Battle of Barrosa 1811 - Over the Hills Second Edition

Sergeant Masterson of the 87th Foot capturing the Eagle of the 8me Ligne at Barrosa

A few weeks ago I received my eagerly awaited copy of Over the Hills (OTH) Second Edition Napoleonic Rules from Stand to Games and have been planning to get a game set up to see what was new and to reacquaint myself with what is a very good set of Napoleonic rules.

Having read through the new version, I was very happy to see that the fundamental features of the rules, built as they are around the concept of fatigue affecting units, formations and armies, gradually leading to one side unable to continue the battle, have been retained, but now with a better laid out book with adjustments and additions that we found added to the original set without losing what was really good first time around.

So much so that we found ourselves quickly picking up the rules again using our own home produced QRS which we were able to make notes upon where we detected some slight changes or where I intend to add in some of the additions such as testing to rally a broken brigade, which came up in our game.

Looking back I see that this is the third rendition of the Battle of Barrosa we have played at the club, see the links below, with the previous game in 2017 using the first edition of OTH.

http://devonwargames.blogspot.com/2017/03/battle-of-barrosa-1811-over-hills.html
https://devonwargames.blogspot.com/2015/03/battle-of-barossa-5th-march-1811.html

I remember that that game was one of our first using the rules and we made some key errors in play whilst getting our heads around them, plus I soon realised after further reading that the set up and layout of the game was wrong in some key areas, which I set out to re-write in a new version of the scenario as part of a Kickstarter collection for the release of the new rules and my Peninsular Scenario book written for OTH.

https://jjwargames.blogspot.com/2019/01/oer-hills-is-published.html

It was really nice to get the Peninsular War collection back out on the table again since we finished play testing the scenarios for O'er the Hills back in February last year and with a group of players very much involved in the creation of those games, ready to get back into a first love, Napoleonics.

The table below shows the position of the two armies on first contact, with the British about to be set up into lines ready to meet the French who are surprised to find the Anglo-Spanish troops advancing to meet them.

Troops deployed and the Battle of Barrosa is about to begin

Part of the adjustments to this scenario is that both armies are stating the game on 'Attack' orders, that is moving forward to closely engage the enemy and that the two parts of the Barrosa battlefield are distinct, being separated by the woodland running across the table.

The initial set up for the new Barrosa scenario

The terrain and rapid deployment by Sir Thomas Graham meant that some of his troops became confused moving through the trees to get into position ready to attack seeing two companies of British guards separated from their parent battalion and fighting on the opposite flank.

In addition, recognising the threat posed by the French rapidly closing in on the rear of the allied column, Graham felt compelled to slow the French advance by throwing out a couple of 'speed bumps' on each flank in the form of the two composite light battalions seen ahead of their parent brigades; who set off ahead of their supports to tackle the French divisions unsupported whilst the line infantry prepared to come up in their support.

The view from the French right with Wheatley's brigade debouching from the tree line

The playing of the orders process in OTH really enables the peculiarities of a given battle to be modelled in the scenario of it and so playing the role of Graham, I decided to follow his battle plan and press on with the allied attack, whilst Steve M playing the role of Victor hastily stopped the advance of his troops now occupying the hill whilst pressing forward on his other flank.

One other slight alteration we decided to make was to combine the six companies from three different parent battalions that fought on the British left flank into a composite battalion, and to allocate the weak French artillery to one of the French infantry brigades they were supporting.

The British brigade under Dilkes, dress their lines after their rapid deployment as Browne's Light Battlaion sets off ahead to confront the French under Ruffin occupying Barrosa Hill

Thus with the table set up we pressed on with our game with the Anglo-Spanish assuming the role of Side A in the sequence of play, but only being able to move forward their light battalions in the first turn and to fire their deployed artillery.

Likewise to simulate the surprise of the French finding the Anglo Spanish debouching from the tree line in readiness to attack them only the French guns were able to fire in the opening turn.

Surprised to find themselves under attack, Ruffin's guns open fire on the Anglo-Spanish troops

One of the first decisions I had to make as commander of the Anglo-Spanish troops was whether to support my attack by Dikes' brigade with the Anglo-Spanish cavalry, looking to occupy their French opposition in the form of the two squadrons of the 1me Dragoons.

Throwing caution to the wind Samford Whittingham joined the KGL hussars as they cantered along the coast road to be met by their heavier French opponents,  with the Spanish dragoons held back in support.

Likewise on the opposite flank, the opposing artillery opens fire

In this first combat between the two armies, valour got the better part of discretion as Whittingham was cut down in the ensuing three rounds of combat as the KGL fought toe to toe with their French opposition.

The result saw the rout of the allied cavalry brigade but left the French brigade likewise teetering on a similar outcome should they engage any other allied troops with just 2FS remaining on their brigade card.

The two batteries of British nine pounder guns soon started to dominate their side of the table with multiple hits from roll through roundshot.

Ruffin and Victor decided to move over to defence whilst occupying Barrosa Hill.

It was however on the opposite flank that the battle started to take an early turn as the British artillery supported by the damaging sniping of the riflemen in Barnard's Light Battalion started to take a toll on Leval's two brigades as the mounting casualties wore down their divisional fatigue scores.

