Fuentes de Oñoro (3rd Day) - 5 May 1811
Historical Background
The Battle of Fuentes de Oñoro was fought on May 3rd and 5th in 1811.Massena was attempting to resupply the French garrison at Almeida. Wellington was determined to prevent him.
On 3 May, Massena launched a series of futile frontal assaults on the village of Fuentes de Oñoro. Desperate fighting raged on all day in and around the village. At one point, the French drove the British out but Wellington retook the village.
There was no fighting on the 4th as Massena scouted further south looking for a way to outflank the position. At dawn on the 5th, he ordered a new attack on the British right between Nave de Have and Poço Velho. The British 7th Division and cavalry were pushed back as Montbrun’s cavalry and Loison’s VI Corps infantry advanced over the river. Wellington called in the Light Division from the reserve and reformed his line behind Fuentes de Oñoro. The British eventually brought the French flanking maneuver to a halt. During this same time, fighting continued for most of the day around Fuentes de Oñoro. Once again the British were driven from the village but regained it around 2:00. With ammunition running low, Massena called off the attack.
Wellington expected another attack and entrenched his position. It never came. After lingering for several days, Massena ordered a retreat on 10 May.
It was a near run thing. In the two days of fighting, the French suffered almost 2,200 casualties while British losses were nearly 1,600. Wellington was quoted as saying, “If Boney had been there we should have been beaten!”
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?
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Set-Up Order
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Battle Notes
British Army
Commander: Wellington
6 Command Cards
French Army
Commander: Massena
5 Command Cards
Move first
Victory
6 Banners
Special Rules
The Dos Casas River is fordable in the center of the map (from the bridge at Poço Velho to the bridges at Fuentes de Oñoro). It will stop movement but does not cause any battle restrictions.
When crossing a ford terrain hex, a unit or leader does not cease movement. The ford terrain represents low water crossing points. It does not cause any battle restrictions.
The river north of the bridges at Fuentes de Oñoro is fordable with the usual battle restrictions.
The two town hexes of Fuentes de Oñoro are Victory Banner objective hexes for the French player. If French units occupy both town hexes at the start of the French player turn, the French player gains 2 Victory Banners. So long as both hexes are French occupied, the French player will retain the 2 Victory Banners. If one or both are not occupied, the 2 Victory Banners are immediately lost.
Poço Velho and Villar Formoso are Victory Banner objective hexes for the French player. If occupied at the start of the French player’s turn, the French player gains 1 Victory Banner for each town. So long as a town is French occupied, the French player will retain the Victory Banner(s). If a town is no longer occupied, the Victory Banner is immediately lost.
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