Sunday 16 July 2017

First Carlist War Battle Report

Today's game was supposed to be an American Civil War action, but the week has been a busy one and the opportunity to plan was limited. This combined with the fact that I woke up late this morning and didn't have time to sort out the armies saw me change the ACW game to a First Carlist War affair, plainly and simply because in could very quickly grab the two storage containers from my study cupboard. We used all my Carlist War figures

For the game a Carlist force of 13 infantry battalions, four cavalry squadrons and two guns were charged with covering a road leading back to their heartland. Against them was an Isabelino force consisting of four guard battalions, one light battalion and 9 line battalions, three cavalry squadrons, two field and one mountain guns. The Isabelino forces were supported by components form the British Auxiliary Legion (BAL) and the French Foreign Legion (FFL) - a battalion of British Marines, two battalions of a BAL infantry, a squadron of BAL cavalry, a rocket troop and a detachment of royal artillery, four battalions of the FFL, a squadron of cavalry and a mountain gun.

The FFL and BAL troops advance

The Isabelino right flank

The quality of the troops would be essential to the game. Of the Carlist infantry one battalion of Navarese guides was rated elite, six battalions were rate trained and six raw. The cavalry and the artillery were rated trained. The Isabelino guard and FFL infantry were rated trained, the Marines elite, but all other infantry was raw. Of the Isabelino cavalry, the BAL cavalry was raw while the rest were trained. All the Isabelino artillery was rated trained.


The Carlists chose to deploy six battalions and the mountain gun in a village in the centre if the table with the remaining forces on or behind the hills to the rear. The Isabelinos came from two directions, the FFL, BAL and a brigade of five Isableino battalions on the left and the remaining troops on the right.

The Isabelno Cavalry

The guard advance 

The village became the centre of the action, quickly drawing the two raw brigades and two batteries of the Isabelino troops into a desperate fight with six Carlist battalions. The Carlist drove off ten Isabelino battalions before being driven out themselves.

Above and below, the Isabelinos advance on the village




Meanwhile on the left flank the FFL and BAL faced up against a mixed Carlist force, and on the right the Guard and the cavalry faced off against the Carlist Cavalry, three battalions of infantry and the field battery. The fighting on the flanks continued all day, but the final collapse of the village marked the end of the game.





18 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a good game today Mark - I take it from the comment about the final collapse in the village that the Isabellina forces were victorious? The figures look great as always!

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    1. Indeed it was an Isabelino victory but at a HUGE cost...we lost one FFL battalion, the FFL cavalry, the Marines, one guard and seven line battalions...questions would definately be asked in Madrid.

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    1. Thanks Nathan. It was a nice way to spend a Winter's day.

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  3. Wonderful figures and terrain Mark, congrats!

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    1. Thank you Phil. I must admit I really like these Carlist games.

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  4. Given the color of your Carlist collection, no disappointment seeing these wonderful troops out on the table again. Great stuff!

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    1. And four Carlist War games played so far this year...four games of the same period in seven months is pretty good for me.

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  5. Great write up and great figures. Really enjoyed the report. Sparked my interest to read more about this period. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks Mark. LIke most civill wars this period has lots of opportunities for gaming. The introduction of lots of raw troops makes for a less oredictable game too.

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  6. Interesting, looks lovely and nice to see a little known period!

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    1. Yes it is a fun period. There is lots of potential for oddball scenarios that stretch the imagination.

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  7. Another great looking game Mark. Our gaming venue has been out of action for the past six months and will be for at least until the end of the year and we are having to satisfy ourselves playing boardgames, so it is nice to be reminded what we are missing.

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    1. My God no figure gaming for a year!

      We were out for a six weeks while one of our members had surgery and we went into withdrawal!

      Our BIG gaming event comes later in the year with a week away, eight gamers, five games, too much food (none of which is tofu or eggplant) and way too much wine.

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    2. Sounds just like my sort of thing. The boardgames are filling in nicely, but we are starting to get a bit restless. Painting my way through the lead pile does help to relieve some of the frustration, thankfully.

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    3. Yes it is the most anticipated week of the year and has been for 32 years now. Stunning place and good friends what could be better. One slight downside last year (and ongoing I suppose) is that the area now has cellphone coverage - it is an amazing freedom when you have no connectivity - still it saved my bacon last year when I had a flat battery when we went to leave.

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  8. Mark,
    Great looking game & miniatures. Are those Perry figures?

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