With the Anglo Spanish cavalry routed the Spanish infantry cautiously advance on the battered French dragoons

Soon the opposing lines were closing and the first volleys of infantry fire replaced the early sounds of cannons as the guns pulled off ready to support the British right flank as the 87th and 28th Foot prepared to administer the coup de grace on Leval's recoiling French.

The French guns are destroyed and the two French brigades are teetering on breaking as they try to hold back the advance of the 87th Foot

However Leval's division was a veteran force composed of men who had fought the British at Talavera two years previously and so their brigade commanders were well placed to test to keep their brigades in the fight as their FS hit zero.

The first brigade to test easily passed and the combat entered a second round of struggle, only to see the next brigade fail its test and break, quickly followed by the other, as their lead battalions took further hits causing them to rout.

The line of Guardsmen start to move up in support of Browne's Light Bobs as events unfold on the opposite flank

As the British Guards close on the hill, Victor receives news that Leval's Division on his right flank are broken and in full retreat

With the French right flank in tatters and the British guns being redeployed to support the attack of Dilkes' brigade on Barrosa Hill, Victor called for a general retreat as he looked to cover the rear of his broken forces and with the allied cavalry unable to interfere with the pull back.

The Spanish are emboldened to press forward with the arrival of British Guards to their left

Overseen by Sir Thomas Graham, Dilkes' brigade prepare to assault the hill as the French start to break contact

Over the Hills played really well and it was great to find that we were getting back into the sequence of play and remembering the rules really quickly which I think is a sign of a good set, as well as producing a game that closely mimicked the actual battle.

I have come away with a few errors identified in the scenario brief which I can now rectify with an update, and with notes made to our QRS to allow me to update it with the few changes we identified in the second edition rules.

I am about to set off on a three week holiday exploring the Peninsular War battlefields and this game has really fired the imagination in preparation for my trip.

Thanks to Steve M, David and Jack for a really enjoyable game.

JJ

Devon Wargames Group at Legionary 2017

This month proved a bit of a problem for the club as our normal weekend meeting clashed with our local show 'Legionary 2017' and so several of us were over at the show running two games, with Nathan and Jason hosting the 'Pickett's Charge' 28mm ACW display game and my (JJ's) 18mm Napoleonic collection using 'Over the Hills'.

I grabbed some pictures from both our games at what was as usual a fun day out.

There is an AAR on the Over the Hills game on JJ's Wargames
http://jjwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/casa-de-salinas-talavera-over-hills.html

and here are a few of the pictures from the game.

Normal service should be resumed for next month.

JJ

Battle of Barrosa 1811 - Over the Hills

A rather fanciful depiction of the Battle of Barrosa by Baron Lejeune, with the British depicted in their much later Belgic Shakos, but the view beyond of the coast and the island city of Cadiz in the background really captures the location for the battle

It was way back in March 2015 that we first played Barrosa, a fascinating battle that saw General Sir Thomas Graham avert a potential disaster as the French under Marshal Victor attempted to attack an Anglo Spanish relief force marching to break the siege of Cadiz, in the flank and rear.

http://devonwargames.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/battle-of-barossa-5th-march-1811.html

This time we were playing the scenario using Over the Hills (OTH) which we featured in the Vimeiro game back in January this year.

Photo-map to illustrate the positions at start

So to set the scene and refresh the memory for those who know something about the Battle of Barrosa and those that are having a great, never to be repeated, moment of discovering a new battle that fires up the imagination, I shall recap the history and set the scene for the Battle of Barrosa or Chiclana as the Spanish may refer to it.

Following the disastrous Battle of Ocana near Madrid on the 19th November 1809, the only Spanish army capable of defending Andalusia and southern Spain was now destroyed and in the winter campaign that followed French Imperial forces flooded through the passes of the Sierra Morena under Marshal Soult forcing the Supreme Junta to decamp from Seville and head for the last remaining defensible city, Cadiz. Fortunately for Spain and the allied cause the Duke of Albuquerque on his own initiative lead the last remaining Spanish troops in the area to the city beating the arrival of the French by just two days, arriving on the 3rd February 1810.

Battle_of_Ocaña

Cadiz went into a state of siege as the Spanish were later joined by British and Portuguese troops to help bolster the garrison and the Royal Navy ensured supplies to the city and secured it against any water-borne attempts to storm it.

Over the next year with allied reinforcements and draw-downs on the French besiegers an opportunity presented itself for the garrison to attempt to relieve the siege by arranging for a landing force to be transported out of the city to land along the coast at Tarifa behind the French allowing them to come up on their rear.

The Anglo Spanish force was commanded by Spanish General Manuel Lapena and General Sir Thomas Graham was subordinate commanding the Anglo-Portuguese rear-guard division.

Marshal Victor became aware of the allied approach and set a trap by blocking the road into Cadiz and his lines of circumvallation, whilst having two divisions inland ready to fall upon the rear of the allied column as it made its way along the coast road.

The battle started when Graham became aware of the French movement to his rear and turned about to offer battle before the French could press him back into the sea and roll up the remaining Spanish forces from the rear.

The two order of battles show how different but well matched the two sides are with just six Fatigue Score points favouring the Anglo Spanish force.

