Napoleonic Naval : Battle of Cape Lagos August 18, 1759

Gathered at Mark's house for a rare Tuesday night battle.  This one was four player Napoleonic Naval featuring the Battle of Cape Lagos,  August 18, 1759 off the southwestern tip of Portugal.

In 1759 King Louis XV's ministers drew up plans to invade various parts of Great Britain.  As a result an army of 17,000 French soldiers was being assembled at Vannes, France to prepare to land in Ireland.  As this invasion force came together a variety of French squadrons sallied from there ports to coordinate with the invasion.

The French Navy Toulon Squadron under Admiral Jean-Francois de La Clue-Sabran sailed toward Vannes with the following ships.

Ocean (Flagship) 80 gun
Redoubtable       74 gun
Centaure             74 gun
Temeraire           74 gun
Modeste              64 gun
Souverain           74 gun
Guerrier              74 gun

As they passed Gibraltar they were immediately spotted and a British squadron put to sea to catch them.  Part of the formation broke up leaving the following to close on the French.

Royal Navy Gibraltor Squadron under Admiral Sir Edward Boscawen
Namur (Flagship) 90 gun
Culloden              74 gun
Warspite              74 gun
Intrepid                64 gun
America               60 gun
Portland               50 gun
Guernsey             50 gun

Initial setup with the British coming in from the left and the French line running down the right side of the photo.  The coast is just out of sight on the left.  The French are positioning to fight or move around the coast as they can also win the scenario by evading the British Fleet and getting away.

Carronades commence in the center of the formation while half of the French make a dash for the coast.  The result, the French Ocean, Redoubtable and Centaure being struck and taken under tow.  The British Namur and Intrepid were dismasted and punished Hull.  The remaining French were able to withdraw in good order and only lightly damaged if at all.

   The air is filled with French iron.

Around turn five or six the wind made an unexpected 120 degree shift.  This stopped the French dead in their tracts and allowed the British freedom to maneuver at will.  The French ambitions were effectively stalled at this point.  Merde!

ZOMBIES!!! Friday night fight ..or flight ..or fright

Played a great round of Twilight Creations "Zombies!!!" for our Friday night fight.  I love this game.  They have so many expansions it's ridiculous.  I'm trying to get motivated to paint the 28mm Scooby Doo Zombie Hunter figures I got from Hasslefree Miniatures.  Also picked up Columbus and Tallahassee from "Zombieland", and an Elvis impersonator with a .357 magnum and guitar.  Watch for future painting updates.

http://www.twilightcreationsinc.com/

 

The Zombies all seemed to be drifting towards the Sporting Goods area of town.  

 

After killing about a dozen zombies each Matt was able to cut his way through to the Helipad and was whisked off to safety.  Leaving me to a horrible "Walking Dead" style death.

I really love that when we bought this game originally at ORIGINS we got to talk to Kerry Breitenstein of the design team, and the card artist Dave Aikins who did a quick magic marker sketch on the box lid.  That is so awesome.

 Coming soon ...... if we have the courage, playing

Order of Battle for Churubusco, August 20, 1847

I thought I post the OB for this scenario.  It has an awesome mix of troop types.  


The Mexican-American War
August 20, 1847 Churubusco, The Campaign on Mexico City 

   As the American forces, led by General Winfield Scott, began the final offensive on Mexico City, the Mexican defenses collapsed at the battles of Contreras and San Antonio.  Remnants of the Army of the Center fell back to the village of Churubusco, just 5 miles from the capital.

   The Mexicans made their stand at the Franciscan convent of Santa María de Churubusco. Although the convent offered no advantage of height over the surrounding terrain it was positioned to protect a bridge over a small river that the U.S. forces had to negotiate to take the position. In addition to the stone walls of the convent, the defenses included a series of incomplete trenches the Mexicans had begun digging prior to the attack.

   Numbered among the Mexican defenders was the Saint Patrick's Battalion, known as the San Patricios.  The unit was made up of American deserters, mostly of Irish descent, who deserted in protest to their treatment in the U.S. Army.

   The approaching U.S. forces merged with pursuing forces coming from Contreras to assault the Mexican position which was now almost all that stood between them and the capital.

United States Forces under command of Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott:  (7,300 men)
     
Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott & Guard       

1st Division
Gen. William J. Worth & Guard       

  1st Brigade - Garland’s Brigade
   Lt. Col. Garland’s Staff               
   4th U.S. Infantry                      
   2nd Arty. Regt. Infantry                
   3rd Arty. Regt. Infantry                

  2nd Brigade - Clarke’s Brigade
   5th U.S. Infantry                       
   6th U.S. Infantry                      
   8th U.S. Infantry                       
   Battery A, 2nd U.S. Arty/8# guns       

2nd Division
Col. David E. Twiggs & Guard

  1st Brigade - Smith's Brigade
   3rd U.S. Infantry 
   1st Arty Regt. Infantry 
   U.S. Regt of Mtd. Rifles 
 
  2nd Brigade - Riley's Brigade
   7th U.S. Infantry 
   2nd U.S. Infantry
   4th Arty. Regt. Infantry 
   Battery K, 1st U.S. Arty/6# guns
 
  3rd Bigade - Shield’s Brigade
   Lt. Col. Shield’s Staff
   2nd New York Volunteers 
   1st South Carolina Volunteers 
   U.S. Marine Detachment
   Field Batt, 1st U.S. Arty/6# guns

3rd Division
Maj. Gen Gideon Pillow & Guard
 
  1st Brigade - Pierce's Brigade
   Lt. Col. Pierce's Staff
   9th U.S. Infantry 
   12h U.S. Infantry 
   15th U.S. Infantry 
 
  2nd Brigade - Cadwalader’s Brigade
   11th U.S. Infantry 
   14th U.S. Infantry 
   U.S. Voltiguers  
   Battery I, 1st U.S. Arty/6# guns


Mexican Army under command of Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna:  (3,904 men)

Gen. Santa Anna & Guard
  Hussars of the Supreme Power 
  Light Mntd. Regt. of Veracruz 
  Tulancingo Cuirassier 

  Cavalry of the Army of the North Jauregui
  Gen. Jauregui & Guard
   2nd Cavalry  
   3rd Cavalry  
   7th Cavalry  
   8th Cavalry  
   Active Militia Cav of Guanajuato 
   A. M. Cav of San Luis Potosi 

  Light Brigade Perez
   Gen. Perez Staff
   1st Light Infantry
   3rd Light Infantry
   4th Light Infantry
   11th Line Infantry

  1st Division
   1st Brigade
    General Manuel Rincón & Guard
    National Guard of Acapulco
    National Guard of Lagos
   2nd Brigade
    Hidalgo National Guard Batt 
    Victoria National Guard Batt
    Mexican Arty/4# guns

  2nd Division Anaya
   1st Brigade
    Bravos National Guard Batt 
    Independencia Natil Guard Batt 
   2nd Brigade
    Natnl Guard Batt of Tlapa  
    San Patrico Cmd & Guard
    San Patrico Staff
    San Patrico active Militia 
    San Patrico Arty/4# guns