TM

ALBION TRIUMPHANT
The Peninsular Campaign
Written By:
Adrian McWalter
Black Powder Game
Designed and Written By:
Rick Priestley & Jervis Johnson

Photography: Bernhard Hennen, Warwick Kinrade,

Mark Owen, Alan Perry, Michael Perry, THS Club,
Gabrio Tolentino, Victrix Ltd. and Wargames Illustrated
Cover Artwork: Peter Dennis
Design & Production:
Mark Owen, Paul Sawyer and Tim Vincent
Editing: Duncan Macfarlane and Andy Wheale
Special Thanks: Alan Perry and Michael Perry
of Perry Miniatures for their photographic heroics,
Bernhard Hennen and the THS club for their photographs
and encouragement, and John Stallard for his
advice and enthusiasm.
Miniatures painted by: Richard Abbott,
Bruno Allanson, Paul Armer, Holger Bartnitzki,
Jim Bowen, Paul Cubbin, Andrés Amián,
Mark Hargreaves, George Hatzopoulos, Dave James,
Dave Jarvis, Gareth Jones, Steve May, El Mercenario,
John Morris, Alan Perry, John Stallard and Dave Woodward

For Rory

© Copyright Warlord Games Ltd, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-911281-11-5

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior
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condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
 Introduction

A
CLOSE THE FILES – CLOSE UP, DAMN YOU!

rainy day in January 2010 saw a visit to is only right that I focus on those two countries during this
Nottingham turn into a once in a lifetime remarkable period.
opportunity. I bumped into an old friend: Paul
Sawyer of Warlord Games. We talked about all We shall look at why Napoleonic armies fought differently
things Black Powder, as I had the book clutched in my hands from earlier black powder armies, as well as detailing the
at the time, and I waxed lyrical about Napoleonic army lists arms, uniforms and organisations of Great Britain, France,
and how England’s power struggle with the old enemy, Portugal and Spain.
France, could be represented. When Paul woke up he
I have selected some of the classic battles of the two
realised he had unwittingly fallen into my cunning trap – a
protagonists that we will look into in detail and I have
trap which would allow me to write a supplement to the
created some scenarios for you to try, a few of which link to
main Black Powder rules! Albion Triumphant is the fruit of my
the battles themselves.
labour and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I
enjoyed creating it. I have explored how the Black Powder rules can be used to
reflect a Napoleonic battle, and I have built upon the
When writing Albion Triumphant, I did not want readers to
guidance provided in the original rules in regard to giving
use it as an excuse to avoid researching the wonders of the
units national characteristics through their own special rules
Napoleonic Wars, which for me is one of the greatest
and stat lines. But as ultimately your Black Powder battles are
periods of military history. (Go on, try it – you won’t regret
yours, the final decision as to how your games play out is up
it!) I will not then provide a chapter and verse account of
to you. Additionally, for the radicals amongst you all I have
that great conflict within these pages, for to do so would
identified where tweaks in the rules can be used to add a
require a mighty tome indeed. I will, however, signpost
further flavour of this period. For those of you who are
readers throughout the book to various aspects of the whole
points minded I have provided a simple way of creating
period that they may wish to research further. In this first
army lists and provided you with a sample list to get you
volume – The Peninsular War – we will look at the defeats
started. A little tip here – the more you research, the better
of the early Flanders campaigns, and the roller-coaster
your lists will be!
conflicts of the Peninsular War. A companion volume –
Albion Triumphant: The Waterloo Campaign – will focus on the So without further ado…
events of the Hundred Days campaign, leading up to that
grandest of battles, Waterloo.
Albion Triumphant, as the title suggests, focuses mainly on
Britain’s war with France during the Napoleonic period.
“A toast, gentlemen –
Other nations were involved of course and are covered
where their involvement overlaps, but as the Lion and the
today’s fox!”
Cockerel were the super-powers of the early 19th Century it
Wellington

2

An overview of
Napoleonic warfare 4
Levèe en masse............................................ 4
Changes in warfare ......................................4
The structure of armies .............................. 6
The Assault Column .................................. 7
The Line .................................................. 8
The Square ................................................ 8
Mixed Order .............................................. 8
Cavalry .................................................... 8
Artillery .................................................... 9
The Grand Old Duke of York 10
The Spanish Ulcer 12
Wellesley exonerated.................................. 13
1810: Massena ...................................... 14
1812: Advance into Spain ........................ 14
1814: Napoleon capitulates ...................... 14
The Battle of Vimeiro, 1808 16
Background.............................................. 16
The Battle .............................................. 17
Aftermath ................................................ 18
Order of Battle ........................................ 19
The Battle of Talavera, 1809 20
Background.............................................. 20
The Battle .............................................. 21
Aftermath ................................................ 23
Order of Battle ........................................ 24
The Battle of
Fuentes de Oñoro, 1811 26
Background.............................................. 26
The Battle .............................................. 27
Aftermath ................................................ 30
Order of Battle ........................................ 31
The Battle of
Salamanca, 1812 32
Background.............................................. 32
The Battle .............................................. 34
Aftermath ................................................ 34
Order of Battle ........................................ 35
The Armies of the
Peninsular War 36
Great Britain, 1807-1815 38
Overview ................................................ 38
British Infantry ........................................ 38
British Infantry Special Rules .................... 38
Foot Guards ............................................ 40
Line Infantry (The Foot Regiments) .......... 41
Highland Infantry .................................... 42
Contents
Light Infantry .......................................... 42 Foot Artillery............................................ 69
Riflemen .................................................. 43 Horse Artillery ........................................ 69
Chasseurs Britannique .............................. 44
Battalion of Detachments .......................... 44
French Allies 70
British Cavalry ........................................ 45
The Kingdom of Italy .............................. 70
Dragoon Guards and Dragoons .................. 45
The Kingdom of Naples............................ 71
British Cavalry Special Rules .................... 45
The Confederation of the Rhine ................ 71
Light Dragoons and Hussars...................... 46
Vistula Legion.......................................... 71
Artillery .................................................. 46
Artillery Special Rules .............................. 48
French Column versus
Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) .................... 47
British Line 72
Royal Artillery (RA) ................................ 47 The French Attack Column........................ 72
The King’s German Legion (KGL) ............ 49
British battle tactics and the two-deep line .. 72
The Black Brunswickers .......................... 49 Recreating French Column vs British Line
in Black Powder ...................................... 73
The Kingdom of Frequently Asked Questions........................ 73
Portugal, 1808-1814 50
Portugal – The Oldest Ally ...................... 50 Commanders of the
Overview ................................................ 50 Peninsular War 74
Portugese Infantry .................................... 50 Sir Arthur Wellesley.................................. 75
Order of Battle ........................................ 50 Sir Thomas Picton .................................. 75
Line Infantry .......................................... 51 Robert Crauford ...................................... 75
Light Infantry .......................................... 52 Jean Andoche Junot .................................. 76
Caçadores ................................................ 52 Andres Massena ...................................... 76
Portugese Cavalry .................................... 53 Horace Francois Bastien ............................77
Artillery .................................................. 53
Scenario Games 78
The Spanish –
‘Guerra al Cuchillo’ 54 The Battle of Roliça, 1808 79
Infantry .................................................. 54
The Guard .............................................. 55 The Battle of Granja de la
Line Infantry .......................................... 55 Abundancia, 1810 86
Guerilla .................................................. 57
Cavalry .................................................. 57 The Defence of
Artillery .................................................. 58 Cuidad Espanola, 1810 90
Imperial France, 1807-1814 60 The Battle of Salamanca, 1812 94
“Vive L’Empereur!”.................................. 60
The French Army in the Peninsula ............ 61 Army Lists and
Infantry .................................................. 61 Pointed Games 98
French Infantry Special Rules .................... 63 The Peninsula British,
Guard Infantry ........................................ 64 1806-1814 .............................. 99
Line Infantry .......................................... 64 The Peninsula French,
1807-1814..............................106
Light Infantry .......................................... 65
The Spanish,
Combined Grenadiers ................................ 66 1807-1814..............................110
French Cavalry ........................................ 66
French Cavalry Special Rule...................... 66
Cavalry of the Guard................................ 67
Chasseurs-a-Cheval de la Garde Imperiale
and Mamelukes........................................ 67
Chevau-Legers-Lanciers de la
Garde Imperiale........................................ 67
The Carabiniers ...................................... 68
Dragoons ................................................ 68
French Light Cavalry ................................ 68
French Artillery ........................................ 69
3
An Overview of Napoleonic Warfare
The French revolution of 1789 was the catalyst for enormous
changes in the way military conflict was conducted, leading
to over twenty years of warfare that is now known as the
Napoleonic Wars. This is a special period of historical drama
that we can but try to recreate in our table top battles.
During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) and
Seven Years War (1756-1763), nations were constrained by
limited manpower and logistics, which was reflected
through warfare becoming an elaborate game in which
armies attempted to outmanoeuvre each other. Armies were
slow moving, and commanders’ strategic intentions were, in
the main, to acquire towns, cities and fortresses as
negotiating chips to be used to barter with at the conference
table. For this reason siege warfare predominated, as great
fortress cities were steadily worn down by bombardment
and starvation. Decisive battles were to be avoided if
possible, as the sudden loss of a kingdom’s standing army
would leave it completely defenceless.
So why was Napoleonic warfare so different? The population
of Europe massively increased during the 18th Century, in
no small part due to changes in farming methods and the
impact of the early industrial revolution, which made it
possible to mass-produce arms and equipment. As well as
that, the financial capacity of European states improved
through industrial expansion, trade improvements and
efficient tax systems. For example, the national income of
England doubled.
This transformation allowed nations the capability and
capacity to fight wars on a grand scale. The size of the
armies fielded increased considerably; in 1706 at the battle
of Ramillies the total combination of the combatants that
fought for the Duke of Marlborough or the Duc de Villeroi
did not exceed 123,000 men. A hundred and three years
later, at the battle of Wagram, the French army alone could
boast 175,000 men.
THE JOY OF PAINTING SPANISH TROOPS IS WONDER-
4
Levèe en masse
France in the early 1790s found itself under pressure from
the First Coalition of England, Austria, Prussia, Spain and
Sardinia. To find the soldiers needed to fight all these
opponents, the French government, known as the
Convention, through the Committee for Public Safety,
decreed the Levèe en masse in 1793. This decree saw the
total mobilisation of civilian and military resources,
meaning that the whole population could be utilised to
create a huge, yet largely unprofessional armed force. The
Levèe en masse stated:
‘… All Frenchmen are in permanent requisition for the services of the
army. The young men shall fight; the married men shall forge arms and
transport provisions; the women shall make tents and clothes and serve in
the hospitals; the children shall turn linen into lint; the old shall betake
themselves to the public squares to arouse the courage of the warriors and
preach hatred of kings and the enemies of the republic…’
It certainly worked; by 1794 France could count on 800,000
men to service its field armies.
The increased size of armies made logistical issues impossible
to manage when those armies were concentrated for long.
What was required then was a quick military victory. Wars
fought in the manner of the Spanish Succession or the Seven
Years War could and would not continue.
Changes in Warfare
Napoleon Bonaparte was the first to recognise the need for
strategic change. Bonaparte’s approach centred on the
destruction of an enemy’s field army rather than out-
manoeuvring it; and the largely indecisive battles of the early
1700s were replaced with decisive, war-winning victories. In
1761, at the battle of Vellinghausen during the Seven Years
War, 65,000 British and Germans defeated 91,000 French;
casualties for both sides were just under 6,500 in total. At
FULLY SHOW HERE – AND THOSE FLAGS!
 LED BY THEIR LIGHT COMPANY, A FRENCH BATTALION BURSTS INTO A PORTUGESE TOWN SQUARE
Austerlitz in 1805 the Allies alone suffered 25,000 casualties
at the hands of the French. Although troops and equipment
remained largely the same as those fighting in the War of the
Spanish Succession and the Seven Years War, in order to
achieve decisive victory and deal with the massive increase in
manpower army command and control, organisation and
tactical deployment changed dramatically. Nowhere in Europe
were these changes driven forward more than in France.
General Berthier, Napoleon’s Chief of Staff, wrote the
definitive manual on staff procedures which was
disseminated throughout the French Army and resulted in
an officer corps and staff system that was second to none.
The officer corps itself grew, with men being chosen for
ideological strengths as well as their ability to command.
La gloire at any price propelled energetic commanders to
senior command positions. French field armies were to be
moulded into self-contained all-arms forces as the corps
system was born. A corps comprised of two or more
infantry divisions, with a division or brigade of light cavalry
and supporting artillery attached. The corps was assigned a
permanent command. Corps’ commanders worked
together regularly and grew to understand each other’s
capabilities.
The corps system enabled co-operation between all arms on
an unprecedented scale. Prior to the revolution any
formation above brigade level was temporary. Divisions
within the same corps trained together and practiced
manoeuvres with each other and their associated cavalry.
This co-operation improved manoeuvrability, which
increased further with French forces foraging from the land
for the best part of a march. The according reduction of
baggage gave them a significant advantage over their
opponents; although the cost of living off the land was
usually the enmity of the local populace.
5
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

The Structure of Armies

The armies of all nations were made from a series of building
blocks – divisions from two or more brigades, brigades from
regiments, and regiments from battalions or cavalry squadrons.

For example, the following French division formed part of

the VI Corps of the French Army of Portugal 1811.
1st Division
(General de Division Jean Gabriel Marchand)
1st Brigade ( General de Brigade Maucune)
• 6th Light Infantry Regiment (3 battalions)
• 69th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
2nd Brigade (General de Brigade Marcognet)
• 39th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
• 76th Line Infantry Regiment (4 battalions)
“The French, particularly,
have never been able to Infantry
Infantry battalions within a brigade or cavalry squadrons
march steadily in within a regiment fought in mutual support of each other.
The brigade or regiment was the main tactical element on
deployed line.” the battlefield.

French General Antoine-Henri Jomini Infantry in the main were designated Line or Light. A
significant tactical development of the Age of Napoleon

1st Brigade - 6th Light Infantry Regiment (Maucane)

1st Division, VI Corps

(General of Division
Jean Gabriel Marchand)

1st Brigade - 69th Line Infantry (Maucane)

6

was the extensive use of light infantry. Introduced into
European battle during the Seven Years War and deployed
as skirmishers, Austro-Hungarian light infantry stung the
steady ranks of Frederick the Great’s armies. Line infantry
dominated the field, manoeuvring in column for ease of
movement or to carry the attack into the enemy, only
deploying into line for fire effect. Light infantry deployed in
skirmish formation to screen columns prior to the attack.
Arms and equipment were to all intents and purposes the
same in the Napoleonic period as they were throughout the
previous hundred years. Yet the commanders who took the
field during the War of the Spanish Succession or the Seven
Years War didn’t rely on assault columns to launch attacks
or form square to repel cavalry, tactics which were used
extensively on the Napoleonic battlefield. This leads to one
conclusion: that if weapons were the same then the soldiers
that used them were not.
Most European armies of the Napoleonic period relied on
semi-trained conscripts, and these soldiers were not the
well-drilled veterans of previous wars. They were unable to
deliver effective musketry volleys that could make a fire fight
decisive, but still the stalemate had to be broken.
The Assault Column
Fighting in column allowed infantry to move around the
2nd Brigade - 39th Line Infantry (Marcognet)
2nd Brigade - 76th Line Infantry ( Marcognet)
AN OVERVIEW OF NAPOLEONIC WARFARE
What not to do...
The 33rd Regiment of foot saw service throughout
the 1794 to 1795 campaign and its 26-year-old
Lieutenant Colonel was to become a major figure in
the Napoleonic wars.
Arthur Wellesley learnt a great deal from the
debacle, stating “At least I learned what not to do, and
that is always a valuable lesson.”
battlefield rapidly and provided the main infantry shock
tactic. In the Revolutionary Wars and early years of the
Napoleonic Wars, French attack columns screened by
massed skirmishers would, at the pas de charge, make short
work of enemy infantry deployed in the old, slow, moving
linear formations. The enemy would first be demoralised by
skirmish fire and once sufficiently demoralised and
disordered the columns would advance to sweep the enemy
away. The column did have a down side though;
infantrymen packed close together several ranks deep
presented excellent artillery targets compared with troops
in linear formations.
7
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
The Line
Fighting in line brought a greater number of muskets to
bear, providing maximum firepower. A battalion formed
three deep was typical for most nations, but it did have
disadvantages. It was very hard to manoeuvre in line and
this could only be performed by troops with a high
standard of foot drill. Although a line could be solid to its
front it was vulnerable to flank and rear attacks and
cavalry that caught infantry in the rear in line would
usually destroy them.
The Square
If their flanks were secure and their nerve held, infantry
firepower could stop cavalry in its tracks. However, in
situations where these criteria weren’t present commanders
would rely upon the square formation to prevent infantry
from being overrun and destroyed within moments. On the
approach of horse the words of command “Form Square!”
would be given. This must have terrified the poor
infantrymen, but if they kept their composure, they would
form into a roughly square shape that presented a wall of
bayonets to ward off cavalry.
“I hope the people of England will be satisfied!
I hope my country will do me justice!”
8
Mixed Order
In France the mixed order formation was developed and
the years-old debate about the best tactical formation for
infantry was solved. Born out of both tactical and human
necessity battalions within a brigade formed with some
units in column and others in line. This allowed a
brigade to provide a blend of both shock and fire effect.
The Levèe en masse brought large numbers of citizen
soldiers to the battlefield, with these untrained masses
only capable of being herded around the battlefield in
rough columns. To provide stability they were
regimented with regular units who deployed in line to
provide fire support. These new formations were called
demi-brigades.
Cavalry
The Cavalry of the Napoleonic Wars could be grouped into
four main categories: heavy, medium (or line), light and lancers.
The heavy cavalry were the shock arm of the army and were
big men on big horses. Their main role was to clear the field
of enemy heavy cavalry and destroy infantry formations.
Sir John Moore’s last words

Heavy cavalry formations were some of the most valuable
assets in the army and were not used until absolutely
necessary. Cuirassiers and carabiniers were found in most
European armies, whilst the British had heavy dragoons.
Medium (sometimes known as line) cavalry had a similar
role to that of their heavier cousins. They also provided
tactical flexibility, being capable of the pursuit of a defeated
enemy or providing rearguard support during a retreat.
Dragoons, in the main, fitted this role and were more
numerous than the truly heavy cavalry.
The term light cavalry covers many different types of unit;
light dragoons, hussars and Chasseurs à cheval for example.
Light cavalry were used to protect the flanks of an army as
well as in reconnaissance and pursuit roles, but had little
shock effect on the battlefield.
Lancers provided the shock effect of heavy cavalry with the
manoeuvrability of true light cavalry. They were used to
provide heavy cavalry support as well as attacking infantry,
even when they were in square. The Hungarian and Polish
light cavalry were much admired, their hussar or lancer
styling being copied by many nations. Like the infantry,
cavalry could be deployed in line or column on the
battlefield and preferred to fight in line against mounted
opponents and in columns against infantry.
Artillery
Artillery was split into two categories, foot and horse, with
both seeing a great deal of improvement in the 18th Century
to make guns much more manoeuvrable. However, all artillery
was inaccurate and had to be re-laid after every shot. The
smallest guns put in the field were three and four pounders
and the heaviest were the twelve pounders; the guns graded by
the weight of their cannon balls. The three and four pounders
were usually used as regimental pieces, providing direct
support to the infantry and cavalry. The twelve pounders, on
BRITISH FOOT ARTILLERY DEPLOY TO GIVE A
WARM WELCOME TO JOHNNY FRENCHMAN
AN OVERVIEW OF NAPOLEONIC WARFARE
They don’t like it up ‘em!
“This murderous contest of musketry lasted long. We were the
whole time progressively advancing and shaking the enemy.
“At a distance of about twenty yards from
them we received orders to charge; we had
ceased firing, cheered, and had our bayonets
in the charging position… the French
infantry, alarmed by our preparatory cheers,
which always indicate the charge, broke
and fled.”
Captain Moyle
Sherer of the
34th Cumberland
Regiment at the
battle of Albuera
the other hand, were the queens of the battlefield. They were
normally grouped together, opposite the enemy line where the
main attack would be put in. Great concentrations of guns, to
provide a massed preliminary bombardment, were another
new battlefield feature of the Napoleonic period.
In between those two extremes there were numerous other
types, the six to nine pounders. In most armies, six
pounders were used as horse artillery to good effect.
Artillery, whatever the weight, delivered death on an
unprecedented scale during the Napoleonic wars.
9
The Grand Old Duke of York
We shall now take a look at the early campaigns of Prince
Frederick Augustus, Duke of York and Albany – ‘The
Grand Old Duke of York’.
The defeat suffered at the end of the American War of
Independence (1775-1783) damaged the prestige of both
the Georgian political elite and the British Army. England’s
pride had been injured, not to mention its overseas trade.
Across the Channel the meddling French had by 1789
overthrown their monarch as republican ideas spread from
the New World back to the Old. The forces of
Revolutionary France soon invaded the Austrian
Netherlands, a situation that threatened British commerce
as Flanders was England’s trade gateway to Europe. In
January 1793, Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger
gave a speech in the House of Commons where he
announced that England was at war with the French and
that it would be “a war of extermination.” Fighting talk indeed!
England joined Austria, Prussia, Spain, Holland and
Sardinia in the First Coalition against the new French
Republic. A British expeditionary force would be sent to
Flanders to eject the French and eventually strike at Paris.
The coalition was in broad agreement over war aims, but
Austria complained of being unable to finance its war
effort. Albion agreed to pay a subsidy of one million pounds
to put an Austrian army into the field, the first of many
such grants to continental allies. In February King George’s
second son, Prince Frederick Augustus, Duke of York, was
placed in command of the expedition.
When the English landed, it seemed that those stout fellows
from Austria under Prince Josias of Saxe Coburg were
winning the war: they had defeated the French at both the
battles of Aldenhoven (1 March 1793) and Neerwinden (18
March 1793). These Austrian successes pushed the focus of
the war from Flanders as the French were driven back to
10
the borders of the Republic. The conference of Antwerp in
early April 1793 further developed the Coalition’s strategy, a
decision was reached to besiege the main French border
fortifications, starting with Condé-sur-l’Escaut and
Valenciennes; before moving on to Dunkirk - the main aim
of the British government.
The brave British, Austrian and Hanoverian troops fighting
for the Duke of York had initial success at the battle of
Famars (23 May 1793) in Northern France, though
outnumbering the enemy almost two to one, the French
being driven from the field with 3,000 losses. This victory
sealed the fate of the fortress of Condé; that fell in July
1793, followed by the fortresses of Mainz and Valenciennes
in the same month.
The victorious allied army now split with Saxe-Coburg
taking an Austrian army to threaten Cambrai, while the
Duke of York took just over 35,000 Austrians, Hanoverians,
Hessians and British to Dunkirk. On 28 August 1793 the
siege began, the Duke covering his rear with 14,500 men
deployed around Hondschoote. Regrettably, the Duke had
Early Signs
The allied battle plan for the battle of Tourcoing was
designed by General Karl Freiherr Mack von
Leiberich (1752 - 1828), an Austrian soldier born at
Nenslingen in Bavaria. General Mack was infamous
for his actions at Ulm where he surrendered himself
and the best part of 72,000 Austrians.
 Tommy Atkins
completely failed to plan for the protracted siege that now
ensued, having no heavy guns. The promised Royal Navy
supporting bombardment never materialised, and guns only
became available when a frigate was stripped of its cannon
for land service.
Tommy Atkins - the British Tommy.
Unfortunately for the Duke, the French decided to swing
the weight of numbers of the Levèe en masse against him, as A common belief is that the name was chosen by
General Jean Nicolas Houchard’sv 40,000 men the Duke of Wellington, having been inspired by the
overwhelmed the Duke’s covering forces at the battle of bravery of a soldier at the Battle of Boxtel in 1794
Hondschoote (6-8 September 1793). The siege had to be during the Flanders Campaign. After a fierce
abandoned (together with the precious guns) and the Allies engagement the Duke, in command of the 33rd
had to retreat away from the massing French formations. Regiment of Foot, spotted that Private Thomas
Luckily for the Duke, Houchard did not pursue the Atkins - the best man-at-arms in the regiment - was
retreating coalition forces, and the situation was restored terribly wounded. The Private said “It’s all right, sir.
after an Austrian victory at the battle of Menin (15 It’s all in a day’s work!” and died shortly after.
September 1793). The unfortunate Houchard was relieved
of his command and cruelly guillotined; a reflection on the
callous nature of the Revolutionary Convention!

During the winter months reinforcements flooded in, and

for the campaign of 1794 the Coalition had 300,000 men,
including 40,000 British soldiers. Battle was soon joined in
April and May. While the Duke of York won encouraging
victories at Beaumont and Willems, the Coalition was
defeated at Coutrai and then suffered a disastrous defeat at
the battle of Tourcoing (17-18 May 1794).
Things went from bad to worse when the coalition was
decisively defeated at Fleurus (26 June 1794); this resulted
in the Austrians splitting from the Coalition and retreating
east towards the Rhineland, surrendering their control of
the Austrian Netherlands. The loss of the Austrians led to
the collapse of the campaign as none of the other
coalition forces was strong enough to check the French.
The coalition retreated northwards, continually harried by
French forces. The Dutch republic was lost and the

British Officer’s Tarleton 12th Light Dragoons

1790-1812 (Perry Collection)

Stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange fled into exile

A FRENCH BATTALION IN LINE MARCHES STEADILY FORWARD.
A REFRESHING CHANGE TO BLUE-CLAD COLUMNS!
in England.
The retreating British now looked like a rabble, badly
equipped and shabbily clothed.
By 1795, the British had sailed for home, leaving behind
20,000 casualties, and having to abandon their ally the
Dutch Republic. For the Duke of York the years ahead
brought a certain degree of shame and ridicule; but he
would show himself to be a skilled organiser of forces as
Commander-in-Chief, sitting in Horse Guards when Albion
took the field once more.

11
The Spanish Ulcer
War Renewed
In 1803 the troubled peace between France and England
collapsed. Napoleon became Emperor of the French in
December 1804 and made preparations to invade England.
On the continent, Napoleon had stabilised France and
stretched its influence; Hanover had been occupied and
several other German states had become clients of France.
French control in Italy had also been extended with the
creation of the Italian republic in 1802.
In Britain, Prime Minister Pitt galvanised the Army and the
Royal Navy, fearing a French invasion; volunteer units to
defend the coast were hastily formed, the Royal Navy
blockaded French ports and the Martello tower system was
built along the south coast. While England was awash with
rumour and fear, the government created another alliance to
challenge France. Through clever negotiation and the
promise of gold, Austria, Russia, Sweden and Naples joined
Britain in the Third Coalition against France in 1805.
England’s salvation came in the form of Britannia’s ‘God of
War’, Horatio Nelson, and the Royal Navy’s stunning victory
at Trafalgar which effectively ended any French naval threat.
While underlining Britain’s dominance at sea, it could do
little to stop Bonaparte on land. Napoleon’s military genius
rose to new meteoric heights with the combination of mass
and manoeuvre seen during the Ulm campaign and the
THESE SPANISH LADS ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE GROUND EASILY – EVEN IF THEIR GENERALS ARE HOPELESS!
12
crushing defeat of a combined Russian and Austrian army at
Austerlitz. That defeat brought about Austrian capitulation;
the treaty of Pressburg that followed resulting in the
redistribution of Austrian-held territory. A French-controlled
Kingdom of Italy was created, while the Confederation of
the Rhine planted a great buffer zone of client states in
Germany that shielded France. In 1806, fearing further
French expansion of the Confederation of the Rhine,
Prussia joined the Fourth Coalition of Russia, Prussia,
Sweden, Naples and Britain. This Coalition was defeated in
1807 following French victories at Jena, Eylau and Friedland.
The Spanish Ulcer
While Britannia could not stop Napoleon on land, he
was equally unable to reach across the waves and invade
her, but now he turned to attack Britain where ‘the
nation of shop keepers’ would feel it the most – trade.
He believed an invasion would be possible once
economic isolation had drained the blood from the
‘vampire of the north’ and caused economic collapse.
Napoleon issued the Berlin Decree forbidding
continental trade with Britain, but Portugal, Albion’s
oldest ally, openly refused to comply.
Sweetened by the promise of Portuguese territory, Spain
agreed to support a French invasion of Portugal. In
 “But it was easy to perceive how astonished they were (the Spaniards)
at the sight of our young infantry soldiers. The morale effect was
wholly to our disadvantage, and as I compared the broad chests and
powerful limbs of the Spaniards who surrounded us, with those of our
weak and weedy privates my national pride was humbled.”
Jean Baptiste Antoine Marcellin Marbot on the French entry into Spain in 1808
October 1807, General Junot – at the head of 25,000
men – moved through Spain and invaded Portugal,
capturing Lisbon with ease and sending the Portuguese
royal family into exile in Brazil. In early 1808, under the
cover of supporting Junot’s invasion, Napoleon
positioned over 80,000 men in Spain, commanded by
the most flamboyant character of the period, his
brother-in-law Joachim Murat. Murat’s forces quickly
occupied key strong points and took Madrid. Napoleon
then coerced the Spanish Royal family to abdicate,
replacing them with his brother Joseph. Initially, Spanish
resistance was limited, but French atrocities fanned the
flames of resistance, although a rebellion in Madrid was
brutally crushed by Murat.
Spanish forces marched out of Portugal and by the end of
July had met and held their own against the French on
several occasions. One victory was in southern Spain on
23rd July 1808, when General Castaños surrounded and
forced 18,000 Frenchmen under General Dupont to
surrender at Baylen. This victory sent tremors through
Europe, the French were not invincible on the battlefield and
it was the unlikely Spanish who had demonstrated it.
Appeals for British assistance were answered on 1st August
1808 when a force of 14,000 men under Lieutenant General
Sir Arthur Wellesley landed at Mondego Bay, just north of
the Portuguese capital. Striking out for Lisbon, Wellesley met
and defeated a small harassing French force under
Delaborde at Roliça on the 17th August. He then turned
towards the coast to protect the landing of further
reinforcements. On the 21st August, Junot attacked
Wellesley’s position, centred on Vimeiro Hill. The Battle of
Vimeiro saw the first clash of true French Napoleonic tactics
against the British defensive line. French columns were
thrown back by the devastating firepower and steadiness of
the British infantry. The battle also saw something that was
also to be a theme of the battles between the British and
French: in pursuit, the British cavalry went out of control,
and were thrown into confusion.
The tactical victory at Vimeiro was thrown away
strategically when Wellington was prevented from
following up the enemy by his superior officer, the sixty
year old Sir Hew Dalyrymple. To add insult to injury,
the shameful truce at the Convention of Cintra saw
Junot’s army, with all its weapons and loot, repatriated
to France in British ships. Dalrymple and astoundingly
Wellesley were recalled to Britain to answer a court of
inquiry about the conduct of the war, leaving Lieutenant
General Sir John Moore in command of British forces.
“The war can be finished in a single operation but it
must be properly coordinated and I must be there,”
Napoleon exclaimed at the events in Spain. But he did
not go to Spain alone, he took along the Imperial
Guard, three army corps, the cavalry reserve and one
Polish, one German and two Italian divisions. Napoleon
now hurled these 200,000 combatants against the
Spanish in the north, smashing their forces aside and
taking Madrid. Moore, manoeuvring to prevent the
French entering southern Spain, was forced to retreat
towards Corunna due to serious French pressure. The
retreat ended with the evacuation of the Army by the
Royal Navy during the 16th and 17th of January 1809,
and the fighting at Corunna before the evacuation sadly
cost Moore his life. With the British sent packing,
Napoleon, concerned by rumours of a conspiracy in
Paris and the threat of Austrian mobilisation, returned
to his capital.
Wellesley Exonerated
In April 1809, an exonerated Wellesley returned to Portugal
and resumed command of all British and Portuguese forces.
On the 12th of May, he defeated Marshal Soult at Oporto,
a victory that allowed Wellesley to enter Spain and combine
with the Spanish army under General Cuesta. The battle of
Talavera on the 27th and 28th of July saw Wellesley contain
a French army – under King Joseph Bonaparte and
Marshal Victor – then force it from the battlefield. Yet
Talavera was a costly victory, and with Soult threatening to
cut Wellesley off from Portugal, he was forced to retreat.
Wellesley, now Viscount Wellington of Talavera, was not
followed and in the winter of 1809/1810 he concentrated
on preparing a robust defensive network to protect Lisbon.
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard Fletcher, Royal Engineers
was the overseeing expert of the construction of what
became known as the Lines of Torres Vedras.
13
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Thin Blue Line

“At this moment were seen the heads of the several columns, three I think, in
number and deploying into line with the most beautiful precision, celerity and
gallantry. As they formed on the plateau, they were cannonaded from our
position and the regiment of Portuguese… threw in some volleys of musketry
into the enemy’s columns in a flank direction, but the (Portugese) regiment
was quickly driven into the position … the (French) columns advanced in
despite of a tremendous fire of grape and musketry from our troops in
position in the rocks, and overcoming all opposition although repeatedly
charged by Lightburne’s Brigade, or rather the whole of Picton’s Div., they
advanced and fairly drove the British right wing from the rocky part of this
position.”
Colonel Waller, of the British 2nd Division reporting on a
French attack against Picton’s Division at Bussaco.

1812: Advance into Spain

In January 1812, Wellington began his advance into Spain, and
the fortresses of Ciudad Rodrigo and Badajoz soon fell.
Although outnumbered by the French, Wellington enjoyed a
strategic and tactical advantage as Spanish forces pinned down
a large proportion of French formations within the theatre. On
the 22nd of July, Wellington inflicted a severe defeat upon
Marmont at the battle of Salamanca, but eventually had to
retreat to Ciudad Rodrigo when threatened by a combined
force under Joseph, Soult and Suchet.

In June, the French invasion of Russia ended in disaster for

Officers coatee. Huntingdonshire Militia,
Napoleonic Wars (Perry Collection)
1810: Massena
In July 1810, Marshal Massena invaded Portugal with
60,000 men, determined to smash the British once and
for all. The first action at the Coa in the same month
saw the British Light Division narrowly escape disaster
at the hands of 20,000 French under Marshall Ney. In
September, Massena was defeated after attacking
Wellington in a strong position at Bussaco, but he was
still able to force the British back behind the ‘Lines’.
Massena soon realised that he would not be capable of
penetrating Wellington’s defences; a stalemate only
ended when Massena’s army – suffering from disease
and a lack of supplies – was forced to retreat.
The first action of 1811 saw a French force beaten at
Barrosa in March, French ambition being thwarted
further by defeat at Fuentes de Oñoro and Albuera in
May. This precipitated a French withdrawal from
Portugal and the now-disgraced Massena’s replacement
by Marshal Marmont.
Napoleon, but for Wellington it was a different matter. The
French, under increased pressure by both regular and
guerrilla Allied forces, could not afford fresh troops for the
Peninsula, whilst Wellington was continually fed with
reinforcements. In the summer of 1813, Wellington went on
the offensive and on the 21st of June he routed a French army
commanded by Joseph at the Battle of Vitoria. Vitoria was a
tonic for Britain’s allies, recently defeated at Lützen,
galvanising them to renew their efforts.
1814: Napoleon Capitulates
Wellington reached the Pyrenées in July. The French counter-
attacked and had some success at the battle of Maya, but this
was reversed by a British victory on the 28th July at Sorauren.
In October, Wellington’s Peninsula veterans crossed into
France and in February 1814 the British defeated Soult at
Orthez. On 31st March 1814, the Allies triumphantly entered
Paris and six days later Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated as
Emperor of France.
Fighting continued until news of Napoleon’s abdication
reached Wellington, too late for the French army defeated
near Toulouse. On the 17th of April Soult signed an
armistice, bringing the long, bitter and hard fought Peninsular
War to an end. Huzzah for Albion!