In OTH the quality, training and size of the units are measured by a given Fatigue Score (FS) rating with a bulk standard French or British battalion of about 600 men scoring a 7 or 8 FS. The FS is the number that needs to be rolled equal to or less than to rally, shoot and fight the battalion, squadron or battery using a d10 and the total FS for any given formation (brigade, division, corps and army) is halved to give a break point total for that force.

As fatigue is accrued, from moving and combat, through the game it is tallied with the use of dice against the unit affected and its parent formation. Unit FS can be rallied off to keep the unit fighting, but formation FS cannot and when it is used up the formation is deemed out of action and its surviving units will automatically withdraw from the battle.

The photo map at the top of the post shows where the respective formations were set up as the two forces were close to engaging, with Victor's 1st Division atop Barrosa Hill and his 2nd Division preparing to sweep down to the coast road just as Graham's Anglo Portuguese emerged from the tree-line ready to attack them.

On the coastal road and Anglo-Spanish force of infantry and cavalry under Wittingham and Cruz Murgeon faced off against Dermancourt's mixed brigade of Light Infantry and Dragoons.

I chose to keep the British 67th Foot as a complete battalion in its parent brigade but a strictly historical set up might have the battalion split into two parts with each British brigade reflecting the confusion caused as Graham rapidly turn his force around to respond the the French threat.

This was a trial scenario that I am working on for OTH and so I was using some loose (unwritten but explained) guidance for the players, re terrain and objectives.

I played the woods as open, causing fatigue to formed troops moving through it, which on reflection I would not and we adjusted the game partway in to free up the British troops moving through it to get at the French in the open. This feature was not disruptive enough to stop Graham's men deploying through and from it with the 87th Foot charging into the 8th Ligne and taking the first Eagle captured by British troops in the Peninsular War.

As far as objectives are concerned, I am not convinced that this scenario benefits from terrain specific objectives as clearly both sides were looking to close with the enemy and destroy them, irrespective of terrain, as both sides knew that if the Allies did not stop and break the French, they were going for an early bath in the Mediterranean, best case option.

That said in the actual engagement the French on Barrosa Hill seemed quite content to let the Anglo-Portuguese come to them up hill in the face of their whithering fire so I decided to not use order changes in this game and let the players choose their ground with the intent to watch and learn with some ideas I have in mind for orders in the written up scenario.

Battle lines drawn with the French (right of picture) occupying Barrosa Hill

So with things all set up and both sides intent on taking it to the enemy the British were deemed Side A and began to move their troops forward towards the French who as I suspected were quite content to allow them to suffer the delights of skirmish and artillery fire played on them as they did so.

I needed a suitable look out tower for Barrosa Hill so my Hovels windmill got an outing to club

With Colours flying and the drums and pipes jauntily playing 'A British Grenadier' heard floating over the noise of French cannon, the British lines closed up each time a soldier fell and grimly pressed on to the awaiting French line.

British Guards preceded by Lieutenant Colonel John Browne's Flank Battalion in open order 

Wheatley's brigade were the first to open fire on Leval's French line as they emerged from the tree line on the British left flank and Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Barnard's mighty flank battalion, nearly a thousand men strong, opened fire moving out in open order with their four companies of 95th Rifles bowling over French officers and NCO's as they moved.

Meanwhile the Royal Artillery nine-pounder batteries quickly deployed from the woodland trail to add their round-shot to the skirmish fire.

General de Division Leval's 2nd French Division receive British artillery and skirmish fire as they emerge from the tree-line beyond. The first blue mini-dice fatigue markers start to blossom behind French battalions.

It was not long in coming when the weaker artillery response from the spread out French artillery started to answer the British fire but the casualties were negligible in the early part of the advance.

The two British Guards battalions are preceded by Brownes Flank battalion and three companies of 95th Rifles

Colonel Barnard quickly got his men formed from their open order approach, and keen to take advantage of the accurate skirmishing from his riflemen and the Britishh round-shot plying the French line, waved his hat as he encouraged his men who, giving three cheers, lowered their bayonets and charged the 2/54me Ligne.

The French battalion already disordered by the fire received turned tail almost immediately and G de D Leval had to ride into the ranks of his soldiers to steady their nerve as Barnard's men charged forward.

Ruffin's artillery opens fire on the British troops advancing on Barrosa Hill 

When Barnard looked rearwards for support from the three British battalions supposedly coming on behind, he was shocked to see that they were still shaking themselves out into line from the trees equally disordered by French fire as they did so.

Meanwhile the Guards and their skirmish line had pressed on to the lower slopes of Barrosa Hill and the rifles of the 95th together with Colonel Browne's flank companies began to methodically drive in the French skirmishers picking off men and French FS as they did so.

The 95th Rifles open their account in the skirmish battle as the two lines close

The two lines were now closing rapidly and the first close combats were fast approaching as both sides attempted to get in first to take advantage of unit FS before it could be rallied off.

British 9lbrs pour on the shot and shell so efficiently one battery runs out of ammunition and has to send off for more.
This as Wheatley struggles to deal with the disorder brought to his line from accurate French return fire

The French on Barrosa Hill tried to grab the initiative back from Dilkes' Guards by sending in one of their composite grenadier battalions in column, taking advantage of their uphill position.

