Battle Report: Black Powder - Battle of Corunna 1809

This week we got to play another game of Black Powder, this time I took on the role as GameMaster as the other players wanted to play and it was their first and second game respectively, so I was there to be rules judge and give advice on what to do and when to do it. I also wrote the scenario for them to play, and too keep it a bit more like the real thing, I didn't tell the anything of what's going on around them.

The scenario concentrated on the action around the small village of Elviña and the main thrust of the French advance with the 31th and 47th regiments in the front and with reinforcements arriving thought the battle. On the British side it was the 1st Foot Guards in support of 4th, 50th and 42nd regiments.

To make it a bit easier to remember what was where I had made some cards for each commander with the units they commanded, the stats for these and any trait that this commander had.

First we have the setup of the forces.
The french had a attack column stance.

On the british side units was placed for movement in columns, and the Foot Guards are in reserve ready to come in wherever the british may need them.

The french started the battle and advanced most of the units, the only battalions that got stuck was the left flank that could not work out what their commander really wanted. Some units was a bit eager and got ahead of themselves and moved a bit too far...

The british realizing that they didn't have to go anywhere to get to the fight, formed lines and opened up with all that they got on the poor french columns. Getting the foremost column to recoil back with severe casualties, but still intact.

To retaliate the french sent in columns to attack, but only one got far enough, but at least some of the light infantry could get to within short range and started to fire on the cannon, but these turned out to be some of the most disciplined soldiers I have ever seen, and during the game that took loads of hits and saved them all.

On the left flank things still stood still...

The hand to hand fight didn't turn out great either, and the french column somehow got annihilated by the british.

Now the British reinforcements arrived to strengthen the front by creating another line to stop the coming french main attack, as loads of battalions are getting really close.

The french now got in front of the britts and this time trying to get them by shooting, so all the light units from the 31st lined up to give them some.

Also no french left, right at the back of the british line, 2 regiments of dragoons appeared, and the panic in the british commander was telling.

After a while of complaining that it's unfair to get cavalry in the flank, it was time to do something about it, and as most units was engaged to the front there was only the Guards left to send anywhere, so the line has to be redress and the right most guard battalion was sent to protect the flank.

On the french turn the cavalry tried to charge the guards, but they manage to get their square formed, and the charge was stopped, and in other parts of the battlefield the columns on the french left got to the village, but could not venture past it this turn. The light infantry also manage to break one of the foremost battalions, opening up the centre a bit.

On the next british turn, drums could be heard in the distance, as some of the battalions that the dragoons should have driven off entered the fray. The shock was telling in the french faces as three more line battalions and one of the 95th rifles arrived in the back of the cavalry. The winds of war turns quickly.

But the french gathered their wits and got of a nice cavalry charge in the back of one of the line troops in the centre, utterly destroying it without breaking a sweat, the british centre are now in a real bind, and can't possibly hold out for much longer.

But still there is hope, in a stroke of incredible shooting and a well placed charge, ALL infantry to the direct front broke all in one stroke, in a matter of seconds three whole battalions ceased to exist as fighting bodies and the whole of 31st regiment disappeared.

Here we had to call the game as time had run out for me, but we called it as a draw, even though the centre broke for the french, there was still two battalions left that was now in quite good order, and the cavalry there was untouched. On the flank there was a strong british force, but they would be hard pressed to do anything about the centre ad that loss would break the British army, if they didn't get another lucky turn and broke the french first.

The game then was a really good one, and both my players walked away filled with thoughts about what army they themselves should get. Once again proving that Black Powder is just a excellent  gaming system.