The day was a hot and grueling one. The Villenese army stumbled upon the outskirts of the small village of El Perez. Count Lumerier consulted with General Spoletti on the best method of taking the town and driving out the rebel army that had taken possession of it the week before. It was the beginning of the Spanish summer and the country was tearing itself to peices. The Bourbon royal family had gained itself a hard won throne after the War of the Spanish Succession, which saw a French led coalition of Bourbon dynasts pitted against an Austro-British coalition of Habsburgs. Despite gaining control of Spain, there were still those who strongly supported the old Habsburg monarchy and tensions were still high between Habsburg and Bourbon supporters even after the conclusion of the war.
The Count's army approaches the outskirts of town.
It was in the late winter of 17-- that Habsburg supporters launched a daring plan to reinstate the old Imperial family on the Spanish throne and kick out the Bourbons forever. Davido, Duque de Hispaniola, had arrived with a large force of "mercenaries" and a party of American Indians from the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The "'mercenaries" in question were a curious mix of Austrian and German line infantry and grenadiers, along with an elite grenadier guard regiment that defected from the Bourbon army and joined the rebel cause. In haste, the Spanish king asked for aid from neighboring France and from the small state of Villenois, long a supporter of Bourbon interests.
The Count had sailed his army from Villenois and marched inland after landing at the port of Cadiz, right into the heartland of the rebels. Several weeks worth of skirmishing with the Habsburg rebels led the Villenese army deeper into the heart of Spain. Cavalry scouts reported that the main force of the rebels lay at El Perez, a small village that had virtually no defenses to speak of. It appeared the Duque was waiting for a showdown with the Count. He did not have to wait long.
Austrian grenadiers marching towards the battlefield.
Some rather odd looking hussars.... Or perhaps they're grenadiers with funny hats?
The engagement began shortly after three o'clock in the afternoon. As the Count's army took up a defensive position south of the town with his infantry and artillery on the open ground near the road with a clear field of fire right into the town. Meanwhile Spoletti took command of the cavalry and kept a defensive screen between the cornfields where the Duque's Indians had taken position, and the Villenese artillery battery. An artillery duel began in which both sides did very little damage aside from unsettling soldiers on both sides with the terrific thunder of guns and the crash of cannon balls in the turf round about the men.
The wild Indians of New Spain.
The Count surveys the approaching enemy.
The rebel army made slow progress crossing the river that ran past the town with the grenadiers in the vanguard in no huge hurry to come to grips with the Villenese despite the urgings of the officers around them. Meanwhile the light infantry and Indians opened fire on Spoletti and the dragoons on the right flank killing several troopers including the regimental bugler, Felipe. Spoletti urged his men into a charge that scattered the Indians and caused them to run and hide in the numerous wheat and cornfields that were close by the river.
Austrian grenadiers crossing the river.
Light troops and sharpshooters take up positions on the north bank of the river.
Indian attack!
Rebel artillery moving into position near the bridge.
Felipe! NOOO!!
A view of the battle.
Rebel guard cavalry take up a menacing position in the rear.
Disordered Indians fall back into the cornfields after being charged by the Madiran Dragoons.
After the space of an hour and a half, the artillery of both sides had done much to disorder men on both sides and cause much damage to the field itself. A few casualties were inflicted by the rebel guns on the Regimiento de Azul but they held firm with the encouragement of the Count who stood near the front ranks on horseback as if daring the rebel sharpshooters to hit him. Some time later the rebel grenadiers managed to close with the Villenese troops. Their charge fell short of the Regimiento's line as they poured disciplined volley fire into the rebel ranks. Grenadiers fell left and right and several of the rebel officers were killed. This caused the Austrians to retreat back across the river and away from the fighting. The elite of the Duque's army had been crushed and a cheer rose up from the Villenese ranks. "Viva la Conde!" came the cry in Spanish, "Long live the Count!". Immediately after this the second line of rebel infantry, German mercenaries, charged and crashed into the Villenese battle line. The fighting was fiercely hand to hand, meanwhile the Indians had regrouped to launch another attack on the Villenese right wing firing on Spoletti and the dragoons again. Severe casualties disordered the dragoons while Spoletti himself had taken a musket wound to the shoulder, nearly knocking him from his horse.
The Count encourages his men.
The grenadiers retreat.
Villenese guns firing on approaching cavalrymen.
The men crack under pressure and flee the field.
The Count would later go on to give the fallen men of the regiment a posthumous battle honor, as well as telling the men still living that though they lost, they fought like lions that day.
Run!
Aftermath of El Perez.
The Duque in desperation, sent in his reserve Grenadier Guard cavalry to punch through the Regimiento and drive them off the field. Villenese guns fired on the approaching cavalry but had little effect on the enemy charge. The Villenese who by this point were starting to tire under the pressure of fighting the rebels at bayonet point, were unable to stand up to the charge of fresh cavalry and in the ensuing melee broke and ran, the rest of the army routing as soon as they saw the Regimiento retreat. Count Lumerier once again urged his men to return to the battle but they ran past him unheeding his commands. With the Guard Cavalry approaching, the Count was forced to retreat or be captured by the Duque. Spoletti seeing the entire force melt away spurred the dragoons that were still with him off the field and away from the approaching rebels. By day's end, Duque Davido had captured the Count's guns and had taken a good many prisoners. The Count would be forced to regroup his men back at Cadiz to await reinforcements from Villenois.
Revenge is a dish best served cold. ;)
Special thanks to David Cooper for such a fun and exciting game. ;) I'll get you next time!