The 1st Foot Guards silently came to the halt as the cheering grenadiers crested the hill and closed on them. The order to present was given and six hundred Brown Bess muskets were levelled at the enemy. The fire when it came was devastating and with a cheer the Guards drove forward pushing the French back from whence they came.

The British approach on Barrosa Hill drives in the French skirmish screen

Meanwhile the point of decision was fast approaching on the French right flank as the fight had stalemated into a 'who can pound the longest' affair with the French artillery and 2/54me Ligne driven from the field, but with both sides teetering on the edge of force morale failure and with just one possible chance of close combat that would see one or both sides depart from the field of battle.

Wheatley's brigade threaten a breakthrough as the 2/54me Ligne disintegrates in the face of Barnard's Flank Battalion charge, leaving the centre of the French line threatened as the 2/8me Ligne step up to fill the gap and as FS markers record the reaction to the French battalion's demise, four FS against the 1/54me closest to camera. Note G de D Leval in the centre steadying the men.

General Wheatley decided to throw the dice on one last desperate gamble to break his opposite number's will to resist and the 2/87th came forward to support Colonel Barnard's flankers as together they charged the French line.

'Not good, not good!!' The 2/54me break to the rear leaving the French division with just 5 FS from an original 25 FS at start of play

Would the French line stand this time? The fighting was fierce across the front as the 2/87th won their tussle with the French grenadiers and drove them back to their start line on the road, but taking yet more fatigue hits for their trouble.

Meanwhile Barnard's men crossed bayonets with the 2/8me Ligne and losing the combat in the last of three rounds were forced to fall back leaving both the British and French formations on 1 FS each, but the British battalion was forced directly back which meant clipping one of the support battalions behind adding a further 2 FS from the corresponding disorder caused by the interpenetration and Wheatley's battle was over leaving the consolation that so was Leval's, holding the field but with 1FS remaining unable to do very much with it.

The battle in its closing stages - Laval and Wheatley  (left of picture) have fought each other to a standstill with both teetering on FS collapse - Dilke's British Guards have charged up Barrosa Hill shrugging of hits and destroying the 1/96me Ligne breaking to the rear (centre top)

With battle well and truly joined along the front the Anglo Spanish brigades of Wittingham and Cruz Mugeon decided to lend a little support, seeing the KGL 2nd Hussars launch a surprise charge onto the corner of Barrosa Hill catching a column of the 2/24me Ligne in the flank before it could react, however the French column held its nerve and though badly shaken managed to drive off the German hussars in the third round of combat.

To support their efforts the Spanish dragoons gamely trotted forward to detain their French opposites getting the worst of the affair but drawing the French dragoons away from their brigade comrades the 2/9 Legere who were equally surprised by the German hussars charging forward to take on their line.

This time the German cavalry drove the French infantry back but was unable to break them just as their Spanish comrades disintegrated in the face of another attack by the French 1st Dragoons forcing Cruz Mugeon's Spanish infantry into square.

The cavalry battle on the coast in full sway as the KGL Hussars charge into a line of the 2/9me Legere (bottom right) and the Spanish infantry form square at the 1st French Dragoons break their Spanish opposites, seen fleeing to the rear (bottom left)

The Battle on Barrosa Hill was the crescendo of our afternoon as both guards battalions seemingly sensing the struggle the other allied brigades were having to grab the ascendancy took the battle by the scruff of the neck as they charged into Ruffin's line atop the hill, breaking the 1/96me Ligne in a vain attempt to stop the 2nd/3rd Composite Guards battalion; and with the 1st Guards equally aware of bragging rights among the Household troops once back in the changing room, smashed into the French 1st Provisional Grenadiers and the 1/24me Ligne driving both battalions back over the ridge in three rounds of combat, leaving the French division badly battered.

The Guards Brigade become an irresistible force as Ruffin's division reels in the face of their attack

We called the game there with one British brigade quit the field, one Spanish dragoon regiment dispersed,  one French brigade teetering on 1 FS force morale and the British Guards atop Barrosa hill with two French infantry battalions and half a battery of guns dispersed.

Both armies had fought each other to a standstill and given us a great afternoons entertainment. The rules, yet again, stood up very well in this, just our second full on game.

We came away with lots of ideas about house rules and other adaptations we can make, but the game stood out for the fun it generated with some very hard fought combats swinging the game in different directions throughout the afternoon. Great Fun.

Wheatley's Brigade forced to withdraw as their morale breaks leaving just one point of FS to Leval's tired men (note the larger blue die in the background recording remaining FS)

Thank you to Steve, Steve L, Si and Ian for playing the game with a great spirit and really going for the win. Much fun had by all.

Anyone interested in researching this battle would be well advised getting a copy of
'The Battle of Barrosa 1811, Forgotten Battle of the Peninsular War' by John Grehan and Martin Mace, published by Pen & Sword.

A really good read with lots of information about the battle, the units and commanders.