14
 THE SPANISH ULCER

A SHARP ATTACK – THE 95TH RIFLES CLEAR THE WAY

THE SAILORS OF THE GUARD ON THE ROAD

15
The Battle of Vimeiro 1808
Background
The Spanish insurrection and guerrilla action had left
General Junot and his 25,000 men tactically isolated in
Portugal. Seizing their chance to strike a blow on land
against the French, Sir Arthur Wellesley at the head of
approximately 14,000 men landed at Mondego Bay, north
of Lisbon on the 1st of August. The Peninsular war for the
British had begun.
Wellesley’s strategic task dictated by the British government
was the defence of Portugal. After organising his forces,
Wellesley marched south nine days later on the 10th. He first
met the French on the 17th of August, at Roliça, where the
British forced a heavily outnumbered French army to wisely
abandon a strong defensive position. From Roliça, Wellesley
moved the army back to the coast to Porto Novo, where
further reinforcements were to land. Wellesley’s army took
up a position on the heights around the village of Vimeiro to
support and protect the landings. These fresh drafts included
several senior officers who officially outranked Wellesley in
the field. In overall command was Sir Hew Dalrymple, with
Sir Harry Burrard as second in command, followed by Sir
FRENCH HEAVY DRAGOONS – TOUGH FELLOWS TO MEET ON THE BATTLEFIELD
16
John Moore in the order of precedence. Burrard arrived in
theatre on the 20th of August; he remained offshore and was
joined by Wellesley aboard ship to discuss strategy. Wellesley
favoured a flanking manoeuvre against the French who were
assumed to be approaching, but Sir Harry was having none
of it and, ever cautious, ordered that Wellesley remain in
position until Moore arrived. Luckily for Wellesley and
Britain, Sir Harry remained aboard ship. Wellesley made for
shore and remained in command for an extra day. That
extra day could have been uneventful, but Wellesley’s luck
took a favourable turn as the French under Junot had left
Lisbon on the 15th of August, with the intent of bringing the
British to battle. By the 20th they had combined with the
remnants of the forces defeated at Roliça and troops under
General Loison. Junot was within ten miles of the British
position, and on the night of the 20th he marched to the
attack. He would drive the British into the sea.
Wellesley placed two brigades, Anstruther’s and Fane’s, in
front of the village of Vimeiro, with Acland’s brigade in
support. His five remaining brigades held a western ridge,
defending against a possible French approach from the South.
 Vimeiro
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2nd September 1808

Junot approached from the east, and planned to send three
infantry brigades to take Vimeiro; Thomieres, Solignac’s and
Charlot’s Brigades being assigned this duty. Meanwhile,
Brenier’s brigade, supported by dragoons, was detailed to
complete a flanking manoeuvre to seize an empty ridge to
the northeast of Vimeiro. When dust was seen from
Brenier’s approach from the east, Wellesley quickly
redeployed, leaving only Hill facing to the south. The
brigades of Fergusson, Nightingall and Bowes were now
placed on a ridge to the north east of Vimeiro stretching
through to a village by the name of Ventosa. Junot
countered by sending Solignac’s Brigade to support Brenier’s
attack. Junot had a very poor opinion of British forces and
decided not to wait for his flanking move to develop and
launched a frontal assault against Vimeiro, believing that the
British lines would not hold. How wrong he was.
The Battle
The initial moves and countermoves led to a series of
uncoordinated attacks by the French. Thomieres’ Brigade
was the first to approach the British positions in front of
Vimeiro directly threatening Fanes’ Brigade. This attack
was screened by skirmishers and supported by three
cannon. Thomieres’ infantry came on in columns.
To counter the French skirmisher screen, Fane sent forward
four companies of riflemen. The riflemen proved their
worth and outshot the French, who fell back to the sides of
the brigade columns, which were now vulnerable. This
exposure was horrifically highlighted when the French
columns that were now only a hundred yards from the
British, received a volley from the 50th (West Kent) formed
in a two-deep line. The flank companies of the 50th then
wheeled inward threatening both flanks of the shaken
French column. The French, having been denied the space
to deploy into line to return fire, were now blasted by deadly
enfilading volleys. They broke and ran, leaving their cannon
for the British. Charlot’s Brigade, moving against
Anstruthers’ Brigade and Vimeiro, suffered a similar fate;
being surprised by both flank and frontal volleys from the
British battalions hidden behind a crest.
In an attempt to bolster the attack on Vimeiro, an incredulous
Junot sent in the reserve, four battalions of combined
grenadiers, his crack troops. The first two battalions’ attacks
melted away in the same fashion as before, being thrown
back by the 43rd Monmouthshire. Searching for an answer,
Kellerman manoeuvred the remaining two grenadier
battalions to the right and was successful in storming
Vimeiro. Counter attacks launched by battalions from Acland
and Anstruther soon forced the grenadiers out of the village,
the luckless grenadiers being then annihilated by the
ferocious charge delivered by the 240 men of the 20th Light
Dragoons. Maddened by their initial success and bloodlust,
the British cavalry careered out of control. Margaron’s
French cavalry division caught them with their horses blown
and in disarray, and the 20th were soon scattered.

17
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

EN AVANT, MES AMIS! A FRENCH COMMANDER EXHORTS HIS TROOPS ON THE DUSTY SPANISH ROADS

The actions to the north followed the same pattern as those
in front of Vimeiro. Solignac’s attack comprised three
battalion columns abreast. The French marched forward
and were again smashed by the two-deep line volley fire.
Brenier’s Brigade, which had initially got lost in the hills,
finally marched to the ‘sound of the guns’ and came on in a
four battalion column frontage.
They enjoyed initial success, surprising and routing the 71st
Highland and 82nd Prince of Wales Volunteers. Brenier
urged his victorious columns on, but they were soon
checked by the fire of the 29th Worcestershire Regiment.
The 71st and 82nd soon rallied and rejoined the fray,
assisting the 29th in putting Brenier’s Brigade to flight. The
unfortunate Brenier was wounded and captured.
By midday the French were in full flight, the battle for
Vimeiro was at an end. Wellesley urged Burrard, who had
arrived late to the battle but outranked him, to pursue the
French. The ever cautious Burrard refused. The French
escaped without further molestation, leaving Wellesley
furious at Burrard’s incompetence.
known as the Convention of Cintra. The terms that the
French received were met with an outcry in Britain: the
French were to be transported back to France in Royal
Navy ships, along with their weapons, equipment and
spoils. French forces would not return to Portugal until
March of the following year when Marshal Soult invaded
northern Portugal.
Dalrymple, Burrard and Wellesley were recalled to Britain
to face a court of inquiry. The first two generals, being the
most senior, took the blame. Wellesley was exonerated.
Vimeiro was the first battle of the war that saw French
columns defeated by the British two-deep line and was also
the first time that reverse slopes were used by the British to
hide forces from an attacking French army. British cavalry
also revealed a trait that would trouble British commanders
for the rest of the Napoleonic Wars, their weakness in
charging out of control with little chance of being recalled.
The battle also saw the first extensive use of the shrapnel
shell named after its inventor, Henry Shrapnel.

Aftermath
From a total force of approximately 19,000 men, the British
and Portuguese casualties numbered around 720. It is
believed that the French lost in the region of 2,000 men out
of a force of over 13,000. The French also lost 13 of their
23 guns.
Junot, having been defeated in detail, sent Kellerman to
Cintra, the town where Dalrymple lodged, to negotiate
terms for an armistice. The resulting agreement became

18
 THE BATTLE OF VIMEIRO 1808

ORDER OF BATTLE. BATTLE OF VIMEIRO, 21ST AUGUST 1808

Anglo-Portuguese Army French Army of Portugal

Commander-in-Chief Commander-in-Chief
• Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley. • General of Division Jean-Andoche Junot, Duke of Abrantes

Division Delaborde
1st Brigade
• General of Division Henri Francois Delaborde
• Major General Rowland Hill
1st Brigade
2nd Brigade • General of Brigade Antoine Francois Brenier de Montmorand
• Major General Ronald Craufurd Fergusson
2nd Brigade
3rd Brigade • General of Brigade Jean Guillaume Thomieres
• Major General Miles Nightingall
Division Loison
4th Brigade • General of Division Louis Henri Loison
• Major General Barnard Foord Bowes
1st Brigade
5th Brigade • General of Brigade Jean Baptiste Solignac
• Brigadier General Catlin Craufurd
2nd Brigade
6th Brigade • General of Brigade Hugues Charlot
• Brigadier General Henry Fane
Cavalry Division
7th Brigade • General of Brigade Pierre Margaron
• Brigadier General Robert Anstruther
Reserve
8th Brigade • General of Division François Etienne de Kellerman
• Brigadier General Wroth Palmer Acland Total French 15,656

The Dowager
Cavalry
• Lieutenant Colonel C. D. Taylor

Royal Artillery
• Lieutenant Colonel William Robe

Portuguese Detachment Wellesley’s contempt of his Commander-in-Chief

• Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Trant and his second in command was highlighted when he
referred to Dalrymple as the ‘Dowager’ Dalrymple
Total British 16,778. and Burrard as ‘Betty’ Burrard.
Total Portuguese 2,585

A FEARSOME SIGHT FOR ANY ADVANCING FRENCH COLUMN – A CLASSIC

TWO-DEEP REDCOAT LINE PREPARES TO GIVE FIRE

19
The Battle of Talavera 1809
Background
In October 1808 Sir John Moore took command of the
Anglo-Portuguese Army. He boldly led his 23,000 men into
Spain, but a month later had to retreat rapidly, pursued by
the enemy. His strategic position was not good, his Spanish
allies had been defeated and had proved to be
untrustworthy, and he faced a French force of
approximately 200,000 men commanded by Napoleon
himself. An intelligence intercept allowed him to threaten
an isolated French force at Saldana; but learning that
Napoleon was aware of his intentions, he began the epic
retreat to the port of Corunna. In January 1809 Moore
turned and engaged the chasing French, extricating his
army, but at the cost of his own life. Sir John was a real
warrior of Albion, so this was a great loss to both the British
Army and the Allied cause.
With the British ejected, the French overwhelmed Portugal,
their grip on the country only hampered by logistical
difficulties. On the 22nd of April 1809, the British returned
with Wellesley landing in command of an Anglo-Portuguese
army. During May, the allies executed a brilliant campaign
forcing the French under Marshal Soult to abandon Oporto
with the loss of their artillery and baggage. By the start of
July, Wellesley had moved into Spain and made contact with
FRENCH TROOPS STORM A SPANISH TOWN HELD BY BRITISH REGULARS AND SPANISH GUERILLAS
20
the 33,000 strong Spanish army under Cuesta by the 20th;
both armies then manoeuvred to force Marshal Claude
Victor’s 1st Corps away from menacing the Portuguese
border. Victor duly fell back and retreated first to Almaraz
and then to Talavera. Wellington now believed that he had
a real chance of capturing the Spanish capital, Madrid,
before the French armies could converge on him.
The Allies made contact with Marshal Victor near the city
of Talavera on the 23rd of July, but missed a chance to
maul him when the Spanish refused to fight, as it was
Sunday, allowing Victor to withdraw. Cuesta chose to
pursue, whilst Wellesley remained at Talavera de la Reina,
approximately 75 miles south west of the Spanish capital.
Cuesta’s pursuit stumbled to a halt when he caught up with
Victor, who was now reinforced by General Sebastiani’s 4th
Corps and by King Joseph’s Royal reserve at Torrijos.
Outnumbered, the Spanish turned and rejoined the British,
now pursued in turn by the French. The allied chance to
capture Madrid had gone.
On arrival at Talavera, the Spanish were offered the right
wing position (around Talavera itself) by Wellesley, who was
dubious as to whether the Spanish would stand in the open.
Talavera was surrounded by olive groves and stone walls,

which made it into a formidable defensive position. The
Spanish that were not deployed in Talavera also took up
strong positions along a sunken road protected by more
stone walls. The British took the Allied left, and deployed
along a low ridge and a hill known as the Cerro de
Medellin. To reinforce the centre of the line they built a
redoubt at Pajar de Vergara.
Wellesley intended to do what he and is soldiers did best,
fight a defensive battle. He was satisfied with his own forces’
situation, defending high ground where he could protect
them from the worst of the French fire. He also hoped his
Spanish allies would stand in their shielded positions. On
the British front, the 1st Division held the Medellin, with
the 2nd Division to its left; the 4th Division supported the
redoubt. In the second line, Fane’s and Cotton’s cavalry
were in reserve whilst the Spanish crossing points at the
Alberche River were protected by the 3rd Division.
The French, recognising the strength of the Spanish
positions, deployed the majority of their 46,000 troops
against Wellesley, intending to defeat the British first and
then move against the Spanish. Victor’s I Corps deployed
on the French right facing the British and Portuguese, while
Sebastiani’s Corps held the centre. On the left, Milhaud’s
48th Northamptoneshire
Regiment of foot
“Now from the summit, at his call,
A gallant legion firm and slow
Advances on victorious Gaul;
Undaunted, tho’ their leader’s low!
Fixed, as the high and buttressed mound,
That guards some leaguered city round,
They stand unmoved–”
An ode written by J W Croker for the
48th after their heroism at Talavera
horsemen faced almost the entire Spanish army. Opposite
the Medellin, 30 French cannon were situated on the Cerro
de Cascajal, while Latour-Maubourg and the Madrid
garrison remained in reserve. Formidable!
The Battle
The battle of Talavera began on the afternoon of the 27th
July and started badly for the Allies with the initial action
taking place at the Casa de Salinas, a ruined house about a
mile west of the Alberche River. Prior to the arrival of the
Spanish, Sherbrooke’s and Mackenzie’s Divisions had been
posted on the east bank of the river to protect the river
crossing for the Spanish. Cuesta’s army arrived on the evening
of the 26th, but did not cross the river until the 27th. The
British then withdrew once the Spanish were safe across the
Alberche. Mackenzie was ordered to act as a rearguard during
these manoeuvres, whilst Wellesley used the Casa de Salinas to
keep an eye on proceedings. Despite pickets having been
posted, Lapisse’s division of Victor’s 1st Corps was able to
cross the Alberche undetected and surprise Mackenzie. Three
battalions were routed, 500 men lost and Wellesley nearly
captured. The situation was steadied by the actions of the 45th
Nottinghamshire and riflemen of the 60th Royal Americans,
allowing Wellesley to rally the fugitives. The British were able
to extricate themselves without further interference, despite
the harassing fire of French horse artillery.
On the night of July 27th, Victor sent Ruffin’s Division to
seize the Cerro de Medellin. Limited visibility saw two of
Ruffin’s three regiments getting lost in the dark, but the 9th
Leger still routed Sigismund Lowe’s exposed brigade and
stormed the Medellin. This came about as Hill’s Division,
which should have been on the crest of the Medellin, was
actually camped a half mile away. The British managed to
contain the situation and the French attack was eventually
countered by Stewart’s Brigade.
21
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

A proud and beautiful line

British ‘Stovepipe’ On 28th July 1809, the 48th (Northamptonshire) Regiment of Foot saved
Shako 1803-1812 the day. In scorching heat, Wellesley recognised the decisive moment in the
(Perry Collection) battle as a large gap opened up in the British line due to a rash charge by
the Guards Brigade. The 48th were ordered forward. An observer of the
battle, William Napier, wrote
“…at this moment the centre of the British line was absolutely broken, and the fortune of
the day seemed to incline in favour of the French when, suddenly, Colonel Donellan, with
the 48th Regiment, was seen advancing through the midst of the disordered masses. At first,
it seemed as if this Regiment must be carried away by the retiring crowds, but, wheeling
back by companies, it let them pass through the intervals, and then, resuming its proud and
beautiful line, marched against the right of the pursuing columns, and plied them with such
destructive musketry, and closed upon them with such a firm and regular pace, that the
forward movement of the French was checked. The French wavered, lost their advantage
and the Battle was restored.”
The 48th lost their senior officer Colonel Donellan in the combat who,
having been struck and wounded, did not allow his expression to betray his
pain but, seated erect in his saddle, took off his hat and bowed to the next
senior officer, saying “Major Middlemore, you will have the honour of leading the
48th to the charge.”

On the same evening, French dragoons were sent to probe
the Spanish lines. Well before the French were in range, the
entire Spanish line fired a volley at the horsemen. This
event precipitated four Spanish battalions to throw down
their arms and flee in panic, seemingly frightened by the
sound of their own weapons. Just less than 2,000 Spanish
fled the field, looting the British baggage train on the way.
The following morning saw no change in Victor’s plan.
He was convinced that he could capture the Cerro de
Medellin without support from the rest of the army. This
was the first time Victor had fought against the British
and he did not expect them to stand against his columns.
Once again, Ruffin’s 5,000 men were selected for the
Medellin assault following an artillery bombardment. The
French came on in attack columns covered by skirmishers,
each regiment’s’ three battalions advancing side-by-side.
When Ruffin’s Brigade got within effective musket range,
Tilson’s and Stewart’s Brigades, supported by
Sherbrooke’s Brigade, emerged from cover in the now
standard British two-deep line. Their volley fire halted the
rattled French columns, which attempted to form line and
return fire. To the cheers of the British, the French soon
broke and fled as Sherbrooke proceeded to enfilade them.
The fleeing French were pursued from the Cerro de
Medellin by Stewart’s Brigade, the British ending their
pursuit at the Portina and then retiring back to their lines.
This phase of the battle had cost the French nearly 1,500
casualties. Hill’s Brigade, the most heavily engaged British
formation, lost 750 men, with Hill himself receiving a
head wound.
The defeat of Ruffin’s Division heralded a meeting of the
French command: Victor, Sebastiani, Joseph and his chief
of staff, Jourdan. The latter two favoured a defensive
action; they knew that Marshal Soult was marching with
30,000 men to threaten the Allied rear which would force
their retreat. Meanwhile, Victor argued for an all out
attack on the Allied left and centre. The argument was
ended when news reached the French that a Spanish force
under General Venegas was moving to take Madrid; at
the same time the generals discovered that Soult was
delayed and would not now be able to threaten the Allied
rear. The French could not allow the politically symbolic
capital to fall to the Spanish, and would need to free
formations from this encounter to fend them off. A full-
scale assault was ordered against the British line.
The Divisions of Lapisse and Sebastiani and Leval’s
Germans were selected for the task of driving Cuesta’s and
Wellesley’s combined armies away. Lapisse’s Division was to
attack the Cerro de Meddelin, followed by Leval’s Division,
which was to attack the point in the line where the British
and Spanish forces met. Finally Sebastiani was to attack the
Guard’s Brigade and part of Cameron’s Brigade in the allied
centre. Leval was to send his troops forward after Lapisse’s
attack was delivered; but as Leval’s forces moved to their
starting positions through rough terrain, they soon lost
contact with the rest of the French Army. Leval, believing his
approach march had taken too long sent his forces forward
to the attack – but he was too early. The rough terrain,
mainly made up of olive groves, disordered his columns and
they emerged from the terrain facing the Spanish left, British
right and a gun battery on the Pajar de Vergara.

22
 THE BATTLE OF TALAVERA 1809

The deadly fire from the artillery redoubt smashed into stage of this clash now saw 3,000 British face 8,000
the French columns before it and quickly dispersed them. Frenchmen of the second wave. An intensive fire fight saw
Leval enjoyed some success, but was eventually driven off the French turned away in defeat, the two-deep line
by the brigades of Campbell and Kemmis, losing 700 men beating the column once again. The action cost the
and six guns. French over 2,000 casualties, including Lapisse who fell
mortally wounded. The British suffered just over 600
The Divisions of Lapisse and Sebastiani attacked next. The casualties, including Mackenzie who had been killed.
French battalion columns came on in two separate and Wellesley had defended the position brilliantly.
distinct attack waves made up of twenty four battalions,
pitched at the eight battalions of Sherbrooke’s 1st Division. With the defeat of the main French attacks, poor Ruffin’s
The French advance made good time until they moved into Brigade was again sent forward to attempt a flanking
effective musket range. The British regiments opened fire manoeuvre on the Medellin, supported by elements of
simultaneously, and once again the French were checked by Villatte’s Division. This effort was stalled by Wellesley’s
the effect of the British volleys. The front echelon soon deployment of Anson’s and Fane’s cavalry Brigades.
broke and fled, and with hearty cheers the British charged Wellesley also sought assistance from Cuesta, who
forward to complete their discomfort. Some British responded by sending Bassecourt’s Division and the Duke
battalions, including the Guards, got out of hand and of Albuquerque’s cavalry Division. The pressure applied
pursued too far and were in turn checked by artillery and by the British cavalry meant that the French attack
musketry from the second wave of French troops. This floundered as they were obliged to fall back in square
caused heavy casualties and the British retired in confusion. formation. Although the 1st KGL Light Dragoons
advanced in good order, the British 23rd Light Dragoons
This precipitate movement had made a hole in the British went out of control, charging past the squares formed by
line, which Lapisse now moved to exploit. In all his battles, Ruffin’s infantry into the supporting French cavalry. The
Wellesley showed an uncanny ability to be in the right 23rd were badly mauled, losing half their strength before
place at the right time when a crisis loomed. This situation they made their way to safety. This melee was the last
at Talavera was no exception and he personally ordered action of the battle, Joseph’s army leaving the field to
the 48th Northamptonshire Regiment to plug the gap, to defend Madrid against the Spanish threat.
be quickly reinforced with Mackenzie’s Brigade. The next

Talavera
One appalling postscript to the battle was the grass fires that
suddenly took hold on the tinder-dry fields, killing
numerous stranded wounded from both sides.
t
ur
co
se
Ba

Ru

Aftermath
ffin

French casualties at Talavera totalled 7,300. The Spaniards

lost about 1,200 men; Wellesley’s losses of 5,500 amounted
Mer
cin
An

to more than 25% of his entire force.

Al
be

so
ar

Stewart Tilson Donkin

qu

Cerro de
er

Cascajal
Although an allied tactical victory, Talavera could be seen
qu

Vilatte
e

Cerro de as a strategic victory for the French. Wellesley’s army had

Medellin ont
Beaum been bled white and Marshal Soult’s fresh army had
Lowe

swung south, threatening to cut off Wellesley from

Langworth

Lapisse

Portugal. Thinking that the French were weaker than they

Fane

actually were, Wellesley moved east on August 3rd to

Cotton

Cameron

Sebastiani

block them, having left 1,500 wounded in Spanish care.

MacKenzie

Surprised by Soult’s numbers, the British commander

Guard

sent the recently arrived Light Brigade to secure a route

Campbell
Kemmis

out of Spain. With a safe line of retreat, Wellesley

Leval
Redoubt

considered joining with Cuesta again, when he found out

Reserve that his Spanish ally had abandoned the British wounded
Forc ish

to the French and was proving to be generally

es
n
Spa

Casa de uncooperative. Wellesley was further compromised by

Salinas
poorly coordinated Spanish troop movements and broken
Michaud promises over the supply of equipment and rations. In the
Talavera spring, the threat of French reinforcement led to
Wellesley retiring into Portugal.

For his efforts, after this battle Wellesley was created

River Tagus Viscount Wellington of Talavera.

23
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
ORDER OF BATTLE – BATTLE OF TALAVERA, 27th-28th JULY 1809
The French Army
Commander-in-Chief
• Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain
Chief-of-Staff:
• Marshal Jean-Baptiste Jourdan,
I Corps
1st Infantry Division
Commander
• Marshal Claude Victor
1st Infantry Division
• General de Division Francois-Amable Ruffin
Brigade, General de Brigade Baron de La Bruyere
• 9th Light Regiment: 3 battalions
• 24th Line Regiment: three battalions
Brigade, General de Brigade Baron Barrois
• 96th Line Regiment: three battalions
2nd Infantry Division
• General de Division Pierre-Bellon Lapisse
Brigade, General de Brigade Solignac
• 8th Line Regiment: three battalions
• 54th Line Regiment: three battalions
Brigade, General de Brigade Laplanne
• 16th Light Regiment: three battalions
• 45th Line Regiment: three battalions
3rd Infantry Division
• General de Division Eugene Vilatte
Brigade, General de Brigade Cassagne,
• 27th Light Regiment: three battalions
• 63rd Line Regiment: three battalions
Brigade, General de Brigade Puthod
• 94th Line Regiment: three battalions
• 95th Line Regiment: three battalions
Cavalry Brigade
• General de Brigade Carriere,
• 2nd Hussar Regiment: four squadrons
• 3rd Hussar Regiment (Dutch): four squadrons
I Corps Artillery
• 36 guns
IV Corps
Commander
• General de Division Comte Sebastiani
1st Infantry Division
• General de Brigade Liger-Belair
Brigade, General de Brigade Baron Rey
• 28th Line Regiment: three battalions
• 32nd Line Regiment: three battalions
24
Brigade, General de Brigade Liger-Belair
(acting Divisional Commander)
• 58th Line Regiment: three battalions
• 75th Line Regiment: three battalions
• Artillery: two foot batteries
2nd [German] Infantry Division
• General de Division Leval
Brigade, Porbeck
• Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4: two battalions
• Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2: two battalions
• Baden Foot Battery: two 7pdr howitzers
• Steinmetz, Major Franz-Friedrich-Christian von
Brigade, Chasse
• Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment: two battalions
• Dutch Horse Artillery Battery Nr. 3: six guns
Brigade Grandjean
• Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz
Nr. 4: two battalions
• Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr. 3 (Frankfurt)
• Two Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batteries: four 6pdrs
Cavalry Division
• General de Brigade Merlin
Brigade, General de Brigade Strolz
• 10th Chasseur Regiment: four squadrons
• 26th Chasseur Regiment: four squadrons
Brigade Andrzej
• 1st Vistula [Polish] Lancer Regiment: four squadrons
• Westphalian Cheveauxleger Regiment: four squadrons
Cavalry Division
• General de Division Latour-Maubourg
Brigade, General de Brigade Perreymond,
• 1st Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
• 2nd Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
Brigade, General de Brigade baron Oullemberg
• 4th Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
• 9th Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
Brigade, General de Brigade Baron Digeon
• 14th Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
• 26th Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
Cavalry Division
• General de Division Comte Milhaud
Brigade, General de Brigade Boye
• 5th Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
• 12th Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
Brigade, General de Brigade Baron Maupetit
• 16th Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
• 20th Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
• 21st Dragoon Regiment: four squadrons
Artillery
• One Horse Battery
 THE BATTLE OF TALAVERA 1809

Other troops not part of I Corps or IV Corps British Army

Infantry Division
• General de Division Desolles, Commander-in-Chief
• Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley
Brigade, General de Brigade baron Godinot
• 12th Light Regiment: three battalions
Cavalry
• 51st Line Regiment: three battalions • Lieutenant General William Payne
• 103rd Line Regiment: one battalion 1st Brigade
• Brigadier General Henry Fane
Spanish Royal Guard 2nd Brigade
• Three battalions, two squadrons and two batteries • Brigadier General Sir Stapleton Cotton
• Guard Foot Grenadiers 3rd Brigade
• Guard Cavalry • Brigadier General George Anson
• One Foot Battery
• One Horse Battery
Infantry
1st Infantry Division
• Lieutenant General John Sherbrooke
French Army Total 46,100 1st Brigade
• Brigadier General Henry Campbell
2nd Brigade
Spanish Army of Estremadura • Brigadier General Alan Cameron
3rd Brigade
Commander-in-Chief • Brigadier General Ernst Baron Langwerth
• Lieutenant General Gregorio de la Cuesta

Vanguard 2nd Infantry Division :

• Brigadier General Jose Zaya • Major General Rowland Hill
1st Brigade
1st Division • Brigadier General Christopher Tilson
• Major General Marques de Zayas 2nd Brigade
• Brigadier General Richard Stewart
2nd Division
• Major General Vicente Iglesias
3rd Infantry Division
3rd Division • Major General Randoll Mackenzie
• Major General Marques de Portago 1st Brigade
• Major General Randoll Mackenzie
4th Division 2nd Brigade
• Major General Manglano • Colonel Donkin

5th Division 4th Infantry Division

• Major General Bassecourt • Brigadier General Alaxander Campbell
1st Cavalry Division 1st Brigade
• Lieutenant General de Henestrosa • Brigadier General Alexander Campbell
2nd Brigade
2nd Division • Colonel James Kemmis
• Lieutenant General Duque de Albuquerque
British Total 20,556
Spanish Total 34,800

“The battle was certainly saved

by the advance, position and
steady conduct of the 48th.”
Duke of Wellington after the Battle of Talavera

25
The Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro 1811
BRITISH HUSSARS AWAIT ORDERS. ARE THEY TO CHARGE?
Background
After Talavera the war had rumbled on. Wellington had
built the defensive Lines of Torres Vedras as a fallback
position to protect Lisbon if the French invaded Portugal;
which Marshal Masséna duly did with 60,000 men in 1810.
The Lines were made up of strong defensive positions
bristling with guns manned by both British and Portuguese
gunners, while the cavalry and infantry of the Allies stood
ready behind the earthworks to march quickly and
confront any French breakthrough. Despite being defeated
by Wellington at the bloody battle of Bussaco in September
1810, Masséna still managed to push the British back
behind the Lines. He was unable to force the issue as the
British would not be drawn out, and his forces spent the
winter of 1810/1811 in miserable conditions. He
eventually retreated with his half-starved and diseased
army back into Spain while leaving a garrison in the
Portuguese fortress of Almeida.
Wellington emerged from the Lines and followed the
retreating French, although he was forced to despatch the
2nd and 4th Divisions from his main force to counter
Soult’s Army of the South. On the 7th of April, Wellington
laid siege to Almeida, knowing that the border fortress had
to be taken before he could continue his march into Spain.
Masséna could not allow Almeida to fall and, with his army
reinforced, rested and in battle ready condition, he
advanced from Ciudad Rodrigo at the head of 48,000 all
arms to relieve the siege and save his reputation. Wellington
commanded approximately 25,000 British and 11,000
Portuguese. Despite being outnumbered by the French, he
was confident in his own competence, the ability of his
army and the fact that – for once – he had more cannon
than the enemy. He based his army in a strong ridge
26
position above the border town of Fuentes de Oñoro, intent
on fighting a defensive action in the manner that had served
him so well in the past.
The road from Ciudad Rodrigo to Almeida dissected a
ridge near to Fort Conception, a Spanish ‘star fort’
destroyed by Captain John Burgoyne and his Royal
Engineers in the previous year.
Wellington took a position along that ridge parallel to the Dos
Casas stream, a tributary of the Rio Águeda that ran at the
foot of the ridge in front of the British positions. Although
the Dos Casas itself would not pose a tactical problem for an
attacking army, the stream to Wellington’s left ran through a
ravine that made any French attack in this area impossible.
Wellington expected the French to attack where the ridge was
not as steep as elsewhere; most likely at the small village of
Fuentes de Oñoro, whose drab grey houses – on the west
bank of the Dos Casas – wound their way up the ridge in a
maze of streets. The village was an ideal defensive position,
with low stone walls to fire from in addition to its narrow
alleyways and strongly-built cottages. Wellington understood
the importance of this position and garrisoned the hamlet
with the crack light companies of the 1st and 3rd Divisions,
who were all stalwart sharpshooters. To the right of the
village the Dos Casas valley was less pronounced and a prime
area for French flanking manoeuvres; so this area was
covered by the Spanish guerrilla chief, Julian Sanchez,
deployed at Nave de Haver on the far right where the small
village of Poáo Velha was situated.
On the 2nd of May the French left Ciudad Rodrigo.
Wellington sent the Light Division and supporting cavalry to
observe the French and delay their advance, the day seeing
several small skirmishes. By nightfall the French had forced
their way to the villages of Gallagos and Espeja, in striking
distance of the main British lines, although the British
scouting force still stationed itself between the French and
the Fuentes ridge. The morning of the 3rd of May saw the
Light Division retire onto the main British position at
Fuentes de Oñoro. Wellington’s left was held by Erskine’s 5th
Division, with Campbell’s 6th Division to their right. The
British Divisions of Nightingall, Picton, Houstan and the
Portuguese brigade of Ashworth were above Fuentes de
Oñoro on the Allied right, with Craufurd’s Light Division in
reserve. Fuentes de Oñoro remained garrisoned by the light
companies, nearly 1,800 strong, under the talented
Lieutenant Colonel Williams and supported by the 83rd
(County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot.
On the 3rd of May Masséna arrived on the battlefield and
reviewed Wellington’s position. He immediately recognised
the strength of the allied left and therefore concentrated his
“There was not during the whole war a more perilous hour.”
CONFIDENT FRENCH COLUMNS IGNORE CASUALTIES AND KEEP THE MOMENTUM OF THE ATTACK GOING
forces opposite Fuentes de Oñoro. Reynier’s II Corps
formed Masséna’s right wing with one brigade of the VIII
Corps in the centre and Loison’s VI Corps and Drouet’s IX
Corps on the French left. The stage was set for a closely
contested encounter.
The Battle
In the early afternoon of the 3rd of May Masséna sent ten
battalions of Ferey’s Division of VI Corps to attack the
barricaded Fuentes de Oñoro in a frontal assault, with II Corps
detailed to make a diversionary attack on the allied left. It was
clear that the Marshal intended to smash the allied line with a
crude frontal assault. Coming under heavy fire, Ferey’s
advancing battalions crossed the Dos Casas and bludgeoned
their way into the village. The maze of alleyways was the scene
of savage hand-to-hand fighting throughout the day with the
British steadily pushed back to the village’s highest points.
Major William Napier
27
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
Wellington, always aware of the point of danger, sent in
three fresh battalions of the 1st Division – the 71st, 79th and
24th. Lieutenant Colonel Cadogan’s 71st charged the enemy
and drove them from Fuentes de Oñoro, which tipped the
balance in favour of the British, so by nightfall the village
remained in their hands. The British had been hard pressed
and lost 259 men, while the French had suffered over 650
casualties with nearly 200 men taken prisoner.
The 4th of May saw little fighting, as British and French
infantry exchanged musket fire across the Dos Casas stream
near Fuentes de Oñoro. Masséna used the day to
reconnoitre the allied position, and discovered the limited
strength of Wellington’s right flank. Masséna decided to
attack the Allied right the following day, an assault that
would be combined with another push on Fuentes de Oñoro
itself. Wellington saw the French preparations and countered
by moving the 7th Division – just over 4,500 British,
Brunswick and Portuguese infantry – to high ground at the
rear of Poáo Velho. The infantry were here supported by a
cavalry screen, the Poáo Velho plain being suitable for
cavalrymen. In Fuentes de Oñoro the light companies
moved into a reserve position whilst the 74th Highlanders
and 79th Cameron Highlanders made preparations to
defend the village. Their fierce reputation went before them.
They would be closely supported by the 24th Foot.
At daybreak on the 5th, the French outflanking move began.
The Divisions of Marchand and Mermet from VI Corps
and Solignac’s Division from VIII Corps were selected for
the assault on Wellington’s right, supported by most of
Massena’s cavalry. Fuentes de Oñoro, still his main goal, was
to be stormed by three divisions from the formations of
The Devil’s Own
“The town presented a shocking sight: our Highlanders lay
dead in heaps, while the other regiments, though less
remarkable in dress, were scarcely so in the number of their
slain. The French grenadiers, with their immense caps and
gaudy plumes, lay in piles of ten and twenty together – some
dead, others wounded, with barely strength sufficient to move,
their exhausted state and the weight of their cumbrous
accoutrements making it impossible for them to crawl out of
the dreadful fire of grape and round shot which the enemy
poured into the town. The Highlanders had been driven to the
churchyard at the very top of the village, and were fighting
with the French grenadiers across the graves and tombstones.”
Major William Grattan
88th Connaught Rangers
’The Devil’s Own’
28
Drouet and Ferey, whilst II Corps was to demonstrate
against Wellington’s left. Dragoons of Montbrun’s reserve
cavalry moved forward and made contact with the 14th
Light Dragoons around Nave de Haver. The two squadrons
of the 14th were outnumbered, and during a fierce
engagement were forced back to Poáo Velho; the same fate
befalling the 16th Light Dragoons and the 1st Hussars of the
King’s German Legion, who clashed with a larger force of
cavalry to the north of that village.
Marchand’s and Mermet’s Divisions then moved into
position in front of Poáo Velho. Marchand attacked the
village and drove the 7th Division’s advance guard holding
the village – the 85th Buckinghamshire Volunteers and 2nd
Portuguese Caçadores – back towards the rest of the 7th
Division, both having been mauled further by dragoons. The
Spanish guerrillas were also driven from Nave de Haver. With
Poáo Velho lost, Fuentes de Oñoro under extreme pressure
and the 7th Division in severe risk of being isolated, the
Allied right could easily be destroyed. Wellington however,
recognised the threat immediately and showing more of his
battlefield flair, sent the Light Division to the rescue and
redeployed Spencer’s 1st and Picton’s 3rd Divisions to form a
new defensive line facing the threatened right, with their left
anchored by Fuentes de Oñoro. As the 7th Division pulled
back to the right of the 1st, the remaining British cavalry
engaged in a ferocious running battle against twice their
number from Montbrun’s and later Bessières’s Guard cavalry
brigades. The Guard had entered the fray late, as they could
only move off on Bessières’s personal orders, and at the
critical moment he could not be found! The British cavalry
were roughly handled and took refuge behind the 7th
Division. Over-excited by their success, the French cavalry
made an attempt to break the 7th, but were driven back.
As both sides paused to draw breath, Craufurd manoeuvred
the Light Division to relieve the 7th, which sparked fresh
French cavalry attacks. The Light Division and the British
cavalry then carried out a textbook fighting withdrawal. The
extraction saw the British cavalry maintain their cool
manoeuvring to relieve French pressure, thereby allowing the
infantry time to escape the worst of the French horse artillery
fire. If Montbrun’s Dragoons forced the beleaguered British
cavalry away, leaving them free to pressure the infantry, then
the light infantry and rifle battalions would form square and
drive off the French horse with efficient volley fire. During this
retreat Captain Norman Ramsey’s troop of the Royal Horse
Artillery had two guns overrun by Guard Chasseurs. Ramsey
and his men managed to cut their way through after making a
headlong gallop to safety with the help of the 14th Light
Dragoons. The remarkable efforts of the British forces in this
phase of the battle saw the Light Division lose only forty-three
men. It eventually managed to extricate itself to safety and
then took its place to the left of the 1st Division.
Although Wellington had managed to rescue the situation
and re-establish his right, creating a new line, he was still
threatened in this area by the Divisions of Mermet,
Marchand and Solignac. Crucially, Masséna had detailed
 THE BATTLE OF FUENTES DE OÑORO

