Yesterday was my first chance to play Sharp Practice for months, for obvious reasons. It was also my first opportunity to get my recently painted 61st Foot Flank Company skirmishers on the table.
The game would be an encounter between an Anglo-Portuguese force and a small column of French Infanterie Légère, supported by a medium gun.
Both sides would be trying to secure the village of San Jorge con Pantalones.
The British were first to arrive, with Lt Barnaby Thorne and a single group of the famous 95th Foot. They took up position behind a low wall surrounding a small plantation of fruit trees. Unfortunately, I then pushed them up across the road into danger and they were heavily defeated in Fistucuffs, forcing them back into the fruit trees. Luckily, the gallant Barnaby Thorne lived to fight another day.
They were soon joined by some skirmishing flank company troops from the 61st Foot, led by veteran sergeant Harry Stottle, who was soon wounded by accurate fire from a group of Légère Voltigeurs, leaving him in a dazed state and unable to exercise any command for the rest of the game.
The French were also beginning to arrive, as two groups, led by Lt Poulidor managed to seize control of a cottage on the main road through the village.
The Portuguese component of my force soon put in an appearance; three groups of Fuzilieiros from the 20th Regiment, led by Capt. Horacio Cataplana. You can see them here, flanked by the rest of the 61st' Light Bobs, led by Lt. Archibald Leach.
Volley fire from the Portuguese, supported by the 61st, soon took their toll on the French, who were forced back to hide behind one of the village houses.
The rest of the 61st Foot arrived, led by the estimable Maj. Molesworth, forming a second line behind the 20th. Slowly, the British began to advance into San Jorge. My plan had originally been to bring both formations up to the main road and use the skirmishing light infantry to protect their flanks, but the mauling given to the 95th, meant that the Portuguese would have to move obliquely into the trees by the road.
Elsewhere, the French began to advance around the far side of the village.
The French cannon was soon deployed. I knew that I had to eliminate this threat to my line troops, and I pushed the flank company skirmishers around the house on my left flank, even though it was occupied by French skirmishers. I judged it a risk worth taking.
Taking up position near a boggy patch of ground, I was able to use four command flags to give the Light Bobs an extra free round of firing before also activating Lt Leach. This proved devastating and wiped out the crew of the French gun, and also giving its supporting infantry a hard beating. The tide was turning my way.
The Portuguese moved up to take up position along the road, while the 61st moved up on their left.
The French charged through the small coppice into my line, but only one group made contact. Even so, they fought well, killing the Portuguese leader, Capt. Cataplana and three of his men. However, I killed six of them and inflicted considerable shock on them too, forcing them to flee.
So, the village ended the day in Anglo-Portuguese hands, with very few casualties on the winning side, apart from the unfortunate Portuguese officer, whose demise will have to be revenged at at future date.