Vimeiro Hill - Over the Hills

The Vimeiro campaign of 1808 holds a certain affection for me in my Napoleonic wargaming history. I began studying it and the battles of Rolica and Vimeiro back in 2013 as I searched for a set of Napoleonic rules to allow me to game in the grand manner with battalions, squadrons, batteries and skirmish lines to the fore; I have never been keen on the look of three men taking a flag for a walk. If you want to see those early games then check out the link below to JJ's Wargames with the first post about Rolica way back in February 2013 that starts the odyssey described and click on the newer posts tab at the bottom to link through to Vimeiro, Corunna Oporto and on up to Talavera.

JJ Wargames - Peninsular War Scenarios

At that time I had my mind very much towards gaming bigger grander battles and Vimeiro was seen very much as a launch pad to allow me to test out rules on a small battle that could go on to cope with the bigger ones I had in mind, and now with my Talavera project nearing completion I can look back on Vimeiro with fond recollection as Tom, Will and I got our heads around Carnage & Glory II and British reverse slope tactics.

I have always had my eye out for a paper based set of Napoleonic rules to use alongside my preferred option C&G II to cater for those of my friends who still prefer to roll dice; and Napoleon at War was a potential candidate but didn't quite make the cut and so it was with much interest that I looked at Over the Hills rules which I reviewed with our first play test back in October last year on JJ's.

JJ Wargames - Over the Hills Napoleonic Rules Play Test & Review

Following that first game, I came away impressed with the neat ideas around capturing battle fatigue so well done in Carnage & Glory that I was prompted to run a second game at the Devon Wargames Group and I immediately thought of my original scenario plan for Vimeiro that I designed back in 2013 for Napoleon at War and later C&G II.

So digging out my original scenario plan I began to rearrange the detail and unit statistics around Over the Hills together with some ideas that came out of the first play test to better manage the process of recording fatigue during our game.

I have copied the briefing and unit details here to this post and will provide a PDF copy with other materials we used on JJ's Wargames with a post to let you know when they are available and how to get them if you so choose.

So on with our game yesterday. The map below sets the scene of the Vimeiro Hill scenario that focuses on the first attack on Sir Arthur Wellesley's line on the ridges covering the beach landing area above the mouth of the River Maceira.

British Riflemen landing in Portugal in 1808 - http://www.greenjackets-net.org.uk/rb/1800tl.htm

French General Junot commanding the invasion force sent to subdue Portugal in 1808 had quickly gathered what forces he could and marched north from Lisbon to crush the British expeditionary force now gathering near to the little coastal village of Vimeiro.

He decided on a flanking manoeuvre to turn Wellesley's position atop the line of hills leading in from the coast by detaching two brigades under generals Solignac and Brennier, whilst he lead the main part of his army against the British troops in front of Vimeiro and holding Vimeiro Hill. The forces involved in this part of the battle are detailed below together with the objectives and victory conditions designed to simulate the challenge faced by the opposing commanders.

Vimeiro Hill
Start Time: 09.30
Environmental Conditions
Season: Summer
Weather: Clear

Ground Conditions: Good
After Rolica, Wellesley marched across country to make contact with his reinforcements on the
coast. Hearing that Junot’s main body was in the area he made preparations to attack him, but Sir
Harry Burrard arrived and countermanded the order. The following morning he was advised that the
enemy was preparing to attack him.

Special Rules:
No Horses - The Artillery teams after the march from Rolica were rapidly wearing out.
The British foot artillery movement distance when limbered is 2” (100 paces) per segment, and once
deployed may only move by man handling, 2” (100 paces) per move plus fatigue.

Essential Scenery:
Terrain - Ground is typically gently rolling arable or cultivated, with open wooded areas, villages and
small enclosures for olive groves and vines. These areas should be scattered randomly over the table
Overhead artillery fire is only permitted from one unit to another when the firer or target is located
on or above equal elevations, both of which are higher than the intervening friendly or enemy unit.
No overhead fire is permitted within canister range.

Vimeiro Hill – This area was not suited to cavalry movement and should therefore be considered as
rough ground for cavalry outside of other terrain features (Fields, woods, Vineyards) placed upon it.

Villages – All structures are stone (Seven Defensive Points). All rules for ‘Built Up Areas’ apply.

Roads - Troops must be in March Column or limbered to gain road advantage.

Orders:
French - Your orders are to control Vimeiro Hill and/or Vimeiro Village, and force Wellesley’s forces to retreat to the beaches.

Allies (Anglo-Portuguese) - Your mission is to deny the French control of Vimeiro Hill and/or Vimeiro village. You must withstand the assault until the end of the battle or inflict so many casualties that the attacking forces are obliged to give up.

Deployment:
The Allies may deploy up to 12” (600 paces) onto the table from the British player’s edge. The infantry will be deployed in two brigades, in two lines with each battalion in line. Wellesley’s deployment had the 60th, 95th, 50th, 97th, 52nd in the first line with the 9th and 43rd battalions in the second). The Foot artillery will be unlimbered and deployed. (See map for positions)

Acland’s brigade is in reserve behind Vimeiro and may deploy on the Allies back table edge in the two squares behind the village or to the North East edge in the first square. The cavalry will be off table, in reserve and may be deployed along the Allied player’s table edge.

