May 1811, the Peninsula
It's 1811 and the situation in the Peninsula is far from decided. Early on a foggy morning, the lead elements of Wellington's Anglo-Spanish army and Massena's Army of Portugal suddenly run into each other. Each side is trying to fulfill the same mission, secure the roads and bridges for the following armies but neither force is strong enough to drive away the opposition. As muskets are loaded and sabers drawn, galloping couriers head back to get reinforcements. Who will get them first and from where? Will they even arrive? Come find out!

French Order of Battle

Anglo-Allied Order of Battle

Map (Map dimensions approximately 6x10)

Order of Battle Notes

Scenario Notes

• The black lines are minor roads.
• The stream is fordable.
• The woods on the edges of the playing area are impassable.
• The grey box by the three sector town is a walled enclosure, the tan blocks are fields.
• All units have 12" command radius (Brigades and Divisions).
• The cavalry units should be given command arrows taking them by the 4 sector town toward the opposite board edge.
• Random placement and entry:
  • Each side should assign a number or playing card to each infantry unit (I suggest playing cards).
  • Draw or roll for each unit that is to start on the board (Random Deploy #1 & #2)
  • Units that start in #1 may choose what formation they start in, they may have attack or defend orders.
  • Units that start in #2 must start in column formation on the road and have a command arrow following the road across the bridge (how far is up to the commanders).
  • On turns 2, 4, 6 and 8, draw or roll for additional reinforcements from the remaining units.
  • The reinforcements roll to determine whether they come in at Entry Area A (an even number result) or Entry Area B (an odd number result).

Special Rules

The following special rules are in use for this scenario and can be found on the my main Shako page.

d10 variant with all noted changes

Alternate Initiative (each Brigade/Division Commander rolls)

Modified Attached Skirmishers

Artillery Prolong

Rifle Armed Skirmishers

Modified Severity of Defeat

Road Bonus for Artillery

Advanced Shako Rules

Game Length

Maximum 16 game turns

Victory Conditions:

This is a surprise engagement for both sides. The object is simply to inflict as much damage as possible to the enemy.

Setup Option

Change the cavalry deployment areas to a random deployment area and make the cavalry part of the random entry reinforcements.

French Order of Battle

Army of Portugal (elements of VI and IX Corps)

Army General - Marshal Massena

1ére Brigade, 1ére Division d'Infanterie, VI Corps - Général de Division Marchand
Leadership Initiative: +0 Rally: -1 Melee: +1 Orders: +0 turns

1er Bataillon, 6e Légére	MR 8/3	BP 5
2e Bataillon, 6e Légére	MR 6/2	BP 4
3e Bataillon, 6e Légére	MR 7/3	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 60e Ligne	MR 7/3	BP 4
2e Bataillon, 60e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
3e Bataillon, 60e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3
2e cie. 8e d'Artillerie à Pied	MR 5/0	BP 3 (Foot Battery)

2éme Brigade, 1ére Division d'Infanterie - Général de Brigade Chimineauu
Leadership Initiative: +0 Rally: -1 Melee: +0 Orders: +0 turns

1er Bataillon, 29e Ligne	MR 7/3	BP 4
2e Bataillon, 39e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
3e Bataillon, 39e Ligne	MR 5/0	BP 3
1er Bataillon, 79e Ligne	MR 7/3	BP 4
2e Bataillon, 76e Ligne	MR 5/0	BP 3
3e Bataillon, 76e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3

1ére Brigade, Claparede's Division d'Infanterie, IX Corps
Leadership Initiative: +0 Rally: -1 Melee: +1 Orders: +0 turns

1er Bataillon, 21e Légére	MR 6/2	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 40e Ligne	MR 7/3	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 54e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 63e Ligne	MR 5/0	BP 3
1er Bataillon, 64e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3

2éme Brigade, Claparede's Division d'Infanterie, IX Corps
Leadership Initiative: +0 Rally: -1 Melee: +0 Orders: +1 turn

1er Bataillon, 28e Légére	MR 7/3	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 88e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 100e Ligne	MR 7/3	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 103e Ligne	MR 5/0	BP 3
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3
5e cie. 4e d'Artillerie à Pied		BP 3 (Foot Battery)

1ére Brigade, Conroux's Division d'Infanterie

Leadership Initiative: -1 Rally: -1 Melee: +1 Orders: +0 turns

1er Bataillon, 9e Légére	MR 7/3	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 8e Ligne	MR 7/3	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 24e Ligne	MR 7/3	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 27e Ligne	MR 8/3	BP 5
1er Bataillon, 45e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3

2éme Brigade, Conroux's Division d'Infanterie

Leadership Initiative: +0 Rally: -1 Melee: +0 Orders: +0 turns

1er Bataillon, 16e Légére	MR 7/3	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 94e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 95e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
1er Bataillon, 96e Ligne	MR 6/2	BP 4
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3
3e cie. 4e d'Artillerie à Pied		BP 3 (Foot Battery)

VI Corps Cavalerie - Général de Brigade Montbrun
Leadership Initiative: +1 Rally: -1 Melee: +1 Orders: +0 turn

7e Chasseurs à Cheval	MR 6/2	BP 4
13e Chasseurs à Cheval	MR 6/2	BP 4
20e Chasseurs à Cheval	MR 6/2	BP 4
3e Dragoons	MR 7/3	BP 4
6e Dragoons	MR 7/3	BP 4
2e cie. 3e d'Artillerie à Cheval		BP 3 (Horse Battery)

