Tactical map of battle area
Despite the defeat at Pisuerga, 2nd Army is ordered to attack Santa Maria
This attack is part of the British campaign plan
But it is also hoped to relieve pressure on 1st Army as they retrea t
11th French army is commanded by Marshal Oudinot
2nd British army is commanded by General Hill
French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Table at start of battle
The game objective are the three centre squares
Woods on the left
Hill in the centre
Bridge over the river Douro on the right
The side who controls two of the three at the end of move 12 will be the winner
The river Douro can only be crossed using one of the three bridges
French army is deployed on the table at the start of the game
31 corps, on the right can move at the start of move 1
32 corps, in the centre, can move at the start of move 1
33 corps, on the left, can move at the start of move 1
British army is off table at the top
They will arrive on the table at the start of move 1
End of move 2
French arrive at all three game objectives
CinC has taken command of 32 and 33 corps cavalry
31 corps half of corps either side of the river Douro
32 corps infantry hold hill either side or road, artillery in the centre
33 corps infantry enter woods, artillery to the left of the woods
British enter table and advance towards game objectives
CinC commands half of 4th corps on the left bank of river
4 corps light division and cavalry brigade on the right bank of river
5 corps artillery move to left to counter French cavalry
6 corps artillery move to the right to counter French cavalry
End of move 4
French deploy on the three objectives
CinC attempt to move through woods, blocked by enemy artillery
31 corps deploy either side of middle bridge
32 corps artillery withdraw into pass to avoid enemy cavalry
33 corps enter southern half of woods
British deploy out of artillery range
CinC advance on left bank of river
4 corps advance on right bank of river
5 corps advance towards hill
6 corps enter northern half of woods
End of move 6
French cavalry charge gunners
CinC cavalry charge gunners who evade to square
31 corps infantry pass test with 10% casualties
32 corps skirmish melee on right hand hill undecided
33 corps melee to left of woods undecided
British advance to attack
CinC advance on left bank
4 corps advance on right bank
5 corps skirmish melee on right hand hill undecided
6 corps cavalry and infantry melee both undecided
End of move 8
French start to withdraw
CinC rallying cavalry after losing melee
31 corps withdraw from middle bridge
32 corps lose right half of hill, but still hold left half
33 corps withdraw from northern half of woods
British capture bridge on the river Douro
CinC capture left bank
4 corps capture right bank
5 corps capture right half of hill
6 corps capture northern half of woods
End of move 10
French rally and prepare to counter attack
CinC rally both cavalry brigades, but one has 20% casualties
31 corps rally and prepare to counter attack
32 corps hold left hill, rally south of right hill
33 corps will melee for south east section of woods
British capture bridge and right half of hill
CinC regroup at west end of bridge
4 corps regroup at east end of bridge
5 corps hold right half of hill, prepare to attack left hald
6 corps hold northern half of woods, rout from south east section
End of move 12
French hold woods at the end of the battle
CinC cavalry in reserve due to casualties
31 corps rally at bridge leading to town
32 corps rout from hill in the centre
33 corps retake woods
British hold hill and bridge at the end of the battle
CinC holds left side of bridge
4 corps hold right side of bridge
5 corps capture both half of hill
6 corps rout from woods
Summary British attack hill and rout defenders
French attack woods and rout defenders
The British hold two of the three objectives and win the battle
The French have lost 14 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (5700 men)
The British have lost 6 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2500 men)
The French have 7 brigades in rout, the British have 3.