Fuentes do Oñoro
May 5th 1811
Villa
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53rd

Power Mackinnon y
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Howar Ashwo
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III 71st

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I
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Nightin
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Fuentes
Slade do Onoro
Houston Cl
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Craufurd
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that their attacks would not take place until Fuentes de
Oñoro had been taken.
Buoyed by the sight of what he believed was Montbrun’s
cavalry annihilating the British flank, Masséna launched the
delayed attack on Fuentes de Oñoro. Ferey’s Division was the
first forward and stormed into the village two hours after
dawn. Ferey’s attacks had initial stunning success, wreaking
havoc amongst the defending Highlanders and wiping out
two companies of the Camerons, killing their commander.
The Highlanders were pushed back through the village, but
catastrophe was prevented when the 24th Regiment of Foot
supported by the light companies and the 6th Caçadores,
drove the French out and over the Dos Casas. Drouet
responded to the expulsion of Ferey’s men by committing his
reserve, three battalions of ‘Converged Grenadiers’ from his
IX Corps, into the battle. The sight of the grenadiers’
advance in their unmistakable bearskins had some British
observers believing that the village was about to be stormed
by the Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, even though none
were present in Masséna’s army. The elite grenadiers went
about their task with their usual skill and again the British
were forced to yield all but the very top of the village.
Anxious to capitalise on this success, Drouet committed
battalions from the Divisions of Conroux and Claparède,
hoping that they would finally break Wellington’s line. The
battered defenders of the village could not withstand a
further eight battalions of Frenchmen, and it appeared that
they were finally going to be forced from Fuentes de Oñoro.
Masséna’s decision not to launch a synchronised attack and
throw the Divisions of Mermet, Marchand and Solignac at
the Allied right at the same time as the Fuentes assault,
would now cost him the battle.
Again, Wellington recognised the critical moment and
countered with Mackinnon’s Brigade, which was fed in to
attack the French in the village. What followed was a charge
of British columns that lead to bayonet crossing bayonet.
Mackinnon ordered forward both the 74th and the 88th
Regiments in attack columns. The 88th (Connaught
Rangers) collided with the 4th battalion of the 9eme Leger
in the streets of the village and vicious hand-to-hand
fighting broke out, with the 88th soon victorious. The 74th
Highlanders, reinforced by the remnants of the village’s
defenders, managed to drive the French down to its lower
levels. With ammunition running low the French attacks à la
bayonette proved futile. In one incident, a wrong turn took a
party of a hundred French grenadiers into a dead end and
to their deaths. After bitter fighting most French units were
reduced to below fifty percent of their original strength and
the resulting loss of morale saw them turn and flee back
over the Dos Casas stream. By 2pm, the fighting for Fuentes
de Oñoro was over, its aftermath leaving the village a scene
of carnage. The French suffered approximately 1,300
casualties in the fight for the village whilst the British lost
upwards of 800 men, over half coming from the
beleaguered Highland regiments of the 71st and 79th.

29
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
Allied casualties for the 5th May totalled 1,786, the French
losses were 2,192.
During the night of the 5th of May the Allied army dug in.
Masséna demonstrated with his army for the next two days
but, believing Wellington’s position impossible to assail, and
short on ammunition, he withdrew during the nights of the
7th and 8th of May to lick his wounds at Ciudad Rodrigo.
Aftermath
On the night of the 10th May the Almeida garrison, to the
consternation of Wellington, broke through the Allied
blockade to escape safely to the French lines. Masséna’s
attempt to maintain a French presence in Portugal had failed.
Napoleon had already decided to replace him with Marshal
“I have never been so much distressed by any military
event as by the escape of even a man of them.”
30
Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont, and on the 12th
of May Marmont took command of the army. Masséna’s
military career had ended in failure. Wellington believed that
he had put an end to the French Army of Portugal for some
time and decided to take the Allied Army into the south to
besiege the fortress of Badajoz. However, he underestimated
the talent of Marmont, who quickly arrived in southern
Spain and forced Wellington to withdraw.
Wellington was tough in his self-analysis when he reflected
on the battle. He later did not count the battle as a victory;
believing that if he had faced a better general (perhaps
Napoleon himself) then the Allies would have been beaten.
He also believed that he had extended the allied line too far
and had put the 7th Division and the Light Division at
unnecessary risk.
Duke of Wellington
 THE BATTLE OF FUENTES DE OÑORO

ORDER OF BATTLE – FUENTES DE OÑORO MAY 3rd-5th, 1811

Anglo-Portuguese Army French Army of Portugal

Commander-in-Chief Commander-in-Chief
• Lieutenant-General Arthur, Viscount Wellington • Marshal André Massena, Prince of Essling, Duke of Rivoli

Cavalry Division: Lieutenant-General Sir Stapleton Cotton II Corps: General Reynier

• 1st Brigade: Major General Slade • 1st Division: Merle
• 2nd Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel von Arentschildt • 2nd Division: Heudelet
• Portuguese Brigade: Brigadier General de Barbacena • Cavalry Brigade: Soult

Infantry VI Corps: General Loison

• 1st Division: Marchand
1st Division: Lieutenant-General Sir Brent Spencer • 2nd Division: Mermet
• 1st Brigade: Colonel Stopford • 3rd Division: Ferey
• 2nd Brigade: Major General Miles Nightingall • Cavalry Brigade: Lamotte
• 3rd Brigade: Major General Howard
• 4th Brigade: Major General Sigismund, Baron von Löw VIII Corps: Junot
• 2nd Division: Solignac
3rd Division: Major-General Thomas Picton
• 1st Brigade: Colonel Mackinnon IX Corps: Count d’Erlon
• 2nd Brigade: Major General Colville • 1st Division: Claparède
• 3rd Brigade: Colonel Manley Power • 2nd Division: Conroux
• Cavalry Brigade: Fournier
5th Division: Major-General Sir William Erskine
• 1st Brigade: Brigadier General Hay Reserve of Cavalry: Montbrun
• 2nd Brigade: Major General Dunlop
• 3rd Brigade: Brigadier General Spry Artillery: Eblé

6th Division: Major-General Alexander Campbell Army of the North

• 1st Brigade: Colonel Hulse
• 2nd Brigade: Colonel Robert Burne: Officer Commanding: Marshal Bessières, Duke of Istria
• 3rd Brigade: Colonel Madden
Light Cavalry of the Imperial Guard: Lepic
7th Division: Major-General William Houston
• 1st Brigade: Major General John Sontag Light Cavalry Brigade: Wathier
• 2nd Brigade: Brigadier General John Doyle

Light Division: Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd

• 1st Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Sydney Beckwith
• 2nd Brigade: Colonel George Drummond
BRITISH ROCKET
Independent Portuguese Brigade: Colonel Ashworth BOMBARDING FRAME

Artillery: Brigadier-General Howorth

“If Boney had been there,

we should have been beat.”
Duke of Wellington

31
The Battle of Salamanca 1812
Background
Following on from Wellington’s victory at Fuentes de
Oñoro, the British were again successful at Albuera on the
16th of May 1811. Here a British, Spanish and Portuguese
army under William Carr Beresford defeated Marshal
Soult; Albuera was a bloody battle that saw the largest
column attack of the whole war made by the French.
Wellington meanwhile managed to avoid being pinned by
larger French forces throughout the last months of 1811.
At the beginning of 1812 Wellington made some decisive
moves. Ciudad Rodrigo was captured on the 19th of
January and Badajoz on the 6th of April following a bloody
assault that led to the town being ransacked by British
troops. Wellington’s cause was aided greatly during this
period as numerically superior French forces were harassed
and tied down in other regions of Spain. Wellington moved
east and entered the province of Salamanca, Marmont’s
Army of Portugal being the only French force capable of
“England has never seen a victory on shore like this since
the day of Blenheim; and we have here one more proof to
ourselves that our ancient fame will not perish.”
A ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY BATTERY SERVES THEIR GUNS
32
intercepting him. Reinforced, and so outnumbering
Wellington, Marmont halted his advance and made him
turn back. Marmont followed and the two armies marched
close together for some time, with both commanders
scrutinising the other’s order of march for an error that
could be pounced upon. Marmont then made a mistake.
Both armies crossed the river Tormes on the 21st of July.
Marmont did not want a full scale engagement, but felt
compelled by pressure from King Joseph to fight.
Wellington, on the other hand, was not going to commit his
army to the risk of battle unless the odds were stacked in his
favour. By the morning of the following day, Marmont had
discovered a small British force on a ridge to the west of his
position and sighted a large dust cloud in the distance.
Mistaking it for the rest of Wellington’s army and the small
force in front of him as the British rearguard, Marmont
believing he had an opportunity to attack. He moved his
force south and then west to turn the British right flank.
The Times, August 15th 1812
 Aldeatejada
Salamanca
July 22nd 1812

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Marmont made the situation as he saw it fit in with his
plans. He could outflank and engage the British to his
advantage and appease Joseph Bonaparte, but his
assumption led to him making a disastrous error.
Wellington had deployed most of his divisions hidden behind
the ridge and the dust cloud was caused only by Wellington’s
baggage train withdrawing towards Ciudad Rodrigo.
Marmont deployed his army along an L-shaped ridge that
had at its summit a hill known as the Greater Arapile.
Wellington’s army lay hidden behind a similarly shaped
plateau that was inside and parallel to the one held by the
French, both ridges being separated by a valley.
The Divisions of Foy and Ferey were on the short arm of
the French ridge, opposite the only known British position;
while the Divisions of Sarrut, Bonnet and Boyer were near
the Greater Arapile. The Divisions of Thomieres, Clausel,
Maucune and Brenier were selected to move along the long
side of the ‘L’, thus completing the flanking manoeuvre.
Jean-Baptiste Thomieres moved off first, supported by the
light cavalry of Jean Curto’s Brigade. As the flanking
manoeuvre got underway, Marmont struck at the 7th
Division near the Chapel of Nostra Senora de la Pena.
The French divisions, who believed they were moving to
outflank what they thought was Wellington’s rearguard,
were now moving parallel to his hidden force.
At around 2pm, as the flanking French formations
marched further along their ridge they became strung out
and over-extended. Wellington was eating a leg of chicken
on a ridge above Los Arapiles, and paying keen attention
to the French manoeuvres. He immediately recognised
Marmont’s carelessness, and slamming his telescope shut,
exclaimed “By God, that will do!” He galloped two miles
to meet Pakenham’s 3rd Division on the far right of his
position and ordered it to attack the head of the French
flanking force, with D’Urban’s Portuguese cavalry in
support. Wellington then quickly rode to his centre and
ordered Cole’s 4th and Leith’s 5th Divisions to surprise the
French and attack over the ridge. This attack would be
supported by the 6th and 7th Divisions, plus the
Portuguese Brigades of Pack and Bradford.

33
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
The Praise of an Enemy
General de Division Maximilien Foy wrote in his diary
shortly after the battle:
“This battle is the most cleverly fought, the largest in scale, the
most important in results, of any that the English have won in
recent times.
It brings up Lord Wellington’s reputation almost
to the level of that of Marlborough. Up to this
day we knew his prudence, his eye for choosing
good positions, and the skill with which he used
them. But at Salamanca he has shown himself
a great and able master of manoeuvring. He
kept his dispositions hidden nearly the whole
day: he allowed us to develop our movement
before he pronounced his own: he played a close
game; he utilised the oblique order in the style of
Frederick the Great.”
The Battle
As the British 3rd Division moved off, Marmont suddenly
recognised the danger but was almost immediately
wounded by a British shell that burst near him. The
situation was made worse when General Bonnet,
Marmont’s second in command, was also injured. The
French army was now headless, and vital minutes passed
while they reorganised their command structure.
Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace’s deployed 1st Brigade of the
British 3rd Division and the Portuguese light cavalry
struck home against the head of Thomieres’ columns, and
after a brisk engagement the French were driven
backwards with the loss of their commander. Meanwhile,
further along the French army Maucune had observed
Thomieres’ disaster, and seeing enemy cavalry formed his
divisions into formidable squares. But while this formation
would have been resilient in repelling cavalry, Maucune
was attacked by Leith’s 5th Infantry Division, and the
squares collapsed in the face of an infantry attack. Worse
was to follow. At this point they were assailed by Major
General John Le Marchant’s heavy cavalry, and
Maucune’s Division was shattered. Le Marchant then
pressed on and attacked Brenier’s force, his cavalry’s initial
assaults being successful but eventually halted at the cost
of the British commander’s life.
Three French divisions had been mauled terribly in short
order. The French reorganised whilst Lowry Cole’s 4th
Division and Pack’s Portuguese forces attacked the French
near the Greater Arapile. Here the French had massed forty
guns and were able to blunt, and then drive back Cole and
Pack’s assaults.
Taking command of French forces, General Clausel tried to
stabilise the situation. He sent Sarrut’s Division to
34
strengthen the mauled left flank and then saw an
opportunity to launch a counter-attack on the flank of
Cole’s Division. For this, he gathered his own and Bonnet’s
Divisions supported by Boyer’s dragoons. This attack
smashed into the 4th Division’s flank, wreaking havoc
amongst Cole’s survivors. Clausel pushed on and hit the
supporting 6th Division, but Marshal Beresford recognised
the danger and despatched Spry’s Portuguese Brigade to
engage the French, their fate being sealed when Wellington
sent in the 1st and 7th Divisions.
After bitter fighting the French gave way and began to
retreat. As the French army streamed from the field General
Ferey resolved to hold up the British, forming his Division
into a three deep line with each flank anchored by a square.
The British, led by Clinton’s Division, were repulsed and
Wellington allowed his artillery to play on the French line
before sending in a second assault. This attack was
successful, breaking Ferey’s Division and killing its
commander.
As night fell the French Army of Portugal was in headlong
flight. Wellington believed that he had a chance to destroy
the army as the French line of retreat towards Alba de
Tormes was cut off by D’Espana’s Spanish troops. But
unknown to Wellington the Spanish had withdrawn, leaving
the French free to retreat without further molestation.
Aftermath
The French suffered 7,000 casualties and lost the same
number of men captured, their army also being
completely disorganised. Two divisional generals had
been killed whilst Marmont, Bonnet and another
divisional general had been wounded. The Allies lost just
over 5,000 men, with three divisional commanders
wounded. The victory was a crushing defeat for the
French and is rightly heralded as one of Wellington’s
greatest victories. Wellington at Salamanca proved that
he was not just the master of defence, for he had
recognised an enemy’s tactical error and, with an
impressive attack plan “beat 40,000 men in 40 minutes.”
As the French army of Portugal licked its wounds,
Wellington pushed on into Madrid, entering the Spanish
capital on the 6th of August. His 1812 campaign would
end in disappointment, however, when the siege of
Burgos failed due to a lack of heavy guns to break down
the walls. The capital had to be abandoned to the French
as the Allies retreated back to the Portuguese frontier and
winter quarters.
But the battle would have some critical long-term effects.
Firstly, the British government was now convinced that the
war in the Peninsula was well worth greater support and
that would mean more reinforcements for Wellington.
Secondly, the crushing defeat would rob the French of
much of their former confidence, and from this point on
they were wary of the fighting ability of the British troops.

ORDER OF BATTLE – SALAMANCA, 22nd JULY 1812
British Army
Commander-in-Chief: Lieutenant General Arthur Wellesley
the Earl of Wellington
Cavalry Commander: Lieutenant General Sir Stapleton Cotton
• 1st Brigade: Major General Gaspard Le Marchant
• 2nd Brigade: Major General George Anson
• 3rd Brigade: Major General Victor von Alten
• Portuguese Brigade: Brigadier General D’Urban
1st Infantry Division: Major General Henry Campbell
• 1st Brigade: Colonel Fermor
• 2nd Brigade: Major General Wheatley
• 3rd Brigade: Major General Baron Low
3rd Infantry Division: Major General Packenham
• 1st Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Wallace
• 2nd Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel James Campbell
• Portuguese Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Manly Power
4th Infantry Division: Major General Lowry Cole
• 1st Brigade: Major General William Anson
• 2nd Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Ellis
• Portuguese Brigade: Colonel George Stubbs
5th Infantry Division: Major General Leith
• 1st Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Greville
• 2nd Brigade: Major General Pringle
• Portuguese Brigade: Brigadier General Spry
6th Infantry Division: Major General Clinton
• 1st Brigade: Major General Hulse
• 2nd Brigade: Colonel Hinde
• Portuguese Brigade: Brigadier General Rezende
7th Infantry Division: Major General Hope
• 1st Brigade: Colonel Colin Halkett
• 2nd Brigade: Major General von Bernwitz
• Portuguese Brigade: Colonel Collins
Light Division: Lieutenant General Charles, Baron von Alten
• 1st Brigade: Lieutenant Colonel Barnard
• 2nd Brigade: Major General Vandeleur
Independent Brigades
• 1st Brigade: Brigadier General Pack
• 2nd Brigade: Brigadier General Bradford
Spanish Division: Major General de Espana
47,000 men
MULE TRAIN!
THE BATTLE OF SALAMANCA 1812
French Army
Commander-in-Chief: Marshal Marmont, Duke of Ragusa
Light Cavalry Division: Curto
Heavy Cavalry Division: Boyer
1st Infantry Division: Foy
2nd Infantry Division: Clausel
3rd Infantry Division: Ferey
4th Infantry Division: Sarrut
5th Infantry Division: Maucune
6th Infantry Division: Brennier
7th Infantry Division: Thomieres
8th Infantry Division: Bonnet
44,900 men
Gallant Exertion
During the attack of Leith’s 5th Infantry Division
on Maucune’s Division ...
“…a mixed group of redcoats from the 44th (East
Essex), 4th (King’s Own) and 30th (East Lancashire)
Regiments surprised a small group of French
soldiers. Lt. Pearce of the 44th noticed an officer
wrenching the 62nd Ligne’s Eagle from its pole and
concealing it under his greatcoat. Pearce attacked the
enemy officer, who fought back, while another
French soldier attempted to bayonet Lt. Pearce, but
was quickly shot dead by a Private Murray.
Lt. Pearce overcame his opponent and thereby
captured the Eagle; later dividing 20 dollars
between the other ranks as a mark of his
appreciation for their gallant exertions in
supporting him.”
35
The Armies of the Peninsular War
Let’s now take a look at the troops that fought
the epic conflict on the Iberian Peninsula. in this
section you will find listed, in the main, the types
of infantry, cavalry and artillery that each nation
put into the field, from the famous British
Guards to the lowly Spanish Militia. Each troop
type has been given statistics and special rules
that will add flavour to your games of Black
Powder set throughout Portugal and Spain.

THE BRITISH LINE PREPARES TO GIVE FIRE WHILST THEIR LIGHT BOBS BLAZE AWAY, WORKING IN PAIRS

36
“Soult says the French have made us good soldiers by
example. So they have, but unfortunately for them (like
Mr Hennell teaching me chess) they have taught us
rather too long & we beat them in every game.”
George Hennell of the 43rd Monmouthsire Light Infantry

37
Great Britain 1807-1815
Overview
The early industrial revolution which had occurred during
the eighteenth century, combined with a global maritime
trading empire, had transformed Britain’s prosperity. She
would be able to easily fund her own war effort and give
enormous subsidies to her continental allies during the long
war with France (1792-1815). While the English Channel
acted effectively as a moat against Napoleon’s invasion
plans, it also meant that all British operations would be
sustained by supply from the sea and shielded by the Royal
Navy. Britain had traditionally only maintained a small
standing army, and by 1808 it had recently been subject to
wide ranging reforms.
The Army was much changed from the poor force expelled
from Flanders in 1795. From 1795 to 1809 the Duke of
York, one of the King’s younger sons, had become its
Commander-in-Chief. Although, as a field general, he had
performed poorly during the Flanders campaign, he was an
excellent and reform minded planner. He brought in
measures that improved the structure of Britain’s Army at
every level, from mitigating the worst abuses of the officer
class to improving medical services and standardising
battalion organisation.
The person who had the greatest impact on the army was
‘Old Nosey’ himself. He took great care with
administration, supply and training, he reorganised the HQ
staff and created an intelligence network that became a
great asset to the Army. He ensured that the Army
Commissariat kept his forces well supplied, and as a result
A MONK JOINS THR BRITISH FIRING LINE. BETTER THE HEATHEN THAN THE CONQUERING FRENCH!
38
he gained a significant logistical advantage over the French,
who suffered from chronic shortages, the Iberian peninsula
being unable to support French foraging. The result was the
creation of one of the greatest fighting forces history has
seen; a force unbeaten in the battles it fought. Wellington
paid tribute to his army by stating that it was “capable of going
anywhere and doing anything.”
In battle the British usually fought on the defensive,
Wellington took great care to shelter his lads out of sight
of the enemy on the reverse slope of a ridge with secure
flanks. He would line the crest with his artillery and throw
out large numbers of skirmishes onto the forward slope to
contest the French, advancing to the pas de charge drum
beat, or ‘Old Trousers’ as the British called it. The enemy,
unsure as to the whereabouts of Wellington’s main force,
more often than not blundered into British lines without
being in the correct formation for the tactical situation.
They would then be thrown into confusion by close range
volleys whilst trying to deploy, then a loud cheer would
signal a controlled bayonet charge that would sweep away
the disordered French.
British Infantry
The British infantry was comprised of Guards, Foot, Light,
Rifle and Highland Regiments. Regiments were, in theory,
made up of three parts – two fighting and one depot cadre.
battalion. In practice however the battalions were used as
individual units, with the regiment an administrative rather
than an operational formation. British Infantry battalions
 “There is no beating these British soldiers. They were
completely beaten and the day was mine, but they did
not know it and would not run.”
contained ten companies; one light company, one of
grenadiers, and eight ‘centre’ companies. The grenadier and
light companies were called the ‘flank’ companies because
they formed at either end of the battalion when in a firing
line. Rifle battalions were also made up of ten companies,
but had no flank companies. Each company was (on paper)
to be made up of 100 men, giving a battalion strength of
1000 combatants. In reality most battalions did not muster
such numbers, their average strength being 500-700 men.
Two to four battalions were usually grouped into a brigade;
rifle battalions were usually split up into companies and
attached to brigades, giving the brigade commander
valuable additional and accurate skirmish fire. After1808
two to four brigades were grouped into a division.
British infantry were rated by numerous contemporary
writers as the finest in Europe, capable of showing
steadiness when under pressure and checking and turning
French columns on countless occasions. The key response to
massed enemy attack was the devastating volley, followed by
a controlled charge. This is represented in our games of
Black Powder with the Steady Line rule.
On the battlefield, British infantry could be seen in four
formations depending on the tactical situation. Those
formations were Line, Column of companies, Square or
Skirmish order. The famous two deep line was the fighting
formation of the British infantry, giving maximum
firepower; but a four deep line was used when space was
limited or on some occasions when attacking. In Black
Powder British line formations are represented by the Line
formation rule.
When in line formation a British Infantry battalion
sometimes used its light company to skirmish and cover its
front, this is represented in Black Powder by the Mixed
Formation rule. Column of companies was used by the
British to manoeuvre around the battlefield. In Black Powder
this formation is represented by the Marching column rule.
Square was used to protect against cavalry and is represented
in Black Powder by the Battalion Square formation rule.
Skirmish order was used by Light and Rifle battalions in
either attack or defence situations. In Black Powder the
Skirmish rule is used to represent this formation
An angry Marshal Soult after Albuera, 1811
British Infantry Special Rules
In this section I offer a few new rules to allow you to bring
additional national characteristics to your British Infantry.
The Steady Line and Cannot form Attack Column are what I use
and they work for me and the gaming group I am in. That
said Black Powder is a flexible game and whether you use
them or invent your own is entirely up to you.
Steady Line
When charged a formed British unit with the Steady Line
rule that is not disordered or shaken can:
1. Stand and fire as usual with all the usual fire
modifiers, casualties or,
2. Fire and counter-charge, in which case it does not
receive the closing fire bonus.
The British also get First Fire. These two rules represent
the fire discipline of British infantry and their ability to
fire devastating volleys and then launch a bayonet charge.
Cannot form Attack Column
Infantry with the Cannot form Attack Column can only
operate in Line or March Column formation. Note such
units can break into Skirmish order to enter terrain that
they would not normally be allowed to enter, can form
mixed formation line and can form Attack columns when
fighting in or attacking areas designated as built up, such
as villages, towns and the like.
Rifle Mixed Formation
This rule is exactly the same as that on page 78 of the
Black Powder rulebook; however the shot is treated from
that of a rifle. This represents battalions that were issued
with muskets, but had a rifle armed light company e.g.
KGL Light battalions.
Mixed Formation
As per Black Powder rules page 78.
Must Form Square
As per Black Powder rules page 75.
39
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
The Foot Guards
Britain had three regiments of Foot Guards: the 1st Foot
Guards having three battalions, while the 2nd (Coldstream)
Guards and 3rd Foot Guards had two each. The 1st and
Coldstream Guards dated from the Restoration of 1660,
when the 1st was formed from Charles II’s Garde du Corps;
whilst the second was formed from the Parliamentarian
regiment of General George Monk who had been pivotal in
Charles II’s return. Prior to the Restoration, this regiment
had been posted at Coldstream in the county of
Berwickshire and the Coldstream Guards have retained the
name to this day. The 3rd Foot Guards had their founding
history in Scotland, but did not take up ‘Scots’ in their title
until after our period. British Guards were some of the
finest ‘heavy’ infantry of the era and their officers and men
knew it. “Now’s your time, Maitland!”
The uniforms of the Guards battalions, although usually
better made, were almost identical to those of the foot
regiments. They wore the famous British red coat with facing
colours on collar, cuffs and shoulder straps of dark blue. The
‘facing colours’ of the uniforms under discussion were the
distinctive (and usually contrasting) colours of each individual
Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand
Guard Regular Smoothbore
7 4
Infantry Infantry Muskets
British Guards have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed Formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter, First Fire, Steady Line, Cannot Form Attack Column.
News from the front
…when Marmont, forgetting his former prudence and presuming
upon the idea that Lord W. would not fight, made a movement to turn
our right, and extended his left so much that an order was immediately
given for attack. The lines were formed and moved on, and in spite of
tremendous fire and other difficulties, they carried all before them. The
heavy Drag’s made a very successful charge, and the enemy’s left was
completely beat; it was getting very dark when Lord W. advanced the
light divisions and first against their Right. I covered them with a
squadron of the 12th and one of the 5th; we charged twice and in
last went thro. two battalions of infantry. I was unfortunate enough to
lose Dickens in this charge; he was leading a Squadron, and received a
ball in his left breast. Just as we came up to the enemy’s columns the
officer who commanded the other squadron was also shot in the breast
but not killed. Lord Wellington pushed on to Huerta the same night
with two divisions and my detachments of cavalry.
On the morning of the 23rd we ascertained the direction of the flight
40
regiment. The buttons at the front of the coat had white
lace arranged singly for the First, in pairs for the Second
and in threes for the Third Guards. Edging to collar, cuffs,
shoulder straps and turnbacks were again white. Centre
company men were recognisable by simple white tufts at
the end of their shoulder straps. These were replaced in
both flank companies with wings that were coloured blue
and edged and slashed in white. Headgear was the
‘Stovepipe’ shako. The shako plate was in brass or white
metal, whilst the plume for the centre companies was white
over red, green for the light company and white for the
grenadiers. Trousers were usually white and then later grey.
The backpack was black, as was the cartridge box that was
slung on the right side of the lower back, whilst the
haversack in white and water canteen in light blue were
slung on the left hip with the bayonet scabbard in black
tipped in yellow metal. Cross belts and other equipment
straps were white; the light blue water bottle had a brown
strap. Officers had no elaboration to their button holes, but
had gold braid to the edge of their lapels, collar, cuffs and
turn backs. Their shakos were usually replaced with a
bicorn hat in the centre companies but were retained in the
Light companies.
Shooting Morale Stamina Special
Reliable,
3 4
Elite 3+
of the enemy and pushed on them. The heavy German Brigade (KGL)
and the rest of General Anson’s coming up, Lord W. directed a Charge
against the tail of the enemy’s column which completely succeeded. The
Germans did wonders and an immense number of prisoners were
taken. The same day we pursued them very close and attempted a
charge upon their cavalry, but they were too strong for us. We did not
however lose a man in the attempt. They have now got out of reach for
the present but when the army is a little recovered from the fatigue, we
shall push a little further.
I have knocked up all my horses; I lamed two on the day of the battle,
broke my sword and lost my pistol. The weather has been uncommonly
hot; we are always bivouacked; the fatigue, you may guess, has been
great, provision not plenty and I never was better in my life.
Extract from a Letter from Lieut. Colonel Frederick
Cavendish Ponsonby to his mother, Henrietta Spencer,
Lady Bessborough. Ponsonby was Colonel and
commanded the 12th Light Dragoons at the battle of
Salamanca.
 GREAT BRITAIN 1807-1815

THE ‘SWEEPS’ MOVE UP TO RELIEVE THE LIGHT DRAGOONS FROM SKIRMISH DUTY. WELL DONE, THE RIFLES!

Line Infantry (The Foot Regiments)
The main infantry type in the British Army. Hardy and
reliable in battle and armed with the Tower or East India
pattern flintlock musket, they were the bedrock of
Wellington’s Peninsular victories. These men joined the
ranks for life, and pride in the traditions of their regiments
was the spiritual spine of the Army. The Infantry regiments
were numbered, and in 1781 were regionally designated, e.g.
33rd First Yorkshire West Riding Regiment of Foot. The
territorial designation roughly identified where the regiment
drew its recruits from. They also gained nick names such as
the ‘the Fighting Fifth’ for the 5th Northumberland
Regiment of Foot, or ‘the Skins’ for the 27th Enniskillen
Regiment of Foot. This all added to the esprit de corps that
kept men in the ranks when the heat of battle was raised.
The light companies from a brigade’s battalions were
sometimes taken from their parent line units and
amalgamated together into composite light battalions.
(This can be represented in your games of Black Powder by
adding a Small Light battalion to a brigade and removing
the Mixed formation rule from its line).
The uniforms of the Foot regiments can be taken as the
same as those described for the Guards. There were
numerous minute differences between regiments, the main
one being the facing colour (see above). In 1812 both Guard
and Line regiments took grey trousers as their campaign
wear and the ‘stovepipe’ was replaced by the ‘Belgic’ shako.
This new headgear had a false front, a fresh front plate,
cords and a side plume. Cords for the centre and grenadier
companies were white, whilst the light companies’ were
green. The plume colour remained the same. Interestingly
the 28th North Gloucester Regiment was allowed to carry
on wearing the stovepipe shako.
The Line battalions carried two battle flags, one being the
Regimental Colour and the other being the King’s Colour.
The first had a field in the facing colour of the regiment
with various heraldic or royal devices in the centre
surrounding the Foot
regiment’s number in
Roman numerals; in the top
right-hand corner there was
a small Union Flag. The
King’s Colour was basically
a large Union Flag (’Jack’)
with the badges of the
Regimental Colour
repeated in the centre.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Line Regular Smoothbore

6 3 4 3
Infantry Infantry Muskets

British Line Infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed Formation, Can form
Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter, First Fire, Steady Line, Cannot Form Attack Column.

41
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Highland Infantry infantry, as was the equipment that

The first Highland Regiment was raised in 1739 to
monitor and patrol the highlands for ‘ne’er do wells.’
It was later taken into the line as the 42nd Royal Highland
Regiment ‘The Black Watch.’ Although the Seven Years
War saw the raising of several more Highlander regiments
they were disbanded after the war. The American
Revolution saw further units raised, two of which were
retained following the war’s end. The outbreak of the war
with France in 1793 saw a real increase in Highland
recruitment. Highland Regiments or ‘Red Shanks’ that
fought in the Peninsula were the 42nd Royal Highland
Regiment, 79th Cameron Highlanders, 91st Argyllshire
Highlanders, 92nd Gordon Highlanders and 74th
Campbell Highlanders. Armed and equipped as the Line
battalions, the Highlanders were renowned for their
ferocious charge and melee capabilities.
The jacket worn by the Highland regiments was to all intents
and purposes the same as that worn by the Guard and Line
the ‘redshanks’ carried on
campaign. Men in the Highland
regiments wore kilts and hose
instead of trousers. A ‘Mounted’
bonnet replaced the shako. This
bonnet was made of a cloth
covered wire frame surrounded
by a turban diced in red, white
and green, the whole being
covered in ostrich feathers. On the left
side was a regimental rosette that held a plume in the same
colours as the rest of the infantry, apart from in the Black
Watch who wore the ‘red hackle’ in all companies to honour
the regiment’s gallantry at the battle of Geldermalsen in 1795.
In 1809 most Highland regiments replaced their kilts with
trews to assist in recruiting from Lowlanders, but out of the
above regiments only the 74th and 91st lost their kilts.
Highland battalions carried two battle flags one being the
Regimental Colour and the other the King’s Colour.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Highland Regular Smoothbore Tough

6 3 4 3
Infantry Infantry Muskets Fighters

British Highlanders have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter, First Fire, Steady Line, Cannot Form Attack Column.

