Of Pistols and Perriwigs, A Gentleman Wargamer's Blog: Peninsula in Crisis: The Siege of Villa Doro, Part I

Finally! Payday came and went and now I've fully outfitted my cigar box OHW properly. 1 portable container for everything, including terrain and the compartment box with two armies in it. But enough of that, here is the account of Brig. General Adamstone's well planned assault on Villa Doro, a major French stronghold in the Peninsula... (This post is in 2 Parts as I fear I may have taken TOO many pictures of the Battle and the file is far too large to publish as one article. At least from my phone.)

My "cigar box".

The Scenario chosen for this battle, No. 15.

The sun glared down on the French garrison commander Jean Davault in the fort of La Perdicio. Over his shoulder, in the hazy distance, stood the walled town of Villa Dora. It's cathedral spires stabbed at the sky as if the architect understood Davault's discomfort, and tried to kill the sun with knife sharp towers that never quite reached their intended victim. To his front he could see the distant cloud of dust kicked up by the advancing enemy column, undoubtedly the British. La Perdicio guarded the valley that lay before Villa Doro, acting as gatekeeper to the equally well fortified city.

Suddenly he heard galloping hoofs from two directions. He glanced around and could see in the distance on the flank of the fortress, a cavalry skirmish about to commence, elements of the British cavalry colliding with the assigned Polish Hussars that Fromage sent to protect his flank. The siege had commenced, and Davault ordered the forts guns to open fire on the now visible British red line.

French army advancing to protect the two strongholds. Villa Doro lies near a great forest, while La Perdicio, an 18th century Vauban style fortress, anchors the town's flank.