Reminded of this on Facebook today, a very disruptive post about the eagles at the Battle of Salamanca but still underappreciated.
Highly Meritorious
I travelled to the University of Southampton on 4/5 April 2025 to attend the Eighth Wellington Congress. The great and the good of Napoleonic research gathered for a programme of papers inspired by the Duke of Wellington, his life and times. The papers were many and varied and the meeting was two days well spent.
I presented my paper 'Highly Meritorious, another day in the retreat from Burgos'. I recorded one of my rehearsals for posterity, you can find it here;
The paper describes the four separate rearguard actions that were fought on the 23 October 1812 when the British and Spanish rearguard of 3,500 men held off the French advanced guard cavalry (5,500 men) under Maucune.

Napoleon at Little Gibraltar
My article in Wargames Soldiers and Strategy magazine #134 on Toulon 1793, based on one of the ten scenarios in my book Throwing Thunderbolts, has just reached my letterbox. The article focuses on the Assault of Fort Mulgrave ( Little Gibraltar) itself, so is more suited to 28mm games on a 6x4 table than the scenario in the book which looks at the whole of the Caire Peninsula. The French called Fort Mulgrave Little Gibraltar despite it being made of earth and timber logs, rather than Ridley Scott's stone bastion. As a footnote although the article is accompanied by excellent photography, the assault actually took place in the darkness of the early hours. Here is the full draft of the article complete with my edits that didn't make it into the published article ;

Ken Reilly’s Yarkshire Gamer Podcast.
I took part in Ken's Listener Phone-in to talk about the War of the First Coalition and Throwing Thunderbolts; It can be found here. LINK


My Publication List
- 2009: Denis Davidov- Partizan Leader (article: First Empire Magazine # 106 )
- 2011: Wellington’s First Battle ( book: Caseshot Publishing)
- 2012: Wellington’s First Battle (lunchtime lecture at National Army Museum, London)
- 2012: British Artillery in the Netherlands, 1794 (article in Smoothbore Ordnance Journal #4 and on-line)
- 2013: British Battalion Guns in the Netherlands, 1794 (article in Smoothbore Ordnance Journal #6 and on-line)
- 2018: The Men Behind the Memorial (book: Caseshot Publishing, also 23 articles in Parish magazine)
- 2020: Wellington at Bay (book: Helion)
- 2020: Wellington at Bay (lecture: East Midlands Napoleonic Days, Bingham)
- 2020: Wellington at Bay (article: Wargames Illustrated online booklet related to COVID cancelation of Salute 2020.
- 2020-2025: Youtube channel, 36 Episodes and 44 total videos, 230 subscribers and 12,900 views)
- 2021: Maucune’s Division at Salamanca (book chapter in Glory is Fleeting (Helion).
- 2021: The History of a Salamanca Myth (Helion blogpost)
- 2021: Life in the Redcoat (book review JSAHR vol.99, #399, p.447)
- 2021: An Affair of Posts; Mapping the battle of Linselles (lecture in Centenary Conference of SAHR)
- 2021: Guest on Napoleonic Quarterly podcast discussing Flanders 1793–5.
- 2022: Wellington at Bay (article: Wargames Soldiers & Strategy #120)
- 2022: An Affair of Posts; Mapping the battle of Linselles (book chapter in One Hundred Years of Army Historical Research, Helion)
- 2022; The Other Side of the Hill (article re Béchaud in The Waterloo Journal, vol.44, #3)
- 2022: Where did Wellington Fight his First Battle? (lecture at Second War & Peace conference, online)
- 2023: Throwing Thunderbolts (book: Helion)
- 2023: Throwing Thunderbolts (introductory blogpost: Helion)
- 2023-2024: Daily ‘on this day’ chronicle of the war of the First Coalition on Twitter/X, 460 posts, 168K views (ended 28/06/2024)
- 2023: Salamanca – The French Perspective ( 2 episodes of the Napoleonic Wars podcast with Zack White)
- 2025: Napoleon at Little Gibraltar (article: Wargames Soldiers & Strategy #134)
- 2025: The Best Army in Europe: The war record of the Prussian army in 1792-5 (Helion blogpost)
- 2025: Highly Meritorious (lecture at 8th Wellington Congress, Southampton) (April 2025)


The Best Army in Europe: The War Record of the Prussian Army 1792-5
Helion have published my blog post on the Prussian Army of Valmy;
Wellington’s First Battle at The Other Partizan 2024
Whiff of Grapeshot
This video shows the work in progress on the Whiff of Grape shot scenario from Throwing Thunderbolts;
Mondovi scenario from Throwing Thunderbolts at Partizan 2024
More videos of the Assault on Fort Mulgrave, Toulon 1793
The first video shows a complete playthrough of the scenario, while the second shows the game as presented at Salute 2024.;
Battle history of the French Battalions at Villamuriel