Light Infantry Light battalions also had ten companies, all companies being
Britain had developed her ideas on the use of light troops designated as light. Rank and file as well as sergeants were
during the American War of Independence. Sir John Moore armed with the New Land pattern musket from 1811.
commanded a ‘light brigade’ during the Irish Uprising, 1798, Sergeants in the Guards and Line infantry carried a 9 foot
winning the critical battle at Foulkes Mill. In 1803 through long pike which replaced the halberd in 1792. Technically
1804 Moore trained three regiments: the 43rd this pike was a half-pike which looked like a spontoon.
Monmouthshire, 52nd Oxfordshire and 95th Rifles as Light
Infantry - ‘Light Bobs’ as they were known. All these The dress of the light infantry
regiments would form part of the famous Light Division. In regiments and that of the light
1809 a further four were converted: the 55th Westmoreland, companies of the rest of the line
68th Durham, 71st Glasgow Highland and 90th Perthshire was very similar. There were no
Volunteers. These troops underwent rigorous training and grenadier companies and all
emerged as some of the finest light troops to see action in the ranks wore wings and the shako
Peninsula. They were made up of men who were good shots, ornament was a bugle horn.
agile and intelligent. Light infantry battalions as well as the Light infantry battalions usually
light companies of the Guard and Line battalions were did not normally carry their
trained to fight in a less formal manner those in the Line. standards into battle.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Light Regular Smoothbore Skirmish

6 3 4 3
Infantry Infantry Muskets Infantry

British Light Infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter, First Fire, Steady Line, Sharpshooters, Cannot Form Attack Column.

42
 GREAT BRITAIN 1807-1815

Riflemen who they were and what they had achieved, rather than the
The ‘sporting rifles’ used by the rebels in the American threat of beatings and floggings. Riflemen where some of
Rebellion had left an impression on the British military the finest soldiers in the British Army and were more than a
hierarchy. As a result, in 1797 the 5th battalion of the 60th match for their French equivalent.
Royal American Regiment of Foot, loyal to his Majesty, was
equipped with rifles. Later the ‘Experimental Corps of The 95th Rifles were dressed from top to bottom in dark
Riflemen’ was formed; this flamboyant name changed in green, from a distance it appeared black and gave them
December 1802 to the now famous 95th Regiment of Foot. their nick name ‘the Sweeps’. The
rifleman’s equipment, belts and straps
The British carried the Baker rifle, named after its inventor were black. Other Rifles regiments
Ezekiel Baker of Whitechapel, London. The rifle was slow would dress as above, but donning grey
to load, but extremely accurate for the period. It was rare trousers in place the green favoured by
for the ten companies of a rifle battalion to fight as a whole the 95th.
and they were usually broken down to varying company
strengths and attached to brigades. Like other light Buttons were white metal and other
infantrymen, Riflemen were soldiers capable of acting on ranks had white piping to their collar
their own initiative, their discipline maintained by pride in and cuffs. Riflemen had no standards.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Skirmish
Rifle Regular Rifled Infantry,
6 4 4 3
Battalion Infantry Muskets Reliable,
Elite 4+

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Skirmish
Rifle Regular Rifled Infantry,
4 3 4 2
Companies Infantry Muskets Reliable,
Elite 4+, Small

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Skirmish
Rifle Regular Rifled Infantry,
2 2 4 1
Company Infantry Muskets Reliable,
Elite 4+, Tiny

British Riflemen have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter, First Fire, Sharpshooters, Cannot Form Attack Column.

Brown Bess musket

enemy was at 50 metres to ensure the greatest
devastation amongst enemy ranks. The British could
fire from 3 to 4 shots a minute. It tended to get to hot
The Brown Bess was a nickname given to the British to handle after repeated fire which
army’s Land Pattern musket and its derivatives. lead to the owners urinating on
Those derivatives were numerous, but most famous the barrels to cool them down!
were the Long Land Pattern, Short Land Pattern, Having a thicker barrel
India Pattern and New Land Pattern Musket. than most
contemporary flintlock
The most numerous was the Long Land Pattern which muskets it was safer to
was a .75 calibre flintlock in use for nearly 100 years use, with less chance of
and all through our period. The effective range was it blowing up due to
about 175 metres but the British often waited until the overloaded powder.

British 'India' pattern Brown Bess – used thoughout the Napoleonic Wars (Perry Collection)

43
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Chasseurs Britannique
The Chasseurs Britannique were a light infantry battalion of
remnants of the Armee de Condé and émigrés, it was expanded
to twelve companies in November 1810 when it was assigned
to the 7th Division. The battalion fought at Fuentes de
Oñoro and most of the major battles that followed.
They wore British red coats with light blue collar and cuffs; white
turnbacks; silver lace for officers, white with a red and light blue
stripe for others; white breeches with short black half gaiters.
Their headgear was the regulation black stovepipe shako with
white over red plume and a brass plate on the front; grenadier
companies had a white plume, light companies a green plume;
black leather sword and bayonet belts for all ranks. Officers had
a large bicorn hat with a white over red cut feather plume; light
company officers wore a shako with green plume; company
officers had silver epaulettes on the shoulders; grenadier and
light company officers had silver wings on each shoulder with
grenade and bugle horn devices. Officers had also bugle-horn
badges on the turnbacks. Officers wore a crimson sash, while
sergeants sported a red sash with a central light blue stripe.
The Chasseurs carried no standards.
In our games of Black Powder the Chasseurs de Britannique
would be a large light infantry battalion.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Chasseurs Regular Smoothbore Skirmish

8 4 4 4
Britannique Infantry Muskets Infantry

The Chassuers Britannique have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter, First Fire, Steady line, Sharpshooters, Cannot Form Attack Column.

Battalion of Detachments By February men such as those mentioned by Cameron

In 1809 not all British forces were evacuated at Corunna.
General Sir John Cradock retained a force in Portugal of
less than 14,000 men. To reinforce this force against
French pressure Cradock scoured the country for men
who had been left behind by Moore in hospitals or on
detached duty or who were just too weak to make it to the
embarkation points.
In Oporto, General Cameron held out with a brigade size
force. On the 16th of January 1809 Cameron penned the
following message to Cradock.
“I have collected several detachments of recovered men belonging to Sir
J. Moore’s army, whom I found scattered in all directions, without
necessaries, and some of them committing every possible excess that
could render the name of a British soldier odious to the nation.”
“Bad Bargains, Abrams and Belemites every damn one of them” had
been formed into two ad hoc battalions. These battalions
contained companies of Riflemen, Highlanders, Light and
Line infantry. The two battalions had a strength well in
excess of 800 men and took part in the campaigning of
1809, including the battle of Talavera. After this they were
disbanded. The battalions of detachments did not perform
as well as standard British infantry units, for many reasons;
they were made up of stragglers, many of whom were poor
quality, men who had been hospitalised and were still
recovering, men who were being led by officers who were
unfamiliar to them and men who had no regimental
identity to latch on to in the detachments.
The men of the battalions of detachments remained clad in
their parent unit’s uniforms and carried no standards.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Detached Regular Smoothbore

6 3 5 3
Infantry Infantry Muskets

British Detachment Infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square,
Rifle Mixed formation, Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter, First Fire, Steady Line,
Cannot Form Attack Column.

Note: Battalions of detachments are not to be confused with the 1813 provisional units (two combined
reduced battalions) that are to all intents and purposes classed as British Line Infantry.

44

British Cavalry
Dragoon Guards, Dragoons, Light Dragoons and Hussar
Regiments made up the cavalry force in the Peninsula.
British cavalry was the best mounted in Europe, but was the
least controllable and overall badly led, especially when used
in large numbers. In 1812 Wellington remarked angrily “Our
cavalry officers have acquired the trick of galloping at everything and
then galloping back as fast as they gallop at the enemy. One would think
they cannot manoeuvre except on Wimbledon Common”. Regiments
were made up of four squadrons, but one, two or three
squadrons could be used on campaign. The average
squadron strength was approximately 120 men.
British cavalry was formed into brigades of normally two
regiments of the same type. These brigades were usually
attached to divisional formations or placed directly under
the command of a cavalry commander.
British cavalry fought in line or column, depending on the
tactical formation. In Black Powder cavalry fight in line and
can also form column of March.
British cavalry throughout the Peninsular campaigns
formed a lower proportion of the army than in most
European armies, it being harder to transport horses by
sea than land.
An exception to this was the Vitoria campaign of 1813,
when Wellington secured enough cavalry to ensure a
decisive result to the campaign and turn the tide of the war
in Albion’s favour.
Dragoon Guards and Dragoons
The difference between these two types of cavalry was in name
only. In the period of 1746 to 1788 all bar one of the heavy
‘Horse’ Regiments of the British Army were converted to
Dragoons to save money. To massage damaged pride they were
designated Dragoon Guards. The two types, who were trained
for shock action, were distinguishable by the shape of their
cuffs! They were armed and equipped in the same manner,
with the 1796 pattern heavy cavalry sabre, pistols and an
unwieldy old pattern carbine.
One regiment the 2nd Royal North British Dragoons (the
Scots Greys) had many differences from the rest of the
dragoon regiments. Most noticeable was the adoption of the
Grenadier cap and a bespoke sabre that was more curved than
that of their fellow dragoons. The Grenadier cap
commemorated the regiment’s victory over the Maison du Roi at
the battle of Ramillies in 1706.
Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand
Dragoon
Regular
Guards and Sabre 8 –
Cavalry
Dragoons
Dragoon Guards and Dragoons have the above stats as well as the following special rule: Gallop at Anything.
GREAT BRITAIN 1807-1815
Albion’s Lions
“Soon as brave Wellesley on the shores of Spain
Arrives, and leads to war his dauntless few,
The Gauls, subdued by Albion’s valiant train,
Crown’d with disgrace, their backward flight pursue.
Britons rejoice.
When Gallia’s guns shall roar in foreign air,
And fate once more present so bright a chance,
For victory’s sake, may Wellesley’s arm be there,
And Albion’s lions crush the wolves of France!
Britons rejoice.”
Extract from a
song celebrating
Wellesley’s victory,
written in 1809.
All Dragoon and Dragoon Guard regiments wore jackets in
red that had facings in regimental colours of blue, black,
white, yellow or red. Up to 1812 they wore a bicorn cocked
hat, after that date they adopted the Grecian helmet. The
year 1812 also saw the jacket change, with the addition of a
vertical strip of lace down its front. Regulations stated that
they should wear plush breeches, but for active service these
were replaced by grey overalls.
British Cavalry Special Rules
Gallop at Anything
+ 1 to Charge order, Cavalry with this rule automatically
gain the Ferocious Charge rule (Black Powder, p. 90) but
must make a breakthrough move if allowed, even if this
takes them off the table. British cavalry suffer a +2 to
command roll when they leave the table under such
circumstances.
Shooting Morale Stamina Special
Heavy
4 3
Cavalry +1
45
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
Light Dragoons and Hussars
Before 1806 British Light cavalry consisted of fourteen
regiments of Light Dragoons raised to undertake
reconnaissance duties. After 1806, four Light Dragoon
regiments were converted to Hussars. They were the 7th,
10th, 15th and 18th Regiments. There was no difference
between the Light Dragoons and Hussars other than the
expense of the latter’s uniform! British light cavalry were
armed with the 1796 Pattern light cavalry sabre and the
serviceable ‘Paget carbine’. British lights were capable of
delivering formed charges but, like their heavier cousins,
paid dearly for not being able to maintain control.
At the start of the Peninsular War Light Dragoons wore a
short tailed blue coloured jacket that was laced on its front, in
Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand
Light
Regular
Dragoon and Sabre 6 –
Cavalry
Hussar
Light Dragoons and Hussars have the above stats as well as the following special rule: Gallop at Anything.
British Backsword
Born of the same design as the Austrian 1769 pattern
Heavy cavalry sabre, adopted by the British Board of
General Officers on the recommendations of Major John
le Marchant (The same gentleman, by then a Major
General, was killed at Salamanca after skilful use of
British cavalry) who had seen Austrian equipment during
the disastrous campaigning in the Low Countries 1793-
1795. Known as a backsword as it had a straight blade
Artillery
British artillery had developed in a haphazard manner and
was the poor cousin to the rest of the Army. The reforms of
Captain Alexander Dickson who arrived in the Peninsular
theatre in 1810 went some way to remedy this. The British
did not follow the French tactic of deploying grand batteries
to destroy a particular part of an enemy line. Wellington
preferred to use artillery firepower selectively in small
numbers and individual batteries sited along his line in
support of his infantry. The British were normally out
gunned by the French who had a rough ratio of two guns per
1,000 men, whereas the British were usually one gun per over
a 1,000 men.
Britain had two types of artillery: Horse or ‘Flying artillery’
and Foot or ‘Marching battalions of artillery’. The British did
however have two technical innovations in artillery. Firstly,
Spherical Caseshot (better known as Shrapnel, named after
its inventor Major Henry Shrapnel of the Royal Artillery). It
46
either white or yellow. Facing colours were again dependant
on the regiment in question and ranged from buff to orange.
Grey overall trousers were worn on campaign. In 1812 the
Tarleton helmet was replaced by a shako with white over red
plume. The British hussars wore fur caps (colpacks) with
white over red plume, red, blue or yellow busby bags on the
cap, and a blue tailless dolman with white or yellow braid
plus grey overall trousers. Facings were in white, yellow or
scarlet. Hussars were required to sport moustaches.
In both the Dragoon and light regiments the changes of
1812 actually made British cavalry look like French troops
at a distance. The changes caused great controversy and
did lead to several “red on red incidents”. Scandalous!
Shooting Morale Stamina Special
4 3 Marauder
with a single cutting edge. The blunt edge (‘the back’)
was thickened to add strength. Thirty five inches in
length with a ‘hatchet point’ tip, the sword was only good
for chopping and bludgeoning, being no good for
delicate swordsmanship. As a result many users altered it
whilst on campaign. Some would alter the tip to a more
symmetrical shape or ‘spear point’ to allow for thrusting.
For comfort, and to prevent uniform damage, the langets –
an extension of the guard located on both flats of the
blade, and designed to fit over the mouth of a scabbard to
prevent accidental unsheathing – were sometimes removed
and the left side of the guard was ground off.
was a hollow shell designed to explode in the air, scattering
the musket balls contained within. While it doubled the range
of canister, it could explode prematurely. Wellington found it
most agreeable, but he didn’t think the same of the second –
Sir William Congreve’s rockets. They could carry quite a
large amount of explosive, but were wildly erratic. Old Nosey
was heard to remark “I do not wish to set fire to any town, and I
know no other use for rockets.”
A single gun with four crew represents a British battery in
Black Powder.
Artillery Special rules
Shrapnel
British guns with shrapnel can fire at medium range with
three dice, but require 5’s to hit.
Congreve Rockets
As Black Powder rules pp. 83-85.
 GREAT BRITAIN 1807-1815

Royal Horse Artillery (RHA)
Horse artillery was only adopted in Britain at the very
start of the French Wars despite it having been introduced
by the Austrians in the late 1750’s. Intended to support
cavalry, horse artillery was light and mobile with a crew
who were expected to be valiant, good riders, capable
swordsmen and above all excellent gunners. As an
example, at the battle of Fuentes de Oñoro in 1811, as
part of Bull’s Troop, Captain Norman Ramsey’s two guns
were firing on the retreat and remained outside of the
protection of British squares; they were then attacked and
enveloped by French cavalry. Wellington had never lost a
gun in the Peninsula and Ramsey knew this. To an
artilleryman losing a gun was like losing a Colour,
unacceptable. Ramsey decided it would be better to die
trying to escape than to suffer the eternal shame of
surrendering, and his troop managed to fight their way out
of the situation and into the annals of British military
glory. Brave chaps!
Horse batteries (or brigades, as they were known) usually
had five six pounder guns and one 5.5inch howitzer
serviced by 162 officers and men.
The Royal Horse Artillery was uniformed in a similar
manner to the pre-1812 Light Dragoons. They wore a
blue jacket with yellow lace, red facings edged yellow, grey
trousers and the Tarleton helmet with white plume.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Royal Horse Smooth bore Cannon Reliable,

1 3-2-1 4 1
Artillery Light Artillery or Rocket Marauder

“As rough,
foul mouthed
a devil as
ever lived.”
Wellington on Picton

ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY PREPARING TO FIRE CANISTER

Royal Artillery (RA)
The Royal Regiment of Artillery formed in 1716, was one
of only two regiments within the Army that trained its
officers before they were commissioned. All artillery and
engineer officers had to pass through the Royal Military
Academy, Woolwich, while the others learnt their trade as
they went along.
Foot batteries had five nine pounders and one 5.5 inch
howitzer serviced by 145 crew. Again crews were well
trained and expected to be excellent at their profession.
The uniform of the Royal Artillery was functional and
simple, a blue infantry style jacket with yellow lace. Red
facing colours, grey trousers and a stove pipe shako with
white plume and yellow metal front plate.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Royal Smooth bore

Cannon 1 3-2-1 4 2 Reliable
Artillery Artillery

47
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

The King’s German Legion (KGL) the best in the British army and did not possess the same
On the 5th of July 1803, at the Convention of Artlenburg, temperament to gallop at anything. Clever chaps!
the Electorate of Hanover was dissolved. As a result the The KGL were to all intents and purposes armed and
Elector’s army was disbanded. Many brave fellows were equipped like the equivalent British regiments and carried
determined to continue the war to expel the hated French both Regimental and King’s Colours.
occupation of their homeland and made for Britain’s shores
as their Elector was also King George III of Britain. KGL Line Infantry
Stats as British Line Infantry.
Colonel von der Decken and Major Halkett were granted
Royal warrants to raise a corps of light infantry. The Steady Line, First Fire, Must form Square, Rifle Mixed formation,
corps was to be named “The King’s German Regiment”. Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter,
In late December 1803, von der Decken’s and Halkett’s Cannot Form Attack Column.
men were grouped together as the basis of a legion of all KGL Light Infantry
arms: the King’s German Legion. Recruitment to the Stats as British Light Infantry, Reliable, Elite 4+.
Legion went from strength to strength and it could
eventually boast units of Dragoons, Hussars, Line Steady Line, First Fire, Sharpshooters, Must form Square, Rifle
Infantry, Light Infantry and Foot and Horse Artillery. Mixed formation, Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not
normally enter, Cannot Form Attack Column.
The Legion was known for its excellent discipline
and ability on the field of battle. The KGL Dragoons
cavalry was reputed to be Stats as British Dragoons; add
Ferocious Charge and lose Gallop at
Anything.
KGL Hussars
Stats as British Hussars; add
Ferocious Charge and lose Gallop at
Anything.
KGL Horse Artillery
Stats as Royal Horse Artillery.
KGL Artillery
Stats as Royal Artillery.

3RD KING’S GERMAN LEGION HUSSARS

A ROYAL MARINES LANDING PARTY IN ROWED ASHORE

48
 GREAT BRITAIN 1807-1815

The Black Brunswickers
In 1807, following the sad death of the Duke of Brunswick,
Charles William Ferdinand, at the battle of Jena-Auerstadt
and the subsequent collapse of the Fourth Coalition a year
earlier, the Duchy fell under French control and became
part of the newly created Kingdom of Westphalia. Two
years later the Fifth Coalition against Napoleon was
The Light Division’s leader Robert Crauford was disgusted
with their behaviour, openly stating that if they wanted to
change sides he would give them a pass to go over to the
French “for we are better without such!” – perhaps the result of
filling the ranks from the prison barges whilst in England.

Poor old Rifle

formed. The dispossessed Frederick William, son of Charles
William, seized his chance to act and gain Austrian support.
Frederick managed to raise a ‘Free’ force of 2,300 all arms,
financing this force by mortgaging his principality in Oels.

Frederick William led his ‘Schwarze Schar’ (Black Horde) into

Germany in late 1809, and took the city of Brunswick.
Although they were soon made to retreat the force took the
name of the city. The Black Brunswickers as they were now
known then managed to escape to England. In British
service the corps was renamed the Brunswick Oels Jaegers
and Brunswick Oels Hussars. The Jaegers who landed in
Lisbon in October 1810 were twelve companies strong, and
assigned to Packenham’s Brigade of the 4th Division.
Shortly afterwards they were transferred to the crack Light
Division in which they took part in several engagements.
When the 7th Division was formed in 1811, nine companies
were transferred to that division whilst one company went
to the 4th Division and the remaining two to the 5th. Major
engagements that the Oels Jaegers took part in included
Fuentes de Oñoro, Salamanca and Vitoria.
Wellington did not regard them very highly; “The men are either
very old or very young; and they are very sickly. They are very irregular in
their discipline and habits, and they desert to the enemy terribly.”
The Brunswick-Oels Jaegers initially had excellent
German officers, with the ranks made up by
motivated volunteers. However, hard campaigning
saw the casualties replaced by an assortment of
unmotivated German, Polish, Danish, Swiss, Dutch
and Croatian prisoners of war and desertion rates
soared. Sergeant Costello of the 95th described how
relationships between the 95th and the Brunswick
troops turned sour due to the jaegers
eating dogs. Costello writes they were
‘…gifted with a canine appetite that induced
them to kill and eat all the dogs they could
get hold of…’ The 95th had a dog
called ‘Rifle’ which would go into
action with the Sweeps, dashing
about and barking as though it was all
a great game. Rifle survived the
bullets only to be ‘devoured by the
insatiable jaws of the Brunswickers’.

Brunswick Oels Jaegers

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Brunswick Regular Smooth bore

6 3 5 3 Skirmish
Light Infantry Infantry Musket

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Brunswick
Regular Skirmish,
Oels Jaegers Rifled Musket 4 2 5 2
Infantry Small
companies

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

The Black Regular Skirmish,

Rifled Musket 2 1 5 1
Brunswickers Infantry Tiny

Brunswick Oels Infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Rifle Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter, Sharpshooters.

49
The Kingdom ofPortugal 1808-1814
Portugal – The Oldest Ally
In this section we will take a look at Britain’s allies, Portugal
and Spain. As we did with the brave lads from Albion, we
will provide an overview of the armies and their different
troop types and establishments. We will identify how this all
relates back to Black Powder. Please don’t forget that the unit
statistics provided are by way of guidance. Again I have
identified some uniform detail.
Overview
The Portuguese Secretary of the Regency, Miguel Pereira
Forjaz, saved the Portuguese Army from extinction
following Junot’s orders to disband it in 1807. Forjaz
ensured that Portuguese Army had a firm base for others to
build upon. However, the Portuguese soldier around this
time was, it was said, ‘naturally indolent’ and found to fall
into ‘slouching and slovenly habits’, and the officer corps
was even worse.
“The ablest man in
the Peninsula”
Wellington on Forjaz
ORDER OF BATTLE
Commander-in-Chief
• Lieutenant-General Arthur, Viscount Wellington
7th Division: Major-General William Houston
1st Brigade: Major-General Sontag
• 2nd/51st Yorkshire and West Riding Light Infantry
• 85th Buckinghamshire Volunteers
• Chasseurs Britannique and Brunswick Oels Jaegers
(8 companies.)
2nd Brigade: Brigadier General Doyle
• 7th Sebutal Portuguese Line
• 19th Cascaes Portuguese Line
• 2nd Moura Caçadores
50
After the Convention of Cintra in 1808 the British gained a
foothold in the Peninsula and the man tasked with licking
the Portuguese into shape was William Carr Beresford, who
was granted the title of Commander-in-Chief of the
Portuguese Army in March 1809. At the same time,
Marshal Soult had crossed into Portugal and occupied
Oporto. Beresford acted quickly to improve discipline and
organisation, utilising daily orders to drive change. He
created recruiting depots, reorganised units and distributed
better arms and equipment; as well as creating Portuguese
brigades and then mixing them with British brigades to
form Anglo-Portuguese Divisions. To ensure greater co-
operation, Portuguese drill and manoeuvres mimicked that
of their British allies; orders were given in both English and
Portuguese by attached British officers. As the war ground
on, the Portuguese Army became an essential part of
Wellington’s forces.
Portuguese Infantry
Unlike the British Army the Portuguese gained their
manpower through conscription. The men that conscription
threw up included all manner of misfits and a rag-tag of
peasantry, a very sad bunch indeed. The establishment of a
central recruiting depot at Peniche, later moved to Mafra,
enabled the conscripts to be transformed into capable soldiers.
Portuguese infantry was split between three types: line
infantry, light infantry and auxiliary formations. Due to the
exemplary efforts of officers and NCOs attached to the
recruiting depot and working to Beresford’s reforms, the
quality of the Portuguese Line and Light Infantry reached
the same level as that of their British Allies. In Black Powder
terms, this means they can adopt the same formations and
are subject to the same special rules as the British.
Portuguese infantry were brigaded in pairs and usually
included an attached Caçadores battalion.
Light Division: Brigadier-General Robert Craufurd
1st Brigade: Lt-Col Beckwith
• 1st/43rd Monmouthshire Regiment
• 1st/95th Rifles (4 companies), 2nd/95th Rifles (1 coy.)
• 3rd Trancoso Caçadores
2nd Brigade: Col Drummond
• 1st, 2nd/52nd Oxfordshire Light Infantry
• 1st/95th Rifles (4 companies)
• 1st Castelo Branco Caçadores
Independent Portuguese Brigade: Col Ashworth
• 6th 1/ Porto Portuguese Line
• 18th 2/Porto Portuguese Line
• 6th Vila Real Caçadores
 RIFLE-ARMED CAÇADORES AMBUSH A FRENCH COLUMN

Line Infantry progressed the Portuguese line units gained a decent

On the 13th of July 1808 the Portuguese line regiments
were reorganised, each regiment having two battalions. A
company was to have a strength of 152 officers and men,
but again this was a paper strength and companies very
rarely achieved this number.
For the purposes of Black Powder, a Portuguese Battalion has
the same number of miniatures as a British battalion. Line
infantry were attached to a town or city where they were
raised and from 1806 they were also numbered. As the war
reputation and it was remarked that they “were in every
way equal to their island [British] counterparts.”
At the start of our period, Portuguese Line infantry –
depending on regiment – could be seen in grey or blue
jackets with grey trousers. Belts were black with a brass oval
plate and the stovepipe shako was worn with a white plume.
This simple uniform was replaced by a navy blue jacket that
had collar and cuffs in regimental colours of sky blues,
whites, reds and yellows. White breeches were worn, but on
campaign were replaced with over trousers of varying
colours. The stovepipe shako had a brass central plate, a
brass edging to the lower front and the national cockade in
blue and red, with a white plume to the front.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Portuguese Regular Smooth bore

6 3 4 3
Line Infantry Infantry musket

Portuguese Line Infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must Form Square, Mixed formation, Can
Form Skirmish in terrain they could not normally enter, Steady Line, Cannot Form Attack Column.

51
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Light Infantry
In 1808 the Portuguese Army found itself without any light
troops as the pro-French General, Pedro de Almeida, had
taken what there were with him when he formed the
Portuguese Legion to fight for the French.
Like the line regiments, each Caçadores battalion was
attached to a town or city. The majority of men who
joined these new battalions were motivated volunteers who
were in the main hill farmers and hunters, all experienced
in the use of firearms.

Step forward Miguel Pereira Forjaz, who ordered the
creation of the battalions of Hunters (batalhoes de Caçadores).
The first six battalions were raised in October 1808 and
each battalion had five companies – four Caçadores
companies and one elite Tiradores company. Each
company had an establishment of 126 officers and men,
which in our games of Black Powder are represented by five
bases of four miniatures.
The Caçadores were trained in British skirmish tactics and
quickly proved themselves as brave fellows, being
recognised as elite by their British allies and their French
enemies alike. In 1811 they had proved their worth so
much that another six battalions were raised. Three were
formed from the Loyal Lusitanian Legion, a two-battalion
strong British sponsored formation that was created in
1808 by Sir Robert Wilson and which fought at Albuera.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Loyal
Lusitanian Regular Smooth bore Skirmish
6 3 4 3
Legion Infantry musket Infamtry
Battalion

The Loyal Lusitanian Legion has the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must Form Square, Mixed formation,
Can Form Skirmish in terrain they could not normally enter, Steady Line, Sharpshooters, Cannot Form Attack Column.

Caçadores
Caçadores are, for all intents and purposes, the same as British Rifles; and what finer testimony to these brave hunters than
the inclusion of the 1st Catello de Vide and 3rd Ville Real battalions in the Light Division!

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Skirmish
Caçadores Regular Smooth bore Infantry,
6 4 4 3
Battalion Infantry musket Reliable,
Elite 5+

Portuguese Caçadores have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must Form Square, Rifle Mixed formation, Can
Form Skirmish in terrain they could not normally enter, Steady Line, Sharpshooters, Cannot Form Attack Column.

The Caçadores wore the stovepipe shako with a dark green
plume above a red and blue cockade, with the shako’s front
having a brass bugle and the battalion’s number. They wore
a dark brown jacket with short tails, and the jacket had both
collar and pointed cuffs in the regimental colour. The jacket
was piped black down the front and along the bottom edge,
along with the collar and cuffs. The shoulder straps were
brown with black piping and had tufts on the end. The
trousers were the same colour as the jacket, with or without
black gaiters. All belting and straps were black and,
although the Caçadores wore only a single cross belt, they
also wore a waist belt. Attached to the waist belt were the
ammunition pouch and a bayonet on the left side. The
knapsack was brown with a grey blanket roll.

Caçadores were primarily armed with the Brown Bess

musket, but one company – the best shots – were given
Baker rifles. The officer’s uniform was similar in cut and
design to that of the the enlisted men, except that he wore a
crimson sash with silver tassels tied on the right around the
waist, gold buttons, and gold epaulettes. The sword knot
was crimson and gold, and instead of gaiters, officers wore
CAÇADORES FORWARD! Hessian style boots.

52
 THE KINGDOM OF PORTUGAL 1808-1814

Portuguese Cavalry
The Portuguese cavalry of the Peninsular War had many
issues. The general staff never understood the role of
cavalry and how they were to be used on the battlefield; and
this saw no division of the cavalry into light, medium or
heavy roles as in other Napoleonic forces. The Portuguese
were not natural horsemen and the horses bred in the
country were unsuited to either heavy or light cavalry work.
As we have seen the Iberian Peninsula, and Portugal in
particular, was not a forage-rich environment. This led to
the cavalry arm being the poorest section in the Portuguese
Army. Each regiment had four squadrons of approximately
125 men, but in reality regiments could be as small as 300
men. A Portuguese cavalry regiment is represented in our
games of Black Powder with units of between twelve and
sixteen miniatures.
Portuguese cavalry wore a simple short-tailed jacket in dark
blue with collar and cuffs in regimental colours. They wore a
bell-topped shako with regimental number to the front and a
red plume. On campaign reinforced grey overalls were worn.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Portuguese Regular
Sabre 6 4 3 Wavering
Cavalry Cavalry

Special Rules: Portuguese cavalry, unlike their infantry countrymen, weren’t very brave fellows and were prone to disperse if
under threat. They are assigned the special rule Wavering as a result.

Artillery
The Portuguese only deployed field artillery and these were
organised in the same way as the British Royal Artillery. In
1809 there were seven batteries fighting alongside their island
allies with two- and three-pounder mountain guns, four- and
six-pounder guns, one 6" howitzer and a nine-pounder.
In 1812 the artillery was reorganised into eight batteries. Five
batteries had five 9-pounders and a 6" howitzer, whilst the
remaining three had five 6-pounders and a 6" howitzer. A
single gun with four crew represents a Portuguese battery in
Black Powder.
Field artillery wore a blue single-breasted jacket that was
piped red and had red turnbacks. They wore white trousers
with or without gaiters. Their helmet was the Belgic shako
with red cords and a black plume.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Portuguese Smooth bore

Cannon 1 3-2-1 4 2
Artillery Artillery

53
The Spanish – ‘Guerra al Cuchillo’
Guerra de la independencia Espanola, 1807 to 1814
Spain, site of mighty Carthage, settled by the Visigoths,
birthplace of the Cid, Conqueror of the Americas and a
nation that once threatened the shores of England with a
great army borne upon an Armada. What of this proud
and mighty nation now that they had seen sense and allied
with Albion in a bitter struggle against the hated invaders.
The Spanish army of the Napoleonic wars was probably
the worst to take the field in any European theatre of
war. It was certainly large and its soldiers were
uniformed in the most colourful and widely differing
uniform selections known in the Napoleonic period (So
much so that I do not intend to provide detail here. I
would need a book just for that.) yet it only managed a
small number of victories against the French and only
one of any importance, that being Baylen in 1808. The
Spanish pitted themselves time and time again in field
engagements with the French, only to put up a half
hearted display before routing, usually leaving their brave
gunnery crews still working their pieces before being
overrun. ‘Damn bad show if you ask me!’
The Spanish army was badly organised, trained, equipped
and led and therefore suffered from a severe self-doubt
which was in contrast to the Spaniards as individuals who
were usually fired by the zeal to rid themselves of ‘el francés’.
When the War of Independence (Peninsular) started the
army numbered around 130,000 regular and militia forces,
quite an impressive size but when you look closer the
standard of those forces is enough to make you wince. It
was said that the Spanish on the march looked like ‘an
armed mob.’
COME ON! DON’T GIVE ALL THE GLORY TO THE UNGODLY BRITISH...
54
As the war dragged on the Spanish did improve. They
received large quantities of cash and equipment, including
uniforms from Britain which saw to the needs of around
50,000 men. Despite suffering the deprivation brought on
by foreign invasion, the Spanish themselves ensured that
their industrial output delivered the rest of the manpower
required, perhaps another 100,000 men.
If the Spanish regular armed forces were not up to much, the
resistance shown by the general population was another thing
entirely. The war against and by the civilian population was a
very cruel and dirty war indeed. It did however prove that the
Spanish had the ability to display extreme courage and
resistance in the face of extreme adversity; perhaps this
manifested itself in the creation of numerous armed bands
who fought the ‘little war’, the term in Spanish giving its name
to insurgent warfare to this day, guerrilla war!
The Spanish population, fed by religious zeal and a
xenophobic hatred of the invader, ensured that their attacks
kept large numbers of Frenchmen tied up protecting
convoys, messengers, garrisons and hospitals, Frenchmen
much needed to counter the threat of the Anglo-Portuguese
and Spanish regular forces.
Infantry
The War for Independence led to the creation of a plethora
of new units, whose organisation, armament and uniforms
varied to one extent or the other. In general terms the
infantry were divided into four types: Guard, Line (which
included battalions of Grenadiers), Light and Militia.
Although volunteers did come forward, the men for these
units were in the main supplied by conscription.
The Guard
The Spanish ‘elite’ forces included three companies of Wallonas, which on paper had three battalions each of four
Guardes de Corps (nearly 700 men) and an artillery battery, companies of 180 men. For the purposes of Black Powder
and the Guarda de Infanteria Espanola and the Guardas Spanish Guard battalions are six stands of four figures.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish
Regular Smoothbore
Guard 6 3 4 3 Elite 5+
Infantry musket
Infantry

Spanish Guards have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter.

Line Infantry
Spanish Line infantry were organised into three battalion regiments, each battalion
had four companies of approximately 190 officers and men. In July 1810 the regular
infantry had a strength of 8 battalions of Grenadiers, 121 regiments of Line and
Militia and 32 regiments of Light infantry.

Line infantry regiments were again made up of three battalions, each battalion having
one grenadier company, one Cazadores company and four fusilier companies, each
company having around 150 men. This was a paper organisation only and in 1812 this
anomaly was rectified when the regimental strength was reduced from three to one
battalion containing the same company organisation as before. For the purposes of
Black Powder Spanish Line battalions are six stands of four figures.

As intimated the quality of Spanish troops was very questionable and with that in mind
I provide the following statistics (Spanish players look away now!) but remember though
this is my interpretation. If you have another then feel free to alter to taste!

