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19
Jan
2012
105 Somosierra (30 November 1808) PDF Print E-mail
18.8 %
Record a victory for BOTTOM ARMY 81.3 %
Total Plays 16 - Last played by GG on 2013-05-30
( 7 Votes )
Written by GMT Games   

Somosierra - 30 November 1808

Historical Background
After success in the north, Napoleon marched on the Spanish capital of Madrid, but had to first push through Somosierra Pass in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range. The pass was defended by Don Benito San Juan’s Spanish troops, who had been sent forward from Madrid. Both the terrain and troops constituted a formidable barrier to the French advance.
About 8A.M. on the 30th, Napoleon ordered forward the infantry of Ruffin’s division, but their advance against a hail of cannon and musket fire, though steady, was too slow to suit Napoleon. He first ordered his 80-man personal cavalry escort to charge the guns, but most were killed or wounded, and the survivors retreated. Napoleon now ordered the Polish light guard cavalry to take the guns. The cavalry charge was made against the first enemy gun position and after a struggle, the guardsmen captured the battery. The Spanish musketry and cannon fire from the second battery could not stop the Poles and soon the second battery was also silenced. The surviving Poles then moved against the third battery, joined by the rest of the French cavalry, and together the last battery was taken.
It is not clear if Napoleon wanted the Poles to take just the first battery, or all the batteries, but the gallant charge can hardly be paralleled in the annals of military history. Immediately after the charge, Napoleon promoted the Polish light guard cavalry from the Young Guard to the Old Guard.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?

 

Set-Up Order

Entrenchments4 1
Forest 7
Hill 13

 

Battle Notes

Spanish Army
• Commander: Don Benito San Juan
• 4 Command Cards

Line Infantry Light Infantry Grenadier Infantry Light Cavalry Foot Artillery General
9 1 2 2 3 3

French Army
• Commander: Napoleon
• 6 Command Cards
• Move First

Line Infantry Light Infantry Light Cavalry Guard Light Cavalry Guard Foot Artillery General
7 3 2 2 1 2

 

Victory
7 Banners

Special Rules
• The French player scores a sudden death win if all three Spanish Artillery units are eliminated.

• The Spanish Guerrilla Action rule is in effect. The Spanish player starts with one Guerrilla counter.

Last Updated on Monday, 11 February 2013 10:55
 

Discuss this article in the forums (9 replies).
Posted: 4 months 1 week ago by Mark McG #973
Mark McG's Avatar
Played this out as the Spanish, and it was a great scenario. French took it 7-6 but was sitting at 5-5 for quite a while and could have gone either way. (mdg) (mdg) (mdg) (mdg) (mdg)
Posted: 4 months 1 week ago by alecrespi #962
alecrespi's Avatar
OK, I've fixed both errors.
Alessandro
Posted: 4 months 1 week ago by Bayernkini #959
Bayernkini's Avatar
There is no Hill with fieldworks, it´s another mistake here on the scenario site :)

We will fix it :)
Posted: 4 months 1 week ago by midnightcop #958
midnightcop's Avatar
One other question. Where does the hill with the fieldworks go?
Posted: 4 months 1 week ago by Bayernkini #957
Bayernkini's Avatar
top ART = hill (standard), middle ART = nothing, botton/left ART is a 4sided fieldworks on open ground.

The center french CAV is Guard Light CAV.
Posted: 4 months 1 week ago by midnightcop #956
midnightcop's Avatar
Started to set up this scenario, but couldn't determine exactly what terrain tiles were underneath the 3 Spanish artillery units. Also, the map shows French Guard Light Cav while the unit manifest indicates French Guard Heavy Cavalry. Which is correct? Thanks.
Eric M
Posted: 9 months 2 weeks ago by Mark McG #816
Mark McG's Avatar
How often does the sudden death victory come up? My recall in the Mini-Tournament it was just once, but I don't really know.

Aside from the sacrifice artillery up front, it isn't clear to me this is that unbalanced. Difficult to note rate Napoleon 6 cards, nor deny the French first move.

Perhaps give a location victory banner under the rearmost Spanish artillery, to compensate the Spanish for the sacrifice, and to REALLY make it about that hill.
Posted: 1 year 3 months ago by Mark McG #708
Mark McG's Avatar
Won this one by having the Polish Guard Light Cavalry charge down the Spanish Artillery and destroy all 3 units. The Emperor really was watching!

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