The retreat to Corunna Dec 1808 to Jan 1809

On 23rd December 1808 Sir John Moore made his decision to retreat before the overwhelming French forces that were gathering against him.  My Peninsular campaign has reached the events of the retreat to Corunna, and will consist of a series of rearguard actions, before culminating in the big battle itself.

My Dawns and Departures style Corunna Map

My actual campaign map.   It's a big one!

The first battle, Sahagun.

Sebastian Urgent-Cummings 
Earl of Fagg

The rearguard commander appointed by Sir John is Brigadier General Sebastian Urgent-Cummings, Earl of Fagg.

I will be using two forces as rearguard.  The 60th Rifles Company of Captain Quitte von Weißmehr, and the Light Company of Captain Quilp of the 4th Foot.

The support of the 15th Hussars and a gun from 3rd H.A will be available addons for our stalwart heroes.

The French will have both a Dragoon force and a Light Column.  These forces will automatically replace any casualties for each game in the retreat, whilst the rearguard companies will decline through attrition.

The 60th Rifles
Captain Quitte Von Weißmehr Leader, Marksman, Status III    (9)
Wachtmiester Feuct Leader, Status II     (6)
Lt Binky Snetterton-Lewis Leader, Status I      (3)
Four Groups of 6 60th Rifles, (12)
Points Value:  66

The Duke of Lancaster’s Own 4th Foot
Captain Quilp,Leader, Status III      (9)
Lieutenant Sheridan Bucket Status I   (3)
One group of 8 Grenadiers, Muskets (7)
Two Groups of 8 Regulars, Muskets (12)
Ensign Wellard Leader, Status II      (6)
Two Groups of 8 Regulars, Muskets   (12)
Sergeant Postlethwaite Jaggers Leader I     (3)
One Group of 6 Light Company Skirmishers, Muskets (8)
Jeremiah Catchmole, former Poacher and Marksman (2)
Point Value: 60

French Regulars to 1812
Major Figuin Leader, Status III   (9pts)
Sergeant Gui D`'Rope Leader, Status I     (3pts)
One Group of 8 Grenadiers, Muskets (7pts)
Two Group of 8 Line Infantry, Muskets   (8pts)
Captain Douche Leader, Status II    (6pts)
Two Groups of 8 Line Infantry, (8pts)Muskets
Sous Lieutenant Casse-Toi Bâtard Leader Status II     (6)
Two  Groups  of  6  Voltigeur  Skirmishers, Muskets(12pts)
Corporal Peart, Drummer (1)
Point Value: 60

21er Dragoons
Dragoon  Captaine Alex Craimant   Status III     (9)
Dragoon  Lieutenant Rene Douche-Sac   Status I   (3)
Marechal Chef Milieu Grande Jambe Status II      (6)
Brigadier Louis Brasforté (Trumpet)  (1)
Private Fr Dénis Condom (Defrocked Priest) Holy Man (1)
Tw0 Groups of 8 Mounted Dragoons   16pts
Three Groups of 6 Foot Dragoons      18pts
Point Value:  60 pts

Spanish
La Regimento Rosado Princesa
His Excellency El Conde del Benidorm  Capitán Status II
Two Groups of 8 Grenadiers, Muskets (7pts)
Two Groups of 8 Line Infantry, Muskets  (6pts)

French Pursuit random arrival on table with (?) chip
D6

1.  Dragoon group
2.  Mounted and  dismounted Dragoons
3.  Voltiguers
4.  Voltiguer Company
5.  Two Dragoon groups, three Dismounted
6.  Voltiguer Company Dragoon support. 