This table is from p,75 of my book Wellington at Bay, the battle of Villamuriel, 25 October 1812, published by Helion in 2020.
Episode 31 Assault on Fort Mulgrave Toulon 1793 at The Other Partizan 2023
This video includes the background to a scenario from my new book, Throwing Thunderbolts, a Wargamer's Guide to the War of the First Coalition 1792-7, published by Helion. It also shows the scenario used as a participation game at the Other Partizan 2023 wargames show in Newark UK. The game was played using 15mm figures and with Black Powder rules, using scenario specific rules to manage the effects of attacking at night on movement and visibility. Fort Mulgrave was the main fortification defending the Caire Peninsula which overlooked Toulon harbour. Napoleon, then a chef de bataillon, had proposed that the capture of the peninsula would precipitate the evacuation of the Allies from Toulon as their ships would be vulnerable to the fire from the artillery posted there. Napoleon himself commanded one of the four assault columns and was wounded during the assault.
Episode 32 Gen.de Div. Scherer’s Instruction to the Armee d’Italie 1795
This video shows a Black Powder mini-game designed to illustrate General Scherer's instruction to the Army of Italy in late 1795, anticipating a transition from mountain warfare to fighting on the plains of north Italy. The scenario highlights the aggressive use of tirailleurs.
Factual Corrections and Additions for Throwing Thunderbolts
Vae Victis review of Throwing Thunderbolts
In issue 171 Vae Victis publshed an excellent review of Throwing Thunderbolts;

My translation of the review is;
This new Helion booklet is impressive, with more than three hundred A4 paperback pages. He looks back at the First Coalition, which was formed in reaction to the declaration of war by the France << the King of Bohemia and Hungary" on 20 April 1792. In fact, almost all European states, with the notable exception of Russia, are gradually joining forces to face the threat of revolutionary France. More than a third of the book is devoted to a chronological presentation of the military campaigns that punctuated those years, from 1792 to the Treaty of Campo-Formio, in October 1797 (only the <<perfidious Albion:" remained at war with the French Republic after that date). Overseas events and major naval battles are also discussed. The narrative is well done, concise and complete, with, among other things, parts on the military Vendée and various royalist upheavals. A few (rather sketchy) maps give the locations of the main battles, but there are none with the precise movements of the armies and even less with movements during the battle. In fact, the whole remains general... while occupying a hundred pages.
The second part focuses on the armies of the protagonists: Austria, the Holy Roman Empire (Saxony, Bavaria, Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, Hesse-Darmstadt and Baden for its main << components >>), France, Great Britain, Prussia, Sardinia-Piedmont, Spain, Naples, the United Provinces and French royalists (Vendéens, Chouans, émigrés in armies formed or in the service of foreign armies). You will discover a wealth of information: numbers and types of regiments, organization of units, equipment, tactical considerations (especially on thin order, deep order, mixed order, skirmishers), etc. Again, the whole is well done and forms a good synthesis on the subject. The next part looks at the representation of this period on our gaming tables, with tips for choosing a rule (depending on the desired level of representation). You will also find a table of <<ratings" of the French army on the one hand, and of the coalition on the other, according to the years (from 1792 to 1797) and according to different criteria: command, training, discipline, morale, speed of manoeuvre changes, etc. This information is taken from an <<old" book by veteran Donald Featherstone published in the 1970s. Also given are considerations on the competence of the generals (taken from Napoleon's Battles), with four notches, from bad (Mack for example) to excellent (Bonaparte, Davout, etc.), including average (Berthier, etc.) and good (Augereau, Bernadotte, etc.). These are only proposals: feel free to modify them according to your own research. Here are practical tips on how to build an army and paint your miniatures.
You will then discover a dozen scenarios, quite eclectic, with different situations and game rules: skirmishes, pitched battles, naval battles, etc. Each scenario is allowed about ten pages, with numerous explanations and historical notes, detailed orders of battle, possible options, etc. Note a scenario for Black Powder about the attack on the <<Fort Mulgrave" on the night of December 16 to 17, 1793, during the siege of Toulon, with a certain battalion commander Bonaparte at the head of the reserve of 1700 men. You will find this same officer, promoted to brigadier general, during the royalist insurrection of 13 Vendémiaire Year IV (5 October 1795): the gaming table represents the church of Saint-Roch and its surroundings (rue Saint-Honoré, rue de la Convention, etc.) and Sharp Practice is used for this scenario. In addition, information is given on the manufacturers of figurines for this period and websites on the subject. A bibliography completes the picture. The whole of this supplement is well done, although its presentation is relatively << austere >>. You will discover a period that is not very well represented on our tables compared to the First Empire, while it offers interesting challenges.
Throwing Thunderbolts, A Wargamer's Guide to the War of the First Coalition, 1792-1797, guide to armies and battles during the French Revolution. Published in English by Helion (www.helion.co.uk). Prix indicatif : 40 €.
Black Powder Points Values from the 1st Edition
Salute 2021
We took Wellington at Bay to Salute this year, here is how Wargames, Soldiers and Strategy presented it;
An Affair of Posts -the battle of Lincelles, 18 August 1793
On 22 September 2021, I presented this paper the Society of Army Historical Research Centenary Conference at the National Army Museum, Chelsea. My final rehearsal was captured on video and can be seen on my Youtube Channel;
My wargame of Lincelles is shown in this video
Some great feedback
My chapter 'Maucune's Division at Salamanca' in Helion's 'Glory is Fleeting' has been well received by the expert on Salamanca, Rory Muir;
Here are a couple of illustrations from the chapter.


