18th August 1808, Evening, Dawns and Departures

18th August 1808, Dawns and Departures

The first moves towards Vimeiro

From Captain Quilp 4th Foot

I’ve chosen my support points as follows:

Exploring Officer @ 3 points

Secondary Deployment Point @ 2 points

Musician @ 1 point

I was tempted by a Physic but I reckoned the Priest could probably double for some of those duties. Hopefully, the Exploring Officer should increase my chances of finding the Frogs, and as I’ve plumped for the Exploring Officer I may as well take a Secondary Deployment Point as well so he has some effect on any resulting table top actions. Some may think the musician is for extra command and control but it’s actually for the camp; a spot of music means I won’t have to listen to the Priest and his sermons around the camp fire!

I don’t know how often you will be requiring orders but the general intent is to march straight down the Torre Vedras road. As Vimeiro Hill is at least 3 days away I need to push on if I’m to get there by the 21^st. So the initial plan is to move on down the road as far as Ventosa, here I will leave the road and move on to Vimeiro Hill. Naturally I will have an infantry patrol one square ahead of my main body. The Exploring Officer will scout out the area between the 2 roads.

Toodle Pip,

Quilp (Light Company 4^th Foot)

From Captain Wiessmehr,

60th Rifles:

(Through gritted teeth) "My dear Colonel Trant I look forward to meeting The Count of Pantalones and marching with him and his brave men." sotto voce "Gott helfe uns!"

Nobody is quite sure what happened to Binky in Quinta Gruga but he emerged after two days in Madame Lola's with a fierce grin, several bottles of Portuguese brandy and a repertoire of bawdy songs. The men's estimation of him has gone up considerably. Upgrade to Level 2.

The exploits of Corporal Louis Ferrigno at the convent where he broke down a door and then used it as a weapon had to be seen to be believed. The men know better than to make him angry and I am of the opinion that he will make a good sergeant, although Feuct thinks he is a little green.

Order of march on the road to Vimeiro.

Send The Masked Shadow out ahead. You know, I swear I've never seen that man blink.

Three skirmish groups with one sergeant each come next.

Then the three line groups with Lt. Snetterton -Lewis.

I shall accompany the last group with Dr Ottershaw, young Billy and the mules.

Finally, and with the VERY important duty of rear guard don’t y’know, the Portuguese and the blessed Count.

Red Force

The march from Quinta Gruga goes well, with the road south being empty.  You send forward patrols and the exploring Officer.  The fellow assigned to you is a Dragoon officer named David, the Lord Farthingdale.  He insists on that "the lord" title by the way.  He is a lieutenant and he is clearly drunk.  His father is Sir Augustus, a Staff Officer with Sir Arthur.

The route ahead is over scrub land that passes for cultivation here in Portugal.  Your patrols quickly push on and out of sight.  The exploring Officer is well mounted on an enormous stallion he calls Satan`s Balls.  He ranges ahead quite fearlessly and in the  afternoon reports the presence of French skirmishers from a line regiment in the area of St Paulo, a tiny village with a small church.  These Voltiguers are escorting a heavily laden wagon towards area 17. 

Your patrols meanwhile report the presence of the main French Brigade column in  area 17, retreating from it's defeat at Rolica, and a detachment camped in a low point of the road acting as a rearguard.  They have cook-fires buring.  Sergeant (Sorry that should be Ensign but the damned man is wearing his Sergeant's uniform) Wellard estimates a single group of Voltiguers and two of Line formed up to the left of the road.  They seem to have a wagon with a broken wheel on the road to their left flank, and a gaggle of troops behind that, probably stragglers but possibly artillerymen trying to save a gun with a broken wheel?   

It is too late to bring up the main body and attack tonight, but you may attack at first light, or attempt to flank the position?

The Command of the Light Company

Captain (no first name? or at least I can`t find one recorded) Quilp Big Man III

Ensign Dick Wellard.  Still in his Sergeants uniform. Big Man II

Sgt Postlethwaite "Mother" Jaggers  Big Man I

David Ld. Farthingdale, Lieutenant Royal Dragoons. Drunk.

Dr Samuel Johnson Physic and lexicographer.

Green Force

Green Force

The march from Quinta Gruga is done at Rifles quick pace.  The road south is empty.  You send forward patrols and the Exploring Officer.  The fellow is a Portugee Officer Colonel Trant has attached to you, who called himself Sombra Mascarada (the masked Shadow.)  He wears a Hussar Lieutenant's uniform and never blinks.  He may not be entirely sane.  He knows these roads well however and very quickly identifies French Voltiguers from a line regiment in the area of St Paulo, a tiny village with a small church.  These Voltiguers are escorting a heavily laden wagon westward away from you and towards area 17.

Quilp and his men on the road to your right (west) have done their best and the exploring Officer reports them as moving through area 12, but you command Riflemen, and their pace is extraordinary and you are ahead of him.  You have two hours before sunset, and thus the opportunity to attack.

Binky has recovered from his wound at Rolica, but he now walks with a mincing gait that is painful to watch.  His voice has also risen by at least an octave.  The men are in awe of him and his new status as a Level II big man.  Three cheers for Binky!!!

The bad news is that the Count and his Portugee troops are straggling and looting.  Sergeant Feuct informs you that his Excellency the Count is a gentleman unsuited to military activity, but that he has for now retained his pantalones.  (He is apparently notorious for losing his trousers)  It has become clear why Colonel Trant detached him to you.  

The French appear to have only two groups of line and a single group of Voltiguers.  They are cooking dinner, but their position is poorly chosen, and with a village behind them they would find it difficult to withdraw.  A very Fat French Major seems to be in charge.

You may attack using the Rifle Company or camp in area 14 and wait for the Portuguese to straggle in.

As Binky points out His Excellency the Count of Pantalones will be furious if he misses the action, and that should prove hilarious!

Gentlemen of the Petains,

I have set out both of your prospective games here. 

Battlefield One, Green Force on the Torres Vedras road

Battlefield 2, Red Force on the Vimeiro road

Both scenarios will be "Fighting withdrawal." 

Blue will defend the left, Red and Green respectively will attack from the right.

Fighting Withdrawal

INTRODUCTION

This game is a Battle.  The defender is seeking to delay their opponent by inflicting a bloody nose, thereby buying time.                                                                                                                                               

DEPLOYMENT POINTS

The defender, Blue, chooses which edge he wishes to defend and then dices to see which area contains their main Deployment Point which may be placed anywhere in that area.  A secondary Deployment Point may then be placed anywhere in the Zone indicated for that purpose.

The Green and Red attackers may place their Primary Deployment Point anywhere on his table edge with any secondary Deployment Points being placed from that.

OBJECTIVE

The objective will generally be set by the campaign situation.  However, if Red or Green captures Blue’s Primary Deployment Point, the game will end immediately.

TERRAIN REQUIREMENTS

The road running through the table will run along the centre left to right.

I need only a broad plan, and an idea of which area your deployment point will be in.

Sir Augustus Farthingdale...