Battle of the Bottleneck

     Somewhere on the Peninsular, the British army is retreating. A British Brigade made up of a light infantry unit, 4 regular regiments and an artillery battery is tasked with stopping the French advance. The British general finds a bottleneck, with the road running between  heavy woods and a large lake.

    The French general, with a division of 2 light infantry units, 4 regular infantry regiments, and 3 cavalry regiments is tasked with opening the road for the rest of the army.

     This scenario is number 24 from ONE HOUR WARGAMES. Both armies have more units than the given scenario. Blue units cannot enter the woods. The French goal is to clear the road, the British to block them. The rules used were Command & Colors: Napoleonics.  I didn't use movement cards; all units could move during their turn.

British Army on top, with their light infantry in the woods; French army on the bottom. The French general has posted all 3 cavalry regiments on the right flank with the goal of flanking the British left flank.

The French light infantry assault the woods, but are driven back.

The French cavalry starts around the lake. One British regiment guards that flank.

The French skirmishers drive back the light infantry in the woods.

The British infantry drives back the French Dragoons.

Another view of the dragoons retreat.

The French continue to push forward on the road.

The British infantry form square, but still suffers losses.

Another infantry regiment comes up to reinforce the British left flank. Their volly fire breaks the 9th Hussars.

The British on the road forces back two French regiments.

Both British regiments are in square now and although suffering heavy casualties, have stopped the French cavalry.

The French infantry now tries to outflank the British infantry.

The French continue to lose more in their assault on the woods....

.... but make advances along the road.

The Dragoons are once again routed. The 9th Hussars are swinging wide around the British squares.

One British square forms into line and their fire continues to drive the dragoons farther back.

The British lose one unit to the French Hussars and another infantry unit is lost by the woods.

The French troops keep sliding around the woods.

The British battery is attacked from three sides. A third infantry unit is eliminated. The British, now at 50% strength , must retreat.

Another enjoyable game. If I continue to use C&C:N rules, I must give them more study. I didn't read up on infantry in squares before the battle. Hopefully I played them right.  I also have to pay more attention to unit strength. All French cavalry should have 4 pieces, not three. Luckily this wasn't an issue in this game.