Part II
Wellington's decisive victory in Portugal was news well received by the allies - the first batch of good news in a while! Still though, a decisive victory over militia and peasants isn't much to go by - and Wellington's greatest test is soon to come as Marshal Andre Massena prepares to invade Portugal with his experienced army of French regulars, heavy cavalry and artillery with the intent of ending Wellington's short campaign in the same manner as Sir John Moore's at Corunna. While Wellington rests his men in Coimbra, General William Beresford advances upon Badajoz further south - taking this will not only make an indent in French-occupied territory, but it will also reinvigorate the Spanish guerrilla's who have been fighting a vicious underground war since the occupation first began.
The men arrayed against him are better trained than those Wellington crushed at Coimbra. Beresford's army is smaller in number and is almost entirely composed of allied auxiliary regiments; men who fight well but who won't see a battle through to the end in a sticky situation like the King's German Legion would. Nevertheless, with cavalry superiority, artillery and a battalion of the fabled Portuguese cazadores at his side, this is a battle Beresford should win.
The Battle of Badajoz
(Unfortunately there was no fort to assault, so I couldn't replay the iconic Storming of Badajoz - so that means no Obadiah Hakeswill shooting his own men!)
British deployed - 1896 -- General William Beresford
French deployed - 3060 -- Colonel Raphael Dawnay
Weather - Clear skies, cool temperatures but quite a breeze
The French take up position on the raised ground behind the town who have no intention of moving. Beresford moves up his army - regulars on an open plain to the town's right (flanked by British light foot and some of the Portuguese cavalry). On the left flank directly facing the town, Portuguese cazadores take up position on a ridge to prevent a French flanking attack through the town itself. Mindful of his light infantry's weakness to enemy cavalry, Beresford places the rest of his cavalry behind the cazadores should they need assistance. Beresford himself takes up position to the rear of the infantry line, along with the Portuguese 6 pounder guns.
The dashing uniforms of the allied Portuguese soldiers is quite a sight to behold!
Beresford's steady advance is interrupted by the French rapidly redeploying their lines, and so he quickens the pace of his own men to avoid being charged while disorganised.
With Portuguese artillery bracketing their positions, the French are forced to advance. The British light foot opens fire first before the enemy is in range, and eventually both line begins exchanging volleys. The French attempt to bring their superior weight in numbers to bear upon the plain, but Portuguese cavalry on the left slams home into a disorganised rabble of militia. The militia, supported by musket fire from a fellow line infantry battalion, manage to hold the line against the Portuguese cavalry. However, repeated charges coupled with the unhindered fire from the British light foot eventually break them.
On the British left flank, the French do indeed attempt a flanking attack through the town as Beresford predicted. However, the armed peasants the French commander chose for the job come under devastatingly accurate fire from Beresford's elite light infantry, the Portuguese cazadores. Though unsupported, the armed peasants do not flee and attempt to fire back, though this is shockingly unsuccessful.
Losing control of the main battle on the plain and making no progress at all in the town, Colonel Dawnay orders a bayonet charge against the numerically-inferior British/allied infantry. A good tactic which might have swung the battle in his favour - if it had been ordered earlier. With a few of his men already fleeing the field, and the rest being mercilessly bracketed by artillery fire, the bayonet charge is headed by men with little morale left.
Dawnay attempts to support the charge with his cavalry reserve, but this too dissolves into chaos. Not even reaching the British lines, he orders a withdrawal - barely making it out of this particular charge with his life. A counter-charge by Portuguese regulars sends most of the Frenchman still fighting on the plain fleeing for their lives.
With Portuguese cavalry wreaking havoc behind French lines, some French regulars decide to put up a brave final stand. Targeted by artillery, they soon break.
In a final desperate act, Dawnay and his remaining cavalry attempt a charge through the town to support the armed peasantry (who, despite losing over a hundred men to the cazadores, were still holding). Unfortunately for the French colonel, the British infantry beat him to it and were already hitting the peasantry on the flanks. Horses falling by the dozen, Colonel Dawnay has his shot from under him and is killed - albeit heroically.
With their commander's death, the remaining Frenchman still attempting resistance threw down their muskets. Beresford's victory is complete in more ways than one - not only has a portion of Spain been liberated, but it has shown that British and Portuguese soldiers can co-operate brilliantly. More allied victories like this and the French will soon be leaving the Iberian peninsular with their tails between their legs!
While every unit did it's duty, the Portuguese cazadores excelled themselves. Losing only 1 man, they took down almost 350 of the enemy; defending the British left flank single-handedly. Extra rations for these men!
British losses - 285
French losses - Total capitulation
When the Prince Regent can tear himself away from women and partying for a second, maybe he'll take an interest in his heroic fighting men in the peninsular and rally around the cause!
With the liberation of Spain now under way, several of the local guerillas pledge themselves to supporting Beresford's advance.
With Badajoz now back under Spanish administration, Wellington orders the advance eastwards.
Marshal Massena awaits him!