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish Line Regular Smoothbore Wavering,

5 2 5 3
Infantry Infantry musket Unreliable

Spanish Line Infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter

Spanish Grenadier battalions had five companies, four of Grenadiers and one of Light infantry.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish
Regular Smoothbore
Grenadier 5 3 4 3 Unreliable
Infantry musket
Infantry

Spanish Grenadiers have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation, Can form
Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter

55
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Light Infantry were organised in single battalions, each battalion having 800 officers and men in six companies.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish Wavering,
Regular Smoothbore Unreliable,
Light 5 2 5 3
Infantry musket Skirmish,
Infantry Sharpshooter

Spanish Light Infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter

Militia infantry are included for a sense of completeness as per 1,000 souls which meant a town of 10,000 people
they were usually confined to garrison duty. They were would only have a militia contribution of 200 men. They
organised in 600-man battalions of eight companies. That have been recorded by historians as fighting better than
said, the reality was that a population was to supply 20 men their regular colleagues, this is represented in their statistics.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish
Militia Regular Smoothbore 6 2 5 3 Wavering
Infantry Infantry musket

Spanish Militia Infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Must form Square, Mixed formation,
Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter

RIFLES AND GUERILLAS STALK THE ROOFTOPS IN SAVAGE HOUSE-TO-HOUSE FIGHTING

56
 THE SPANISH – ‘GUERRA AL CUCHIL LO’, 1807 TO 1814

Guerrilla
You cannot comment on the Spanish and their forces without
providing detail on those plucky chaps who carried out the
‘little war’; directed by local Juntas they performed hit and
run attacks on the French any way they could. The French
regarded them as rebellious scum, bandits who were to be
chastised even unto death. It is estimated that over 20,000
were active in numerous bands whose numbers grew to the
size of small armies in some cases. Guerrilla bands were lead
by colourful yet ruthless men who operated under titles such
as El Pastor (The Shepherd) and El Abuelo (The Godfather).
One cannot underestimate the value to Wellington that the
guerrilla war had. It is without doubt that without these
brave Spaniards, Wellington’s forces would have been
overrun by marauding French armies. Conversely, without
brave Albion and her Portuguese allies, the French would
have hunted down the rebels with impunity.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Various and
Irregular Small,
Guerilla Nasty. 4 2 4 2
Infantry Marauder
Range 18”

Guerillas have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Default formation: Skirmish, Bloodthirsty.

Cavalry squadrons, some squadrons having as few as twenty men in

The worst arm of the worst army ! These chaps were very
bad indeed. They were ill trained, ill equipped and poorly led.
They were totally unreliable and a liability in battle. Spanish
heavy and light cavalry regiments had four squadrons of
approximately 120 men, again a whiff of poor accountancy
here as regiments could boast between one and five
the ranks. There were numerous types of cavalry in the
Spanish army. They had Guards, Cuirassiers, Dragoons, and
Lights made up of Hussars and Caçadores. I will not go into
detail about the roles of each type as the lads in the regiments
knew their role: turn up on the field of battle and then run
away!

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish
Regular
Guard Sabre 7 4 3 HC/D1
Cavalry
Cavalry

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish
Regular
Guard Light Sabre 6 4 3 Marauder
Cavalry
Cavalry

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish HC/D1,
Regular
Heavy Sabre 7 4 3 Wavering,
Cavalry
Cavalry Unreliable

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Lancer,
Spanish Regular Marauder,
Lance 6 5 3
Lancer Cavalry Wavering,
Unreliable

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Marauder,
Spanish Light Skirmish
Sabre 5 5 3 Wavering,
Cavalry Cavalry
Unreliable

57
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Artillery
‘The best of a bad lot’ they displayed spirit
and courage that was not matched by their
countrymen. Batteries were split between
horse and foot, the former having 4
pounders and the later having 8 pounders.
Batteries were supposed to have six guns
each, but this was rarely achieved and
batteries usually had four guns only. The
fact that the batteries were called foot or
horse meant little; a severe shortage of
horses meant both were drawn in the main
by mules and oxen.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish Smoothbore
Horse Light Cannon 1 3-2-1 4 1 A la Muerte
Artillery Artillery

Moves as foot artillery, A la Muerte (Spanish batteries that take a break test due to shooting casualties will only break on 4 or less).

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Spanish
Smoothbore
Foot Cannon 1 3-2-1 4 2 A la Muerte
Artillery
Artillery

A la Muerte (Spanish batteries that take a break test due to shooting casualties will only break on 4 or less).

Dressed for Success?

“The General determined he would pay us a compliment by
making his troops pass there and then in review before us.
Exhausted as every one of us was, we were heartily amused
with his army. Falstaff ’s ragged regiment would have done
honour to any force compared with the men before us; they
were undisciplined, badly armed, and hundreds of them
almost naked. I can assure the reader that it was with the
greatest difficulty we could avoid laughing right out in their
faces, when officers out at elbows and knees, stalked past
carrying rusty old swords not worth lifting off the road.
Hundreds of men with the most haughty countenances
sported coats of many colours, while their trousers bore the
unmistakable testimony to the difficulty experienced by the
wearers in keeping the rags pinned about their legs.”

Sgt. Andrew Pearson, 61st Foot.

Description of General Cuesta’s
Spanish army, sent to aid Wellington
AN UNCOMMON SIGHT – AN ENGLISHMAN IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH. in driving the French out of Spain
IT IS A GOOD PLACE TO SNIPE FROM THOUGH...

58
 THE SPANISH – ‘GUERRA AL CUCHIL LO’, 1807 TO 1814

CONSTANT WARFARE IS CRIPPLING TO BLACK POWDER SUPPLIES. FRENCH COMMISARIAT GET FORWARD!

REDCOATS PREPARE TO DEFEND A ROYAL ARTILLERY BATTERY

59
Imperial France 1807-1814
“Vive L’Empereur!”
By 1807 Napoleonic France had defeated all the major
powers in spectacular fashion to become the master of
Europe. The French Army, with Napoleon Bonaparte at the
height of his powers leading them, had extended the limits
of glory and created a powerful Empire at the point of the
bayonet. The Grande Armée, formed in 1802, was the mighty
host that Napoleon had assembled to invade Britain, in the
Pas de Calais, until his Navy was undone at Trafalgar. It had
been forged from revolutionary zeal and tempered on the
anvil of fourteen years of warfare; its ranks by 1805 filled
with hardened veterans. It was to be the greatest army he
would lead in his long career, later bringing him his
tremendous victory at Austerlitz in 1805.
Russia, Prussia and Austria had no answer to the
decisiveness of French mass and manoeuvre, so why then
did the French fail so badly in the Peninsula?
But thousands of experienced soldiers had died in the great
campaigns of 1805-1807. The battles of Auerstadt, Jena,
Eylau and Friedland had all followed Austerlitz; 50,000
brave Frenchmen lost to Napoleon. The size of the
territories ruled by Bonaparte and his perpetual
campaigning necessitated the dispersal of his remaining
veterans, and their dilution by masses of new recruits to
build the now massive forces of the Empire. Napoleon had
always relied on yearly conscription, but by 1807 he had
begun to conscript men who had been previously deferred
and called ‘annual classes’ in advance. This meant that he
GRIZZLED VOLTIGEURS WORK THEIR WAY FORWARD, FIRING AND ADVANCING WITH TYPICAL ÉLAN
60
would call up the military age recruits of not only that year,
but also those of perhaps the following year. For example, in
1809 not only did Napoleon call on the services of the men
born in 1789, but he also called on those born in 1790.
During the years 1807 to 1809, the demand for ever more
soldiers required the regime to also make use of the services
of foreign contingents, some of whom were more willing
than others.
“Fire alone is everything,
the rest does not matter”
Napoleon, 1809
Napoleon had boasted that he could afford to lose 30,000
men a month, but he could not replace the sapping loss of
experience. This manifested itself mainly in the infantry,
who were now not as manoeuvrable as they once had been.
Napoleon in all his campaigns had always searched for the
decisive battle that would win the war with a single stroke.
As his infantry were now increasingly less skilled in
battlefield drill the reliance on fast-moving assault columns,
driven on by the pas de charge, became more emphasized.
Attacking in column would force results quickly on the field,
especially if supported by massive artillery preparation, and
to this end Bonaparte would add more and more heavy
guns as time went by.

The French Army in the Peninsula
French forces in the Peninsula grew steadily as the war raged
on. From 25,000 men in Junot’s Army of Portugal in 1807,
to 150,000 in 1808, over 300,000 in 1808, and 350,000 by
1811. These men, however, were not the same calibre as the
victors of Austerlitz or Jena, the majority being the raw
recruits and foreign formations described above. As well as
the fall in troop quality, a further weakness was built into the
ability to mount large-scale operations. The corps and
divisions of France were all split into regional armies spread
across the Iberian Peninsula with no overall commander.
This, as well as the poor road system, resulted in poor
communication and co-ordination at the strategic level.
The French Army had gained in its earlier campaigns a
fantastic reputation for demonstrating great feats of rapid
movement, in the main due to its ability to live off the land.
In cold terms this entailed pillaging the localities they
passed through of all harvested goods and livestock, so in
turn there was no delay while supply wagons trundled up
from the rear with the troops’ rations and horses’ fodder.
The French believed this practice, which had worked so well
in the rich farmlands of northern Italy and central
Germany, would serve them well again in Spain. So no real
focus was placed on the creation of proper lines of
communication and the building of supply depots. But they
were to find a barren landscape, and a population that had
removed their goods and were to become actively hostile.
Marshal Marmont’s letter to Napoleon in 1812 is a frank
testimony to this fact:
“…we have no transport, we cannot draw requisitions from the most
wretched village without sending thither a foraging party of two
hundred strong; to live from day to day we have to scatter detachments
to vast distances, and always to be on the move… Lord Wellington is
quite aware that I have no magazines, and is acquainted with the
immensely difficult character of the country and its complete lack of
food resources…”
Infantry
The French infantry comprised Guard, Line and Light
regiments. The regimental organisation underwent a change
in 1808; before that date a regiment had between three and
four bataillons de guerre (fighting battalions). Each battalion
of the Line and Light regiments had one Grenadier
company (known as Carabiniers in the Light regiments);
eight Fusilier companies (known as Chasseurs in the Light
regiments) and from 1804 a Voltigeur company had replaced
one Fusilier or Chasseur company. Grenadiers were the elite
troops of a battalion, usually used to drive home the assault,
whereas the Voltigeurs were the most agile men, the best for
scouting and skirmishing. A battalion’s strength was just over
a thousand men, but this was rarely achieved and the
average varied from six to nine hundred souls.
An officer and a corpse
French officers were guilty sometimes of near suicidal
bravery in their efforts to exhort their men on.
Mark Urban in his book, “Rifles” quotes the following, “Not
for the first time, the riflemen watched enemy officers going
out in front of their men, sometimes putting their hats on
the ends of their swords, sometimes jumping up and down,
waving their arms, exhorting them forward
for the honour of their regiment and of
France.”
“Their officers are certainly very prodigal
of life, often exposing themselves
ridiculously”, wrote one Rifles officer.
Beckwith galloped up behind one group of
riflemen to point out one of the senior
French officers who had come forward on
horseback. “Shoot that fellow, will you?” he
ordered them, knowing that the French
would only move forward again if they were
insopired by brave commanders. Several
riflemen fired and Beckwith watched both
the officer and horse collapse to the ground.
“Alas you were a noble fellow” exclaimed
the colonel before galloping off. The
regiment facing the British brigade in this
part of the fight had eighteen officers shot,
including two of their three colonels.
The post-1808 regiment was also made up of three to
four bataillons de guerre, but the number of companies
was reduced whilst the number of men within a company
increased. French infantry battalions now contained six
companies – one Voltigeur company, one of Grenadiers
and four Fusilier companies (or one Carabinier and four
Chasseur in the light regiments). The Grenadiers stood
on the right of the line and the Voltigeurs on the left. On
paper, battalion strength was 840 men, but again this was
very rarely achieved. It must be remembered that
although the changeover date was 1808, the nine
company battalions remained in Spain for some time; it
was difficult to make such fundamental changes while on
campaign.
Two regiments, of a variable number of battalions, were
usually grouped together into a brigade and two brigades
normally formed into a division; both Light and Line
regiments could be grouped together in brigades. The
standard six bases of four miniatures is the way we
represent both the pre- and post-1808 battalion formations
in Black Powder. On the battlefield, French infantry could be
seen in five formations, depending on the tactical situation.
61
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
MARSHAL SOULT AT THE HEAD OF HIS TROOPS IN LA CORUNA!
Those formations were Column of Divisions, Line, Column
of Companies, Square or Skirmish order.
Column of Divisions was the main fighting formation of
the French infantry. In Black Powder games, this formation is
represented by the Assault Column formation rule. In battle
the French infantry were confident and aggressive when
attacking, and the attack column was the formation in
‘This plucky brigade commander has opted to form his brigade into l’ordre mixte by having his two centre battalions form line, and protected their
flanks with his remaining two battalions formed in attack column. The commander can now rely on the firepower provided by the lines and when
the time is right can unleash the weight of his columns.A major reason for this formation is to protect flanks from cavalry. Columns can form a solid
square in seconds.’
62
which they launched themselves at adversaries. To
represent this we give the French infantry the special rule
Pas de Charge – French troops are reliable when in Assault
Column formation.
The French also fought in a three deep line formation when
they were required to deliver maximum fire effect. The Line
formation in Black Powder is used here.
When in Attack Column or Line the French infantry
battalions sometimes used their light company to skirmish
to the formation’s front, which is represented in Black
Powder by the Mixed Formation rule. Column of Companies
was used by the French to manoeuvre up to the battlefield.
In Black Powder this formation is represented by the marching
column rule.
As we saw with the British, the Square formation was used
to protect against cavalry and is represented in Black Powder
by the Battalion Square formation rule.
Skirmish order was used by Light battalions in either attack
or defence situations. In Black Powder the skirmish rule is
used to represent this formation. That said, it is believed
that during and after 1808 the lack of recruit training saw
the Light battalions deploy, manoeuvre and fight as their
Line cousins.
Some French regiment and brigade commanders, wanting
both the fire power that the line gave and the manoeuvrability
of the column, mixed the formations within their commands.
The formation became known as l’ordre mixte (Mixed Order),
and usually comprised of one or two battalions in line and a
number of battalions in column. In Black Powder we offer no
special rules to represent Mixed Order as the natural
interaction of an Infantry brigade made up of column and
line formations works a treat anyway.
 IMPERIAL FRANCE 1807-1814

Another tactic that the French grew to rely upon more and more was the multi-battalion column. Sometimes brigades and
even whole divisions of infantry were formed into mass formations, either of battalion attack columns formed one behind
the other or battalions in line formed one behind the other.

‘General de Brigade Claude Rusamont, always the one for no-nonsense
fighting, has formed his brigade into a ‘heavy column’ consisting of all
his battalions formed in line in mutual support of each other. In Black
Powder the front line battalion is just that – a battalion formed in line
and the rear formations provide support if combat occurs or can take
the first unit’s place if they suffer casualties.’
‘Rusamont’s command again, this time the fiery General has his
brigade in a ‘heavy column’ consisting of all his battalions in attack
columns in mutual support of each other. In Black Powder the front
columns will do the fighting and be supported by each other and their
sister battalions are to their rear.’

French Infantry
Special Rules
In this section I offer a few new
rules to allow you to bring
additional national characteristics to
your French Infantry. The Pas de
Charge is what I use and as it is a
renaming of a rule in Black Powder it
works for me and the gaming group
I am in. That said, Black Powder is a
flexible game and whether you use
them or invent your own is entirely
up to you.
Pas de Charge
French Infantry in Attack Column
formation become reliable.
Mixed Formation
As Black Powder rules page 78
Must Form Square
As Black Powder rules page 75
FRENCH TROOPS IN CAMP BEING ENTERTAINED BY A LOCAL ‘LADY’. NOT ALL APPROVE...

63
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
Guard Infantry
The Imperial Guard came into being in 1804 when
Napoleon, having been crowned Emperor of France,
ordered that the Consular Guard take the title of ‘Garde
Imperiale’. Initially the infantry within the Guard were a
Guard Grenadiers regiment and a Guard Chasseurs
regiment. These battalions became known as Napoleon’s
‘Old Guard’, and were probably the finest infantry to take
to the battlefield during the Napoleonic Wars… more on
these brave chaps later.
Between 1806 and 1807 the Middle Guard was formed
from veterans of the line. Four new regiments were raised,
the 2nd Regiment of Guard Grenadiers, the 2nd
Regiment of Guard Chasseurs, the Guard Fusiliers-
Grenadiers and the Guard Fusiliers-Chasseurs. In reality,
the latter two regiments, ‘Fusiliers de la Garde’ were
actually denoted Young Guard until 1811. It is these
regiments, as well as regiments raised in 1809, that I will
concentrate on as theey are the ones from the Imperial
Guard that saw action in the Iberian Peninsula. The 1809
regiments took their men from the recruits who were the
strongest, most capable and best educated men in that
year’s class of conscripts.
There were also two regiments each of Conscripts-
Grenadiers and Conscripts-Chasseurs, likewise taken
directly from the newly summoned conscripts. The officers
and men detested the fact that they were labelled as
conscripts, and they soon embarked on a marketing
Our Black Powder Young Guard battalions are represented by the standard six bases of four figures.
Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand
Young Regular Smoothbore
6 3
Guard Infantry Muskets
French Young Guard have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Pas de Charge, Must Form Square, Mixed
Formation, Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter.
Line Infantry
Line infantry were the most numerous type in the French
Army. The line infantry regiments were, as Napoleon
stated, ‘the sinew of the army.’ They were armed like all
French infantry, with the ‘Charleville’ musket model 1777
(fusil d’infanterie). Each Line infantry regiment was recognised
simply by a regimental number, for example 25ème de ligne
(25th Regiment of the Line).
The quality of the Line infantry was variable, ranging from
veteran status to that of the raw recruit in newly raised
units. Although in decline at the start of the Peninsular War,
this should not be overstated. The French infantry’s high
manoeuvrability was still to be feared; they were aggressive
in the attack and dogged in defence.
64
campaign. One regiment’s vehicles were marked with Garde
Imperiale, Regiment de Grenadiers in letters two feet high below
which, in small print, was CTS (conscript abbreviated). The
marketing didn’t work I am afraid as the rest of the Army
christened the regiment the CTS, and many a duel ensued
for the honour of the regiment. The regiments were
eventually renamed when the Guard was expanded again in
1810. The regiments were now called:
• 1st and 2nd regiments Tirailleurs-Grenadiers,
renamed to 1st and 2nd Tirailleurs in 1810
• 1st and 2nd Conscript-Grenadiers, renamed to 3rd
and 4th Tirailleurs in 1810
• 1st and 2nd Tirailleurs-Chasseurs, renamed to 1st
and 2nd Voltigeurs in 1810
• 1st and 2nd Conscript-Chasseurs, renamed to 3rd
and 4th Voltigeurs, also in 1810.
The Young Guard were well trained by cadres from the Old
and Middle Guard and were led by seasoned officers. Each
regiment had two battalions and these battalions were
formed from four companies of approximately 200 men. In
1810, the Tirailleurs marched to Spain to form part of
Rouget’s Division, brigaded with the
Polish Light Horse. The soldiers of the
Young Guard were quartered in
Burgos and operated in anti-guerrilla
operations. So, although not appearing
in set piece battles, there is scope to
include them in your Peninsula
skirmishes.
Shooting Morale Stamina Special
Elite 5+
4 3
Skirmish
In 1807 French fusiliers and voltigeurs replaced their felt
bicorne hat with a black shako that had a brass diamond
plate at its front, which changed in 1812 to a brass eagle.
Grenadier companies wore bearskins with brass front plates
with red cords and plume until 1808, when they were
replaced by the shako. The shako also had chin scales in brass
and a woollen pom-pom at its front which was coloured
according to the company. The pom-pom was in red for
grenadiers, yellow or green for Voltigeurs, green for the 1st
company, light blue for the 2nd, orange for the 3rd and violet
for the 4th. The Voltigeurs’ and Grenadiers’ shakoes also had
a top and bottom band in yellow or red respectively.
Infantry coats, the habit, were dark blue in colour with white
lapels and turn backs, piped red. Collar and cuffs were red,
piped white, whilst shoulder straps were blue, piped red. The
 IMPERIAL FRANCE 1807-1814

pre-1812 habit had long coat tails and was cut at the front in
a V showing a white waistcoat. The post 1812 Habit Vest was
shorter in the tail and square cut at the front. Grenadier
companies wore the same coat with red epaulettes and red
grenades on the turn backs, whilst Voltigeurs had yellow
collars and green epaulettes. Whilst on campaign Line
infantry wore a myriad of trousers, browns, linens and white
being the favoured colours; the leather shako would also
often be wrapped in a fabric cover, which could be any shade
of brown, grey or ochre. A black cartridge box held the
ammunition for the musket and was held on a white cross
belt that went over the soldier’s left shoulder, the cartridge
box resting on the right hip with the bayonet scabbard.
Grenadiers and Voltigeurs also wore a short sabre, held on
the left hip by a cross belt that went over the right shoulder.
Both belts were whitened with pipe clay.
Regardless of all the above, there were numerous deviations
from regulations and it would pay the reader dividends to
spend time reading the numerous books that concentrate on
French Napoleonic military uniform.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Line Regular Smoothbore

6 3 4 3 -
Infantry Infantry Muskets

French Line infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Pas de Charge, Must Form Square, Mixed
Formation, Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter.

“Come with the sabre: I am ready for Napoleon and beautiful France.”
French dragoon challenge to British light dragoon.

Light Infantry
As we have seen, Napoleon’s campaigning had taken its toll
on his infantry and this was highlighted in the regiments of
light infantry which, by the time the Peninsular War broke
out, were operating as the rest of the Line infantry. They
were light in name only; for our purposes that would be
boring, so light infantry retain the previous ability to
skirmish. If you wish to keep within historical boundaries
then French light infantry after 1807 can be treated exactly
the same as French Line infantry. The French, too, had seen
the benefit of skirmishing infantry in the French and Indian
Wars in America and the American Revolution.

The ranks were made up of the fittest men, capable of

acting on their own initiative, who could break into skirmish
order during battle, demoralising the enemy with harassing
fire before the heavy columns hit home. Again, the quality
of Light units varied – one regiment of note was the famous
‘Incomparables’, the 9ème de légère, who boasted four battle
honours and thirty-five combat engagements.
FRENCH LIGHT INFANTRY STREET-FIGHTING IN ZARAGOZA

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Light Regular Smoothbore

6 3 4 3 Skirmish
Infantry Infantry Muskets

French Light infantry have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Pas de Charge, Sharp Shooters, Skirmish, Must
Form Square, Mixed Formation, Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter.

65
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Combined Grenadiers
Grenadiers/Carabiniers were the strongest and bravest men in a battalion, often used to spearhead an
attack or to bolster the rear of a column to prevent men running. On occasions the Grenadier
companies within a brigade or division were amalgamated to form elite Grenadier battalions. If you
wish to form the Grenadiers from a brigade into a combined battalion, then reduce the hand-to-hand
factor of the brigade’s infantry by one and add a small Combined Grenadier battalion. The same can be
done with a division’s infantry, but add a standard Combined Grenadier battalion to any brigade in the
division, or brigade them together as a separate brigade. Don’t forget to pay for a commander for them!

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Combined Regular Smoothbore

7 4 4 3 Elite 5+
Grenadiers Infantry Muskets

French Combined Grenadier battalions have the following Special Rules as

well as the above stats: Pas de Charge, Must Form Square, Mixed Formation, Can
form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter.

Combined Voltigeurs
As with the Grenadiers, the light companies could be massed to form Voltigeur
battalions. If you wish to form the Voltigeurs from a brigade into a combined battalion
then remove Mixed Formation from the brigade’s infantry and add a standard size
Combined Voltigeur battalion. The same can be done with a division’s infantry, but add
two standard Combined Voltigeur battalions to any brigade in the division.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Combined Regular Smoothbore

6 4 4 3 -
Voltigeurs Infantry Muskets

French Combined Voltigeur battalions have the following Special Rules as well as the above stats: Sharp Shooters, Skirmish, Pas
de Charge, Must Form Square, Mixed Formation, Can form Skirmish in terrain that they could not normally enter.

French Cavalry regiment would be formed from four squadrons. A

Some believe that Dragoons and Light Cavalry were the
only French cavalry that were deployed during the
Peninsular War, but if you dig deeper there were a few
regiments of Cuirassiers that were raised to campaign in
Spain, most notably the 13e Regiment de Cuirassiers. Such
regiments saw no major field action, although
there was a small number of such cavalry at
the capitulation of Bailen. In a similar vein,
there were 200 Mamelukes of the Guard
present during the putting down of the
Madrid uprising in May 1808, and
the cavalry of the Imperial Guard
chased Moore to Corunna and took
part in the battle of Fuentes de
Oñoro.
A regiment of cavalry had on average
140 men per squadron. A
squadron was made up of two companies, the 1st
company of the 1st squadron being the home of the
bravest men in the regiment and designated the elite
company. French cavalrymen as individuals were noted as
being inferior to most other nations in the Napoleonic
Wars, but their deficiencies were overcome by battlefield
deployment in large dense masses and a greater higher
organisational capability. The latter meant that the French
usually had a reserve to exploit an enemy weakness or an
enemy that was over stretched. Over confident British
cavalry usually played right into French hands!
French Cavalry Special Rule
Dismounted Dragoons
A Dragoon regiment can start a game dismounted. If
you choose this option then swap your mounted
regiment for a small infantry Dragoon unit.

66
 IMPERIAL FRANCE 1807-1814

Cavalry of the Guard

Grenadiers-a-Cheval de la Garde Imperiale and Regiment de Dragons de la Garde Imperiale.
The Grenadiers were crack cavalry armed with curved heavy cavalry sabres and
wearing tall bearskin grenadier caps. They were nicknamed ‘the Gods’ as they
looked down on everyone else! The Dragoons were created in 1806 and fought
in Spain at Medina-del-Rio-Seco and Madrid. They never acted as infantry.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Guard Reliable
Grenadier Regular
Sabre 9 3 3 Heavy Cavalry
Gendarme Cavalry
Dragoon D3

Only obeying orders...

Chasseurs-a-Cheval de la
Garde Imperiale and
Mamelukes
The Mamelukes were created following
Napoleon’s campaign in Egypt, where
these spirited Egyptian light cavalry really
impressed him. Both these and the “As a soldier I was bound to fight any who attacked the French
army, but I could not help recognising in my inmost conscience that
Chasseurs were some of the finest light
our cause was a bad one, and that the Spaniards were quite right in
cavalry in the Napoleonic wars and fought
trying to drive out strangers, who after coming among them in the
in Spain at Madrid, and the skirmish at guise of friends, were wishing to dethrone their sovereign and take
Benavente. The Chasseurs wore an forcible possession of the kingdom. This war, therefore, seemed to me
elaborate version of the line Chasseur wicked, but I was a soldier, and I must march or be charged with
uniform, adding an imposing black busby cowardice. The greater part of the army thought as I did, and like
with a distinctive red plume. The me, obeyed orders all the same.”
Mamelukes wore their individualistic
traditional dress – white turbans, Marbot on the French occupation
embroidered scarlet waistcoats and of Spain and the Spanish insurrection
maroon saroual trousers.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Guard Light Regular Reliable

Sabre 7 3 3
Cavalry Cavalry Marauder

Chevau-Legers-Lanciers de la Garde Imperiale

The Polish Light Horse of the Guard fought at Madrid and Medina del Rio Seco, but became famous at Somo-Sierra. At
this battle Napoleon, frustrated at Marshal Victor’s dithering in the face of 12,000 Spaniards including four artillery
batteries, ordered forward his bodyguard of 150 Polish cavalry. The Poles charged immediately, on they went up a steep hill
for over a mile storming the Spanish lines and causing them to flee for their lives. At that battle they were not yet armed with
the lance, being issued with it the following year. Below is their stat line for 1809, for the Polish in 1808 use the guard light
cavalry stat line. The Polish Light Horse wore uniforms in a bright combination of blue faced amaranth (a dusty pink),
topped by the traditional Polish czapka helmet.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Reliable
Guard Regular
Lance 8 3 3 Marauder
Lancer Cavalry
Lancer

67
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

“I considered our (British) cavalry so inferior to the French from

the want of order, that although I considered one squadron a
match for two French, I didn’t like to see four British opposed
to four French: and as the numbers increased and order, of
course, became more necessary I was the more unwilling to risk
our men without having a superiority in numbers.”
Wellington on British versus French Cavalry

Dragoons
Dragoons were used widely in the Peninsula, their training in both cavalry and infantry
tactics lending itself well to the terrain and the sometimes relentless skirmishing against
enemy scouts and roving guerrilla bands. Dragoons were armed with straight cavalry
sabres and a dragoon musket that had a greater range than cavalry carbines. On the
battlefield Dragoon regiments were brigaded together, usually two regiments per brigade.

Dragoons wore a Grecian style helmet with a black horse hair mane. They wore long-
tailed green jackets over a white waistcoat. The coat had regimental facings on collar,
cuffs and turn backs and these colours ranged from red through crimson, pink, yellow
and orange. They wore white cavalry breeches and tall cavalry boots.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Regular Heavy Cavalry

Dragoon Sabre 8 4 3
Cavalry +1

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Dismounted Regular Smoothbore Small,

4 2 4 3
Dragoon Infantry Carbine Skirmish

Dragoons have the following Special Rule: Deploy Dismounted

French Light Cavalry

Hussars and Line Chasseurs a Cheval made up the French light cavalry regiments of the Peninsular War; both types being the
equivalent of British Light Dragoons and Hussars. As in the British Army there was a big difference between the fancy
uniforms of the Hussars and the plainness of the Line Chasseurs or Light Dragoons. However, the two operated and fought
in the same manner.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Regular
Line Light Sabre 6 4 3 Marauder
Cavalry

68
 IMPERIAL FRANCE 1807-1814

French Artillery 350 guns at Waterloo alongside 123,000 combatants –

The artilleryman’s lot was not a happy one in the
Peninsula, the bad roads and lack of horses saw to that. As
a result the French deployed nowhere near the amount of
guns that they did in other theatres of operation. At the
battle of Fuentes de Oñoro Massena had 42 guns at his
disposal with 40,000 combatants, whereas Napoleon had
ratios of 1:1,000 and 1:315 men respectively. The French
artillery system, created by Lieutenant General Jean
Baptiste Vaquette de Gribeauval during the 18th Century,
was second to none. The French deployed two types of
artillery in the Peninsula; foot artillery (artillerie a pied) and
horse artillery (artillerie a cheval).

AN IMPROVISED FRENCH COASTAL BATTERY WAITING ORDERS

Foot Artillery
Foot Artillery batteries consisted of six of either 12-, 8- or 6-pounder cannons plus two howitzers served by approximately
eighty to a hundred men. The usual weight of the line foot artillery cannons was the 6-pounder.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Line Foot Smoothbore

Cannon 1 3-2-1 4 2
Artillery Artillery

Horse Artillery
Horse artillery entered French service in time for the Revolutionary War’s beginning. Both 4- and 6-pounders were used
again, and six guns in a battery were usually supported by two 5.5 inch howitzers. Horse artillery batteries disposed of
approximately eighty men, all being mounted.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Line Horse Smoothbore

Cannon 1 3-2-1 4 1 Marauder
Artillery Light Artillery

69
French Allies
French Allies
Napoleon’s continual campaigning during his reign
relentlessly consumed more and more men. The needs of
the Grandé Armée based in Germany, the coastal garrisons
facing ‘Perfidious Albion’ beyond the Channel, and
numerous garrisons across Europe strained the French
regimental depots to the limit. The armies fighting in the
Peninsula should have put an intolerable strain on the
Emperor’s resources, but his use of foreign troops in all his
operations injected valuable manpower into his calculations.
Napoleon’s strategic way of warfare demanded that as little
strain as possible was put on France herself: both in terms
of men and money. He wanted troops from the new duchies
and kingdoms he had constructed for his brothers and
followers, or existing ones that had submitted to his will.
Those that depended on him for their existence would have
to foot the ‘butcher’s bill’, whether they did so willingly or
not. The financial cost of the wars would later be carried by
his defeated opponents in the form of vast indemnities paid
to the Empire. For example, having been defeated in the
1809 campaign, Francis I of Austria had to agree to pay
Napoleon 85 million francs!
Foreigners served Napoleon in two ways: either drafted
directly to stand in the ranks of French regiments or in
complete homogenous units from states within the Empire.
In the second case a whole foreign unit might have its
identity transformed as it was absorbed by the French
Army; one example being the famous
2nd ‘Red Lancers’ of the Imperial
Guard, who were converted from
the Guard Hussars of the
Kingdom of Holland in 1810. The
Confederation of the Rhine was
the central European framework for
amassing complete national units for
campaign service, and we see many
varied examples fighting in the
Peninsula.
The Wise Monk
When the French were driven out of Saragossa, the
Spaniards said it was the statue of the Virgin that
stood at their gates that performed the exploit. An
Irish monk who had lived in the area for twenty years,
commented , “a fig for their saints - the English have two
saints, St. Powder and St. Ball, and when they want to enter a
place they use very little ceremony.”
70
These foreign regiments give the wargamer the opportunity
to break away from painting a remorseless tide of blue-
coated French regiments alone, and add some extra colour.
What about the 4ème régiment Suisse, who confused the
British with their redcoats at Roliça? Or green coated
Nassauers, or white coated Saxons or Westphalians?
These foreign contingents could also be free-standing
armies in their own right, for example –
LEVAL’S 2ND DIVISION
OF THE IV CORPS
2nd [German] Infantry Division,
General of Brigade Baron Jean-Francois Leval
3rd Brigade:
Obherst Heinrich, Freiherr von Porbeck
• Baden Infantry Regiment Gross-Herzog Nr. 4 (2 battalions)
• Nassau Infantry Regiment Nr. 2 (2 battalions)
• Baden Foot Battery: two 7-pdr howitzers
4th Brigade:
General of Brigade David-Hendrik Chasse
Composite Dutch Infantry Regiment (2 battalions), consisting of
• 1st battalion, 2nd Dutch Infantry regiment
• 1st battalion , 4th Dutch Infantry regiment
• Dutch Horse Artillery Battery (6 guns)
5th Brigade:
General of Brigade Balthazard Grandjean
• Hessen-Darmstadt Infantry Regiment Gross- und Erbprinz
Nr. 4 (2 battalions)
• Confederation of the Rhine Battalion Nr. 3 (Frankfurt)
• 2 Hessen-Darmstadt Foot Batteries: four 6-pdrs
The Kingdom of Italy
“The Italians are full of spirit and passion, and it should be easy to
make them good soldiers.” Napoleon,1805
In 1805 Napoleon consolidated his northern Italian
conquests into one kingdom for himself, with a new Italian
Army being organised on the French model. The Emperor
appointed his stepson, Eugéne de Beauharnais as his Viceroy
in Italy, and it was he who turned a disorganised conscript
force into a highly effective army that by 1812 numbered
90,000 men. By 1809 they had furnished two divisions for
the Peninsula, with two light infantry regiments, four line
infantry regiments, two mounted chasseur regiments and a
dragoon regiment. Their uniforms were of the French cut
and style, but substituted white or green for blue.
The Italians were sturdy and reliable troops, so use the
French stat lines for their light/line infantry, Chasseurs and
Dragoons; but note that Italian infantry do not have the
‘pas de charge’ special rule.
The Kingdom of Naples
The Kingdom of Naples was formed in 1806 from the
mainland part of the old Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and
closely tied to France when Napoleon gave its crown to his
older brother, Joseph. When he was elevated to become King
of Spain in 1808, Naples passed as a reward to Joachim
Murat, Napoleon’s brother-in-law and great cavalry Marshal.
The Neapolitan regiments were organised on the classic later
French model, adopting the six company, three battalion
structure in 1808. Naples had contributed a whole division to
the Peninsula by 1811, made up of four line infantry
regiments, one mounted chasseur regiment and one of
chevaulegers. Flamboyantly white-coated, but badly led and
suffering from continual desertion, the Neapolitans did not
cover themselves in glory and were scorned by Napoleon. In
1807, his brother Joseph asked that Eagles be issued to the
Neapolitans, the Emperor refused with the words “you must be
aware that … these troops are no better than none at all.”
For Kingdom of Naples forces see entries for Line Infantry
and Light cavalry from the Spanish section.
The Confederation of the Rhine
The ‘Rhinebund’ was created as a buffer between France
and her eastern enemies, and comprised no less than forty
German states. Of those Westphalia, Baden, Hesse-
Darmstadt, the Grand Duchy of Berg and the Principalities
of Nassau all contributed troops to the Iberian Peninsula.
As with the Italian and Neapolitan forces, their battalions
were organised according to the French pattern.
The Kingdom of Westphalia was created in 1807 from
Hanover, Hesse-Cassel and Brunswick and presented to
Napoleon’s younger brother, Jerome. The Westphalians
provided an infantry division of two brigades and a regiment
of light cavalry. The first brigade had the 2nd and 4th Line
Regiments with two battalions each, the second containing the
3rd Line Regiment and a light battalion. While the infantry
served in Catalonia, the Chevau-legers – four squadrons of
eighty men – served in the French IV Corps. These troops
should have the same stats as French light cavalry.
Baden contributed the Gross-Herzog line regiment of two
battalions with an artillery battery attached. Hesse-
Darmstadt sent the Gross und Erbprinz regiment to Spain
in 1808, followed by two further infantry regiments and a
regiment of chevau-legers in 1809.
The Grand Duchy of Berg was created in 1806 with the
reorganisation of German territories following the dissolution
of the Holy Roman Empire. Murat was made the Grand
Duke. Between 1808 and 1810 Berg supplied three regiments
of two battalions and a regiment of Chevau-legers for the
Peninsula. They were decimated at the rearguard action at
Benavente during Moore’s retreat to Corunna and merged
with French Chasseurs; but in 1810 Berg raised a regiment of
Chevau-leger lancers and pitched these into the war in Spain.
The army of the four principalities of Nassau had two
infantry regiments each of two line battalions and two
squadrons of mounted chasseurs, all these forces being sent to
Spain between 1808 and 1809. They were not seen as reliable
by their French allies, and with some justification, as their 2nd
Regiment would defect to the British in December 1813.