Amongst other things I suggest that the 5e battalion 66e Ligne lost its new all green battalion fanion to the 11th Foot in the closing stages of the battle. This illustration from the National Army Museum, just might be that flag;

I also included an analysis of the story and myths of the captured eagles and other trophies taken from the French at Salamanca. A separate article on one of those myths can be found on the Helion website using this link;
More photos from the Other Partizan 2021
Henry Hyde took these excellent shots of James and I playing 'Wellington at Bay';


Andrew Bamford, my editor at Helion & Company took this shot of me, with the Heion stand to my rear right where they sold out 'Wellington at Bay'.

This shot is taken from Paint & Glue's video report of the day

The Other Partizan 2021
Youtube Channel
I have created a series of videos on my channel, relating to Wellington at Bay, in particular the wargame scenarios included in the book. The videos feature my wargame of the battle, which I had intended to take to Salute and Partizan in 2020.


This video explains how I create historical scenarios with Black Powder;
Wellington at Bay now published
My new book Wellington at Bay, the battle of Villamuriel 25 October 1812 has now been published by Helion Books. Initial reception has been good and it has four 5 star reviews on Amazon. Get yours at Helion ;

I have produced some videos in support of this launch which are available on my Youtube channel.
Some feedback from the major of Villamuriel;

East Midlands Napoleonic Days – Bingham
Really enjoyed presenting Wellington at Bay at Bingham today, grateful for the interest expressed. It was great to have Carole Divall in the audience, she was after all the inspiration for the whole project and has written an excellent foreword to the book. The book will be released later this spring and can be pre-ordered here.
East Midlands Napoleonic Days – Bingham
Giving a presentation tomorrow "Wellington at Bay, the Battle of Villamuriel, 25th October 1812"
Publication of Wellington at Bay, 18th April 2020
My new book Wellington at Bay, the battle of Villamuriel, 25 October 1812, will be launched at the Salute Wargames show at London ExCel.

This book describes the Battle of Villamuriel on the 25th October 1812. This battle, while small, was the largest engagement of Wellington’s retreat from Burgos. This battle involved twice as many men as the better-known Battle of Villadrigo/Venta del Pozo two days before.
This is the first full length account of the action and improves significantly on previous accounts in the campaign histories by Oman, Napier and Divall. The aim has been to pull together archival sources from all four nations involved, British, French, Spanish and Portuguese, to build a coherent and balanced account of interest equally to historians and wargamers.
Linselles 18th August 1793 – The French troops
Since my previous post I have undertaken some more detailed research into the French troops that held Linselles and Le Blaton when Lake's Guards brigade attacked.
From the French perspective, the action at Linselles on the 18th August 1793, was led by three French Generals, Macdonald, Jourdan and Béru. Dupuis gives the order of battle for the French Army on the 30th July 1793. The infantry is largely organised into provisional demi-brigades comprising an old regular battalion combined with two Volunteer battalions.
The Camp of Madelaine to the north of Lille contained 8 such demi-brigades. In addition a new Division was created under the command of General de Brigade Béru. This division comprised the following units;
5th de Vosges Volunteers; 1st Bn/45th Infantry Regiment; 10th Paris Volunteers
10th Seine-et-Oise Volunteers; 1st Bn/47th Infantry Regiment; 2nd Vienne Volunteers
2nd Paris Volunteers
1st St. Denis Volunteers; 1st Bn/19th Infantry Regiment; 6th Paris Volunteers
Company of Light artillery with two 12pdrs, two 8pdrs and two howitzers
12th Chasseurs à Cheval
6th Cavalry
of these, on the 18th, the demi-brigade comprising the 1st St. Denis Volunteers; 1st Bn/19th Infantry Regiment; 6th Paris Volunteers together with the 3rd Franc battalion and the 15th Light Infantry battalion, from Jourdan's command were dispatched to attack Roubaix under the command of General Desroques.
Chef de Brigade Etienne Jacques Macdonald advanced from Le Quesnoi to take Le Blaton from the Dutch, presumably with his own demi-brigade comprising the 5th l'Aisne Volunteers, 2nd Bn/2nd Infantry Regiment & 40th National Volunteers. Also present were the 2nd Finistere Volunteers.
It is known that Jourdan himself led the demi-brigade of the 1st/45th Regiment to Linselles, including the 5th Vosges and 10th Paris Volunteers.
This left Béru with the demi-brigade comprising the 10th de Seine-et-Oise Volunteers, the 1st/47th Regiment & the 2nd Vienne Volunteers, together with the 2nd Paris Volunteers.
The 2nd Bn/12th Infantry Regiment and the 1st d'Allier Volunteers were sent by Adjutant General Dupont from the Camp de Madelaine, while the third battalion of the demi-brigade, the 8th Paris (Sainte Marguerite) Volunteers were at Mouvaux on this day.
The French sources thus suggests that they had 4 battalions at Le Blaton and that Jourdan and Béru had 9 battalions at Linselles itself.
The strengths of the 9 battalions at Linselles can be estimated from the Situations reproduced by Depuis;
Strength | Strength | |
Men PUA | Men PUA | |
30/07/1793 | 15/10/1793 | |
5th Vosges Volunteers | 443 | 373 |
1st Bn/45th Regiment | 450 | 385 |
10th Paris Volunteers. | 470 | 444 |
2nd Bn/12th Regiment | 392 | |
1st d’Allier Volunteers | 888 | |
10th de Seine-et-Oise Volunteers | 457 | 367 |
1st Bn/47th Regiment | 471 | 379 |
2nd la Vienne Volunteers | 437 | 381 |
2nd Paris Volunteers | 813 |
To close here are some photographs of another game at a recent Sons of Simon de Montfort club night. In this game the French forsook the shelter of the defensive works in an attempt to overwhelm the Guards Brigade;