The French may deploy up to 12” (600 paces) forward of their table edge. The artillery may start
limbered or unlimbered and deployed. (The map shows the deployment positions taken by Junot).

Junot’s columns arrived in two distinct phases with Thomières and Charlot’s attacking first, followed
later by an attack from Kellerman and St Clair.

Margaron’s Cavalry Brigade, Kellerman’s and St Clair’s Brigades are in reserve, and may be deployed along the French player’s table edge.

Once the French have deployed the Allies may change the facing and/or formation of all their
deployed forces.

The French plays as Side A in all game turns.

Victory Status:
The side that forces the other to have MORE THAN 50% of its total Fatigue Score in recorded Fatigue Hits has caused the other to become shattered and to withdraw from the field of battle and will be declared the victor.

However, the game can be called after eight turns by assessing each side’s victory points:

• Destroying a unit = 2 points
• Routing a unit = 1 point
• Breaking a brigade = 5 points
• Breaking the most expensive brigade or anyone of two or more with the same points = 10 points

Wellesley (Divisional Commander 24”, 1200 paces) (4 +2) (57 Army Fatigue)

6th Brigade Fane (Brigade Commander 12”, 600 paces) (3 +0) (16 Brigade Fatigue)
2/95th Rifles Light Battalion (7 A/R) 411 men in four companies
5/60th Rifles Light Battalion (9 A/R) 544 men
1/50th British Line Battalion (10 C) 850 men
Fane’s Light Battalion (4 B) 200 men

7th Brigade Anstruther (Brigade Commander 12”, 600 paces) (3 +0) (19 Brigade Fatigue)
2/9th British Line Battalion (8 C) 570 men
2/43rd British Light Battalion (8 C) 649 men
2/52nd British Light Battalion (8 C) 589 men
2/97th British Line Battalion (8 C) 625 men
Anstruther’s Light Battalion (5 B) 270 men

8th Brigade Acland (Brigade Commander 12”, 600 paces) (3 +0) (11 Brigade Fatigue)
2nd British Line Battalion (8 C) 658 men
1/20th British Line Battalion (4 C) 361 men in seven and a half companies
Acland’s Light Battalion (8 B/R) 313 men composed of 1/95th Rifles plus light company men from the 2nd and 20th Foot

Under Wellesley’s command (11 Brigade Fatigue)
British Foot Artillery Battery (7)  5 x 6lbr medium, 1 x howitzer – See limited movement rates in notes
20th Light Dragoons (7) 240 Light Cavalry
Portuguese Light Dragoons (6) 299 Light Cavalry (6th, 11th, 12th and Lisbon Police Cavalry, Combined Regiment)

The table at the start of our game with the on table forces deployed at start and the British brigades (left) firmly ensconced on Vimeiro Hill

Junot (General de Division 24”, 1200 paces) (3 +0) (60 Army Fatigue)

Thomiere's Brigade Thomiere (General de Brigade 12”, 600 paces) (3+0) (12 Brigade Fatigue)
1/86th Line (8 B) 757 men
2/86th Line (8 B) 756 men
4th Swiss Line (3 B) 246 men in two companies
Thomiere’s Voltigeur Battalion (4 B) 246 men

Charlot's Brigade Charlot (General de Brigade 12”, 600 paces) (3+0) (11 Brigade Fatigue)
3/32nd Battalion (9 B) 804 men
3/82nd Battalion (8 B) 749 men
Charlot’s Voltigeur Battalion (4 B) 222 men

Kellerman's Brigade Kellerman (General de Brigade 12”, 600 paces) (3+1) (12 Brigade Fatigue)
1st Battalion Reserve Grenadiers (9 B) 467 men
2nd Battalion Reserve Grenadiers (9 B) 467 men
Kellerman’s Grenadier Light Battalion (4 B) 232 men

St Clair's Brigade St Clair (Colonel 12”, 600 paces) (3+0) (10 Brigade Fatigue)
3rd Battalion Reserve Grenadiers (9 B) 467 men
4th Battalion Reserve Grenadiers (9 B) 467 men

Margaron's Brigade Margaron (General de Brigade 12”, 600 paces) (3+0) (11 Brigade Fatigue)
4th A Provisional Dragoons  (5) 295 men
4th B Provisional Dragoons  (5) 295 men
5th A Provisional Dragoons  (5) 330 men
5th B Provisional Dragoons  (5) 330 men

Under Junot's Command (4 Brigade Fatigue)
Line Foot Artillery (7)  6 x 8lbr, 2 howitzers

The view from French lines with Thomiere's brigade (closest to camera) preparing to assault Vimero village and with Charlot's brigade (32me and 82me Ligne) facing off forces on Vimeiro Hill - Note the new Fatigue Force Morale cards in action to the left.

This game allowed me to try out my newly minted Force Morale cards shamelessly copied from Sam Mustafa's Maurice game incorporating coloured dice (blue - French, red - Allied) to record reductions in Force morale caused by fatigue. These cards will also facilitate using order chits which we didn't need in this game with the French on attack and the Allies on hold/defend orders throughout the game.

The fatigue caused to units through the game can be seen being recorded by similarly coloured micro dice positioned behind the affected units.

