Battle of Vimiero 1808 : Command and Colors

Managed to get one more game of Command and Colors before my son headed back to London. The battle of Vimiero is a slightly larger scenario, the British in a defensive position around the hills and town of Vimiero, the French under Junot on the attack this time.

The set up at the start, strong French fight flank under Solignac, the main french assault aiming at the hills around Vimiero itself. The victory conditions are 6 banners.

The french have the unlikely option of two victory banners if they reach and take the town itself.

, through all that British infantry !

It felt right with two close victories under their belt the french should be aggressive so Junot openned with his historical approach a strong push down the right towards the village of Ventosa and a direct assault down the centre. The flank attack progressed nicely but the initial direct assault was easily repulsed with one of the two french attacking columns wiped out !

The village of Ventosa taken by french light infantry with strong support.

The second column has made it to the hill but is also wiped out, one of the challenges and the fun of the system is trying to bring enough force in one specific location to make a decisive break through.

The french assault has cost them and the British have taken an early lead with 4 to 2 victory points, but the defence on the hill has been weakened and fearful of smaller units being picked off the British pull back slightly off the crest.

We have skipped several turns here, the french have finally concentrated enough combined arms on the right to hold Ventosa but the British are counter attacking but isolated. The main battle is definitely in the centre, the french have regrouped and pushed forward a column of Grenadiers, despite withering fire from the 95th they are in a commanding position. The balance has been turned slightly with the British at 5 to 4 needing only one more banner.

The British are worried the Grenadiers can outflank the hills and they have little strength to hold them back. They choose a high risk strategy sending their Portuguese light cavalry out to snatch one more banner. So brave those British (with their allies) but so foolhardy, they are unlucky with their dice, are held and then the French open up with devastating grape shot, wiping out the both the unit and their commanding officer.

The French have snatched victory from defeat, Ventosa has been taken, the French advanced column of grenadiers has pretty much broken through. Again a very close battle which could so easily have gone to the British. Wellesley was slightly despondent as he felt he had let a victory slip away. We now need to see if we can play C&C remotely much to be said for these simple but rewarding games. 

We have have some really cold but nice weather so managed some walks, this particular day was the pick of them ! The inversion holding cloud down in the valley

About minus 5 on the tops

The house is now quite so I can hopefully get on with some painting, my AWI grenadiers are coming on nicely but I have been sidetracked by the Third Anglo-Afghan war ! Another new project for 2021.....more to come. 😀