Second Miravat – Move 5

1200-1300 12 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 5

Top Left – 2^nd Spanish corps hold left of the river Ebro

Top Centre – 8^th French corps have rallied their cavalry behind infantry squares

Bottom Centre – British cavalry have moved within charge range of enemy artillery

  8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

12 Command Points

Orders – Hold Miravat

British cavalry declare opportunity charge on French gunners (total 4 – pass and charge)

Gunners test morale to evade to nearby square (total 6 – pass and evade)

British cavalry quarter distance (4”) and halt

Lancers move around infantry to face British cavalry flank

21^st brigade move to edge of town

32^nd brigade retreat out of lancers line of charge

Harispe moves to centre of corps

30^th brigade move in square 2” towards British cavalry

30^th brigade fire on cavalry (total 4 – no casualties)

  5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

9 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

French lancers declare opportunity charge on British cavalry (total 2 – fail to charge)

Artillery fire on 30^th French (square with gunners inside) (total 9 – one casualty)

30^th French test morale for second casualty (total 2 – fail and shaken)

British cavalry turn to face French lancers

5^th and 7^th brigades advance 6”

Murray moves to centre of corps

6^th and 8^th brigades advance 6”

5^th brigade skirmish 30^th French (total 7 – one casualty)

30^th French test morale for third casualty (total 2 – fail and remain shaken)

French lancers fail to charge flank of British cavalry

In certain circumstances cavalry can declare an opportunity charge at the start of the enemy turn.  They do not need orders to do so, but they do need to pass a morale test.

During this game the British cavalry were able to charge the flank of the enemy gunners.   They passed their test and charged. 

The gunners passed their test to evade and ran to the nearby square.   The cavalry have to complete one third of their charge and then halt.

In doing so they exposed their right flank to the French lancers.

They declared an opportunity charge at the start of the British move

They failed their morale test and were unable to opportunity charge.

Rule 6 deals with opportunity charges

Game Notes

2^nd Spanish corps have received orders to hold west end of bridge and cannot join the attack on Miravat.

30^th French infantry brigade have survived two morale tests in one move

They received artillery casualties and passed their morale test

They then received infantry skirmish casualties and again passed their morale test.

Had they broken and routed, the gunners inside the square would also have routed.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/