Almanza 1707, with ‘Field of Battle’

 

Subsequent to my nephew’s glorious introduction to wargaming via the 'Piquet: Field of Battle WW2' rules, and the ease of pick-up whilst being the proverbial ‘hard to master’, we moved onto the horse and musket variant of same.

Almanza - according to the official regimental histories, though local maps may differ

 

Almanza is one I have wanted to fight for a long time, and the recent publication of Marlburian scenarios for Volley and Bayonet (V&B version of this battle to follow) by Adrian Powell and John Harding (see Lulu) has had me salivating over the period once more. An earlier 9-years-war variant is promised, I understand.

Definitely need this one for the bathroom wall - all of it!

 

Won by our wily chum the Duke of Berwick (who when 19, cavorted around Ireland acting the ‘big lad’), the illegitimate son of the future James II of England by his mistress Arabella Churchill, elder sister of Marlborough (the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries are incestuously complicated, …never mind the insane jaw-lines), where he manages to persuade his opponent to attack his greater numbers - just for the LOLs.

 Almanza of course is notorious for having a naturalised Englishman as French marshal (Berwick), facing a naturalised Frenchman as Allied General (Galway). You could not make this stuff up!

'Did you pick up my dry cleaning?'

 As usual a great game to teach, and continually learn, with results which make sense, unconventional game turns that create drama, and historical results with great stories.

On the French right, a rickety bridge and a gorge which hampers progress, and is deadly to be forced into

The French centre-left, where the first attacks go in

 

that's a lot of French in the centre, and more Spanish on the left

Early Allied cavalry actions, shot off by French musketry

As first short range duels begin in the centre...melee cards, where shock troops are mostly not used, become like gold dust in some of the fights

The French in the centre close with Allied artillery

On the French left, Portugese infantry buttress the opposing flank while the horse look at each other with intent

Spanish cavalry is stymied on the right, as the French make good use of their move cards, and the Allies pour fire upon them

Cavalry takes the bridge in decisive action

Spanish guards and British redcoats in the centre

A few routs, but both sides manage to hold their lines

The French at the last minute, shift to the right, sensing an opening - not easy with the relatively cumbersome period maneuvering of the time - well replicated in the rules (works beautifully - with odd and even variations and thereby effects, on move card rolls)

The French begin to get the best of the centre and right - breaking the Allied lines.

French infantry and Spanish cavalry make a mess !

The Allied centre breaks - morale cards are being handed to the French with each hit now...

The 'tilt' in morale is unstoppable now - as, with a run of five cards, the French make holes which the allies do not have the troops to 'plug'. Another great game.