San Carlos 1817 Scenario and Scouting
For my third game, I thought I would do a rearguard action with disengagement from the enemy. Being less than original, I selected a battle from the Guerra de la Patria Vieja and set it a few years later.
Brigadier Rafel Maroto, commander of King Ferdinand’s troops in the Kingdom of Chile fumed:
“Those eight pounders are nothing but trouble”
His staff examined the ground on which they stood, as though it had just appeared.
“They are never available on the battlefield and they move like snails, forever having to repair wheels and change horses.”
It was not, he reflected, the guns’ fault. The roads in Spain and Portugal were bad, but here in Chile they were just a gap between the fields. And the bullock wagons were as bad, the scrapings of the country, without enough animals.
“How long does the baggage train need?”
The young Lieutenant to whom this question was asked replied nervously:
“The Captain says six hours senor”
“SIX HOURS? San Martin is one hour behind us.”
The object of his ire shuffled his wet boots
“The river is very high senor”
“And after I have fought the rebels to a standstill, what is the army to do, fly across the river on the wings of an angel?”
The young man flushed, all he knew was that he could not tell Maroto that the Captain had commented the nervous old woman might use this as a good reason to fight the rebels.
Maroto scowled, there was nothing for it, he had hoped to fight after the promised reinforcements came from Peru, but he would fight. It was tempting to leave the baggage and the heavy guns, they might slow San Martin down. But no, they would force San Marin to deploy, give him a bloody nose, and withdraw.
“Go, tell the Captain he has six hours, but I expect him to be the last man in the army to cross, so he had better sharpen his sword and load his pistols.”
The Lieutenant saluted and left
Maroto turned to his staff. One man was not looking at the ground, he was looking at his senior officer with an expression one step removed from insolence.
“Quintanilla, take your rearguard up to the Estancia, force the rebels to deploy, inflict casualties and then withdraw to the ridge where we will fight. Make them pay for every yard.”
“Si senor!”
Quintanilla saluted and turned on his heel, Maroto reflected that he was a difficult man, but good when given a job to do.
He started giving orders for his dispositions; it would be a hard morning’s work.
Jose San Martin, previously Colonel in the service of his Majesty Ferdinand VII of Spain, currently Brigadier in the service of the United Provinces of Rio de Plata peered through the gloom of the pre dawn, listening to the report of the young officer.
“The Goths are at the Estancia in some force, they have parried our patrols, but I know this area well senor, I rode with Colonel O’Higgins’ Dragoons five years ago. Behind the Estancia is a low ridge, the Goths will try to hold us there to cover the Nuble.”
San Martin nodded, a retreating army could not move faster than its baggage, an advancing army could do so for a while, particularly at harvest time in an area like Chile’s central valley.
Deserters told of reinforcements promised from Peru so bringing Maroto to battle had a certain urgency. Well, today might be that chance.
“When the army comes up rally your men and bring them up with the rest of the Cazadores, we must fix them and destroy them here.”
He returned some distance up the road, telling two of his aids to find O’Higgins and Soler and ask them to join him for a council of war. Today would be a day for dash and resolution. The Goths had kept ahead of them till now, there may never be a better opportunity, but the position looked strong; they would have to be stronger.
The Battle starts at dawn. The Royalists are positioned on a low hill just north of the Rio Nuble (off table) and have to hold the Independistas off for 5 hours until their heavy artillery and baggage get across the swollen river. Then they must extricate their army one unit at a time before the game ends.
Quarter points to the Royalists for forces that leave the table in good order after turn 10. Quarter points to the Independistas for Royalists still on the table at the end of the game, half points if the Independistas have a unit on the Royalist exit point.
The scouting phase starts with the Royalists at the Estancia and the Independistas at their entry point, 4 elements each.
Normally, I dice for who moves first, but the Royalists have the advantage of position, so the Independistas go first.
Turn 1
The Independistas move up the road and begin fanning out.
The Royalists send two elements up the side road and one to their left flank, the goal bing to stop large Independista flank movements, or at least slow them down.
Turn 2
The Independentistas take two elements to the west the one on the road is fixed by their opponents as is the one to the east. In the west, the Royalists have reached the river, and the limit of expansion.
Turn 3
The Independistas fix the western Royalist element and march further to that flank with their fourth and only free element.
The Royalists, realising that any further presence to their east is of no use bring their only free element back along the side road.
Turn 4
The Independistas continue their flank march and the Royalists try to match it.
Turn 5
The Independistas extend their western flank as far as they can and, the Royalists, with one element free to move, move it to 30cm from the Independista flank, but still within 30cm of their own westernmost element.
Looks like the action is going to be west and centre.
For the main battle, click here:
grizzstoysoldiers 