Allied Order of Battle

Army General - Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley

1st & 2nd Brigades, 1st Division - Lieutenant General Spencer
Leadership Initiative: +0 Rally: -1 Melee: +1 Orders: +0 turns

1st Brigade
2nd Battalion, 2nd "Coldstream" Foot Guards	MR 9/3	BP 6
2nd Battalion, 3rd "Scots" Foot Guards	MR 9/3	BP 6
2nd Brigade
2nd Battalion, 24th Foot "Warwickshire"	MR 6/2	BP 4
1st Battalion, 79th Foot "Cameron Highlanders"	MR 8/3	BP 5
1st Battalion, 42nd Foot "Royal Highland"	MR 8/3	BP 5
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3
Captain Lawson's Battery, RFA	MR 5/0	BP 3 (Foot Battery)

3rd & 4th Brigades, 1st Division - Major General Howard
Leadership Initiative: +0 Rally: -1 Melee: +1 Orders: +0 turns

3rd Brigade
1st Battalion, 92nd Foot"Gordon Highlanders"	MR 8/3	BP 5
1st Battalion, 50th Foot "West Kent"	MR 6/2	BP 4
1st Battalion, 71st Highland Light Infantry	MR 7/3	BP 4
4th Brigade
1st KGL Line Battalion	MR 6/2	BP 4
2nd KGL Line Battalion	MR 6/2	BP 4
5th KGL Line Battalion	MR 6/2	BP 4
7th KGL Line Battalion	MR 6/2	BP 4
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3

1st & 2nd Brigades, 5th Division - Major General Erskine
Leadership Initiative: +0 Rally: -1 Melee: +0 Orders: -1 turns

1st Brigade
3rd Battalion, 1st Foot "Royal Scots"	MR 6/2	BP 4
1st Battalion, 9th Foot "East Norfolk"	MR 6/2	BP 4
2nd Battalion, 38th Foot "1st Staffordshire"	MR 6/2	BP 4
2nd Brigade
1st Battalion, 4th Foot "King's Own"	MR 6/2	BP 4
2nd Battalion, 30th Foot "Cambridgeshire"	MR 6/2	BP 4
2nd Battalion, 44th Foot "East Essex"	MR 6/2	BP 4
2x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3
Captain von Arentschild's Battery, P.A.	MR 5/0	BP 3 (Foot Battery)

1st & 2nd Brigades, 6th Division - Major General Campbell
Leadership Initiative: +1 Rally: -1 Melee: +0 Orders: +0 turns

1st Brigade
1st Battalion, 11th Foot "North Devonshire"	MR 6/2	BP 4
2nd Battalion, 53rd Foot "Shropshire"	MR 6/2	BP 4
1st Battalion, 61st Foot "South Gloucestershire"	MR 6/2	BP 4
2nd Brigade
1st Battalion, 36th Foot "Herefordshire"	MR 6/2	BP 4
1x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3

1st Brigade, 2nd Spanish Division
Leadership Initiative: -1 Rally: -1 Melee: +0 Orders: +1 turns

Regiment La Reyna	MR 5/0	BP 3
Regiment Corona	MR 5/0	BP 3
Regiment Irlanda	MR 6/2	BP 4
Regiment Reding Senior (1st Reding)	MR 6/2	BP 4
Regiment Saboya	MR 5/0	BP 3
1x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3
Spanish Foot Artillery	MR 5/0	BP 3 (Foot Battery)

2nd Brigade, 2nd Spanish Division
Leadership Initiative: -1 Rally: -1 Melee: +0 Orders: +2 turns

Regiment Militares	MR 5/0	BP 3
Regiment Navarra	MR 5/0	BP 3
Regiment Princese	MR 5/0	BP 3
Regiment Zamora	MR 5/0	BP 3
Regiment de Ceuta	MR 6/2	BP 4
1x Skirmisher Stand		BP 3

Anglo-Portuguese Cavalry - Lieutenant General Stapleton Cotton
Leadership Initiative: +1 Rally: -1 Melee: +1 Orders: -1 turns

1st "Royal" Dragoons	MR 8/3	BP 5
14th "Duchess of York's Own" Light Dragoons	MR 6/2	BP 4
16th "Queen's" Light Dragoons	MR 6/2	BP 4
1st KGL Hussars	MR 7/3	BP 4
10th Portuguese Line Cavalry	MR 6/2	BP 4
Captain Bull's Battery, RHA		BP 3 (Horse Battery)

Order of Battle notes:

The orders of battle are based on the Fuentes de Onoro battle in May 1811.

Infantry: The infantry forces are drawn from the available troops in the theater except for the Spanish regiments. Since I had Spanish troops painted and no Portuguese (aside from the single cavalry regiment), I chose to make two of the brigades Spanish. (They can be replaced with Portuguese line infantry if anyone wants to in playing this scenario, though for balance purposes, I would keep them at 50-50 regular line and second rate troops.)

Cavalry: The Portuguese regiment represents two regiments that were understrength. The French had more cavalry available in the theater but I chose to limit the numbers to make the two forces roughly equal.

Artillery: As these troops represent the vanguard, the French don't get their customary army gun, which would be much further back in the column of march. The Allies seldom were well equipped with artillery (until 1815).