Lincelles 18th August 1793 – A small Black Powder Scenario
This week I took this small scenario to a club meeting of the Sons of Simon de Montfort, Loughborough. Here are some photos of the game in action, together with some of the background research;
The Background
Rather than proceed with an invasion of France directly, the Duke of York chose to divert his army towards the objective of Dunkerque. Earlier in the day on the 18th, some Dutch forces had occupied the villages of Linselles* and Blaton, to the north west of Lille. In response, the French sent a large and overwhelming force, which recaptured both villages. In response to a Dutch request for help, the Duke of York dispatched the Guards brigade under Major General Gerard Lake to assist them. On his arrival Lake found that the Dutch were not able to assist in retaking the villages, but undaunted, he decided to launch an assault himself.
While future Marshal of France, Étienne Jacques Macdonald, then a chef de brigade (lt. colonel), held Blaton, General de Brigade Antoine Anne Lecourt de Béru, held Linselles. Another future Marshal, General de Division Jean Baptiste Jourdan arrived in Linselles to support Béru.
It is clear that Lake's force comprised the 1100 men of the 1st Foot Guards, the Coldstream Guards and the Scots Guards, without their Flank battalion, but with their light 6 pdr battalion guns, commanded by Major Jesse Wright. However the size of the French force is not so clear; various sources suggest that the position was held by 12 battalions with a total strength of 5000, but this probably includes Macdonald's command at Blaton. Wright wrote that the French were three times the size of the British, which suggests the French strength at Linselles was in the range 3,300 - 3,900. The French position was reinforced by a two redoubts and other earthworks, containing approximately 12 guns. These guns are variously described as 16 pounders (France Militaire) or a mixture of 6 pounders (in the redoubt attacked by the 1st Foot Guards) and 9 pounders (in the redoubt attacked by the Coldstream Guards) as reported captured by the Guards (History & Origins of the First Regiment of Foot Guards, p. 286).
Major Jesse Wright (1st Battalion, Royal Artillery, KIA May 1794) provided the following account of the action;
The troops sent on this service were the 3 regiments of the Guards under General Lake, and the 6 guns belonging to them, which I command. The officers with me are De Ginkle [1st Guards], De Peyster [3rd Guards] & Watson [Coldstream Guards], the whole number of us altogether did not amount to more than 1300 men, and the enemy were more than 3 times the number, strongly intrenched in and about the village of Lincelles. The action began about 6 o’clock in the afternoon and lasted until it was quite dark. The Guards gallantly stormed the intrenchments under a dreadful fire and retook the village, together with 12 pieces of cannon, with their horses, and many prisoners. They lost about 12 officers and near 200 men killed and wounded, among the former is Colonel Bosville [Coldstream Guards]. De Peyster is killed; he behaved with a great deal of bravery and spirit. He was wounded by a grapeshot that hit him in the temple and died very soon afterwards. There are about 6 artillerymen killed and wounded, and 6 horses; most of these losses took place with the two guns of the first regiment that I was with; we were situated part of the time in an orchard. De Ginkle, who was the officer with me, behaved to admiration,” ......”it was a miracle that De Ginkle and myself escaped being killed or wounded; the quantities of grapeshot that fell about us would surprise one; we had both several men killed and wounded so close to us that I cannot conceive how we escaped”....”I have got Lt Hughes to my guns in place of de Peyster”.
Scenario
For the scenario I have assumed that Jourdan and Béru led 8 battalions of infantry, supported by a battery of 8 pounders and one of 4 pounders. The French generals had difficulty in getting their men to stop pillaging the village and to face the British assault. For this reason all eight battalions were given the Wavering and Unreliable special rules and suffered -1 to their Melee, Shooting and Stamina factors. By contrast the 3 British Guards battalions were given the special rules First Fire, Reliable & Elite as well as +1 to their Melee & Stamina factors, reflecting their performance on the day.
The game starts at 6 pm and ends when darkness came at 10 pm, 16 moves in all. To win the British had to either take the redoubts or break 5 of the French battalions. The French win if they broke two of the Guards Battalions. Given that the Guards suffered almost 20% casualties on the day, we allowed Lake to rally his "Shaken" battalions, even after losing one battalion. Given that Jourdan described the defeat of the French as a "rout", any French battalions that left the table could not be brought back on.
Finally Lake had a Staff Rating of 8 with one bonus attack, while both French generals had a Staff Rating of 7. Overall in terms of points the British had 335 and the French 348, so it was more balanced than originally expected.The Game
The British started off by advancing in March Column for three moves;

