This was the second game we played at Legions in Pittsburgh. Sorry it has taken so long to post. Also there are pictures this time.
The BAL was attempting to break out of San Sebastian. We had a 6x4 table that represented the land going up to the city with a line of Carlist pickets at the one end and the BAL forces breaking out from the other. There was a small stream that ran through the center of the table. This was easily fordable and only cost half movement to cross.
The BAL had three infantry brigades and one cavalry brigade. Most of the infantry brigades were 3 battalions strong, one had four units two of them riflemen. The other two had either artillery or rockets attached.
The cavalry brigade had two units of lancers.
The other table, 8x4 was contiguous with the 6x4 table and would have been attached at the one end in an "L" shape.
The Carlists started with a brigade along the top end of the 6x4 table, this consisted of three battalions of infantry and two guns.
Then the Carlists had three more brigades along the edge of the 8x4 table approximately equally spaced along it. They were all considered to be unready and would need an order once they were awakened. They would be awakened when someone fired a shot.
So we knew, as the BAL, that we had to advance on the brigade of pickets before they saw us and brought all three other brigades together. If we didn't defeat them piecemeal we would have problems.
Fortunately our troops were well motivated and got the lead out off the bat two of the three brigades moving up three moves with their first orders and being danger close to the Carlists opening fire on them right on the jump off. Just what we needed.
The Carlists were stunned but not stopped by the fusillade returning fire with almost equal efficacy. But where they were unsupported our two Brigades on their one were supported by the third brigade and we rolled over the poor pickets before they could mount much of a defense.
Now it was on to the rest of the army, which still out numbered us.
Or it did until the first round of Carlist orders.
I guess seeing the pickets get trounced so quickly and being awoken so suddenly sent a panic through the furthest brigade of Carlists as an order to them resulted in the entire group of infantry moving rapidly off of the table.
The three units of cavalry were still left, unaffected by the blunder.
The closes brigade of Carlists advanced and while not running away the middle brigade did not feel that they were so committed to the cause to get stuck in.
So the BAL first brigade plunged forward in the closest Carlist brigade who stopped them dead.
The second brigade moved around to protect the flank and the cavalry from the furthest Carlist brigade tried to redeem their brigade by an heroic and useless charge that saw them shattered and retreating from the field in short order.
The second BAL brigade pushed on from their to confront the squeemish Carlist center Brigade one battalion of whom, feeling froggier than most, had rushed up to repel a landing by British Marines on the beach at the center of the San Sebastian Bay.
The BAL second brigade plowed into the center Carlist brigade who, despite obvious exhortations from their leaders, greater numbers and support, were nevertheless smashed to pieces by the plucky Brits:
Meanwhile the closest Carlist brigade held on with grim determination, throwing back the first BAL brigade, then the cavalry brigade before an assault by the thrid BAL Brigade, and the retreat by the rest of the Carlist forces, convinced them it was time to go home.
We had a good time as usual. Hopefully you enjoyed reading the report.
