Battle of Arroyo Muerte

The Battle of Arroyo Muerte the start of our Peninsular Campaign inspired by Perry Miniatures.

Gen. Soult has ordered Gen. Girard to March to his support. The march gets underway in the predawn hours under a dense fog. Unbeknownst to Girard the British have taken advantage of the fog and are assaulting the village just as the French 40th Line and Dragoons move out. 

Fortunately the French pickets are timely alerted as British Gen. Ponsford horse falls knocking the general out for the remainder of the battle. The combined British and Portuguese with no choice but to assault advance toward the village as the fog dissipates at daybreak. The allies only hope is that the Spanish get into position to cut off the rest of the French made up of Girards vanguard of the 17th Light, 34th Line, Converged Grenadiers, and 21st Chasseurs.

 

The British and Portuguese push up to the village as Girard organizes the defense. Things go from bad to worse as the Spanish suddenly arrive to cut off the escape route. The only hope as that the 40th Line and Dragoons return!

The elite Portuguese cacadores make the first charge on Arroyos Muerte gaining the wall a bitter hand to hand battle begins. Suddenly the sound of trumpets peal the air as French reinforcements arrive. The Spanish unsure leave themselves open to a charge from the 21st Chasseurs who slam into one battalion breaking through and charge into another. Suddenly the Spanish have lost half their force.

 

The British and Portuguese charge the village walls again as the Spanish keep the attention of the French. At one point the 95th Rifles and Cacadores break into the village but a driven back by French voltigeurs. 

The remaining Spanish foot battalion tries to escape across the stream but is ridden down by the Chasseurs who have now routed 3 Spanish battalions. With the Spanish dispersed the 40th Line and Dragoons rush to the rescue. 

The British seeing that a secure situation is fast turning desperate order a combine assault with the Portuguese. They gain a very slim foothold at the village as the French prepare to repulse the assault. Dragoons and Chasseurs are flurrying on each flank and things look like they are about to swing to a French victory.

 

The Spanish foot battalion that routed with little loss suddenly returns and throws their weight into the combined assault. With four allied battalions charging the village the French are pushed back to the ford. 

Girard realizing he has had minimal losses and reinforcements covering him withdraws easily. The allies have taken Arroyos Muerte but at a cost of a third of their force. They immediately begin preparing defenses as an impending French counter attack is assured.