The view of the French end of the 3ft x 2ft table;

By move 4 the Guards Brigade had closed up on the French position and a charge by the Scots Guards in the centre dispersed the French skirmishers. The Scots Guards then advanced to outflank the redoubt on the French left;


As the Coldstream Guards turned to support the attack of the 1st Guards, they presented an open flank to the remaining French battalions on the right flank. Jourdan saw his chance to end the game with a Follow Me charge from the flank, only to Blunder. The battalion involved, having seen the Coldstream Guards advance, immediately left the table to their right!
This move ended with the French having 5 battalions lost or broken and the British being declared the victors, despite not capturing either redoubt.
The scenario worked well and fitted into a club night with ease. Related links; The Dutch at Linselles Battalion Guns in the Netherlands and Flanders
(*Linselles is the correct spelling; the spelling Lincelles, which features in the Guards battle honour, is blamed on the Duke of York's campaign map on which the "s" was obscured and the Duke read it as a "c" when writing his dispatch of the 19th August 1793 - Source; A.H. Burne, The Noble Duke of York, 1949, p. 67.)
More on British Battalion Guns
Sir Dudley St. Leger Hill, 8th Caçadores
Lieutenant Arthur Brooke, 44th Regiment, in Flanders 1794-5
Continuing my interest in the Duke of York's campaign in 1793-5 in Flanders and the Netherlands, I visited the Pubic Record Office of Northern Ireland in Belfast. Included in their archives is Arthur Brooke's diary of his war experiences between 1794 and 1814. His diary is more famous for his account of his participation in the 1812-14 war with the USA, but also includes his experiences in the Mediterranean theatre during the Napoleonic Wars. Unfortunately his diary for 1794 & 1795 deals more with the dreadful retreat than the fighting, but is still of great interest;
“On the 31st of October 1793 got my first commission in the 44th Regiment as Ensign, & joined it in Dublin Barracks, where I was quartered till the 25th April 1794, when I embarked at the Pigeon House for England. Landed at Liverpool and marched from thence to Dartford & Gravesend, marched through London. The year 1794 embarked at Gravesend for Ostend to join the Duke of York’s army. Went from Ostend to Antwerp. Antwerp a beautiful town, the church an elegant structure. I there saw a fine picture of Christ ascending to Heavan. Marched from Antwerp to Breda from thence to Bois-le-Duc & from there to Nuimegon[sic] on the banks of the Waal, where we took up our position till late November, when the British army retired[?] across the Rhine , I never saw a more dreadful retreat. Men women & children were froze to death & the greater part of the Army lost; this dreadful weather lasted till March, when we arrived at Hamburgh and in April embarked for England, when I arrived on the 25th of May 1795 at Sunderland, in the north of England.”
(Source: PRONI D3004D/1, p. 1)
Although he doesn't mention it in his diary Brooke was promoted to Lieutenant on the 26th November 1793 (Source: Army List 1795, p.142). Lt Brooke left the UK with Lord Moira's force which was sent to reinforce the Duke of York's army. Thus, Sir Arthur Brooke would have fought at Boxtel with the 44th Foot in Wellington's First Battle.


Firing Shells from Long Guns in 1779
Following on from my article regarding the use of howitzer shells in long guns in the 1793-5 campaigns in Flanders, here is the full text from the experiments during the siege of Gibraltar;
"(Sept. 25) An experiment was recomd. by Capt. (now Major) Mercier, 39 regt., viz.: to fire out of guns 51/2" shells with short fuses, which was tried on 25 Sept. and found to answer extremely well. These small shells, according to Mercier's method, were despatched with such precision, and the fuses calculated to such exactness that the shell often burst over the enemy and wounded them before they could get under cover. This mode of annoyance was desirable on many accounts: less powder, and the enemy more seriously molested. The former was an advantage of no small consequence since it enabled the Governor to reserve, at this period, what might probably be expended to greater benefit on some future occasion; it will also account for the extraordinary no. of shells which were discharged from the Garrison. The enemy attempted this practice, but never could bring it to perfection."
(Source: Minutes of the Proceedings of the Royal Artillery Institution, vol.29, 1902-3, p.93)
The Great Siege Stewart and Shells for long guns in Flanders