Thomiere's brigade beat out the pas de charge as General Junot encourages his men

With the objectives and deployments established we kicked off with the French starting their move towards both the village and the hill and with their artillery placed in the centre able to support either wing.

These early moves were swiftly followed with a call for the French reserves to move on to table in the next turn.

The British commanders could only observe to see where the French would put in their main attack before committing their reserves and so contented themselves with some early ranging shots on Charlot's brigade advancing towards the hill causing the first hit of the battle and some early fatigue.

The French artillery moves up to support the infantry assault

The arrival of French reserves on turn two consisting of the grenadiers and dragoons moving obviously in support of Thomiere's advance on Vimeiro prompted Wellesley to call forward Acland's brigade together with the British and Portuguese cavalry to secure the village as the French tried desperately to race them to it.

General Fane's 6th Brigade with General Anstruther's 7th Brigade to their right atop Vimeiro Hill with Sir Arthur Wellesley overseeing his gun line in the centre

Despite the emphasis of French deployments to their right and the village, the British command seemed reluctant to relinquish their positions on the reverse slope of Vimeiro Hill and thus it was not until the third turn that General Anstruther's 7th Brigade turned to thinking about moving to their left to occupy the slopes vacated by Fane's 6th Brigade as they prepared to offer support to the 2nd 'Queens Regiment' Foot as they quickly prepared the houses and walls in Vimeiro for defence.

General Anstruther's 7th brigade with Moore's light bobs from the 52nd and 43rd Light Infantry on the forward slope - note the little ridge-line markers to allow the British players to position their line on the rear slopes 

General Charlot was only to happy to aggravate British deployments as his two battalions gamely pressed on towards the British right atop the hill, although he took a deep breath as British artillery fire inflicted three fatigue hits on the 32me Ligne to be followed by the French guns attempting to reply rolling a ten and promptly finding themselves out of ammunition!

Sir Arthur Wellesley observes the French deployment as the Royal Artillery prepare to try out their new shrapnel shells

General Junot orders the attack to commence

The first exchanges of musketry between Thomiere's voltigeurs and Acland's light bobs on the front of Vimeiro village announced the commencement of the battle for this key objective.

General Acland's men had easily won the race for the village and placing their strongest battalion in it, the 2nd Foot, and with their brigade skirmish screen forward must have felt secure behind the thick stone walls with a defence factor of seven, as the three columns of the 86me and 4me Swiss Ligne approached the outskirts.

General Acland's brigade move in and secure Vimeiro village as Thomiere's troops enter the outskirts of the village

The British 2nd Queen's Royal Regiment of Foot with Acland's light bobs prepare the village for defence

The RFA greet Charlot's brigade with some well directed fire

As Thomiere's troops prepared to assault Vimeiro, Margaron's dragoons moved rapidly to threaten any troops moving off the hill in support of the village as Kellerman's grenadier columns moved in march column to speed their approach to the village in support of the attack.

The assault on Vimeiro develops as both sides deploy their reserves in support of the battle for the village with the 20th Light Dragoons under Colonel Taylor charging in among the 2/86me Ligne

General Thomiere was the spearhead commander as his men charged into the narrow streets of Vimeiro and must have felt he was leading a likely 'forlorn hope' as the factors added up to seven points in favour of the British defence.

Over the Hills works on the roll of a D10 needing to be rolled less than or equal to a factor for any given result. With plus seven to the score for the British only poor die rolling could prevent the French from 'bouncing' back from their assault; and that was when the French scored one fatigue hit to none received in return, gaining them a foothold in the village which they took after two further rounds of desperate melee.

French cavalry move up to seal off the British in Vimeiro from their comrades on the hill

With the 1/86me Ligne busy fighting to secure the village their sister second battalion got themselves on the wrong end of the British 1796 model light cavalry sabre. As the battalion cleared the outskirts of the village, its vineyards and enclosures they were immediately engaged by the 20th Light Dragoons under their commander Colonel Taylor.

Osprey's depiction of Lt. Colonel Taylor leading the 20th Light Dragoons at Vimeiro - Patrice Courcelle

The 2/86me rapidly shook out into line and delivered a well directed volley causing two fatigue hits but unable to prevent the British cavalry swirling in among their ranks suffered the consequences as the battalion was dispersed with men throwing down their muskets and appealing for quarter.

British troops on Vimeiro Hill redeploy to bolster the flank closest to the village

The fighting for Vimeiro had left both Acland's and Thomiere's brigades badly battered with both formations teetering on brigade morale failure which would have caused immediate withdrawal from the battle.

The good news from a French perspective was that Thomiere's troops were in control of Vimeiro and with its defensive characteristics were very unlikely to be ejected by anything but fresh troops.

Margaron's dragoons prepare to charge

The battle in full sway with French forces now holding Vimeiro village as their Grenadier reserve moves up the road in support

It was now that the battle reached its crescendo as both sides sought to reinforce and consolidate their gains or take back lost objectives, with the principle fight around the road between the hill and the village leading towards the British beach head.

French guns support Charlot's brigade as the French refuse their left flank as they consolidate the hold on their right flank and Vimeiro village

General Margaron lead his dragoons up to the British line forcing the 95th and 60th Rifles to form square rather than risk their position at this critical stage in the battle.