Vistula Legion
The Vistula Legion was formed in February 1807 and comprised three infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment. Its core
was made up of veterans of the 1st Polish-Italian Legion (Dabrowski’s Legion) and the uhlan regiment from the (Polish)
Danube Legion, which had recently been in Neapolitan service. Silesian and Polish volunteers filled the ranks. In February
1808 it was formally inducted into the line of the French Army. The formations again followed the French model and initially
no Frenchmen were allowed to serve in the Legion, although later they were drawn in to help administer the units. The
Vistula Legion regiments were great fighters, their most noteworthy action being their Lancers’ annihilation of Colborne’s
brigade at Albuera.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Elite 5+,
Vistula Regular Smoothbore
6 3 4 3 Tough fighters,
Infantry Infantry musket
Pas de charge

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Reliable,
Vistula Regular
Lance 8 0 4 3 Marauder,
Lancer cavalry
Lancer

71
French Column versus British Line
The French attack column
Having suffered many defeats during the 18th Century,
some in the French Army had become convinced that the
advance to contact or ‘shock’ action should be carried
forward by battalions in a greater depth than the standard
linear formations. This would mean that fire power would
be reduced as fewer muskets could be brought to bear, but
this would be compensated for by men thrown out in a thick
swarm of skirmishers. We have seen that the levee en masse
had given France hundreds of thousands of citizen soldiers
fired by revolutionary zeal, but with little concept of
training and discipline. The Attack column made the most
of the troops’ enthusiasm. Initially armed mobs, they
transformed over time into flexible formations that were
well suited to battlefield manoeuvres in most terrain; flexible
enough to quickly adopt linear tactics for a musketry duel or
square to repel cavalry.
French Resolve
“As soon as we got about 1000 metres from the English line
our men would begin to get restless and excited. They exchange
ideas; the march began to get hurried. Meanwhile the English,
silent and impassive, arms at the port, looked like a long red
wall – most forbidding to our young soldiers.
As we get closer shouts of “Vive l’Empereur!”, “En avant!”,
“A la baionette” break from our ranks.
Our march becomes a trot; men fire their muskets into the air.
Three hundred yards in front the scarlet line stands motionless.
They do not seem to be impressed by the storm which threatens
to break over them. It is a striking contrast.
Some of us begin to think that it will be
devastating when, at last, they do fire.
Their unshakeable calm is unnerving. Our
enthusiasm begins to wane. We try to
restore our confidence by redoubled shouting.
Then at last, English muskets come
down – they are making ready. Appalled,
many of our men halt and open a scattered
fire. Then comes the English volley, precise,
deadly, thunderous. Decimated, our column
staggers, half turns, tries to regain its
balance. The enemy break their long-held
silence with a cheer, then a second volley,
perhaps a third and, with the third, they are
at us, chasing us in a disorderly retreat.
Memoirs of a poor French officer,
Colonel Bugeaud.
72
So how did the French employ the attack column? It was
not just a case of throwing men forward in column to
crash into enemy formations and clear the field of battle.
French attack columns did not move forward to engage the
enemy until the swarm of skirmishers that accompanied
them, as well as supporting artillery, had thinned the
enemy ranks and killed visible officers and sergeants.
Searching French eyes would wait to spot signs of
confusion and disorder, perhaps the enemy formation
moving in an uncoordinated fashion, or it became
noticeable that men were pushing back through the line to
get away from the bombardment. At this point the
columns would be launched forward, just the sight of this
sudden advance, accompanied by the thunder of massed
drums and coordinated cheering, was usually enough to
rout the opposition. Enemy units would melt away in flight
as the columns pounded forward. Hand-to-hand combat
was relatively rare.
If resistance was more determined and the enemy did not
turn on their heels and run, then normally the attack
columns would deploy into lines and engage in a close
range musketry to maintain the ‘softening’ up process.
Once the enemy began to finally waver, the columns would
be reformed and launched again or the bayonet charge
would be completed in line formation.
Why was this successful against the Prussians, Austrians,
Italians and Spaniards? ‘Continental’ Generals arrayed
their armies for the French to see, which allowed the French
to pin, skirmish and then assault their enemy main force
which they had in their sights at all times. Secondly, the
French troops that fought the battles of Austerlitz, Jena and
Eylau were soldiers of the Grande Armee; with excellent
morale, motivation and manoeuvre discipline; they were
second to none. Finally, as officers of the Grande Armee
were promoted on merit, rather than on having an
aristocratic social standing, like their early war enemies,
French battlefield leadership was far better.
British battle tactics and the two deep line
The success Albion and her allies enjoyed in the Peninsula
was attributable to three reasons:
1. The Reverse Slope Tactic. While the French were
allowed to see deployed artillery and a thick screen of
skirmishers, usually riflemen, the main battle formations
were hidden behind the crest of a hill or a ridge. This
meant that the French could never weaken the resolve of
the British line prior to their main attack going in, as their
artillery bombardment proved ineffectual. As the column
attacks went in, up and over the crest they could not
judge where the British were stationed on the reverse,
making their attempts to form line to match British
musketry very difficult and leading to some French
columns blundering directly into the British battle lines.
The columns that did find themselves in such a position
did usually try to press on in attack column or form a line
to engage in a musketry duel. They usually failed to do
either, either being thrown into confusion by the
devastating British volley fire; or not being able to deploy
through lack of room while the British line would wrap
around the flanks of the column and pour in enfilading
volleys. The crashing volleys of the British would be
followed by a devastating bayonet charge that would
complete the defeat of the column as it lost all cohesion “Really these attacks in
and was driven back down the slope.
columns against our
2. Firepower. Even if the French did manage to get over
the crest and form a line, the odds were stacked against line are very contemptible.”
them. As with all other continental European armies, they
formed a line in three ranks, which meant that they could Wellington
only fire with two thirds of their men whilst the British and
later Portuguese deployed two deep and could bring all their
muskets to bear and retained a key firepower advantage. French Column Tactics
To represent un-coordinated attacks going in, infantry
3. Poor quality French soldiers. The French Army had battalions can bring to contact as many units as the rules on
lost many veterans through years of campaigning, and the page 60 of Black Powder allow against an enemy formation.
soldiers and officers in the Peninsula were not of the same However, only one battalion per facing can fight, being the
quality as those that had gone before. While the veterans of owning player’s choice, the other battalions being eligible as
Austerlitz, Eylau and Jena could perform excellent feats of supports.
battle manoeuvre under pressure, the majority of the forces
sent to Spain were conscripts, lacking in experience and skill. The unit chosen to fight does so with the following rules, to
They were no match for the devastating volleys of the British represent the column needing to make a quick breakthrough:
firing lines.
1. If the column defeats the enemy in the first round of
combat and they run away or retire, it can be
Recreating French column versus British interpreted that the enemy turned just prior to contact
line on the tabletop in Black Powder or after a brief bayonet fight. If this does happen, the
other battalions in contact with the enemy get all the
British line tactics post melee options that the victorious battalion gets.
The British get the very special rule Steady Line.
2. If nobody breaks or retires then in the second and
When Charged a formed British unit with this rule that is subsequent rounds of combat, normal combat
not disordered or shaken can: modifiers apply, but the assault column does not get its
+1 save for the column formation as its morale is
1. Stand and fire as usual with all the usual fire modifiers, waning. This represents the columns running out of
casualties, or steam and the enthusiasm of the troops rapidly
evaporating.
2. Fire and then counter-charge, but does not count the
closing fire bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
The British also get First Fire. The British units in line What happens if I want to charge an infantry unit and
formation add +1 to their shooting dice rolls on the first cavalry unit into the same enemy facing? Who fights?
occasion they shoot. Both units would fight.

These two rules represent the devastating fire discipline of If there is an ongoing combat, which I want to charge
British infantry, as well as their ability to deliver well-timed another unit into, and there is space to do so, who fights?
bayonet charges. Both units would fight.

73
Commanders of the Peninsular War
We have taken a look at the troops and formations that
fought the grueling war in the Iberian Peninsula, but what of
the men that commanded the forces of Britain and France -
men whose decisions held the fate of nations, and the lives
of countless soldiers in their hands? We will now review a
few key commanders and take a glimpse into their lives and
careers. Most importantly, I will also suggest how to use such
famous (or infamous!) individuals in your games of Black
Powder. Being a dramatic fellow I have added some special
rules for those commanders that I have selected.
Once again, feel free to adopt, drop or adapt to taste: that’s
the beauty of these wonderful rules!
BRITISH REDCOATS LIBERATE A SPANISH TOWN
74
Britain
Sir Arthur Wellesley,
Duke of Wellington
(1769- 1852)
Born in Dublin in 1769, this
remarkable man had a very
unexceptional life prior to joining the
British Army in 1787 as an ensign in
the 73rd Highlanders. Family
influence and money eased his way
through the ranks, as he took
advantage of the Purchase system to buy one promotion
after another. By the time the Duke of York undertook the
1794 Flanders campaign, Wellesley was a Lieutenant-
Colonel in the 33rd First Yorkshire/West Riding Regiment.
Although the campaign was a failure, Wellesley ended it in
charge of a brigade. In Flanders he learnt numerous
lessons, not the least of which was the use of steady lines
delivering volley after volley against advancing columns.
Chiefly, however, he recognised the effects of poor
command and control, and later said of Flanders “At least I
learned what not to do, and that is always a valuable
lesson.” His star began to shine when he was given
command of an expeditionary force in India to suppress
Tipu Sultan’s rebellion in 1799, which he did skilfully,
crushing the revolt at the siege of Seringapatam. In 1803 he
won further fame with success against another Indian
rebellion at the battles of Assaye and Argaum. Knighted in
1804, by 1808 he was a Lieutenant General assigned to the
expeditionary force to the Iberian Peninsula as second in
command to the incompetent Burrard. The rest, as they say,
is history.
The Iron Duke, as he was later known, was a decisive
commander who did not flap when he came under severe
pressure. Cool and brave in the face of the enemy, he was the
advocate of the reverse slope tactical doctrine. He was careful
with his men’s lives and so became loved by the Army.
Special Rules
• Wellington has a command
rating of 9.
• He is decisive (page 95 of Black
Powder).
• He adds +1 attack to any
combat that he is involved in
where his force charged.
• He adds +3 attacks in any
combat that he is involved in if his side is defending.
• He has the special rule “The French are going to get a
devil of a surprise when they see how I defend a position”.
Wellington can choose which side of the table to fight on during
an encounter battle.
 Major-General Sir Thomas
Picton (1758 – 1815)
Born in 1758 in Pembrokeshire,
Wales, he joined the 12th Suffolk
Regiment of Foot in 1773 as an
ensign. His initial army career ended
in disillusionment when the 12th were
disbanded in 1783. He rejoined the
Army some eleven years later, acting
as an aide-de-camp in an expedition to the West Indies,
which led to a colourful period of his life involving military
expeditions, island governorship, slave trading and several
court cases as a defendant. He was eventually acquitted, his
reputation upheld, and he was promoted to Major-General
in 1809 when he took part in the ill-fated Walcheren
expedition. In 1810 he became a divisional commander in
Spain, personally asked for by Wellington.
Picton became one of the ablest infantry commanders in
Wellington‘s Army, capable of carrying out any task as long
as it was clearly outlined to him. He was fiery-tempered and
sometimes ill-mannered and uncouth. He was famed for
favouring civilian clothes in war and fought the Battle of
Bussaco in a night cap. Respected if not loved by his men of
the 3rd Division, ‘the Fighting Third’, Picton was a valiant
and decisive leader whose determination in the face of the
enemy produced results time and time again.
His campaigning during the Peninsular War took a heavy
toll on his health and mental state; causing
him to leave the service in 1814, his nerves
shot. He later reluctantly returned to
Wellington‘s side for the Hundred Days’
campaign, despite premonitions of his own
demise. Sadly these premonitions came true
when he was shot in the temple whilst
leading the 5th Division at Waterloo, after
being wounded at Quatre Bras.
Special Rules
• Picton has a command rating of 8.
• He is decisive (page 95 of the Black Powder rulebook)
and adds +2 attacks to any combat he is involved in.
• Picton has the special rule “Come on you damn rascals,
come on you fighting villains” One Battalion in his
Division can re roll a failed Break test as if they had
the ‘Valiant’ rule (see Black Powder page 93).
“A man of no great prepossessing appearance came rambling
amongst our guns, and entered into conversation with me on the
occurrences of the day. He was dressed in a shabby, old, drab
greatcoat and a rusty round hat. I took him at the time for some
amateur from Brussels (of whom we had heard there were several
Major-General Robert Craufurd
(1764 – 1812)
Born in 1764 into an aristocratic
family, Craufurd had a privileged
upbringing and education. He entered
the British Army in 1779 as an Ensign
in the 25th King’s Own Borderers
Regiment of Foot. He quickly rose
through the ranks, seeing action in
India, with the Austrians in Europe, at New Ross in 1798
and serving on the great Russian General Suvarov’s
headquarters staff during the Italian campaign of 1799. In
1800 he returned to England to marry, while in 1803 he
became a member of parliament. Always the soldier at
heart, he returned to the colours in 1806 as a Colonel. In
1807 he commanded a light brigade in South America,
emerging from the debacle at Buenos Aires with honour and
a reputation for handling light infantry. In 1807 Craufurd
commanded the Light Brigade under Moore in the
Peninsula, but left with them the following year for England.
In 1809 he returned to the Peninsular War at the head of
the soon to be famous Light Division. To reach Wellington
as soon as possible, the Light Division covered an amazing
sixty-two miles in twenty-six hours. He returned to the
Light Division in time to command it at the battle of
Fuentes de Oñoro, and skilfully extracted it from terrible
danger when threatened by a French flanking manoeuvre.
Promoted to Major-General in 1811 he was mortally
wounded at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in 1812.
Craufurd was one of Wellington’s best generals with a quick
mind and an ability to understand the reality of warfare in
the Napoleonic era. He was a harsh disciplinarian, bad
tempered and had a fiery nature with a knack of
succumbing to violent mood swings, all of which earned
him the nick name “Black Bob”. All that said, he was loved
by the men under his command who would attempt any
feat for their commander.
Special Rules
• Craufurd has a command rating of 8.
• He is classed as having High Independence as a personal
quality (page 95 of Black Powder).
• He adds +1 attack to any combat he is involved in.
• He has the special rule ‘Epic March’ - Troops under his
command may make a free move before the start of the battle.
hovering about), and thinking many of his questions rather
impertinent, was somewhat short in answering him, and he soon
left us. How great was my astonishment on learning soon after
that this was Sir Thomas Picton!”
Captain Mercer, Royal Horse Artillery on Picton.
75
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
France
Jean Andoche Junot,
1st Duc d’Abrantes
(1771 – 1813)
Junot was born in 1771 to a middle
class family and he was studying law
in Paris when the French Revolution
began. He immediately connected
with the revolutionary cause and
joined a battalion of volunteer
infantry, showed great promise and
was promoted to Sergeant. He was probably the man who
knew Napoleon the longest, their paths crossing at the Siege
of Toulon in 1793 when Junot became Bonaparte’s aide.
Hanging on to Napoleon’s coat-tails, he rose through the
ranks and served with distinction in Italy, but the severe
injury he received in this campaign changed his character.
He was promoted General de Brigade in 1799, and managed
to gain the post of Ambassador to Portugal before joining
Napoleon’s side at Austerlitz. Junot was entrusted with the
invasion forces that entered Portugal in 1807, and he quickly
established control of the country. This resulted in him being
given the title Duc D’Abrantes and becoming the governor
of Portugal. British involvement in the Peninsular War saw
Junot become the first of Napoleon’s generals to be defeated
by Wellesley and sent packing back to France.
“The greatest name of
my military Empire”
Napoleon on Massena
He returned to the Peninsular War as a Corps commander
in Massena’s army in 1810, but later returned to France
wounded. His generalship was mediocre and sporadic
during the Russian campaign and on his return to France in
1813 he sadly committed suicide.
A brave man who suffered battle injuries which affected his
judgement, he was sometimes cool and calculated and on other
occasions rash. He was, shall we say, temperamental - at best!
Special Rules
• Junot has a command rating of 8.
• He adds +1 attack to any combat that he is
involved in.
• He has the special rule ‘Battle injury’, he must
roll on the Personal qualities of Commanders
chart (page 94 Black Powder) each turn.
76
Piggy Back
‘The sight of such a piece of effeminacy was enough to raise the
choler of the general and, in a very short time, he was plunging
and splashing through the water after them both. “Put him down
sir! Put him down! I desire you to put that officer down
instantly.” To the drenched officer he then said: “Return back,
sir, and go through the water like the others. I will not allow my
officers to ride upon men’s backs through the rivers – all must
take their share alike here.” ’
Rifleman Ben Harris reporting on Craufurd’s
actions on seeing an officer being carried
across a river by one of his men.
Marshal of France Andre
Massena, 1st Duc de Rivoli,
1st Prince d’Essling
(1758-1817)
Born in 1758 into modest
circumstances, Massena had a
colourful early life. He was a cabin
boy, soldier and smuggler before he
joined the army for a second time in
1791, and a year later he had risen
to the rank of colonel. During the next few years Massena
campaigned in Italy, rising quickly to become a divisional
general. By 1799 he had his own command in Switzerland
and won a dramatic victory over the Russians at the second
battle of Zurich. Alas, Massena was soon in hot water with
Bonaparte, having lost the fortress of Genoa to the
Austrians, for which he was promptly sacked. By 1804
Napoleon had forgiven him and he was amongst the first
eighteen men in France to receive the Marshal’s baton.
As a Corps commander he showed the drive and determination
of a ‘modern’ general, especially at the battle of Aspern-
Essling where he co-ordinated the defence of the village of
Aspern against concerted and determined Austrian attacks.
In 1810 Massena was given the honour of commanding the
Army of Portugal. After his initial success he was responsible
for the French defeats at Bussaco, Sabugal and Fuentes de
Oñoro and was replaced. He never saw action again.
Special Rules
• Massena has a command rating of 9.
• He has High Independence as a personal quality (page
95, Black Powder rule book).
• He adds +2 attacks to any combat he is involved in.
• He has the special rule ‘Dear child of victory’, all troops
under his command defending buildings gain the
special rule Tough fighters (see Black Powder page 92).

Horace Francois Bastien
Sebastiani de La Porta
(1771-1851)
Sebastiani was born in Corsica in
1771, the son of a tailor, and his life
changed dramatically with the
French Revolution. He left Corsica
and joined the French
Revolutionary Army in 1792. He
took part in many campaigns during the Revolutionary
Wars and by the close of the 18th century he had gained his
colonelcy. He then spent several years as a diplomat, being
later promoted to general de brigade in 1803. Sebastiani
then spent several years as ambassador to the Ottoman
Empire with mixed results. By 1809 he was commanding
the IV Corps in Spain, a mediocre commander who gained
a great nickname. The troops christened him ‘General
Surprise’, on account of him having his forces caught out
by the enemy on more than one occasion.
FRENCH LIGHT CAVALRY DASHING IN THE SADDLE – AS DANGEROUS WHEN UNHORSED!
COMMANDERS OF THE PENINSULA WAR
His weary and listless nature is believed to have cost many
men their lives, particularly at the battle of Talavera, but
Sebastiani had a way of making sure he wasn’t found out: he
didn’t report the correct casualty figures. He was also very
good at over-exaggerating his battle victories. However,
Napoleon understood the nature of Sebastiani and removed
him from command of his Corps; yet he went on to
command in the campaigns in Russia in 1812 and those of
1813 -1814.
Special Rules
• Sebastiani has a command rating of 8.
• Note: He adds no attacks to any combat he is
involved in.
• He has the special rule ‘General Surprise’ - his
opponent can choose whether to go first or second.
If playing a pointed game, however, Sebastiani
can reduce the number of points the enemy has gained
from him by D6 x 10.
77
Scenario Games
A SWEEPING, IRRESISTABLE TIDE OF RED...
Here be Dragoons...
Over the following pages we shall take a look at a number of
scenarios that have been played and enjoyed many times by
my gaming friends and myself. Pages 108 and 109 of the Black
Powder rulebook give an excellent insight into how the
originators of the game like to co-ordinate their own games.
Of course, my friends and I are no different. In creating these
scenarios, I have therefore tried to offer an alternative to the
common game of the French attacking the British. The
scenarios presented here are a mix of historical and fictional,
and I have included an additional section on how you can
recreate larger battles from history. I have tried to arrange the
scenarios so that they are achievable by the average wargamer
in terms of both the number of figures used and the space
available. You will therefore find that most of the scenarios are
set on six foot tables and with armies that should not prove too
hard to muster.
78
Light cavalry spent most of their working day in
outpost duty or patrolling or scouting. When let off
the leash however they could be every much as deadly
as the heavy cavalry...
The 16th light dragoons of Wellington’s army are
described by William Tomkinson advancing against
French infantry...
“When we came to the top of the hill, there was
formed the 12th and 14th on our left, close in front of
Villagarcia. The enemy formed a quarter of a mile
from them, and a small stone wall betwixt the 16th
(our regiment) and the French. We came down the hill
in a trot, took the wall in line, and were in the act of
charging when the 5th Dragoon Guards came down
on our right, charged, and completely upset the left
flank of the enemy, and the 12th and the 14th, and
16th advancing at the same moment, the success was
complete. The view of the enemy from the top of the
hill, the quickness of the advance on the enemy, with
the spirit of the men in leaping the wall, and the
charge immediately afterwards was one of the finest
things I ever saw.”
The Battle of Roliça, 17th August 1808
Introduction
The Peninsular War begins, the attack columns mass and
launch their attack. But wait! There is something different
here. Those are not the famed attack columns of the
French – they are British!
The Battle
On 1st August 1808 Wellesley landed in Portugal with his
first command of nearly 9,000 men. By the 5th of August
his command had risen to 13,500. Five days later, Wellesley
and his army were on route to Lisbon, picking up 2,000
Portuguese cavalry and infantry on the way. During the
dusty march towards the Portuguese capital, Wellesley
became aware of a French force standing in his way.
Commanded by Count Henri Delaborde, this force was
composed of just over 4,000 men in five battalions
(including one Swiss), five guns and a small number of
Chasseurs à Cheval.
Delaborde positioned his troops on a low ridge east of the
small village of Roliça. Wellesley’s command was in six
brigades under Generals Hill, Ferguson, Nightingall, Bowes,
Craufurd, and Fane; with attached Portuguese forces led by
Colonel Trant. Colonel Trant with his men and 50 cavalry
took the right flank and were tasked with turning the French
left. Ferguson and Bowes, with a few companies of riflemen
and artillery, were to pressure the French right and hold
against any other French reinforcements sent to assist
Delaborde. Hill, Nightingall, Craufurd and Fane with the
remaining cavalry and cannon took the centre.
As dawn broke on the 17th of August, Wellesley went on
the offensive, intent on enveloping and destroying the small
French force. Fearing such a manoeuvre by the British, the
wily Delaborde withdrew to the craggy heights above the
village of Columbeira: a very defendable position. Wellesley
pushed forward, manoeuvring to pin and then outflank
Delaborde’s position. Unfortunately, the brave but eager
Lieutenant Colonel George Lake of the 29th
Worcestershire Regiment led his men towards the French
before the rest of the British force was ready. Despite a
45TH (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE) REGIMENT OF FOOT
gallant effort, the 29th were thrown back down the hillside
by a furious French charge. Poor Lake lay dead and nearly
40 of his men were captured.
This precipitated an all out attack by Wellesley’s forces.
After two hours of hard fighting, during which the French
threw their adversaries back on several occasions, the
British finally managed to gain a firm hold along the crest.
The now wounded Delaborde again pressed by Wellesley on
his flanks, skilfully withdrew his hard-pressed battalions
until further British pressure caused his army to break and
run. A shortage of cavalry left Wellesley in no position to
make the best of the hard won victory.
This scenario recreates the battle that signalled the outbreak
of the Peninsular War, with the British attempting to
dislodge a determined French enemy. Will they succeed?
“Roliça was one of our
most important affairs.”
Sir Arthur Wellesley
Terrain
The dominant feature of the tabletop battlefield is a large
area of tiered hills leading up to the rugged heights of the
Columbeira (see the Roliça battlefield map). As most
gamers will have tables that are predominately flat, it is best
to represent this area of rising ground with a few hills
standing for the highest and most defensible points. This
arrangement alone could prove a little disappointing on the
eye, so in order to suggest the broad nature of the ground it
is a good idea to add a scatter of brush and scrub, single
trees and tumbled down walls. These will not only make
your tabletop appear more pleasing, but also serve to signify
the broken ground and slopes that made such a challenging
environment for the attackers. The nature of the battlefield
demands a few specific rules to give us a flavour of this
famous encounter
79
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
SCREENED BY THEIR LIGHTS, THE FRENCH COLUMN ADVANCES ON THE ROAD, GRENADIERS LEADING
Special Scenario Rules
1. British Infantry can form assault columns in this game. In
the actual battle, the British were only able to attack up a
series of gullies in rough column formations.
2. Infantry units attacking up the heights count the following:
a. Move at half speed.
b. Suffer -1 to the number of attack dice thrown in
close combat.
The routes available to the British when assaulting the
French positions were very hard to traverse, and the British
were at a distinct disadvantage in the ensuing combats.
3. Any units on top of the Columbeira (see map) gain a +1
to their Morale save and +1 to their combat resolution.
The units also count as being in a defensible position.
(See page 75 Units with the form square special rule.)
The heights of the Columbeira provided excellent
natural cover and proved a strong defensive position. Yes
this does mean that French in Attack Column on top of the heights
have a 2+ Morale save!
4. Both French and British cavalry moving on the battlefield
must roll a dice at the beginning of each single move that
they make, and on a roll of 5 or 6 they become
disordered by the rough terrain and are brought to a halt.
Note that this can mean a unit receives a successful order
but still fails to move because it fails its first terrain test.
The terrain was not conducive to horsemen and this rule
will limit their usefulness considerably.
5. Brigades consisting of only two units are not considered
broken if only one is shaken or destroyed. In this case both
units have to be shaken or destroyed to break the brigade.
80
6. If the British lose two brigades then the whole British
army is deemed to be broken. If the French lose one
brigade their army is considered to be broken.
7. The British take the first turn.
The Armies
The game easily accommodates the new rules introduced in
this supplement, but note that the British are allowed to
form assault columns to get up the steep position held by
the French.
Optional rule (Hard Core British)
The British do not have access to Craufurd’s Brigade. In the
actual battle Craufurd’s Brigade was held in reserve.
Optional rule
(Soft Core French)
The French have to lose both
brigades before the entire French
army is considered broken. In the
actual battle the French defence was
especially dogged.
The Table and Game Scale
This depends on the resources
available to you, I have played this
battle on a 6ft by 4ft table with all
shooting ranges reduced by a third.
For example, the range of a musket
is reduced from 18 inches to 12:
simple! All other distances remain as
standard.
 THE BATTLE OF ROLIÇA

ORDERS OF BATTLE
The British The French

Commander-in-Chief Commander-in-Chief
• Lieutenant General Arthur Wellesley • Count Henri Delaborde Staff Rating 8
Staff Rating 9 and Decisive
Avril’s Brigade Staff Rating 7
Hill’s Brigade Staff Rating 7 • 2 Large Battalions of French Line Infantry
• 3 Large Battalions of British Line Infantry
Brennier’s Brigade Staff Rating 7
Fane’s Brigade Staff Rating 8 • 2 Battalions of French Light Infantry
• 1 Rifle Battalion • 1 Battalion of Swiss Line Infantry (Reliable, Elite 5+)
• 1 Small Rifle Battalion
Other Forces
Nightingall’s Brigade Staff Rating 7 • 1 Small French Chasseur a
• 2 Large Battalions of British Line Infantry, One battalion has Cheval Regiment
the special rule Determined Charge and Tough Fighters to • 1 Foot Artillery Battery
represent Lake’s 29th. (Can be split and attached to any
of the above brigades)
Craufurd’s Brigade Staff Rating 8
• 3 Battalions of British Line Infantry

Other Forces Note: If you want to fight with

• 1 Small British Light Dragoon Regiment non-historical forces I would
• 1 Small Portuguese Cavalry Regiment suggest the British pick a force
(Attached to any one one of the above brigades) of 700 points and the French
• 2 Royal Artillery Foot Batteries 300 points.
(Can be split and attached to any of the above brigades)

Victory Line Victory Line

French
Deployment area French
! speed Deployment
+1 Save area
+1 Combat Score

French
Deployment area
French
Deployment French
area Deployment area
Broken terrain:
• +1 Morale Save
! speed
• +1 Combat Resolution
-1 die to combat
Attack in column

Nightingall’s
Fane’s Deployment area Hill’s
Deployment area Deployment area
Craufurd’s in reserve

81
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
Brothers in arms
As part of Crayford’s Brigade in Hope’s Division the 92nd
Highlanders (dressed in Highland dress) and the 71st
Highlanders (in standard uniform) stopped at Fraxiollo, a
little village on the border of Spain and Portugal.
The 71st had been to Venezuela and several amongst their
ranks could speak Spanish. When
the villagers enquired as to the
reason for the strange dress of the
92nd, the 71st explained that their
Highland brothers were a set of cowards and
felons and doomed to wear the garb as a mark of
disgrace! The villagers became
hostile towards the 92nd and the
mayor refused to supply the
regiment.
October 1808
Dispositions
The deployment areas for each army are shown on the
attached map of the battlefield.
Winning the Game
The game lasts for eight turns. If either side is broken
before the eight turns are up then the opposing side has
won automatically.
If neither army is broken by the end of the game the player
with the highest Victory Points (VPs) wins. VPs are
calculated for each side as noted below.
British Aims and Objectives
The British player’s aim is simple - drive away the dastardly
French in timely fashion and preferably without drawing
upon the reserves held in Craufurd’s Brigade. The British
win if the French army is broken before the end of the
game. Otherwise we assign victory points (VPs) as noted
below:
The British score three VPs for each one of their units that
is not Shaken and which is south of the victory line at the
end of the game (see the Roliça Battlefield map).
The British score one VP for each unit north of the Victory
line and also in the French deployment zone at the end of
the game. In this case the point is scored whether the unit is
shaken or not.
The British score one VP for each French unit that they
cause to be shaken and two VPs for each unit they destroy or
force to leave the table. Add half a point to this score if the
unit is large and take half a point away if the unit is small.
82
French Aims and Objectives
The French player’s aim is to hold on to the commanding
heights for the duration of the game, thereby delaying and
damaging the British war effort. The French win if the
British army is broken before the end of the game.
Otherwise we assign victory points (VPs) as noted below:
The French score three VPs for each one of their units that
is not Shaken and which is north of the victory line at the
end of the game (see map).
The French score one VP for each of their units south of
the victory line whether shaken or not.
The French score one VP for each British unit that they
cause to be shaken and two VPs for each unit they destroy or
force to leave the table. Add half a point to this score if the
unit is large and take half a point away if the unit is small.
All VPs scored against Craufurd’s Brigade are tripled. For
example, if a battalion from Craufurd’s Brigade becomes
shaken then the French would gain three points rather than
one. In the actual battle Craufurd’s Brigade formed the
reserve, and it being moved forward showed the British were
in difficulties.
British Considerations
This a real tabletop teaser for the British player. The
French army enjoys a very strong advantage thanks to the
terrain. The French infantry on top of the Columbeira will
be especially difficult to dislodge. Some of your
commanders are also lacking in terms of their staff rating.
Although commanders with a rating of 7 are a safe pair of
hands you may need a little more in this game as time is
against you.
In games such as this players must look to the strengths of
their forces. Fortunately, you have Sir Arthur Wellesley in
command with a staff rating of 9 and the special rule
Decisive commander. Use him wisely. You also have more
infantry, cavalry and artillery than the French. Do not throw
this advantage away. I shall say no more than fire and
manoeuvre gentlemen.
French Considerations
You face a real dilemma. The British have the weight of
numbers and a commander of real quality at their head.
Your lack of infantry and artillery are a real concern, as
your army cannot cover the whole of the field. Your
small army is very fragile from the point of view of its
break point. You have one considerable advantage in that
your forces command the heights of the Columbeira.
The game bonuses accruing from this position cannot be
overstated, so deploy your forces to take maximum
advantage of the terrain.

