Repulse At San Hernandez

 Having being pushed back in previous encounters the Carlist forces, bolstered by two freshly raised battalions have made a stand at the village of San Hernandez.

 Following them up are the Isabelino forces under command of Don Biklos and his brigade commanders Don Juan Blanca and Napoleonic wars veteran General Bickleigh commanding the British Auxiliary Legion and attached Royal Marines.

The hard marching needed to keep up with the fleet footed Carlists troops had seemingly taken its toll, Don Juan's troops approaching the waiting enemy was to say the least, tardy. Similarly the British were also making heavy weather of it, a hard night in the local taverna's no doubt (yes they were the equivalent "lager louts of their day"). Finally both brigades got moving in relative tandem.

The Isabelino force attacked on a broad front supported by horse artillery and the unpredictable Royal Marine rockets, although they were as if not, more effective. There was little Carlist movement as expected with most of them safely ensconced behind the village walls although the hussars did advance to the ford to counter any Isabelino cavalry probe on the Carlist left flank.

Eventually heavy firing erupted along the entire front both sides troops becoming disordered, recovering and becoming disordered yet again. Casualties mounted on both sides with their commanders kept busy steadying their respective battalions. 

One of the freshly raised battalions who had been braving the hail of rockets finally had enough and retired from the field shaken to balance things over on the Isabelino right the infantry who had been taking the brunt of the Carlist artillery fire broke and quit the field.

 As the day waned the Isabelino force broke and quit the field despite their valiant efforts to force the Carlists back again.

We used Black Powder rules which give both of us the type of game we want without having to remember different rule sets, for those folk interested in BP I will list the command ratings and special rules used to flavour the vanilla that some folk accuse them of.

The Spanish brigade commander was rated a seven, the BAL commander being a Napoleonic wars veteran was rated an eight, with both Carlist commanders rated eight.

The Royal Marine detachment were given the Reliable rule, the newly raised Carlists were given the Freshly Raised rule, all the Carlists were classed Stubborn, though with hindsight with them mostly being in hard cover perhaps I should have just increased their Stamina to four to reflect their do or die attitude. All troops were given the First Fire rule.

All being well Dave and myself are off to Partizan on Sunday, hope to see some of you there.

TTFN and KBO