However the French dragoons overplayed their hand and attempted a charge on the British line further along the hill encountering its broken and disrupting terrain causing fatigue on the approach only to be met by well directed volley fire from the 50th Foot that sent the French cavalry reeling back down the slope.

Desperate fighting erupts in the centre as the French prevent British attacks to retake Vimeiro

The 20th Light Dragoons having destroyed the 2/86me Ligne in a devastating charge can only observe the French forces holding the outskirts of the village

The defeat of Margaron's dragoons was all very well, but did little to aid the British in their attempt to take back Vimeiro as the cavalry had done an excellent job in preventing Fane's men from launching a counter-attack in that direction.

The "point de décision" as the forces of  Fane, Margaron and Kellerman go toe to toe outside of Vimeiro

The afternoon was drawing to a close and both sides were looking to get an overwhelming hold on the battle.

The British sensing the opportunity to retake Vimeiro by assault slipping away refocused on trying to break Junot's force morale by breaking some of his battered brigades which had lead the assault.

The focus swung back on to Charlot's two battalions who now close to Vimeiro hill became threatened by a potential counter-attack from it by General Anstruther's powerful brigade. However try as they might the French battalions gave as good as they got and were pluckily hanging on in the fight as the French brought up their, as it turned out, battle deciding reserve.

The Combined Grenadier battalions of Kellerman and St Clair proved a reserve to far for the British at Vimeiro

Like two punch drunk boxers leaning on the ropes trying to land a key blow but now breathing hard to keep going, the fight reached its final phase.

The four columns of French grenadiers had now moved up to replace the battered French dragoons who reluctantly gave way to the French elites who launched themselves at the British elites in the form of the 60th and 95th Rifles who had now shaken themselves out into line.

This would be the decisive fight as the winners would decide the fate of Vimeiro village and who would be able to hold it.

As the French columns charged in the British commander felt confident the British volley fire would command the day, until it didn't. Poor die rolling again allowed the French columns to close to contact and it was only the quality of the British riflemen together with better subsequent die rolls that kept them in the fight for the three rounds of combat it took to see both sides pull back.

The British riflemen had held the French attack, but it was the French grenadiers who were the fresher of the two brigades and well capable of launching a second assault and just as importantly very capable of preventing a British attack to retake Vimeiro itself.

Thus we called the game at that stage with the French firmly in control of the village and having achieved their objective.

That said the fatigue levels at the end of the game below shows how close the battle was and how difficult it was to call especially with one broken French brigade worth 5 VP and a destroyed French infantry battalion worth a further 2 VP. Had the British held onto Vimeiro as they should have, it would have been an overwhelming British victory

With Vimeiro in French hands and the British on the worse end of the battle fatigue we called it a French victory

Wellesley (Divisional Commander  (57 Army Fatigue - 25) 43% loss
6th Brigade Fane (16 Brigade Fatigue - 4)
7th Brigade Anstruther (19 Brigade Fatigue -11)
8th Brigade Acland (11 Brigade Fatigue - 8)
Under Wellesley’s command (11 Brigade Fatigue - 2)

Junot (60 Army Fatigue - 29) 48% loss
Thomiere's Brigade Thomiere (12 Brigade Fatigue - 2)
Charlot's Brigade Charlot (11 Brigade Fatigue - 4)
Kellerman's Brigade Kellerman (12 Brigade Fatigue - 11)
St Clair's Brigade St Clair (10 Brigade Fatigue - 8)
Margaron's Brigade Margaron (11 Brigade Fatigue - 0 broken)
Under Junot's Command (4 Brigade Fatigue - 4)

Given that this was only our second go at 'Over the Hills' what was the overall impression and what worked well and not so well?

I very much like the way these rules play and the game they create. This scenario proved a very close run thing and we were all struggling to call it right to the end. The effects on players seeing the fatigue levels impacting on their brigades really creates that meat grinder effect of sustained battle; with the need to have fresh reserves to be able to settle the matter at the end which it what the French
Grenadiers were able to do.

The Force Moral Cards were a success and together with the micro dice we were able to easily mark hits on units that could be rallied off in the game and also easily record them against the individual brigades and army by turning the dice on the cards. Any dice used up were left on the card of the affected brigade so we could see how much had reduced the overall army morale, bearing in mind that some on the dice were not showing six points when placed.

I like to use my light companies as battalion units to screen brigades and this needs further work in how we use them as it was easy for players to get confused as to their role in situations. Simply put, light troops are their to indicate the skirmish screen and to inflict long range softening up fire, but if formed up can also fight as a small light infantry battalion and I need to get clear on how that function works in the game.

Finally the rules as with many others on the market would benefit from a thorough index to enable quicker reference to the various rule references which can occur in several parts of the rule book especially when, as we did, you are using the Optional Rules from page 55 onwards, that together with some missing factors from the QRF which I need to update, were a minor quibble that didn't hugely distract from our enjoyment of the game.

So there we are my first Napoleonic game for 2017 and much fun provided by Over the Hills.

Thank you to Nathan, Ian, Si and Steve M for patiently getting their heads around the rules whilst also producing such a close fought game which has set the year off to an excellent start.