The Battle of Roliça - How it played
Who do you invite to play your first and favourite tabletop
teaser type game? Well in my case I went straight for the top
and asked Rick Priestley the author of Black Powder and
John Stallard, Overlord of Warlord Games and guess what
they said? It was “yes” in John’s case, as he was to play the
role of Arthur Wellesley and “oui” for Rick who took on the
persona of Henri Delaborde. I assumed the role of umpire
and scribe for the occasion.
The battlefield was set up at my local gaming club. I tried to
make the tabletop look as rugged as possible using what
terrain was available. The battlefield was laid out as closely
to the map as we could arrange, although this does not have
to be an exact science of course. With a 6 by 4 foot table to
play upon, shooting ranges for muskets and artillery were
reduced by a third as noted above.
The British were commanded by a stout fellow with a stiff
upper lip who chose to go for the hard-core optional rule
and would not therefore be resorting to Craufurd and his
reserves. Their leader was heard to remark, “They are only
damn Frenchies after all.”
The French commander with a dismissive wave of the hand
refused the French soft-core optional rule. This meant that
the loss of either French brigade would immediately forfeit
the game.
The French then proceeded to take up positions on the
Columbeira. Rick placed Avril’s Brigade with the
attached artillery on the top of the heights, with
A ROLE REVERSAL WITH SWEATING MASSED BRITISH COLUMNS CLIMBING A STEEP INCLINE TO ENGAGE WAITING FRENCH LINES
THE BATTLE OF ROLIÇA
Brennier’s Brigade deployed to secure the French right.
Both the 2nd and 4th Light battalions assumed skirmish
formation ahead of the elite Swiss battalion and the
attached light cavalry.
Happy with his deployment Rick handed over to John,
suggesting that he do his worst.
The British began the first turn. John brought Nightingall’s
Brigade onto the battlefield first. The 29th and 82nd Foot
marched on in line. John happily envisaged the two
battalions crashing into Brennier’s skirmishers. The
battalion commanders had other ideas though. They
headed straight for Brennier’s command, together with two
attached Royal Artillery batteries, but only made it to the
foot of the Columbeira. John was in no mood to be subtle
and ordered the 5th, 9th and 38th Regiments of Foot -
Hill’s brigade arranged in columns - to charge the top of
the heights. The battalions were slowed by the terrain and
failed to reach their objective. John was further dismayed
when Fane and his Rifles failed to make an appearance.
Muttering things that I cannot and would not dare mention
here, John moved to conduct his shooting. The collective
fire from Hill’s Brigade managed to disorder the 2/70th
Ligne, but the rest of the British fire proved sadly ineffective
Rick, recognizing the threat posed by Nightingall’s Brigade,
ordered the 2nd and 4th Légèr to pull back and reform
their skirmish lines on either flank of the Swiss infantry. He
allowed Avril to bite his lip and wait for the columns of
Hill’s Brigade to strike home, secure in the knowledge that
the French commanded a strong position. Rick smiled with
83
ALBION TRIUMPHANT
RUN! JUST BLOODY RUN!
satisfaction as a mixture of terrain and French fire from the
top of the heights sowed confusion amongst Hill’s Brigade.
The 9th and the 5th Foot were thrown into disorder.
In his second turn John, undeterred by the rough terrain and
the attentions of the French, ordered the 38th Staffordshires
on. They successfully charged the 2/70th Ligne at the top of
the heights. Nightingall’s command was ordered to charge the
French skirmishers. This they did readily. Rick had anticipated
this action though and the French light troops evaded from
their enemy. Each British battalion was placed in contact with
the relevant French skirmish line and the French were moved
a full move to the rear. John tried to order Fane onto the table
once more, this time successfully. The 60th and 95th advanced
onto the battlefield. However, the attached light cavalry found
the terrain too much and became disordered. British musketry
was relatively fruitful with the 1/70th Ligne and 2nd Légèr
suffering disorder from well-aimed shots. The clash between
the 38th and the 2/70th on the heights proved inconclusive,
despite the disordering effect of the French closing fire.
The French second turn saw the 4th Swiss facing off against
the 29th and 82nd Regiments of Foot. Rick didn’t like the
odds and withdrew behind the French Légèr, who poured fire
into the 29th Worcestershire, disordering them. Back on the
top of the Columbeira, the resolve of the Staffordshires broke
and the battalion reeled back down the slope shaken and
disordered. The derisory jeers of the French stung every
Englishman present – well John and I anyway!
In the British third turn John had Fane urge the Royal
Americans and the 95th forward to support Nightingall.
These were orders that the men proved eager to carry out.
Unfortunately, the terrain prevented the attached light cavalry
from doing likewise. The 82nd Prince of Wales Volunteers
attempted to flank the French skirmishers in front of them. As
they did so Rick pointed out that the proximity of the French
meant that the 82nd could only retire to their rear quarter or
press forward into their front quarter. In the end, the 82nd did
84
neither. John used Wellesley’s staff rating to have Hill
withdraw his two unmolested battalions from the Columbeira.
Visibly shocked by the 38th’s failure to carry the heights, John
would try a more subtle approach. The British artillery now
began its work on the heights, throwing the 1/70 into disorder.
Further fire from the ranks of the British had little effect.
Although Rick recognized that he was holding his own he
also knew that he couldn’t afford to keep sustaining casualties.
He therefore decided that it would be prudent to have his
commanders carry out ‘Rally on me’ orders where possible.
The 2/70th received such succor. Rick was prevented from
availing the 1/70th of the same as they were disordered.
French musketry and artillery played on the ranks of the
British, disordering the recently rallied Staffordshires.
With no combats outstanding, John moved into his fourth
turn. The 95th and the 60th moved into position to engage
the 2nd Légèr. Surprisingly neither British battalion took up
skirmish formations. Would they pay for such folly?
Elsewhere on the field, Hill and Nightingall’s commands
dallied. The British may have been tardy in their
movement, but their firing proved excellent, throwing
virtually the whole French army into disorder. Only the
Swiss and the 2/70 escaped the mauling.
Suffice to say that the French fourth turn of movement was
uneventful as the army had suffered considerable disorder in
the British turn and could only stand its ground as it pulled
itself together. That said the French shooting dealt the 29th
Foot such a pounding that they became shaken, whilst the
60th paid for remaining in line and they too were shaken.
In his fifth turn John had Wellesley order the shaken 38th
Staffordshires to complete a flanking manoeuvre, the
inspired leadership of Wellesly spurred the brave 38th on,
and within no time they were on the flank of the 2/70th. In
attempting to move the rest of Hill’s Brigade Wellesley
blundered. With Wellesley being the Commander-in-Chief

the British command phase ended. However, the British
artillery proved its worth in this turn, inflicting such damage
upon the 1/70th that the battalion was broken and driven
from the field – the first French unit to be destroyed.
It was now the French fifth turn and, not wishing to be
outdone, Rick eagerly rolled his dice for an order from
Delaborde. The fact that Rick had neglected to state what
order Delaborde wanted to give can only be put down to
battle fatigue! In anyone’s book failure to state an order
results in a blunder and there was to be no exception here.
With Delaborde’s blunder the French command phase was
automatically ended. French musketry and artillery had
little effect with only the 9th East Norfolk taking casualties
and becoming disordered.
As the British began their sixth turn the action was now so
close that John was able to rely on initiative moves to achieve
his aims. The 95th charged the 2nd Légèr, supported by the
60th Royal Americans. The 29th fell back, away from the
action and the devastating close range musketry of the
French skirmishers. The 38th formed line, enfilading the
flank of the 2/70th Ligne. John fired everything he could at
the 2/70th in an attempt to dislodge them, but the brave
Frenchmen, although thrown into disorder by the crashing
British volleys, resolutely held their ground. The combat
between the 95th and the 2nd Légèr was a totally one-sided
affair with the French battalion trouncing the ‘Sweeps’ and
causing them to break. The supporting Royal Americans
passed the break test required for supporting broken friends,
but even so Fane’s command was now broken.
With the British on the ropes, Rick looked to press his
advantage. Now what happened next brought up an
interesting debate. The 4th Légèr were within initiative
range of the 29th who were to their direct front. Rick
knew though that if he got one more casualty on the 9th
East Norfolk he would shake that regiment, break Hill’s
VICTORY LOOKS ASSURED FOR THE PLUCKY BRITISH. BUT...
THE BATTLE OF ROLIÇA
Brigade and win the game. The East Norfolk were off to
the 4th’s left and out of initiative move. Therefore, the
question (nay dilemma!) was could Rick move the French
light regiment in the initiative phase of the game towards
a unit that had not triggered that initiative move. After a
brief debate, we unanimously settled on what felt right in
the circumstance, which was to say no. The 4th Légèr
therefore continued to skirmish against the 29th directly in
front of them. Meanwhile the Swiss plugged the gap
created by the demise of the 1/70th. French shooting was
once again ineffective.
The British seventh turn was over in a flash as Wellesley once
again blundered whilst ordering the 82nd Prince of Wales
Volunteers forward. The regiment appeared to misunderstand
the order and retreating was the only movement that took
place. The 2/70th clung on to their position on the heights,
despite being the prime target of the British shooting.
In the French seventh turn the 2/70th managed to turn to
face the Staffordshires whilst the 2nd and 4th Légèr
skirmished against Nightingall’s command.
Going into the eighth turn both John and Rick needed only
to inflict one casualty each to win the game. John needed to
get a casualty on the 2/70th, whilst Rick had a choice of
the 82nd from Nightingall’s Brigade or the 9th East Norfolk
from Hill’s Brigade. With a cry of “What can possibly go
wrong?” John had Wellesley personally lead the 9th East
Norfolk in a bayonet charge against the 2/70th, a game
ending move for the winning side … the French! The
British regiment fought valiantly, but the 2/70th did enough
to shake the 9th and therefore to break Hill’s Brigade.
In the aftermath both commanders stated they felt that the
game was slipping away from them and that they were both
up against it from the start. I felt as though I had done my
job well and created a demanding scenario that challenged
both the French and the British.
85
The Battle of Granja de la Abundancia
Introduction
Somewhere in Spain; in the height of the hot Spanish summer,
the French – under pressure from guerrilla raids and suffering
from a lack of supplies – are making for much needed resources
harvested at the Farm of Abundance. The British, well supplied
by the Royal Navy, have discovered ‘what the French are at’ and
are racing to secure the harvest from the French.
This game is what I would call a ‘capture the flag’ scenario
and is the first in a sequence of two games. ‘Capture the
flag’ scenario refers to games where players must use the
army at their disposal to capture certain terrain features on
the table top. In this game the main terrain feature that
requires the players’ attention is a Spanish farm or granja,
although there are other terrain features that are up for
grabs. Before I set the game up for you I will just add that
SPANISH LOOKS ASKANCE AT THE ‘LADIES FROM HELL’. A SIGHT FEW COULD FORGET...
86
this game links with the next scenario that I have created,
the winning army from this game gains an advantage in the
next, so make sure you fight hard, but fair of course.
Terrain
There is plenty of terrain on this battlefield, the dominant
feature being the farmstead itself. The British and French
base buildings can be represented by any suitable house that
you have in your collection, whilst the hills and wood should
not be too hard to source. As with the previous battlefield of
Roliça, if you have specific terrain that you wish to add to
increase the aesthetics then be my guest. The farm and the
buildings follow the normal rules for buildings in the Black
Powder rule book. The wood and hills likewise follow their
normal rules.
July 1810 ‘Capture la Bandera’
Special Scenario Rules
1. Before the game starts each player writes a simple order
of march, for example “Lane’s Brigade, followed by
Hoole’s Brigade, then Dale’s Brigade…” and so on. This
is the order in which the brigades will enter the table, with
each brigade arriving in march column if cavalry or
infantry, or limbered if artillery. Units must enter the table
at their specific road entry point or within six inches of
that entry point. See the Granja de la Abundancia
battlefield map.
2. Nominate a player from each side to roll a dice; the
highest rolling side chose whether to take the first or
second turn.
The Table and Game Scale
Again this depends on the resources available to you. Being
a modest Yorkshireman I have fought this battle on a 6ft by
4ft table, with all move distances and ranges reduced by a
third. I play the majority of my Black Powder games on such
a table size and it really works for my games.
The Armies
This game utilises sizeable forces on both sides, but easily
accommodates the new rules introduced in this supplement.
The British have access to a brigade, something akin to the
famed ‘Light Division’ whilst the French have the weight of
artillery and cavalry.
Both sides were given a staff rating of 8 for their
commanders and 7 for their subordinates, apart from the
commander of the British ‘Light brigade’. I thoroughly
recommend that you roll on the characteristic chart on page
94 of the main rules for all your commanders.
Dispositions
Please see the attached map of the battlefield; entry areas
are shown clearly.
The Spoils of War
A captured Frenchman observed an English officer on
the march – the contrasts are, of course, stark...
“The captain rode first on a very fine horse, warding off the sun
with a parasol. Then came his wife very prettily dressed with a
small straw hat, riding on a mule and
carrying not a parasol, but a little black and
tan dog on her knee, while she led by a cord a
she-goat to supply her with milk. Beside
madame walked her Irish nurse, carrying in
a green silk wrapper a baby, the hope of the
family. A grenadier, the Captain’s servant,
came behind and occasionally poked up the
long-eared steed of his mistress with a staff.
Last in the procession came a
donkey loaded with much
miscellaneous baggage, which
included a kettle and a cage of
canaries.”
87
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

ORDERS OF BATTLE
The British The French

Commander-in-Chief – SR 8 Commander-in-Chief – SR 8
• Lieutenant General Roderick Scholey • General de Division Mainarde d’Belle SR 8

Lane’s Brigade – SR 7 Dupont’s Brigade – SR 7

• 3 Battalions of British Line Infantry • 3 Battalions of French Line Infantry
• One Royal Artillery Battery • One Battalion of French Light Infantry
• One Line Foot Battery
Hoole’s Brigade – SR 7
• 2 Battalions of British Line Infantry Maurice’s Brigade – SR 7
• One Battalion of Highland Line Infantry • 2 Large Battalions of French Line Infantry
• 2 Battalion of French Light Infantry
Dale’s Brigade – SR 8 • One Line Foot Battery
• One small Rifle Battalion
• One Battalion of British Light Infantry Brune’s Brigade – SR 7
• One Battalion of Caçadores • 2 Chasseurs a Cheval Regiments
• One KGL Hussar Regiment • One Line Horse Battery

Note: If you want to fight with your own forces I would suggest that each side pick a force of 500 points.

FRENCH ARTILLERY AND INFANTRY WORK TOGETHER IN MUTUAL SUPPORT - A FRENCH SPECIALITY

British Aims and Objectives French Aims and Objectives

The British players’ aim is to drive the French from this
region of Spain. To do this they must capture several key
battlefield features, the main feature being the farmstead
itself. This will give the British players 6 VPs. 3 VPs can be
obtained by capturing the hill that dominates the road’s
T-junction, and 1 VP each is obtained by capturing the
other two hill features. Bold players, will notice that 3 VPs
can be gained by capturing the building denoted as French.
The French players’ aim is to capture much needed
resources at the farmstead. If they do so they will gain
6 VPs. That said, to hold of their ill-gotten gains they must
also capture other key features on the battlefield. Three
VPs can be obtained by capturing the hill that dominates
the road’s T-junction. One VP each is obtained by
capturing the other two hill features. Players with élan will
notice that 3 VPs can be gained by capturing the building
denoted as British.

88

British
3 Victory
Points
Entry
Point
1 Victory
Point
3 Victory
Points
1 Victory
Point
Orchard
Half movement
+1 Save
6 Victory
Points
1. The game lasts for 12 turns.The player with the highest
VP total wins.
2. To be classed as capturing a terrain feature the following
applies: a building must be occupied, even if it is being
assaulted when the game ends. A hill must have a
friendly unit on it, and no enemy units on it.
3. Each army scores one VP for each enemy unit they
destroy or force to leave the table. These scores should be
increased by half a point for a large unit and decreased
by half a point for a small unit. Note that no points are
scored for shaken units.
4. The side with the most VPs at the end of the game wins.
5. Don’t forget to keep a record of which units in your
army are destroyed or shaken as this makes a difference
in the next scenario.
British Considerations
My brave fellow take heed before you set of in search of
glory on the field of battle, those damn Frenchmen have the
weight of numbers in both cannon and horse. So, this one is
going to take careful timing, careful timing indeed. My
advice to you, if you care to take it, is to choose your
objectives carefully, as you cannot cover them all. Be careful
not to strike too early and make sure that when you do strike
THE BATTLE OF GRANJA DE LA ABUNDANCIA
French
Entry
Point
1 Victory
Point
3 Victory
Points
1 Victory
Point
Orchard
Half movement
+1 Save
you concentrate your resources on the specific objective. You
see sir I have seen this thing before. Those that attack
piecemeal will quickly find that they will be outnumbered
and defeated in detail. One last thing, if your enemy gains an
advantage early, don’t panic. Check your tactical objectives
against what lies before you. If they are still possible to
achieve then forward to glory! If success seems impossible in
that area of the field of battle, then have a plan B. For the
rash amongst you consider the “Follow me!” order to get to
an objective quickly. This is not for the faint-hearted though.
French Considerations
Now if I were those Frenchies, Sir, I would swing the weight
of horse and cannon against us as fast as I could. The terrain
favours cavalry and holds little deterrent to artillery. Those
French assault columns will also aid them in their duties. I
have studied how the French fought those half-beaten
Austrians, Russians and Prussians. They will try to pin you
with their cavalry and Voltigeurs, disorder you with their
cannon and then take advantage of your perilous position by
sending in the assault columns.
Some of those French fellows are quite rash you know, Sir.
Let’s hope we face one of those fools who underestimate our
own infantry’s firepower. If they do they may make a mad
dash for it with a few regiments. If they do so they play right
into our hands you see. Well, that’s if you follow my advice!
89
The Defence of Ciudad Espanola
SPANISH LINE TROOPS BETRAY NO SYMPATHY FOR THEIR FALLEN FRENCH FOES
Introduction
Following on from the Granja de la Abundancia game the
victors, spurred on by their new found supplies, have
pressed their advantage and pushed their defeated foes back
to their base of operations. The attacking army is striving to
rout the enemy from their base and gain control of the
particular region of Spain that they are fighting over.
This game is what I would call a ‘defend the base’ scenario
and is the second in a sequence of two games. In this type
of game one player (in this case the winner of the last game)
must use the army at his disposal to capture the enemy-held
town; whilst the other player (the loser of the last game)
must defend his supply base at all costs.
Terrain
In this game the main terrain feature that requires the
player’s attention is a Spanish town – or should I say Ciudad
90
Española – although there are other terrain features that are
up for grabs. (See the Defence of Ciudad Espanola
battlefield map). The town is a typical one of the period with
a few casas, walled enclosures and orchards: a formidable
defensive position. The town is overlooked by a large hill that
the attackers would do well to take so they can rain shot and
shell into the village to assist in their efforts. Don’t forget to
add scenery to your tastes. All terrain features follow their
equivalents in the Black Powder rule book.
The previous game has a significant effect on how this
scenario is set up both in terms of number and type of
troops available and deployment areas.
Special Scenario Rules
Both armies from the last game are transferred to this
game. But (and this is a big but) there are some contingencies:
 July 1810. Defienda la Base.
1. Any Battalion/Regiment that was destroyed or forced Note: If you want to fight this scenario as a one-off game or with your
from the table in the previous game, starts this game one own forces, I would suggest the British pick a force of 800 points, plus
size down from the size that it was in the last game. 250 more points if attacking.

2. Any Artillery battery that was destroyed in the previous

game is lost and cannot be used in this game Dispositions
Please see the attached map of the battlefield. Entry areas
3. Any Battalion/Regiment or Battery that was shaken at the and deployment areas are shown clearly.
end of the last game starts this game with one stamina hit.

The Stronger Sex

4. The losing Commander-in-Chief reduces his Staff
Rating by one.

5. The winning Commander-in-Chief gains additional

troops. (See the Orders of battle.)

6. The River is fordable by all troop types, but only in certain
places. To represent this, roll a dice for any unit attempting to
cross. On a roll of a 6 the unit hasn’t found a ford and
remains on the bank of the river. There is nothing to stop the
unit trying again from the same spot in the following turn.
7. The British player can form attack columns with his
infantry to attack buildings and manoeuvre in the town.
The Table and Game Scale
Once again this depends on the resources available to you.
This battle can be comfortably fought on a 6ft by 4 ft table,
although in this case it is recommended that all move
distances and ranges are reduced by a third.
The Armies
This game utilises sizeable forces on both sides, but easily
accommodates the new rules introduced in this supplement.
The attackers have significant reinforcements to enable
them to force the issue.
One tough Irish soldier’s wife told an officer the
following story:
Well I don’t know if you seed him, sir, but down drops poor
Dan, to be murdered like all the rest, and says he “Biddy
dear, I can’t go no furder one yard to save me life”.
“Dan jewel,” sis I, “I’ll help you on a bit – tak’ a hould of
me an’ throw away your knapsack.”
“I’ll niver part wid my knapsack,” says he, “nor my
firelock, while I’m a soger.”
So I draws him up on the bank and coaxed him to get on my
back, for, sis I, “the French will have ye in half an hour, an’
me too, the pagans.” Well sir, I went away wid him on me
back, knapsack, firelock and all, as strong as Samson for the
fear I was in; an’ I carried him half a league after the
regiment into the bivwack; an’ me back was bruck entirely
from that time to this, an’ it’ll never get straight till I go to
the Holy Well in Ireland, and have father McShane’s
blessin’, and his hands laid over me!

SCOTLAND THE BRAVE! HIGHLANDERS PREPARE

TO GIVE THE FRENCH THE BAYONET

91
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

ORDERS OF BATTLE
The British The French

Commander-in-Chief – SR 8 Commander-in-Chief – SR 8*
• Lieutenant General Roderick Smythe Scholey • General de Division Maynarde Debell

Lane’s Brigade – SR 7 Dupont’s Brigade – SR 7

• 3 Battalions of British Line Infantry
• One Royal Artillery Battery
Hoole’s Brigade – SR 7
• 2 Battalions of British Line Infantry
• One Battalion of Highland Line Infantry
Dale’s Brigade – R 8
• One Small Rifle Battalion
• One Battalion of British Light Infantry
• One Battalion of Cazadores
• One KGL Hussar regiment
• 3 Battalions of French Line Infantry
• One Battalion of French Light Infantry
• One Line Foot Battery
Maurice’s Brigade – SR 7
• 2 Large Battalions of French Line Infantry
• 2 Battalion of French Light Infantry
• One Line Foot Battery
Brune’s Brigade – SR 7
• 2 Regiments of Chasseurs a Cheval
• One Line Horse Battery

To the Victor the Spoils To the Victor the Spoils

(additional resources) (additional resources)
Dalton’s Brigade – SR 7 Lapasse’s Brigade – SR 8
• One Battalion of Highland Line Infantry Battalion • 3 Battalions of Combined Grenadiers
• 2 Battalions of British Line Infantry Battalion • One Line Foot Battery
• One Small British Light infantry Battalion • One Line Horse Battery
• One Royal Artillery Battery
• One Royal Horse Artillery Battery

92

FRENCH OFFICERS EXHORTING THEIR MEN TO ADVANCE UNDER FIRE
British/French Aims and Objectives
The Attackers must drive the enemy out of his base of
operations. To do that they must take the town, building by
building and will be rewarded for doing so. The defenders
licking their wounds from the last encounter with the victor,
must hold their base at all costs, they will be richly rewarded
for doing so. Again we apply victory points to identify the
winner and loser.
1. The game lasts for 12 turns. The player with the highest
VP total wins.
2. Victory points can be gained for capturing key terrain
features. To be classed as capturing a terrain feature the
following applies: a building must be occupied, even if it
is being assaulted when the game ends. A hill must have a
friendly unit on it, with no enemy units on it.
3. Each army scores one VP for each enemy unit they
destroy or force to leave the table. These scores should be
increased by half a point for a large unit and decreased
by half a point for a small unit. Note that no points are
scored for shaken units.
Attacker Considerations
Congratulations Sir, a magnificent victory back there! Yes a
magnificent victory indeed. I see your fame spreads, and
you have been rewarded with reinforcements. Do not let
this go to your head though, you have a hard task ahead of
you, by God! A hard task Sir, and no mistake. Look there
Sir, the river is a formidable obstacle that must be
overcome. Now if you ask me, you have three options
available to you to do that. You could get the lads to storm
the bridge and push ahead; you could use the fords along
THE DEFENCE OF CIUDAD ESPANOLA JULY 1810
the river bank to fool the enemy but be wary the lads don’t
like getting their feet wet! Or, my preferred option would be
a mix of the two.
Ah, and there Sir, look to the hill at your right front – a
formidable forward position. Perhaps a position from which
your cannonade could pound and pound those scoundrels
in the town?
So now to the tricky business of street fighting. Damn dirty
work sir if we fight on equal numbers! So, for the lads’ sake
make sure you gain numerical advantage at the point of
contact. Well, I will be off. Good luck!
Defender considerations
Damn bad luck back there Sir. Bad luck indeed. You did all
you could. Yet we are where we are. This base must be
defended to the last, that is obvious. Not an easy task, not
an easy task at all. The attacker has weight of numbers to
call on and will choose his point of attack, but do not worry,
not all is lost. This town is a formidable defensive position
and you should select your troop deployments carefully, as I
know only you can.
I would bet my last ounce of snuff that the enemy
commander will cannonade us before he sends in his assault
parties. If I was you I would create a reserve that can take
up positions badly mauled by enemy action.
Look there sir, the enemy are beginning to move. They
appear to be making for yonder hill. Perhaps a surprise
greeting should be arranged for them when they arrive
there, although that will weaken you here. Well, good luck
sir! I will watch with bated breath from afar of course.
93
The Battle of Salamanca 22nd July 1812

HOT WORK OUT THERE, IN FRONT OF THE MAIN BATTLE LINE

Introduction The problem with large encounter battles though is that

I now want to turn our attention to a large battle of the
Peninsular War, and Salamanca fits the bill for a variety of
reasons. It is a battle in which the British went on the attack,
an encounter battle that has a wide variety of troop types
for our use.
I have written about this famous battle elsewhere in this
book, so won’t repeat the details here. Suffice to say this
battle sees the overstretched forces of Marshal Marmont set
upon by Wellington’s Anglo-Portuguese army. This is a
typical encounter battle, meaning a player commits troops
to the battle as they become available.
they are just that - large. So unless you have a large playing
area and hundreds of troops you will never be able to
recreate the likes of Salamanca or Vittoria – or will you ?
By scaling everything down, or should I say taking your
Black Powder game from the brigade level to the army level,
you can! Let me explain…
If you take Major General Henry Campbell’s 1st Division
that fought at Salamanca you would probably have a force
to fight a decent game of Black Powder. Let’s take a look.

1st Division at Salamanca In Black Powder terms this would look like this

Divisional Commander Major General Campbell Divisional Commander – SR9

1st Brigade Colonel Fermor Infantry Brigade Commander – SR7

• 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards • 2 Standard Guards Battalions
• 1st Battalion, 3rd Guards • 1 Tiny Rifle unit
• 1 Company 60th Foot

2nd Brigade Major General Wheatley Infantry Brigade Commander – SR7

• 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot • 2 Standard British
• 1st Battalion, 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot Line Infantry Battalions
• 2nd Battalion, 58th Regiment of Foot • 2 Standard British
• 1st Battalion, 79th Cameron Highlanders Highland Battalions
• 1 Company 60th Foot • 1 Tiny Rifle unit

3rd Brigade Major General Baron Low Infantry Brigade Commander – SR8
• 1st, 2nd and 5th Line Battalions, King’s German Legion • 3 Standard KGL Line Infantry Battalions

94
I think that you would agree with me that this would be a
formidable force to collect for your games of Black Powder,
but that said this is just one division out of the seven infantry
divisions that fought at this famous battle, not to mention
independent brigades and associated cavalry brigades. To
collect the whole British army for this battle would be out of
most players’ reach, but would be something to aspire to. So
what can we do about it? Let’s have a look at this from
another point of view. If you think strategically rather than
tactically you will become aware that infantry brigades had a
brigade frontage in which the battalions of the brigade
operated, if we take this approach we can start to represent
the above brigades by units that represent the brigade
frontage, so the above division would become:
1st Division at Salamanca
• Commander SR 8
(representing the combined Divisonal and
Brigade commanders)
• One British Guard Battalion
(representing the two Guards battalions)
• One British Line Battalion
(representing the two Line battalions)
• One British Highland Battalion
(representing the two Highland battalions)
• One Large KGL Line Battalion
(representing the three KGL battalions)
• One Tiny Rifle unit
(representing the Division’s riflemen)
This is the approach that I am going to take in this scenario.
Terrain
This battlefield is dominated by the hilly terrain (see the
Salamanca battlefield map) centred around the Greater and
Lesser Arapiles. Again players should add a few terrain
features to their liking and to add tactical problems. A word
of warning though: as this is a large battle, don’t bog
yourself down with terrain minutiae.
Scenario Special Rules
1. The British take the first turn.
2. Troops entering the table on the turn they are required to
do so, must do so and can enter in any formation the
player wishes and that is permitted.
3. Roll a die each turn. On a 4 +, the French cannot use
their commander-in-chief to give orders that turn to
represent the injury caused at the opening of the battle.
The Table and Game Scale
Again this again is down to the resources that you and your
gaming group have at your disposal. I would suggest that the
minimum table size would be 8ft by 4 ft. If this table size is
used though you would be better to reduce distances as I have
mentioned in other games.
The Armies
This is a large encounter battle with a large number of
forces involved. It’s an ideal game for multiple players to
pool their resources in terms of figures and skills. If this
approach is taken the game easily accommodates the new
rules introduced in this supplement.
Dispositions
Please see the attached map of the battlefield. Deployment
areas are shown clearly. Thomieres’ and Brennier’s
Divisions must set up in March column.
Not all forces start on the table and have identified entry
areas and a turn number when they can join the fray.
Remember troops that enter the table in this manner can
enter in any formation that is eligible to them.
A matter of discipline
Discipline in all of the armies of the period could be
severe. In the British army it varied, at the whim of the
omnipotent Divisional commanders. Ensign Hay of the
52nd regiment observed what he called an “act of
diabolical tyranny” from the stern General Craufurd
when he joined his new regiment.
“The general, from his position on the bridge, observed
two or three of the 95th take some water in their hands
to cool their parched mouths”, wrote Hay. “Instantly the
halt was sounded, the brigade ordered to retrace their
steps, the whole division formed into hollow square. And
these unfortunate men paraded, stripped, and flogged.
Such scenes, alas, were of almost daily occurrence, and
disgusted me beyond measure”. Hay took a principled
stand and changed regiments. No doubt Craufurd merely
felt that his orders should be obeyed...
95
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

ORDERS OF BATTLE
The British The French

Commander-in-Chief – SR 9 Commander-in-Chief – SR 8
• Wellington • Marmont

3rd Div Commander Packenham – SR 8 2nd Div Commander Clausel – SR 8

• 2 Large British Line Battalions • 2 Large Line Battalions
• 1 British Highland Battalion • 2 Light Battalions
• 1 Tiny Rifle Unit • 1 Foot Battery
• 1 Portuguese Line Battalion
• 1 Small Caçadores Battalion 4th Div Commander Sarrut – SR 7
• 3 Large Line Battalions
4th Div Commander Cole – SR 7 • 1 Foot Battery
• 1 Large British Line Battalion
• 2 British Line Battalions 5th Div Commander Maucune – SR 7
• 1 Portuguese Line Battalion • 3 Large Line Battalions
• 1 Small Caçadores Battalion • 1 Foot Battery

5th Div Commander Leith – SR 7 6th Div Commander Brennier – SR 7

• 3 Large British Line Battalions • 2 Large Line Battalions
• 1 Portuguese Line Battalion • 1 Line Battalion
• 1 Small Caçadores Battalion • 1 Foot Battery

6th Div Commander Clinton – SR 7 7th Div Commander Thomières – SR 7

• 2 Large British Line Battalions • 2 Large Line Battalions
• 1 Portuguese Line Battalion • 1 Line Battalion
• 1 Small Caçadores Battalion • 1 Foot Battery

7th Div Commander Hope – SR 7 8th Div Commander Bonnet – SR 7

• 1 KGL Light Battalion
• 2 British Line Battalions
• 1 Small Brunswick Oels Battalion
• 1 Portuguese Line Battalion
• 1 Small Caçadores Battalion
British Cavalry Commander Cotton – SR 8
• 1 Large Dragoon Regiment
• 1 Large Light Dragoon Regiment
• 1 Large KGL Hussar Regiment
• 1 KGL Dragoon Regiment
• 1 Large Portuguese Cavalry Regiment
• 3 Large Line Battalions
• 2 Line Battalions
• 1 Foot Battery
Light Cavalry Div Commander Curto – SR 8
• 1 Hussar Regiment
• 2 Large Chasseur à Cheval Regts.
• 1 Horse Artillery Battery
Heavy Cavalry Div Commander Boyer – SR 8
• 2 Dragoon Regiments
• 1 Horse Artillery Battery

It ’s behind you!
British Artillery (assigned to any of the above commands)
• 1 RHA Battery
• 3 RA Batteries

March 8th 1801, Alexandria. French Dragoons managed to get

behind the British battle line and charged the 28th North Gloucester
regiment in its rear whilst formed in line. Lieutenant-Colonel William
Chambers ordered “Rear rank, 28th ! Right about face!”
The rear rank turned and the two thin lines fought back to back,
repulsing the French attacks. The 28th were awarded the distinction
of wearing a small cap badge on the rear of their head-dress to
commemorate their heroic action.

96

Hope’s Entry Point
(Turn 3)
Packenham’s Entry Cotton’s Entry Leith’s Entry Point
Point (Turn 1) Point (Turn 1) (Turn 2)
Thomières’
Set-up area
Curto’s
Set-up area
Maucune’s
Set-up area
Bonnet’s
Set-up area
British Aims and Objectives
By God that will do, I have the French right were I want
them! Pakenham you must assault Thomières’ position
directly. Cotton will support you in your endeavours. You
have the initial advantage in this battle. You should be able
to pounce on Thomières’ command and cause it severe
problems. With a little luck you may also be able to make
early inroads into Curto and Maucune. Make sure that
you do not get overstretched. Do not push forward without
support. I do not want the French eventually having
weight of numbers at the point of battle, so do not allow
them to do so. I will support your initial attacks. Look
there, you see the other division already formed. I intend
to focus my forces and deliver a knock out blow on each of
the French commands, one at a time. I have one worry: I
need early reports of any French counters towards the
Lesser Arapiles as they may steal the prize right from
under my nose.
French Aims and Objectives
Mon Dieu, that hurt! The British are attacking and I am
overstretched. How is this possible? I thought their army
miles away! This is no rearguard action. What is that fool
THE BATTLE OF SALAMANCA 22ND JULY 1812
Clinton’s Entry
Point (Turn 2)
Cole’s Set-up area
Lesser
Arapiles
Brennier’s
Set-up area Greater
Arapiles
Clausel’s
Set-up area
Boyer’s entry point Sarrut’s entry point
(Turn 1) (Turn 1)
Thomièries doing there? What is he doing? Why does he
not form to meet those devils? Merde! He is almost
certainly lost. I cannot allow that to affect my plans though.
Maucune has the ability to hold the British and Bonnet will
provide valuable support. The rest of the army must
counter this British advance. We must stabilise and then
counter. Only when we have stabilised this terrible position
can we strike back at the British.
Victory Conditions
1. The game lasts for 12 turns. The player with the highest
VP total wins.
2. The Greater Arapiles is worth six VPs to the British and
three to the French. The Lesser Arapiles is worth three
VPs to the British and six to the French. Thomièries’
deployment zone is worth three VPs to each side.
3. Each army scores one VP for each enemy unit that they
cause to be shaken and two VPs for each enemy unit they
destroy or force to leave the table. Add half a point to this
score if the unit is large and take half a point away if the
unit is small. Tiny units give up no points.
97
Army Lists &Pointed Games
Messrs Priestley and Johnson touched just lightly on this
subject in the Black Powder rules, so I thought it would be
nice to spend a bit of time talking through how I create
units, point them up and develop army lists.
One aspect of the hobby that I really do enjoy is
‘competitive’ tournament games. As I have mentioned
previously, I have gained friends throughout the UK,
Australia, Canada and the United States as a result of
attending more tournaments ‘than your grandmother has
had hot dinners’ (a Yorkshire saying). I have also run a few
mini Napoleonic Black Powder tournaments in the North of
England and found them to be entertaining affairs. To do
that I have created several army lists. If tournaments are not
your poison then this approach allows for a really balanced
game of an evening.
First of all we need to create historical battalions and
regiments. For the lists you need to do three things:
• Lots of research.
• Remain flexible.
• Be imaginative.
The great thing about Black Powder is the amount of
flexibility within the core rules which gives the player the
chance to be creative. It allows all the statistics to be
varied to reflect the prowess of a particular historical
unit, and then this can be further enhanced by adding
one or more special rules that really bring out the
characteristics of a certain unit, for example the
‘Grumblers’.
The French Old Guard have been given the stats below. As
you can see, they have better than average shooting and
hand-to-hand values to represent their fighting qualities.
They also have excellent morale and stamina values to
represent their high ‘esprit de corps’ and veteran status. This is
further built upon with their special rules; Elite 3+ means
that they are not easily thrown into disorder, they are
Reliable, reflecting their unflinching ability to follow their
orders, and Tough Fighters gives them a further edge in
combat as these troops were extremely sturdy.
Compare these tough guys with the Dutch Militia that
faced them across the fields of Waterloo.
These poorly trained peasants had no experience of the
horrors of war, and many also concealed pro-French
sentiments. These shortcomings are translated into their
stats. Their shaky fighting spirit and poor ability to throw off
damage is reflected in their low morale value; while their lack
of training can be seen in their hand-to-hand and shooting
values.
To work out the points values for the chosen units, I
followed the guidance on pages 179-181 of the Black
Powder rule book. I have a few changes to suggest here
though.
1. I point commanders as follow: SR 7 = 0 points and
a player must pay an extra 25 points per extra pip of
command, so a command genius with SR 9 would
cost 50 points. This better reflects, in points anyway,
the effect of each pip of leadership on the game.
This works for the Napoleonic group that I play
with.
2. We also charge the French two points for their
Reliable Assault Column special rule (I call it Pas de
Charge).
3. Rifle Mixed Formation costs one point.
4. The British special rule Steady Line costs two
points.
So applying the guidance to the above two units, the
Guards cost 60 points, whilst the Dutchmen cost 29
points. You would get two Dutch battalions to one
Guards battalion and
still have two points
change. I have applied this
process to units of most
nations that fought in
the Napoleonic wars and
have an extensive
catalogue of units.
Moving on to army lists,
I think the best way to
explain how to create a
list is to show you a few.

