The Sharp End Gaming

The death of Sir John Moore inspired many paintings. "Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note, As his corse to the rampart we hurried; Not a soldier discharged his farewell shot O’er the grave where our hero we buried. We buried him darkly at dead of night, The sods with our bayonets turning; By the struggling moonbeam’s misty light And the lantern dimly burning. No useless coffin enclosed his breast, Nor in sheet nor in shroud we wound him, But he lay like a warrior taking his rest With his martial cloak around him. Few and short were the prayers we said, And we spoke not a word of sorrow; But we steadfastly gazed on the face that was dead, And we bitterly thought of the morrow. We thought, as we hollowed his narrow bed And smoothed down his lonely pillow, That the foe and the stranger would tread o’er his head, And we far away on the billow! Lightly they’ll talk of the spirit that’s gone And o’er his cold ashes upbraid him,...

A Google Maps view of Bussaco Convent in the distance looking from the eastern side of the village of Moura.  In 1810, the slopes were less forested and dominated by farming.  Four French generals stood in this village and made a plan to storm the ridge. The Argument There is a scene in the book that I am currently reading about the Battle of Bussaco, where on the afternoon of September 26, 1810 the French Generals Massena, Ney, Reynier and Junot are meeting in the village of Moura and arguing heatedly about what should happen next.  Ney and Reynier have been camped below the high ridge of Serro de Busaco overnight and have observed the British positions strengthen since their arrival. Marshal Michel Ney, a strong, opinionated general and the VI Corps commander (22,000+), urges an immediate attack before Wellington's army can fully assemble on the heights above them.  Had he been in command, he would have attacked with Reynier (II Corps commander 15,000+) the...

I have the feeling when I look back at the French attack for this battle, turn 6 will be their high water mark.  They've attacked in four separate columns instead of the two used historically and the terrain has kept them from working effectively together. The fighting to the south.  You can make out the four French columns (the northern one at Ventosa (just visible), the column of horse that flowed from Toledo, the main effort along the road into Vimeiro and the southern most column which tried to turn my flank. The overview of my turn 6 action.  Bowes has helped stabilize the center as his brigade deploys. Trant and his Portugese troops are on the march.  Nightingall and Craufurd though cutoff slightly from the main body are in good enough shape to harass what's left of the French northern column and in Vimeiro Wellington has taken direct command and is managing the defense. I am eager to play this one using PBEM. I don't think a human player would have...

Christmas has come early.  John Tiller's Software has produced Peninsula War.  This is turn 3 representation of Vimeiro my favorite Napoleonic battle.  To the far north are Ferguson's and Nightingall's Bdes where they have bumped into a smaller French flanking force.  In the center Wellington and 4 Bdes are watching the French regulars advance off the far hills and across the valley towards Vimeiro.  The battle there only joined by skirmishers. To learn more about this new release click here .

Rolica: French First Position, August 1808. I grabbed this photo off of the internet.  I still need to apply the stickers to the game blocks.  I received my copy of Commands and Colors: Napoleonics yesterday and I am about half way through the 24 page rulebook. The components are well made and the rules straightforward enough. I had read somewhere that Richard Borg games like this one or Memoir 44 have simple rule systems to increase playability and so far I would tend to agree. The starter scenario covers the initial French position at Rolica just NW of the village. My hope is to play through it tonight.  I am super excited by the prospect of it. Wellington's command of the Anglo-Portugese Army of Portugal is one of my favorite periods of the Napoleonic wars. To have a game that simulates a number of these battles in such a playable way is very exciting. Speaking of games and the way they are designed, Grogheads.com posted this interview with game designe...

The battle of Talavera is part of the Peninsular war mod for HistWar. I am commanding the AngloSpanish army under Wellington. The historical disposition of troops for this scenario is correct. Cuesta and the Spanish anchor the right of the Anglo-Spanish line near Talavera. The British under Hill are stationed on the left flank around Medellin hill and the British cavalry under Fane is in reserve. The British Light Brigade is en route and will ultimately march 42 miles in one day and arrive the next morning. Due to my hardware, the sprite ratio for this scenario is 10:1. I am using the 3rd patch for Histwar.  The weather effects are spectacular and the overall lighting is much improved. I am playing as Wellington.  This is the battle an hour in.  I moved Villaba out of Talavera for fear his cavalry would be cutoff.  He is regrouping behind Cuesta.  And Cuesta is forming a defensive line behind MacKenzie's men while they engage the advancing French ...

My recent gaming has focused on Wellington slugging it out with the French General Junot at Vimeiro, Portugal.  As Wellington, I positioned myself in a V-shaped formation along the sides of a wide valley with the Portugese forces under Nickolas Trant on the right side of the V, (supported by General Ferguson's brigade), and Crawford and Nightingall on the left side.  In the center Ackland, Anstruther and Lawson's battery with the remainder of my brigades poised to enter the battle on the wings. The battle has taken a turn for the worse and I find myself scrambling to form new defensive lines and the Anglo-Portugese army is in real danger of being split in two.  It shouldn't be that way.  Wellington has the numerical superiority on the field and my battle plan hasn't been bad but I grossly overestimated the ability of the Portugese forces.  I should have kept them in reserve.  Their rout has caused the right side of the V to disappear exposing two small...

Wellington and the Portugese detachment under Trant (a mixed force of infantry and cavalry) square off against French Army of Portugal under Junot.  French forces are outnumbered but possess greater mobility due to their cavalry. You can see the French cavalry charging down the valley towards the awaiting British cannons. Down the valley the French cavalry rode... Wellington's battleplan... You make your moves on the 2D map and watch the battle on the 3D map. More to follow...