Wellington’s First Battle at Salute 2015
James and I had a great day demonstrating "Wellington's First Battle" at Salute this year. Again we used Blackpowder(TM) to run the game of Boxtel in 1794. The Gallery shows the game as it unfolded on the day. James played the French, he quickly advanced Daendels' brigade to crowd the British Guards. The subsequent firefight developed with both sides becoming close to broken. Eventually it was the Guards brigade that was broken. The retreat of the British thus mimicked the real events at least with respect to outcome. Thanks to everyone who stopped by for a chat.
My thanks to several attendees whose photos I have added to this gallery to complete the story. Their blogs contain many other excellent photos of the games at Salute;
Shedwars
Onelover
Lee Hadley:
Ten Figures a Week
Asienieboje Wargaming Blog
Wellington’s First Battle wins “Best in Show” at Phalanx 2013
On Saturday 15th June 2013, we took our Wellington's First Battle demonstration game to the Phalanx Show run by the Spartans - the St. Helens Wargaming Society.
Although a long drive it was a great day out. The venue is large and was well laid out with good supporting materials. We were fortunate enough to win both the "Best Demonstration Game" and the "Best in Show" prizes - so the drive home seemed a lot shorter!
The game resulted in a French victory for James, after Colonel Vyse became a bit too ambitious and got his fragile cavalry brigade broken. The combat was however close as the British Guards brigade were successfully holding off the superior numbers of Daendels brigade;
The presentation
The British left on the final move

The result of the somewhat disastrous British Cavalry charge
The trophies on proud display
Wellington’s First Battle at Cannon, Retford, 24th March 2013









Easy to Make Ditches for 15mm scale








Wellington’s First Battle at Recon 2012






Colonel John Stewart & Firing Shells from Long Guns
My first article in a series on the British Artillery with the Duke of York in the Austrian Netherlands and United Provinces in 1794, has just been published in Issue 4 of the Smoothbore Ordnance Journal. This article focuses on the correspondence of Colonel John Stewart, Royal Artillery.
Stewart was the artillery commander of Lord Moira's force which joined the Duke of York's army in the Austrian Netherlands in June 1794. Stewart stayed with the Duke of York after Moira's return to the UK. Stewart is an interesting individual who was promoted from the ranks, having joined the Royal Artillery, as a Mattross, in 1747.
While doing the research for Wellington's First Battle in the National Archives, I discovered a letter from Stewart detailing a request for ammunition for the army's artillery (National Archives, Kew, WO 1/170 p.869). This document gives the numbers of guns with the army in October 1794 and the required ammunition. Curiously, the list of guns excludes two "curricle 3 pounder" cannon that Stewart brought with him and that were still with the army in January 1795. The ammunition requirement has created some discussion, as it includes 4⅖ inch shells for firing from the 12 pounder long guns, to the extent of 14% of the total ammunition (which implies that it was used as often as half the frequency of caseshot). This use of shells in long guns, thereby anticipates the first use of Shrapnel's Spherical Caseshot by approximately 10 years, but it fits in nicely with Stephen Summerfield's timeline for the firing of shells from long guns which stretches back to 1744;
My complete article can be found at;
Smoothbore Ordnance Journal Issue 4Making the Terrain for Wellington’s First Battle




Wellington’s First Battle at Partizan 2012

This photograph shows the initial set up. Part of Schyndel village is shown in the top right corner of the board, (centre right of the image), with Abercromby's Reserve Corps emerging from it led by elements of the 8th, 14th and 16th Light Dragoons and the King's Dragoon Guards and followed by the Guards infantry Brigade. Wesley's 3rd Brigade is marching through the village streets. The main road to Boxtel snakes along the bottom of the board crossing several ditches. Delmas' French 6th Division is deployed in the clearing on the left of the board, shown at the top of this photograph.


The French 8th Hussars form the vedette line awaiting the British as they emerge from the early morning mist. Skirmishing is a challenge when you don't have any carbines!





