the siege train must accumulate at the map edge to claim safety.

East and south of the river line (made unfordable except at bridges - think of these as fishing village jetties if you really want to march off the end) is the sea and the river represents the coastline.

If you use your imagination we get this:



More detailed info given in the national forums.

We have two battles to fight this turn, maybe three depending on one players orders.

I've written the scenario today for one of them which ought to be a very different affair. It's at Barcelona. The other fight is at Miranda and could end in real tears for someone if they're not careful.

The doodle isn't looking great for this weekend, no doubt a few people are doing summer break type things. I'll be up for a casual game but its not looking like we have enough for either of the campaign games which will need about 5 players a side.

EDIT: Just had a look at the numbers and the battle of Barcelona needs 6 players each side. We can get away with 5 a side but the extra makes it easier on the commanders.

I could play Sunday.

That's a thought. It's a long weekend in the UK, and perhaps elsewhere. Why not add Sunday to the doodle?

Martin (J)

Good idea. I'll do that.

EDIT: Poll updated - if you've already filled in your availability please re-visit and update for Sunday. Thanks everyone.

It may be that we are now just too deep into the holiday season, of course. I suspect that's why so many of the French seem to be out of the loop. At least I hope that's the reason!

Depending on the results of the latest doodle, perhaps you should call a halt to the campaign for a couple of weeks say? It would also give the ACW aficionados a chance to get an MP fix, and thus keep everyone happy.

Martin (J)

It's a long weekend in the UK, and perhaps elsewhere.

Tell me is this another, "we love our bankers", day?

Martin wrote:I suspect that's why so many of the French seem to be out of the loop. At least I hope that's the reason!

There is, of course, another explanation: the smell of defeat is in the air and the French picked the scent up quicker than an off-brand truffle -- or one of Belevedere's hams.  

General Castanos knows far too much about the machinations of the french nasal instrument.   

OP edited.

OP edited again. New doodle created for w/e of 29-30-31 Aug. Please sign up asap. Thank you all.

Saturday 30 August at 20:00 BST is looking the most promising so I am going to set the game for that date and time. Please sign up if you haven't already done so. Thanks.

Martin

I can play tonight. Happy being a floater if necessary.

Grog_Mike

Excellent. Thank you. I was short a player.

Hi all

Please don't forget that this MP game is today, Saturday 30 Aug at 20:00 BST. I would like to start the game then or very soon after that time so please make every effort to get into TS by 19:30 BST.

We should by now all have the new KSNapModv1702 which is all you need since the map today is Alpine, one of the vanilla maps.

We have 6 Spanish players signed up and 4 French which is exactly enough. Another Frenchie would help if anyone knows someone from GCM who'd like to come along.

See you all there.

The recent action near Barcelona saw two divisions of the Army of Cataluna holding positions around the city with Duhesme's French garrison making little attempt to interfere with the movements of their third division which moved north and attempted to interrupt the northward march of a significant French siege train comprising 18 heavy guns, 6 supply wagons and three companies of engineering troops, labourers, etc. It was General Castro's division that was committed to this pursuit and initially it met with some success, quickly capturing three wagons and routing two companies of engineers soldiers at the tail of the column.

The Italian escort under General Milorowitz had marched rapidly on ahead exposing the rear of the column to attack but upon pleas sent by Baron Count Haxo, commander of the column, Milorewitz turned about and came back, the Neapolitan dragoons of Colonel Nunziante's brigade in particular attacking very aggressively and driving both Spanish foot and horse units back in some disarray.

Castro rallied his division however and pushed on north, slowly driving the Italians back. A general firefight now developed between his infantry and the brigade of Colonel Fiorella. In the confusion the Spanish captured a fourth supply wagon and three 18-pdr cannons from the rearmost siege battery. Castro brought up his own 4-gun battery and it's fire finally encouraged Milorewitz to withdraw over a high saddle of ground and descend the far side with the coast on his right hand.

During this exchange the siege train had managed to gain some distance and while it was feared that further north some miquelets bands would be lurking in the woods, these did not show up, having departed down the coast earlier. The remains of the siege train with Milorewitz' small division undefeated made its way towards Gerona.

Replay file:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/m0s6216mpe1sg9t/Barcelona_Replay.rar

Late July, 1808
4th Division Headquarters, South of Barcelona

My Dear General Castro,

It is my honor to report that during the recent hostilities, my division maintained complete control of our supply line that passes through Ordel. The enemy showed no courage, no machismo during this fight. They stayed hidden behind their barricades, refusing to show even their cravenly faces. The only sign of their presence was an occasional ball lobbed in our direction by their guns. I tell you general, these filthy French are worse than women. When they see our forces arrayed for battle, do they come out? No, they cower behind the skirts of the putas. A resident has told me that when my division and that of Serna's deployed before the city, their commander, Dusheme, ran to his mistresses chambers and hid beneath the bed. I tell you general, we should arm the putas with daggers. They would make quick work of these cowards.

With great respect,

General de Brigada Francisco Milans del Bosch, commander 4th Division

Raw losses in this action have now been returned by regimental adjutants the following day.

The French suffered 130 killed, 550 wounded and 120 missing.

Spanish losses were 280 killed, 1150 wounded and 250 missing.

After wounded were discharged from field dressing stations and some stragglers returned to their colours the final tally was:

French 130 killed, 360 wounded and 60 missing.

Spanish 280 killed, 620 wounded and 80 missing.

Nevertheless the Spanish did hold the field at the end of the fighting, the French marching away north or those elements which left the city - some light cavalry - returning back inside. Tactically this was a victory for the French for getting much of the siege train away, but for holding the ground and thus being able to recover more wounded and deserters, and for closing off Barcelona and cutting Milorewitz' and Lechi's supply line, this was a strategic victory for the Spanish.