Salamanca in the UK

Got back from our trip across the pond Wednesday. It included a stop at the Oxford Wargames Society and a rollicking game of Salamanca 1812 a la Bloody Big Battles. I was pleased at having figured out how to get to the venue via the local bus.

 

I was having trouble accessing my email in the UK (a long, boring tech tale) and hadn’t had a good look at the scenario. I opted for the French left flank, with the infantry divisions of Thomieres, Brennier, Macune and accompanying cavalry on dodgy horseflesh. With decent movement rolls, Thomieres marched into Miranda de Azan and earned us a victory point. Aside from that, I was entirely too aggressive, should have fallen back towards the Greater Arapil and kept my cavalry in reserve. Instead, I sent the cavalry forward aggressively. They evaded from the advancing British infantry, becoming disrupted and in time hors de combat.

 

I did get my other two infantry divisions back in the correct place, but was overcome with battle lust late in the game. I do that from time to time. I kept charging the oncoming British. This allowed two assaults each per turn, once by me on the French phase and again on the British phase by them. I’d have been well advised to just stay put on the French phase and defend on the British phase. My hindsight is 20/20, as always.

 

Instead, both divisions dissolved before game end. My cavalry having preceded them off this mortal coil, this allowed the British to claim an objective. If only I’d had one of my cavalry units around to claim the objective, we might have snatched a dodgy French victory. We settled for a sanguine tie. A fun game. At some point I heard Chris calling for “more nepotism!” Indeed. I'd left my old point-and-shoot camera back in NYC, so no photos of the game.

 

Oh yes, Thomieres attacked out of Miranda de Azan against Portuguese and Spanish on the steep hill of Pico de Miranda. The second assault saw a dreadful die roll. The division broke off the table with heavy losses. I had one weak artillery unit on the table at game end.

This was followed by a trip to the local pub. All in all, a fine time. Thanks to the Oxford Wargames lads.