Attack on Fort Mulgrave, Toulon December 1793





Denis Davidov – Partisan Leader, 1812
In celebration of the 1812 anniversary year, I am posting an article first published in "First Empire" Number 106 in 2009. This article describes a wargame scenario for a mini-campaign inspired by reading Denis Davidov’s book “In the service of the Tsar against Napoleon”, as translated by Gregory Troubetzkoy. The scenario is based on Denis Davidov’s time as a partisan leader during September and October 1812. The game is comprised of 30 campaign days during which Denis patrols the region around Viazma and Ghatsk looking for French convoys to attack. Denis gains victory points by intercepting and destroying or capturing French troops and supplies, and by raising militia units in the villages and towns through which he passes. The French gain victory points by avoiding contact with Denis, by escaping from his ambushes and by destroying Denis and his partisans.
Note on Names
For the main body of the article I have used names as written in Gregory Troubetzkoy’s translation. My campaign map, however, has been assembled from a variety of sources and I have intentionally used both modern and 19th Century names and/or spellings. Where I have clear identification of the places shown on the map with the places mentioned in the Memoir, I have used the spelling as given in the translation. On the other hand, in those cases where I think I have identified a place mentioned in the translation, but I am not sure, I have used the modern spelling. To date I have yet to identify all of the places mentioned by Denis.
Historical Background
This section is largely based on Denis Davidov’s Memoirs as published in the book “In the Service of the Tsar Against Napoleon, 1806-1814” by Gregory Troubetzkoy (Chapter 6 is devoted to the 1812 campaign). In 1812, Denis Davidov was 28 years old and had served in the Russian army for 11 years(1) . In April 1812 Denis was assigned as Lieutenant Colonel of the Akhtyrka Hussar Regiment, participating in several engagements and skirmishes as the Russian armies retreated towards Moscow. Denis decided that he could be more usefully employed as a leader of partisans and wrote to his benefactor Prince Bagration claiming that partisan warfare was more suited to “my age, my experience and …..my daring!” . On 21st August 1812, Denis was summoned by Prince Bagration. During this interview, Denis persuaded Prince Bagration to present his proposal to General Kutusov, the Commander-in-chief. Kutusov was sceptical about the chances of success but agreed to send one detachment around to the rear of the French Army. Kutusov agreed that Denis should command the detachment but, because of his scepticism, assigned only 50 hussars and 150 cossacks to the detachment. Denis was very disappointed as he wanted a thousand cossacks, and in this he was supported by Prince Bagration, who believed that if it was worth doing at all, it was worth doing properly with a 3000 strong detachment. However Denis agreed to take on the command, hoping that some early successes would convince General Kutusov to reinforce his detachment. In the event, the detachment comprised only 50 hussars and 80 cossacks. The Hussars were taken from Major General Vassilchikov(I)’s brigade(2) and the Cossacks from Major General Karpov(II)’s brigade(3,4).
With this force, Denis set off for his first base of operations at Skugorevo, which is approximately 30 miles south west of Borodino and 24 miles south of Gzhatsk on the main Old Smolensk highway. Denis arrived in Skugorevo on or about 29th August at which time the French advanced guard had reached Viazma. According to Denis, “innumerable carts, transports, convoys and marauding bands followed them on both sides on the road for a distance of 30-40 miles”.


Sometime before 13th September the Governor of Viazma (M. Poincaré(6) ) deployed 2000 cavalry to hunt down Denis Davidov and clear the area between Gzhatsk and Viazma. This detachment was led by General de Brigade Charles-Joseph Evers (a 39 year old from Brussels, who was promoted to General de Brigade in March 1812 (7)). In terms of garrisons, at about this time, the French had the 2nd Battalion, 5th Westphalian Line Infantry at Viazma and the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Westphalian Line Infantry at Gzhatsk(8) .

Date | Place | Russian Force | French Force Encountered | Result from Denis’s Pespective | Ref. |
2/9 | Tokarevo | 50 hussars & 80 cossacks | marauders | 160 prisoners & some wagons captured | p.88 |
2/9 | Tsarevo-Zaymische | 250 cavalry & some wagons | 119 prisoners & 10 wagons captured | p.89 | |
5/9 | Andreyevskoe | marauders | 30 prisoners captured | p.90 | |
6/9 | Federovskoe | 50 men accompanying 200 Russian prisoners of war | Reinforced by 60 ex POWs | p.90 | |
8/9 | Uknov | 300 cavalry & 170 infantry | none | Reinforced by 170 infantry and 2 regiments of cossacks | p.90 |
12/9 | Viazma | 376 men, 20 wagons & 12 artillery caisons | 100 French killed,270 prisoners and all wagons etc captured | p.93 | |
14/9 | Tepulkha | 72 men | Captured 72 prisoners | p.93 | |
15/9 | Tepulkha | 260 men & 20 wagons | All men & wagons captured | p.93 | |
19/9 | Yourenev | 3 Polish battalions (600 men?) and 1000 Russian prisoners of war | 120 infantry captured at the cost of 35 men killed | p.95 | |
19/9 | Artillery park | 24 carriages captured | p.96 | ||
19/9 | Pokorovskoe | 170 men and 400 Russian prisoners of war | All French captured and prisoners released | p.96 | |
20/9 | Gorodistche | Force is now 923 men | none | p.96 | |
21/9 | Znamenskoe | none | 2000 milita raised | p.113 | |
23/9 | Gorodistche | 400 marauders | 335 men captured | p.115 | |
26/9 | Monin | 127 light infantry, 42 wagons & 10 artillery carriages captured | p.116 | ||
1/10 | Andreyani | Reinforced by 500 cossacks, 700 cossacks in total | none | p.116 | |
4/10 | Luzintsov | 1 battalion 4th Illyrian regiment | 202 men captured | p.117 | |
4/10 | Vopka | Approximately 300 cossacks | Wagon train & escort of approximately 300 men | 41 wagons and escort captured at cost of 15 cossacks killed | p.118 |
4/10 | Semlev | Wagon train | Wagons captured | p.118 | |
5/10 | Krutoy | ~750 men | 378 French infantry captured and a similar number killed | p.120 | |
6/10 | Losmino | ~550 cavalry | 150 French killed and 405 captured at the cost of only 4 killed and 17 wounded | p.121 | |
11/10 | Tepulkha | Wagon train | 231 men & 70 wagons captured, 68 Russian prisoners released | p. 127 | |
14/10 | Losmino | General de Brigade Evers with 2-4000 cavalry | Russians escaped without significant loss. | p.128 |


