Bailén 1808

 

To top off the year we have a napoleonic game, the battle of Bailén, featuring the two armies pinted during lockdown

While the spaniards send two flanking divisions ahead, the french advance in line

The crappy spanish cavalry retreats from the chasseurs

On y va! French dragoons dare the gauntlet of fire to take out the guns

More spanish militia appears on the field, while the french keep their steady advance

The first french reinforcements also march into the field, a swiss division marching in column

In the right, both cavalry divisions charge, starting up a long combat

Generals Castaños and Prive are the first victims of this clash

 

 

In the left the french ligne advances, impervious to the ragged spanish fire

The french musketry proves far more effective

The chasseurs are surprisingly repulsed

The confident imperials charge the enemy

But are also pushed back, pas le jour de l'arme blanche, says géneral Dupont

The last french unit marhes into the field, the fabled marines de la Garde no less!

The swiss and artillery open up a devastating fire on the enemy

The combat in the right ends with the spanish routed, but the mauled french are too damaged to be of any more use during the battle

In the center, the french infantry mercilessly pounds the milita with their muskets

Another volley destroys the spaniards in the left

The sailors kill off the last militiamen

With both spanish flanks anihilated, Dupont moves to take on the defenders of Bailén

The swiss take over an ungarrisoned building

The battery bombards the waloon guard in the village

Concentrated fire takes down many guards

And a final crashing volley routs them

The last spanish unit goes out in a blaze of glory, charging the swiss from the cottage

But are taken in the rear by the dragoons and massacred

The battle ends in a resounding french victory. Vive l'Empereur!