With the capture of Villa Doro a week previously, General Fromage, who was not present at that battle, (The mostly garrison units were commanded by Major Davault with some cavalry and infantry support sent by Fromage.) retreat towards the north along the Guadalquivir River and proceeded to set up a strongpoint at another fortified town on the banks of the river. Shadowing his retreat, elements of the 95th Rifles along with some veteran Portuguese Dragoes, reported back to General Adamstone's camp with all the important weak points of the French defenses mapped out. Further north, Marshal Messena gathered his forces for an attack against Wellington. Both commanders immediately sent word to their scattered forces to regroup near the important junction Andujar, northeast of Córdoba. Word reached Adamstone and Fromage approximately the same time, just as Adamstone was planning a surprise assault on the town La Vallejo. Adamstone's goal: Take the town and prevent as many of Fromage's troops from getting to Messena as possible, while reinforcing Wellington. Fromage in turn had to prevent the crossing of the Guadalquivir and send as many troops available to assist Messena.
La Vallejo on the banks of the Guadalquivir. Strongly fortified but open to attack from the landward side should someone ford the river further downstream.
The scenario chosen for this engagement, No. 9.
Turn 1: Adamstone's Brigade appears over the horizon.
French Voltiguers and an infantry regiment hold the ford to the west, artillery on the hill to the north has a commanding view of the entire area, while the main body of French forces under Fromage holds the town.
Major Sharpe and the 95th Rifles are to aid the cavalry in getting across the ford and on towards the road to the north to reinforce Wellington. The infantry, including the 42nd Black Watch are to assault the town. Due to the speed with which Adamstone advanced on the French, the artillery was left behind.
Sharpe and his men looking at the citadel of Vallejo looking for weak spots in the defenses.
A 6 is drawn. Bad start for the British. The Prince's Own Irish once again show their fancy uniforms mean little as their officers struggle to maintain an orderly advance. So many of the soldiers are still "green" having only been through one major battle prior to this. In addition the Gaelic tendency to strong drink has addled the men's discipline and the weak officers mostly from wealthy families who bought their commissions, prove unable to properly drill their men.
Turn 2: a Queen is drawn. Double action for the ever dashing 13th Light Dragoons! They make it to the river ford first only to be picked off by disciplined volleys from the French line infantry. A following charge though on Turn 3 inflicted heavy losses on the front ranks of the Frogs.
Once again one may wonder why the French didn't form a square, it would've blocked the cavalry from the ford while the rest of the British struggled to take the town upriver. Simply put the French colonel forgot to issue the order, and he wanted to be able to still shoot at the cavalry.
Major Sharpe arrives along with the Portuguese Dragoes.
Also from Turn 1: Rather than waste shot on the approaching Lobsters and Fish*, the French artillery proceeds to pack up and move towards the road. They must be off by Turn 4.
(*a derogatory term for the Portuguese, apparently in reference to their staple diet of "Bacalau" or the "codfish". Frogs, Lobsters, and Fish. Europe is a strange place.)
Turn 4: An 8 is drawn. 3 units are short of powder. Unfortunately for Major Sharpe, the 95th were not issued enough powder before the march and will have to forage from dead Frenchmen to make up for it. The 67th Irish (Prince's Own) mistakenly brought barrels of claret and whiskey with them. And the 42nd were not issued enough powder either, though the bayonet might carry them forward this day. The 13th Dragoons were withdrawn before further casualties were sustained and the Portuguese were brought forward to finish off the French infantry in swift order. With some well place shots from the 95th.
The Voltiguers missed every shot they made, but in turn Sharpes men had a difficult time hitting them from behind tree cover. The ford was now clear for the Cavalry to cross.
Turn 4: the artillery made it swiftly off table and on the road to Messena.
Meanwhile back at La Vallejo, Adamstone's advance on the causeway was heavily contested by Fromage's men. The IV, and V Infanterie de Ligne holding the causeway as best they could. Shots from the opposing British line caused serious casualties on Fromage's command and the IV regiment.
Turn 6: the clock is ticking for both armies, and it appears Adamstone has rallied his men, 3 units remove 3 hits each.
Having forded the river, the Portuguese Dragoes make their way to the road to reinforce Wellington. The could try and cut off Fromage from retreating but Wellington's orders take priority. Fromage meanwhile has ordered the IV to make an orderly retreat to the road and the head north. They must exit by turn 8.
The Voltiguers find their courage and take aim at the 95th. 7 men are wounded. Sharpe orders them to fall back and head back upstream to join the main force.
Back at La Vallejo the British manage inflict heavy losses on the defending V regiment. The garrison returns fire but poor aim results in a 1.
Turn 7: more powder shortages. Sharpe's men are nearly out of shot. The 67th opens more wine casques by mistake and now what little powder they had left is completely ruined by spilt claret.
The Dragoes make it to the road ahead of Fromage who had turned to face the new threat. Once again the French our outmaneuvered.
Turn 8: Fromage has failed to exit a second unit off table so he's essentially lost this battle, but the Frogs still make a good try if getting to Messena's main force.
The Voltiguers make a run for it. The road is open if they can get to it in time.
The British have nearly won. One unit off table before Turn 15 and all they need is a second unit off and to occupy the town.
A final assault by the 42nd and the 28th Sussex Foot captures most of the V left defending the town. The British have won the battle but it's not quite over yet as they attempt to overtake the remaining French.
Sharpe's 95th rushes towards the town st the quick march.
Turn 11: a 10. The 67th, their powder wet, their uniforms dirty and their officers embarrassed, become demoralized taking 5 hits.
Turn 12: Fromage has a sent the IV off table but failed to get a third as the remaining Voltiguers are wiped out in a skirmish with the 42nd and 95th, now refreshed with more ammunition.
The 28th Sussex makes it off table in good time.
Turn 14: a Joker is drawn, one of the Voltiguers suffers 6 hits to their morale.
Turn 15: one of the Voltiguers escapes north but too late to affect the outcome of the battle near Andujar.
Conclusion: With the taking of La Vallejo, Adamstone's V Brigade has a strongly fortified HQ from which to plan further advances into French occupied Spain. He leaves the 67th and several good officers from other regiments to occupy the town and further drill the undisciplined Irish regiment. Meanwhile, both Adamstone and Fromage head north to the crossroads near Andujar with Adamstone's column still shadowing Fromage's. Heavy forests obscure each column from view as they are not fully aware of each other's positions. Stragglers from the French army, mainly Voltiguers are eliminated by Spanish guerrillas in the forests and hills north of La Vallejo.
Major Sharpe cheering with the highlanders of the Black Watch after they capture remaining French on the road north.
The French artillery fire throws the column into confusion and the men delay advancing a turn while the officers sort out the mess.