Unit Type Armament Hand-to-Hand Shooting Morale Stamina Special

Reliable,
Regular Smooth bore
Old Guard 7 4 3 4 Elite 3+, Tough
Infantry musket
Fighters

Regular Smooth bore

Dutch Militia 6 3 5 3 Freshly Raised
Infantry musket

98
 The Peninsular British 1806 to 1814
British Stats and Special Rules

Hand-
Unit Type Armament Shooting Morale Stamina Special Cost
to-Hand

British and KGL Regular Smoothbore Steady Line,

6 3 4 3 39 points
Line Infantry Infantry Musket First Fire

Steady Line,
British Light Regular Smoothbore
6 3 4 3 First Fire, Skirmish, 42 points
Infantry Infantry Musket
Sharpshooter

Steady Line,
KGL Light Regular Smoothbore First Fire, Skirmish,
6 3 4 3 43 points
Infantry Infantry Musket Sharpshooter, Rifle,
Mixed Order

Reliable, Elite 3+,

British Foot Regular Smoothbore
7 4 3 4 Steady Line, 62 points
Guard Infantry Musket
First Fire

Steady Line,
Chasseurs Regular Smoothbore
8 4 4 4 First Fire, Skirmish, 50 points
Britannique Infantry Musket
Sharpshooter

Tough Fighter,
Highland Regular Smoothbore
6 3 4 3 Steady Line, 40 points
Infantry Infantry Musket
First Fire

Skirmish, First Fire,

Rifle Regular Rifled
2 2 4 1 Sharpshooter, 24 points,
Company Infantry Musket
Reliable Elite 4+

Skirmish,
Rifle Regular Rifled Sharpshooter,
4 3 4 2 48 points
Companies Infantry Musket Reliable, Elite 4+,
First Fire

Skirmish,
Rifle Regular Rifled Sharpshooter,
6 4 4 3 56 points
Battalion Infantry musket Reliable, Elite 4+,
First Fire

Battalion of Regular Smoothbore Steady Line,

6 3 5 3 35 points
Detachments Infantry Musket First Fire

All British, Portuguese and Brunswick Infantry have the special rules: Steady Line, First Fire, Cannot form Attack Column, MIxed Formation,
Must Form Square and Can Form Skirmish in Terrain They Could Not Normally Enter.

99
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

British Stats and Special Rules

Hand-
Unit Type Armament Shooting Morale Stamina Special Cost
to-Hand

Heavy Cavalry D1,

British and British: Gallop at
Regular
KGL Dragoon Sabre 8 – 4 3 anything (see p.45) 47 points
Cavalry
Guards KGL: Ferocious 49 points
Charge

Marauder
British and KGL British: Gallop at 44 points
Regular
Light Dragoon/ Sabre 6 – 4 3 anything (see p.45)
Cavalry
Hussar KGL: Ferocious 46 points
Charge

Royal and KGL Smoothbore

Cannon 1 3-2-1 4 2 Reliable, Shrapnel 31 points
Artillery Artillery

Royal Horse
Smoothbore Reliable, Marauder,
and KGL Cannon 1 3-2-1 4 1 30 points
Light Artillery Shrapnel
Horse Artilley

Brunswick Regular Smoothbore Skirmish,

6 3 5 3 35 points
Light Infantry Infantry Musket Sharpshooter

Brunswick Oels Regular Skirmish,

Rifled Musket 4 2 5 2 29 points
Jaeger companies Infantry Sharpshooter

Brunswick Oels Regular Skirmish,

Rifled Musket 2 1 5 1 14 points
Jaeger company Infantry Sharpshooter

Portuguese Line Regular Smoothbore

6 3 4 3 Steady Line 38 points
Infantry Infantry Musket

Steady Line,
Loyal Lusitanian Regular Smoothbore
6 3 4 3 Skirmish, 41 points
Legion Infantry Musket
Sharpshooter

Steady Line,
Skirmish, Reliable,
Regular Smoothbore
Caçadores 6 4 4 3 Elite 5+, Rifle, 52 points
Infantry Musket
Mixed Order,
Sharpshooter

Portuguese Regular
Sabre 6 – 4 3 Wavering 30 points
Cavalry Cavalry

Portuguese Regular Smoothbore

1 3-2-1 4 2 27 points
Artillery Artillery Artillery

All British, Portuguese and Brunswick Infantry have the special rules: Steady Line, First Fire, Cannot form Attack Column, Mixed Formation,
Must Form Square and Can Form Skirmish in Terrain They Could Not Normally Enter.

100
 THE PENINSULAR BRITISH - 1806 TO 1814

Half battery Unit Type Armament

Hand-
Shooting Morale Stamina
On many occasions artillery was to-Hand
not deployed at full battery
strength, we represent this in our Foot Smoothbore
Cannon 1 2-1-1 4 1
games of Black Powder by paying Artillery Artillery
half points (rounded up) for an Horse Smoothbore
artillery battery. The following Cannon 1 2-1-1 4 1
Artillery Light Artillery
statistics apply to a half battery.
Some players represent half batteries with a single gun model and a full battery with two gun models.

Household Cavalry
1st and 2nd Life Guards and Royal Horse Guards, Britain’s finest cavalry, were present at later engagements in the
Peninsular but saw little or no action, so I have not included them in the late war lists. That said if you wish to I
would go with one to three Household Cavalry at the appropriate cost.

Hand-
Unit Type Armament Shooting Morale Stamina Special Cost
to-Hand

Household Regular Reliable,

Sabre 8 – 3 3 56 points
Cavalry Cavalry Heavy Cavalry D3
Regular Sabre 6 – 3
Household Reliable,
Cavalry 2 48 points
Cavalry (small) Heavy Cavalry D3

Detached Elite
Companies Anglo-Portuguese Special Rules
The Light company can be Skirmish. The Riflemen, Light infantry
detached from a British or and Caçadores are allowed to adopt a
King’s German Legion Line
skirmish formation. Note that other troops
battalion and added to any
can only adopt a skirmish formation to
brigade.
enter terrain that they could not otherwise
This is represented in games enter or as part of a mixed formation.
of Black Powder as follows:
Gallop at Anything. +1 to charge order,
All the battalions in a brigade have Ferocious charge rule, but must make a
lose their light company. The break through move if allowed even if this
parent battalions lose their takes them off the table. British cavalry
ability to form mixed order. If suffer a +2 to command role when they
two battalions lose their leave the table under such circumstances.
companies a Tiny unit is
created, three detached light Heavy Cavalry D1. Dragoons are Heavy
companies form a Small unit, Cavalry, but add one to any combat result
or four light companies will make a standard sized unit, that can be added rather than between one and three.
to any Infantry brigade in the army. Shrapnel. British guns can fire shrapnel.
The Grenadier company from the Line battalions chosen within an They get three dice at medium range, but
Infantry Brigade can be removed to create Combined ‘Grenadier’ require a base score of 5 rather than 4 to hit
battalions. This is represented in our games of Black Powder as follows: All before any modifiers apply.
the battalions in a brigade lose their Grenadier company. The parent All Napoleonic infantry have the ‘must
battalions reduce their Hand-to-Hand factor by one. If two battalions lose form square’ and, unless they have the
their companies a Tiny unit is created, three detached Grenadier ’skirmish’ rule can only go into
companies form a Small unit, or four Grenadier companies will make a skirmish order to enter terrain they
standard sized unit, that can be added to any Infantry brigade in the army. could not otherwise enter. All line
Note. If a battalion loses both its elite companies it becomes a Small size infantry units can form
unit. ’mixed formation’ (ie,
A Tiny unit of Rifles bought as an additional unit for a brigade can be deploy skirmishing
added to a detached light company. The detachment gains the special rule companies ahead of their
Rifle Mixed Order and adding the rifle unit to detached light companies does main body).
count towards the size of the resulting detachment.

101
ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Options and choices available on these

pages represent the British Army and
its allies as it changed throughout the Army Commander (E)
campaign. They have been broadly ~ or ~
divided into Early (E), Middle (M)
and Late (L) periods of the campaign Divisional
as follows: Commander (M, L)
• Early 1806 to 1808 (includes early Staff rating 8............................ 25 points
British expeditions such as Maida) Staff rating 9............................ 50 points
• Middle 1809 to 1812
• Late 1813 to 1814

1+ Infantry Brigades (E, M, L)

Brigade Commander (E, M, L) Upgrade up to two battalions in +3 points each
Staff rating 7 0 points the army to Light infantry (E)
Staff rating 8 25 points
Staff rating 9 (L) 50 points Upgrade one in four battalions +3 points
to Light Infantry (M, L)
2 to 4 Line Infantry Battalions 39 points each
Upgrade one Light battalion in the + 8 points
Add one Rifle company (Small) to
army to Chasseurs Britannique (M,L)
one Brigade in the army (E, M, L) 48 points
Add one Rifle company (Tiny) Upgrade up to two battalions +8 points each
to any Brigade in the army (E, M, L) 24 points per brigade to Large (E)
OR
Add one Brunswick Oels company (Tiny) Upgrade up to one battalion
to one Brigade in the army (M, L) 14 points per brigade to Large (M, L) +8 points

Add one Brunswick Light Infantry Upgrade any or all battalions +8 points each
Battalion (M, L) 35 points in a brigade to veteran status
(Reliable, Elite 5+) (M, L)
Add one Small Light Dragoon Regiment
to one brigade in the army (E) 36 points Upgrade any or all battalions +10 points each
Add one Portugese Line Infantry in a brigade to veteran status
Battalion (E) 38 points (Reliable, Elite 4+) (L)

Brigade Options Downgrade any battalion -8 points each

Upgrade up to one Line battalion
in the army to Highlanders (E)
Upgrade one in four battalions
to Highlanders (M, L)
Upgrade Highlanders to Ferocious Charge
+1 point in a brigade to Small (E,M,L)
Downgrade Chasseurs Britannique by -6 points each
+1 point removing Sharpshooters and Steady Line rules
Downgrade up to one battalion -4 points
+3 points in a brigade to a Battalion of Detachments
(maximum of two in army) (M)

0 to 1 Guards Brigade (M, L)

if at least 2 other British brigades are taken
Guards Brigade Commander Brigade Options
Staff Rating 7 0 points Upgrade any battalion
Staff Rating 8 25 points in a brigadeto Large +8 points per battalion
2 Foot Guard battalions 62 points per battalion
Downgrade any battalion
Add one Rifle company (Tiny) 24 points in a brigade to Small -8 points per battalion

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 THE PENINSULAR BRITISH - 1806 TO 1814

0 to 1 Light Brigade (M, L)

Brigade Options
Brigade Commander Upgrade up to one battalion
Staff rating 7 0 points per brigade to Large +8 points per battalion
Staff rating 8 25 points
Upgrade Caçadores to Veteran
A Light Brigade commander must have the following two status (Reliable, Elite 4+) (L) +2 points
choices Upgrade Portuguese Line and/or British
Light battalion to Veteran status
1 Light Infantry battalion 42 points (Reliable, Elite 5+) (M) +8 points
1 Caçadores battalion 52 points
Upgrade Portuguese Line and/or British
May have one of the following three (M), or up to two Light battalion to Veteran status
units chosen from below (L) (Reliable, Elite 4+) (L) +10 points per battalion
Downgrade any battalion
1 Rifle Battalion 56 points
in a brigade to small -8 points per battalion
1 to 2 Small Rifle Companies 48 points
Portuguese Line battalion (L) 38 points Downgrade Caçadores by removing
Reliable, Elite 5+ (E, M) -8 points per battalion

0 to 1 Portuguese Infantry Brigade (E)

0 to 1 Portuguese Infantry Brigade per 2 British Brigades (M, L)
Portuguese Infantry Brigade Commander Upgrade any or all regiments
Staff rating 7 0 points in a brigade to veteran status
Staff rating 8 25 points (Reliable, Elite 5+) (M,L) +8 points per battalion
1 or 2 Portuguese Line Upgrade any or all regiments
Infantry Regiments (E, M, L) 38 points per regiment in a brigade to veteran status
(Reliable, Elite 4+) (L) +10 points per battalion
Up to 1 Portuguese Caçadores battalion 52 points
Downgrade any regiment to
Add Lusitanian Legion Battalion if
Small to represent a battalion
no Caçadores are chosen in the brigade (E, M) 41 points
or under-strength regiment -8 points per battalion
Brigade Options
Upgrade up to one regiment Downgrade Caçadores by
per brigade to Large +8 points per battalion removing Reliable, Elite 5+ (E) -8 points per battalion

Three Cheers
A Scottish soldier in the 71st Highland, part of
Ferguson‘s Brigade wrote of the fighting:
“We marched out two miles to meet the enemy, formed line and
lay under cover of a hill for about an hour, until they came to
us. We gave them one volley and three cheers — three distinct
cheers. Then all was as still as death. They came upon us,
crying and shouting, to the very point of our bayonets. Our
awful silence and determined advance they could not stand.
They put about and fled without much resistance. At this
charge we took thirteen guns and one General.”

TIME TO GIVE THEM A TASTE OF SHRAPNEL, I THINK..

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ALBION TRIUMPHANT
0 to 1 King’s German Legion
Brigade (M, L)
KGL Brigade Commander
Staff Rating 7
Staff Rating 8
2 to 3 KGL
Line battalions
Add one or two KGL
Light battalions (L)
~ OR ~
0 to 1 King’s German Legion
Light Brigade (M)
KGL Light Brigade Commander
Staff Rating 7
Staff Rating 8
1 to 2 KGL
Light battalions
Brunswick Light Infantry
(only unit such unit per army) 35 points per battalion
Brigade Options
Upgrade up to one battalion
per brigade to Large
Upgrade any or all
battalions in a brigade to
veteran status
(Reliable, Elite 5+) (M,L)
Upgrade any or all +10 points per battalion
battalions in a brigade
to veteran status
(Reliable, Elite 4+) (L)
Downgrade any battalion
in a brigade to small
“ I do not desire better sport than to meet one
of their columns en masse with our own line”.
104
0 to 1 Light Cavalry Brigade (E),
1 Light Cavalry Brigade per 3 Infantry
Brigades in the army (M, L)
0 points
25 points Light Cavalry Brigade Commander
Staff Rating 7 0 points
Staff Rating 8 25 points
39 points per battalion
2 to 3 Light Dragoon
or Hussar Regiments 44 points per regiment
43 points per battalion
Brigade Options
Upgrade up to one Regiment +2 points per regiment
to KGL Hussars
Upgrade KGL Hussars to Veteran status +6 points
(Reliable and +1 Hand-to-Hand) (L)
Upgrade any or all Regiments by +2 points each
exchanging Gallop at Anything
0 points for Ferocious Charge (L)
25 points
Downgrade any regiment to Small -8 points each
43 points per battalion
0 to 1 Heavy Cavalry Brigade (M, L)
1 per 3 Infantry Brigades in the army
+8 points per battalion Cavalry Brigade Commander
Staff Rating 7 0 points
Staff Rating 8 25 points
+8 points per battalion
2 to 3 Dragoon Regiments 47 points per regiment
Add one Light Dragoon regiment (M) 44 points
Brigade Options
Upgrade up to two Regiments
to KGL Dragoons +2 points per regiment
Downgrade any regiment
-8 points per battalion to Small -8 points per regiment
Wellington
 THE PENINSULAR BRITISH - 1806 TO 1814

CLEAR THE WAY! BRITISH HUSSARS CLATTER THROUGH THE STREETS

0 to 1 Portuguese Cavalry Divisional Artillery (E, M, L)

Brigade (E, M, L) One artillery battery may be attached to any of the
Portuguese Cavalry Brigade Commander above Infantry Brigades per six infantry battalions (E,
Staff rating 7 0 points M) or five infantry battalions (L) in the army.
Staff rating 8 25 points
Royal Artillery battery
1 to 3 Small Portuguese (attach to British Infantry brigade) 31 points
Cavalry regiments 22 points per regiment
Portuguese Artillery battery
Brigade Options (attach to Portuguese Infantry brigade) 27 points
Upgrade to Regular size +8 points each

Upgrade by removing Wavering +6 points each Battery Options

Upgrade Portuguese battery to
Veteran status (Reliable, Elite 5+) +8 points

Upgrade Royal Artillery battery to

Horse Artillery Batteries (E, M, L) Veteran status (Elite 5+) +4 points

One Horse Artillery battery may be attached to any Downgrade Royal Artillery
of the above cavalry brigades per four cavalry battery to a half battery -16 points per battery
regiments in the army for 30 points per battery.
Downgrade Portuguese
Battery Options battery to a half battery -14 points per battery
Downgrade battery -14 points per half battery
to a half battery

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ALBION TRIUMPHANT

The Peninsular French 1807 to 1814

French Stats and Special Rules

Unit Type Armament Hand- Shooting Morale Stamina Special

to-Hand Cost

Line Infantry Regular Smoothbore 6 3 4 3 Pas de Charge 38 points

Infantry Musket

Regular Smoothbore Pas de Charge,

Light Infantry Infantry Musket 6 3 4 3 Skirmish, 41 points
Sharpshooter

Conscript Regular Smoothbore 6 3 4 3 Pas des Charge, 32 points

Infantry Infantry Musket Wavering

Combined Regular Smoothbore 7 3 4 3 Pas de Charge, 43 points

Grenadier Infantry Musket Elite 5+

Combined Regular Smoothbore Pas de Charge,

Voltigeurs Infantry Musket 6 4 4 3 Sharpshooter, 43 points
Skirmish

Young Regular Smoothbore Elite 5+,

Guard Infantry Musket 6 3 4 3 Pas de Charge, 42 points
Skirmish
Guard
Grenadier Regular Sabre 9 – 3 3 Reliable, Heavy 58 points
Gendarme Cavalry Cavalry D3
Dragoon

Guard Regular Lance 8 – 3 3 Lancer, Marauder 58 points

Lancer Cavalry Reliable

Guard Regular Sabre 7 – 3 3 Reliable Marauder 51 points

Light Cavalry

Vistula Lancer Regular Lance 8 – 4 3 Lancer, Marauder 50 points

Cavalry

Dragoon Regular Sabre 8 – 4 3 Heavy Cavalry D1 44 points

Cavalry

Line Light Regular Sabre 6 – 4 3 Marauder 41 points

Cavalry Cavalry

Foot Artillery Regular Smoothbore 1 3-2-1 4 2 27 points

Artillery Artillery

Horse Artilley Regular Smoothbore 1 3-2-1 4 1 21 points

Artillery Light Artillery

All French Infantry have the special rules Pas de Charge, Must Form Square, and Can Form Skirmish in Terrain They Could Not Normally Enter.

“The secret of great battles consists in knowing

how to deploy and concentrate at the right time”.
Napoleon Bonaparte

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 THE PENINSULAR FRENCH - 1807 TO 1814

Half battery Unit Type Armament

Hand-
Shooting Morale Stamina
On many occasions artillery to-Hand
was not deployed at full
battery strength, we represent Smoothbore
Foot Artillery Cannon 1 2-1-1 4 1
this in our games of Black Artillery
Powder by paying half points
(rounded up) for an artillery
Smoothbore
battery. The following Horse Artillery Cannon 1 2-1-1 4 1
Light Artillery
statistics apply to a normal
half battery :

Some players represent half batteries with a single gun

model and a full battery with two gun models.

Combined Grenadiers
The Grenadier/Carabinier company from the Line and
Light battalions chosen within an Infantry Brigade can be
removed to create Combined ‘Grenadier’ battalions.

This is represented in our games of Black Powder as follows:

All the battalions in a brigade lose their Grenadier/
Carabinier company. The parent battalions reduce their
Hand-to-Hand factor by one. If two battalions lose their
Grenadier/Carabinier companies a Tiny unit is created,
three detached companies form a Small unit, or four
companies will make a standard sized unit. The created
battalion can be added to any Infantry brigade in the army,
or alternatively Combined Grenadier battalions can be
brigaded together.
Combined Voltiguers
In a similar manner to the Grenadiers the French
commander can remove the light companies from a
battalion chosen within an Infantry Brigade to create
Combined Voltigeur battalions.
This is represented in our games of Black Powder as follows;
All the battalions in a brigade lose their light company, The
parent battalions lose their ability to form mixed order. If two
battalions lose their light companies a Tiny unit is created,
three detached companies form a Small unit, or four
companies will make a standard sized unit. The created
battalion can be added to any Infantry brigade in the army,
or alternatively Combined Voltigeur battalions can be
brigaded together.
Note. If a Line or Light battalion has had both its
Grenadier/Carabinier and Voltigeur companies removed it
is classed as a Small unit.
Foreign Formations and the like
Playing about with upgrades and downgrades in the
Infantry brigade selection gets you the Swiss, Irish
Hanoverian, Nassau, Baden, Hesse-Darmstadt and Legion
de Midi troop types. This will allow you a very colourful
array within your force.
FRENCH DRAGOON SNIPING AT SPANISH GUERILLAS
French Special Rules
Pas de Charge. French infantry are considered
Reliable (+1 Command) when in Attack Column
formation or a mixed formation Attack column with
skirmishers.
Sharpshooters. Light infantry count as
sharpshooters: they can re roll one missed shot per
turn.
Elite 5+. The Swiss and Grenadiers are a cut above
the rest and recover from disorder on a role of 5+.
Marauders. French Chasseurs à Cheval get the
standard rule for ‘Light Cavalry’: they ignore the
distance penalty when given orders.
Skirmish. Light infantry are allowed to adopt a
skirmish formation. Note that other troops can only
adopt a skirmish formation to enter terrain that they
could not otherwise enter or as part of a mixed
formation.
HC/D1. Dragoons are Heavy Cavalry, but add one
to any combat result rather than between one and
three.
All Napoleonic infantry have the ‘must form square’ and,
unless they have the ’skirmish’ rule can only go into skirmish
order to enter terrain they could not otherwise enter. All line
infantry units can form ’mixed formation’ (ie, deploy
skirmishing companies ahead of their main body)

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ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Options and choices available on these pages represent

the French Army and its allies as it changed throughout Divisional
the campaign. They have been broadly divided into Commander
Early (E), Middle (M) and Late (L) periods of the
campaign as follows: Strategy rating 7............ 0 points
• Early 1807 to 1808 Strategy rating 8.......... 25 points
Strategy rating 9.......... 50 points
• Middle 1809 to 1811
• Late 1812 to 1814

1 + Infantry Brigade (E, M, L)

Brigade Commander 1 to 3 Line Infantry Regiments
Staff rating 7 0 points Each regiment must 38 points per battalion
Staff rating 8 25 points have between 1 and 4
Line Infantry battalions

Brigade Options Upgrade up to one battalion

Upgrade up to half of all battalions in a brigade to Large (M) +8 points each
to Veterans (Reliable, Elite 5+) (E,L) +6 points each
Upgrade any regiment
Upgrade any or all battalions to to Light (E) +3 points each
Veterans (Reliable, Elite 5+) (M) +6 points each
~OR~ Upgrade up to one regiment
Upgrade up to half of all battalions in a brigade to Light (M,L) +3 points each
to Veterans (Reliable, Elite 4+) (M) +8 points each Downgrade up to two battalions
Upgrade up to half of all per brigade to Unreliable -3 points per battalion
battalions to Tough Fighters +1 point each Downgrade any or all
Upgrade any or all infantry battalions to Small - 8 points per battalion
battalions to Large (E) +8 points each

0-1 Reserve Infantry An army which cannot be

Brigade (E, M, L) reinforced is already defeated.
Napoleon Boneparte
Reserve Brigade Commander
Staff rating 7 0 points
Staff rating 8 25 points

2 to 4 Combined 0 to 1 Young Guard

Grenadier battalions
(Alternatively see Combined Grenadiers Rules above)
~OR~
2 to 4 Conscript
Line battalions (M, L)
Brigade Options
Upgrade any Grenadier
battalion to Veteran status
(Reliable, Elite 4+) (E,M,L)
Downgrade any or all
battalions to Small
43 points per battalion
32 points per battalion
+6 points per battalion
-8 points per battalion
Infantry Brigade (M)
(if at least 3 infantry brigades are taken)
Young Guard Infantry Brigade Commander
Strategy Rating 7 0 points
Strategy Rating 8 25 points
2 to 4 Young Guard
Infantry battalions 42 points per battalion
Brigade Options
Downgrade any or all battalions to Small-8 points per
battalion

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 THE PENINSULAR FRENCH - 1807 TO 1814

0 to 1 Cavalry Brigade (E), 0 to 3 Cavalry Brigades (M,L)

Up to 1 per 2 Infantry brigades in the army
Cavalry Brigade Commander
Staff Rating 7 ...................................................... 0 points
Staff Rating 8 .................................................... 25 points

2 to 3 Dragoon 44 points each 2 to 4 Hussar or Chasseur 41 points each

Regiments (E,M,L) à Cheval regiments (M,L)

Add up to one Chasseurs 41 points Add up to one 44 points

à Cheval regiment (E) ~OR~ Dragoon regiment (M)

Add one Vistula Lancer 50 points Add 0 to 1 Vistula Lancer 50 points

regiment (E, M) (up to one per army) regiment (M) (up to one per army)

Brigade Options
Upgrade any Regiment to Large +8 points per regiment

Downgrade any or all -8 points per regiment

regiments to Small

Upgrade any regiment to +6 points per regiment

Veteran status (Reliable and
+1 Hand-to-Hand)

0 to 1 Guard Cavalry Brigade (M) Army Artillery Divisional/Corps

if at least 3 infantry brigades assets (E,M,L)
and 1 cavalry brigade are chosen
Foot Artillery battery 27 points per battery
(Up to one per six battalions of infantry)
Guard Cavalry Brigade Commander Battery Options
Strategy Rating 7 0 points Upgrade to Veteran status
Strategy Rating 8 25 points (Reliable, Elite 4+) +10 points
1 to 3 regiments chosen from the following Horse Artillery battery 21 points per battery
Up to one Guard Light Lancers 58 points (Up to one per three regiments of cavalry)
Up to one Guard Chasseurs a Cheval 51 points
Up to one Guard Grenadiers a Cheval 58 points
Up to one Empress Dragoons 58 points

Brigade Options
Downgrade any regiment
to small -8 pts per regiment

Changing from the defensive to

the offensive, is one of the most
delicate operations in war.
Napoleon Boneparte

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ALBION TRIUMPHANT

The Spanish 1807 to 1814

Spanish Stats and Special Rules

Unit Type Armament Hand- Shooting Morale Stamina Special Cost

to-Hand

Line Infantry Regular Smoothbore 5 2 5 3 Wavering, 20 points

Infantry Musket Unreliable

Regular Smoothbore Wavering,

Light Infatry Infantry Musket 5 3 5 3 Unreliable, Skirmish, 25 points
Sharpshooter

Light Infantry Regular Smoothbore Wavering,

Half Battalion Infantry Musket 3 2 5 2 Unreliable, Skirmish, 17 points
Sharpshooter

Militia Infantry Regular Smoothbore 6 2 5 3 Wavering 27 points

Infantry Musket

Grenadier Regular Smoothbore 5 3 4 3 Unreliable 32 points

Infantry Infantry Musket

Guard Infantry Regular Smoothbore 6 3 4 3 Elite 5+ 40 points

Infantry Musket

Guard Heavy Regular Sabre 7 – 4 3 Heavy Cavalry D1 42 points

Cavalry

Regular Heavy Cavalry D1,

Heavy Cavalry Cavalry Sabre 7 – 4 3 Wavering, 33 points
Unreliable

Regular Lancer, Marauder,

Lancer Cavalry Lance 6 – 5 3 Wavering, 33 points
Unreliable

Guard Light Regular Sabre 5 – 4 3 Marauder, 43 points

Cavalry Elite 5+

Regular Marauder,
Light cavalry Cavalry Sabre 5 – 5 3 Wavering, 26 points
Unreliable

Artillery Regular Smoothbore 1 3-2-1 4 2 A la Muerta 27 points

Artillery Artillery

Regular Smoothbore Moves as

Horse Artilley Artillery Light Artillery 1 3-2-1 4 1 foot artillery, 19 points
A la Muerta

Options and choices available on these pages

represent the Spanish Army as it changed
throughout the campaign. They have been
Divisional
broadly divided into Early (E), Middle (M) and Commander
Late (L) periods of the campaign as follows:
Strategy rating 7 .......................... 0 points
• Early 1807 to 1809 Strategy rating 8 ........................ 15 points
• Middle 1810 to 1812
• Late 1813 to 1814

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 THE SPANISH - 1807 TO 1814

Vanguard Brigade 1+ Infantry Brigade (E, M, L)

Vanguard Brigade Commander Infantry Brigade Commander
Staff rating 7 0 points Staff rating 7 0 points
Staff rating 8 15 points
1 to 3 Spanish Line Infantry
2 to 3 battalions of Regiments (E, M, L)
Light Infantry (E) 25 points per battalion A Line infantry regiment 20 points per battalion
has 1 to 3 Spanish Line
1 to 2 Infantry battalions (M, L) chosen from: Infantry battalions
One or two Light Infantry battalions 25 points each Add up to one Grenadier , 32 points per battalion
Up to one Militia battalion 27 points battalion to a maximum of
four battalionsin the army (E,M,L)
The norm was to split the Light battalions into two half-battalions
Add up to two Militia battalions (E) 27 points each
of three companies, each half-battalion operating independently. This
can be represented by choosing 2 small half-battalions for 17 pts Add up to one Militia battalion (M) 27 points
per battalion for each full Light Infantry Battalion allowed Up to one Light battalion (E) 25 points

Vanguard Brigade Options Up to two Light battalions (M) 25 points each

Upgrade any full
battalion to Large (E)
Upgrade any battalion to
Veteran status by removing
Wavering (M, L)
Upgrade any battalion to
Veteran status by removing
Unreliable (L)
Downgrade any full
battalion to Small (M, L)
Cavalry Brigade (E,M,L)
up to 1 per 3 Infantry Brigades in the army
Cavalry Brigade Commander
Staff Rating 7
2 to 4 Cavalry regiments from the following:
Up to two Light
Cavalry Regiments
Two to four Heavy
Cavalry Regiments
Up to one Lancer Regiment
Cavalry Brigade Options
Upgrade up to two units to Guard:
Guard Light Cavalry Regiment
Guard Heavy Cavalry regiment
Downgrade any cavalry
regiment to Small
+8 points each A Mid war or Late war commander may have one brigade
without the Line Infantry battalions containing just additional
troops.
+6 points each
Brigade Options
Upgrade any Grenadier,
Line or light battalion to have
+3 points each +1 Hand-to-Hand +2 points each
Upgrade Line or Militia
battalion to Veteran status
-8 points each
by removing Wavering (M, L) +6 points each
Upgrade Line or Grenadier
battalion to Veteran status by
removing Unreliable (L) +3 points each
Downgrade any battalion
to Small (M, L) -8 points each
0 points
26 points per regiment I am here with the soldiers who
33 points per regiment
conquered at Austerlitz, at Jena,
at Eylau. Who can withstand
33 points per regiment them? Certainly not your wretched
Spanish troops who do not know
43 points each how to fight. I shall conquer
42 points each
Spain in two months and acquire
-8 points per regiment the rights of a conqueror.
Napoleon Boneparte

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ALBION TRIUMPHANT

Guard Infantry Brigade (E, M) Spanish Special Rules

Brigade Commander A la Muerte
Staff Rating 7 0 points Although the Spanish army was defeated time and
time again by the hated French invader there was
1 to 2 Guard Infantry battalions (E, M, L) 40 points an element which did not readily take to their
per battalion heels. Spanish artillerymen would normally serve
Add 0 to 2 Line Infantry Battalions (M, L) 20 points their pieces to the bitter end, firing off round after
per battalion round until they were overrun and met their end
in a grisly manner at end of a French bayonet or
Add up to one Militia Infantry Battalion (M, L) 27 points sabre.

El Cid
This is represented in games of Black Powder with
the special rule A la Muerte assigned to Spanish
batteries. Such batteries that take a break test due
to shooting casualties will only break on a 4 or less.

The Cid was born at a village near Burgos, and his ashes
lay there in a monument of black marble. The French
having provoked the war endeavoured to cure the
fury of Spanish pride, by transferring the tomb
to the public walk of Burgos and surrounding
it with trees and flowers. The Spanish were not
lulled by this homage paid to their greatest
national hero however, and when King
Joseph himself visited the tomb the
Spanish destroyed the trees and flowers
planted by the hands of their enemies.
Artillery Support
Up to two Artillery batteries 27 points per battery
(to a maximum of one per
six infantry battalions)
Up to one Horse Artillery 19 points per battery
battery (to a maximum of
one per six cavalry regiments)
“The generals had lost nothing of
their presumption, learnt nothing
of war.”
Spanish commanders of the regular army were
divided by political infighting and hampered by
an out of date command and control structure,
with directions from the Junta in Cadiz often
contrary to aims and objectives agreed with their
allies. These leaders were a constant distraction to
their British contemporaries.
This is represented in our games by the different
scores for the ‘Personal Qualities of
Commanders’ chart on page 94 of the Black
Powder rulebook. Roll a dice for aggression/
decisiveness/independence and refer to the
following chart.
Aggression, Independence
and Decisiveness
Spanish Commander 1-3: Low
4-5: Normal
6: High

Finally, I will leave you with the words of Napoleon himself,

commenting upon the war between Britain and France:

“England and France have held in their hands the fate

of the world, especially that of European civilization.
How much harm we have done one another: how much
good we might have done!”
Napoleon Bonaparte, 1816

112