The Game
Denis Davidov’s Force
At the beginning of the game the Russian player rolls one D6 to determine the size of the initial force;

Map Movement
Although by no means essential, the players have the option of using map movement on the campaign map, in which case Denis will move each day at a rate determined by the composition of his force; Cavalry only = 24 miles per day or 4 map squares Including Infantry, Artillery & Wagons = 18 miles per day or 3 map squares Denis starts the game at Skugorevo. The French will however not need to use map movement.Reinforcements & Rest Days:
At the start of each day the Russian player rolls a D10 and on a score of 10 can add 1 battalion of infantry or 2 squadrons of hussars or 6 squadrons of Cossacks to his force with immediate effect. NB: Unit strengths(15); “Raw” Infantry Battalion: 400 men; (12 figures @1:33 or 20 figures @ 1:20) “Trained” Cavalry Squadron: 100 men; (3 figures @1:33 or 5 figures @1:20) “Trained” Cossack Sotnia: 60 men; (2 figures @ 1:33 or 3 figures @ 1:20) If, on the other hand, the score is 1 or 2, the Russian force must rest for 1 day and the French force will score 50 Victory Points. Denis can also add half of any liberated prisoners of war (POWs) to his force as infantry.The French Forces
On each campaign day, when the Russian force is not resting, the French player should roll one D10. The resultant French force is dependent on how close Denis is to the main highway, after he has made his map movement. If the game is being played without the campaign map, the Russian player is allowed to choose where his forces are.




Force Deployment
The Russians will then throw 1 D6 to determine their deployment square. The Russians can be deployed in their formation of choice.Raising Militia
Once the Russian player has captured wagons, he can start to raise militia companies. This is achieved by spending one campaign day in a village or town. The Russian player needs 6 wagons for each attempt to raise militia. The size of the militia and the victory points scored are determined by the score of 1D6;
Victory Conditions
If Denis Davidov is killed or captured at any point in the game, the French are declared the winners. Alternatively at the end of 30 days campaigning, the side with the most victory points is declared the winner based on the following schedule;

Concluding Remarks
I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and that it inspires you to look a little closer at Denis Davidov’s contribution to the defeat of Napoleon. At a time when a lot of Napoleonic wargaming is focussed on the big battles, it is easy to overlook the little ones. I would welcome any input into the game design and corrections of any mistakes I have made.
Bibliography
The following books were consulted during the preparation of this article; “In the Service of the Tsar against Napoleon, The Memoirs of Denis Davidov, 1806- 1814” Translated and Edited by Gregory Troubetzkoy, 1999. “1812 - The March on Moscow” – Paul Britten Austin, 1993 “1812 – Napoleon in Moscow” – Paul Britten Austin, 1995 “Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia”- George Nafziger, , 1988 “The Russian Officer Corps in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars” - Alexander Mikaberidze, 2005 “1812 Napoleon’s Russian Campaign” - Richard Rhein (1991) “1812 Napoleon’s Fatal March on Moscow” – Adam Zamoyski (2004)References
(1) Alexander Mikaberidze, The Russian Officer Corps in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (2005), page 66 (2) Alexander Mikaberidze, The Russian Officer Corps in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (2005), page 424 (3) Alexander Mikaberidze, The Russian Officer Corps in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars (2005), page 182 (4) George Nafziger, Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia, (1988) page 541 (5) Gregory Troubetzkoy, In Service of the Tsar against Napoleon, (1999), page 89 (6) Paul Brittan Austin;1812 Napoleon in Moscow(1995) page 167 (7) Geert van Uythoven, CAVALRY OFFICERS OF THE NETHERLANDS available at http://home.wanadoo.nl/g.vanuythoven/Cavalry%20Officers%201813_15/Cavalry%20Officers%201813_15%20E.htm - NB; this is now a dead link, see also; Oeuvres diverses du baron de Stassart, Goswin Joseph Augustin de Stassart (baron) , 1854, p.431-2 (8) George Nafziger, Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia, (1988) page 531 (9) Gregory Troubetzkoy, In Service of the Tsar against Napoleon (1999) page 89-90 (10) George Nafziger, Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia, (1988) page 532 (11) Gregory Troubetzkoy, In Service of the Tsar against Napoleon (1999) page 95 (12) Gregory Troubetzkoy, In Service of the Tsar against Napoleon (1999) page 118 (13) Gregory Troubetzkoy, In Service of the Tsar against Napoleon (1999) page 128-9 (14) Gregory Troubetzkoy, In Service of the Tsar against Napoleon (1999) page 86 (15) Richard Rhein, 1812 Napoleon’s Russian Campaign (1991) page 477 (16) Richard Rhein, 1812 Napoleon’s Russian Campaign (1991) page 47815mm Light Common 6 pdr Conversion