Campaign Action Table 
(take a 2D6 twice per day) 

2   The enemy play a nasty trick
3   A Spy is revealed
4   Interaction with a character
5   Scenario 1  An Encounter  Battle
6   Interaction with a character
7   Scenario 2  Sweep the Table  Mission
8   The Weather Turns
9   Scenario 3  Defence in Depth  Battle
10 Scenario 4  Escort Duty  Mission
11  Scenario 5  Attack an Objective  Battle
12  Scenario 6  Rescue Mission  Mission

Game One Sahagun

Game 1 Sahagun, 21 December 1808

To:   Captain Quitte von Weißmehr
60th Rifles
From: Lt. Gen Sir John Moore
Astorga, Dec 24th 1808

Ah, Qwinthy my dwear Chap.  It theems we must retweat.

Be a good German sausage fellow and take youwr Wrifles back over to Sahagwun.
Find out if the Fwench are there yet, number twypes etc...

The Wearguard will be commanded by Brigadier General Urgent-Cummings, the Earl of Fagg.
Weport to him on complweetion of your mwission.

Mwoore


Note from Chief of Staff:
Captain von Weißmehr,
approaching from the west take either (1) the old goat trail or (2) the road from Casa Hemorrhoidia.
The vinyards should offer you some cover.  A Squadron of the 15th Hussars under Lieutenant Hawtrey will be at your disposal.
Watch Hawtrey like a hawk.  He is a cad with the ladies.
One last thing...

Mission 8.  Find the missing banker.
Johannes Reece Morgue, Merchant of Vienna, is somewhere in the area of Sahagun.  He has a banker's draft, sufficient to present to the bankers at Lisbon and pay the lads their back money.
Johannes has a penchant for dressing as a lady of advanced years, and smoking enormous Havana cigars.  He insists on being addressed as Young Miss Johanna.
Rescue Young Miss Johanna and discover what she knows.

Carry on von Weißmehr.


Game 2 Astorga and the Blue Nun

Captain Quilp, 4th Foot
From: Lt. Gen Sir John Moore
Astorga, Dec 24th 1808

Ah, Quilliup,
How is youwr eyesight these days... Haw... Haw...Haw...

It will come as a shock that we will not be fwighting a bwattle here twooday.
The army will be retweating.
You will have the honour of being Wearguard here at Astworga.
A squadron of the 15th Hooussars will stand by you.
The Fwench will come over the mountains from Leon.

The Wearguard will be commanded by Brigadier General Urgent-Cummings, the Earl of Fagg.
Weport to him on complweetion of your mwission.

Gwood Luck owlde boy...

Mwoore

Note from Chief of Staff:
Captain Quilp,

You must hold the French with your company until nightfall or until you are outflanked. They will probably try to use the direct route westward over the Pine Ridge.  Choose your ground.  You can hold them at the fords of the Arroyo del Convento, or on the roads over the Pine Ridge.  Astorga will be fired as the Army withdraws.   A Squadron of the 15th Hussars under Lieutenant Hawtrey will be at your disposal.
One last thing...

The Sera Convent lies to the North of Astorga.  Send a small force to protect and escort our agent "the Blue Nun," to your position.  She is guarding a big box and has a mule to carry it. This box must be delivered to the main column after your mission to delay the French is complete.  Do not allow it to fall into the Enemy's hands.
More importantly do not entrust this mission to Hawtrey of the Hussars.  The Good Lord has not blessed him with  a natural intelligence, and he cannot be trusted with a lady, even an elderly nun.
I say... Ding Dong...old boy...
Do not allow your Force to be cut off and destroyed.

Desperate times Captain...

Orders from Captain Quilp

I shall send Lt. Wellard with the light company to escort the ‘nun’.

I will take half our line troops (two groups?) and take up a position in the treeline on Pine Tree Ridge, overlooking the fords. We will deploy in open order (individual groups) and harry the French, with ‘skirmish’ fire as they cross the fords.

The remainder of our force will take up a reserve position  at the junction of the two roads behind Pine Tree Ridge, under Sgt Postlethwaite. Here they will form line.

We will not attempt to make a stand in the woods but fall back on our reserves when pressed. The whole force will then reform line and hopefully cover the retreat of Wellard and the ‘nun.

Cpt. Quilp (4^th Foot)