Tagus campaign part 5: the siege of Almeida part 2

It has been six months since Sir John Moore saved one of Britain's armies at the Battle of Corunna, escaping the Peninsular practically unscathed with one of the few fighting forces left to the country. The only other major force, commanded by General Wellesley, has been split in two. Half the force is in Lisbon with the General himself whilst the other half is in Almeida, under General Cuts, situated to disrupt any French advance into Portugal.

Thus since the October of 1808 (10 months previously) the fortress has been invested by the French Van, a brigade of veterans commanded by Colonel Dubreton, who defeated both Cuts and Wellesley, forcing the British West along the Tagus. Since then he has been heralded as the Hero of Corunna, the man who sent the English packing! He has been showered with glory and his next task is to be the conquest of Almeida.

The British Garrison is near starvation, but rather than let them surrender freely marshal Victor has called for assault! He has grown impatient with the siege's disruption of his conquest of Portugal and now fears that Marshal Soult, with Moore gone from Spain and Madrid in his hands, will turn his attention to its conquest and claim the glory. Dubreton, the 54e and the 47e have been recalled from Soult and put back into the siege for the final and impetuous assault.

Since the daring raid by the Scots Greys on the French siege train in November at the start of the siege the besiegers have been woefully short of artillery, out-gunned by the defenders and thus unable to launch an adequate bombardment they had resorted to starvation but now its appears their resourcefulness will be put to the test (outnumbered 3:2 in guns)

This was to be the last battle of the Tagus campaign, the last great assault on the last bastion of hope. Wellesley was in Lisbon, but without Cuts' army what good would that be? On the other hand if Cuts held out in Almeida the French would be forced to retreat from Portugal and renewed attacks made into Spain the following year. The Peninsular campaign of 1809 (the Battle of Corunna and Siege of Almeida) would come to its climax here, in the siege works and defences surrounding Almeida. 

We fought the game on two massive tables in a corner of St Edmund's college, a fantastic Old stone school in the heart of rural Hertfordshire. Our forces are the normal 1/72 Italeri/Airfix/Zvezda/HaT. We both contributed troops to each side (though the majority are my opponent's who is by far the main 1/72 collector, my main interest is in 28mm)  and the rules as always are Black Powder by Warlord games (a fantastic set of incredibly maluable rules)  

French Besiegers - Général de brigade Colonel Raymond Dubreton 

- well equipped and well fed troops - First fire, tough fighters
Battalion a la siege - Chef de battalion a la siege Colonel Ludwig von Brandenburg

 - Artillery a pied

four 12 pdrs

- combined Grenadier-Sapper companies 

two companies - fourty eight men

47e Ligne - Chef de battalion Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Roche

- 47e Fusilier companies

four companies - ninety six men

- 47e Voltiguer company

one company - twenty four men

- 47e Grenadier company

 one company - twenty four men

54e Ligne - Chef de battalion

- 54e Fusilier companies

two companies (including the les enfants perdus - forlorn hope {47e, 54e, 13e}) - fourty eight men

- 54e Grenadier company

 two companies - fourty eight men

- 13e Cuirassiers troop
one troop - eight men

British defenders - Lieutenant general Cuts

- defenders are starving but resolute - Valiant, Wavering, lose first fire

1st Brigade - Brigadier Major General Sir Geoffrey Barck

- Foot artillery 

one 6pdr - attached to 28th

- 28th North Gloucester 

four companies - ninety six men

Cavalry Brigade - 

- Horse artillery

three 9pdrs - attached to Scots Greys

- 2nd Dragoons, Scots Greys

two troops - twenty men

Highland Brigade

- Foot artillery

two 6pdrs - attached to Gordons

- 92nd Gordon Highlanders

two companies - fourty eight men

- 95th Riflemen
one platoon - twelve men

With the assault due that afternoon the 54e had been moved forward into the outer trenches, while the Grenadiers of the sappers and engineers were already armed and in the forward trenches. Ammunition carts had been moved up with cartridges and breaching shells for both the men and guns.

On the other side of the siege canal the gunners and grenadiers of the 54e sheltered amongst the rocks and wooden mantlets whilst small carts raced to bring ammunition and supplies to the men and guns. It would be the job of these gunners to breach the main gate whilst the others focused their fire on the walls.

Some way behind the siege lines the 47e had turned out of their camp and were now assembled for the entire battalion to march to the front. hey would be one of the key units in the assault but their commanders reckoned they would still have enough time to get up front before the breach came, so they had given their men rest.

The British gunners on the walls were not oblivious to French movements though and they were already turned out in expectance of the coming assault. The garrison's only hope was in their superior number of artillery, using extra guns captured from the French at the start of the siege. The gunners would be targeting enemy guns to try and negate the French artillery before a breach was made.

Both armies were prepared and the result of this assault would decide the outcome of the siege. It would test the bravery of their men and the skill of their gunners and engineers. A breach had to be made quickly for the French or they would be lost.

After a preliminary bombardment which caused severe damage to a section of wall though, not so much to the door, the British gunners had their targets and returned fire. Three gun emplacements were hit in the trench (two of the weaker ones, and a stronger section) and several gunners killed, though no damage done to the guns.

With  return fire coming thick and fast from the besiegers the section of wall and gate grew weaker with dust and rubble falling away as the shells pummelled the fortifications. The 47e were moving out now and seemed set to be at the trenches in time for the assault.

After several vicious exchanges of lead, with several French gunners killed from opposing fire, the wall crumbled, a great smoking breach appearing to invite the attentions of the French infantry! Now was the assault launched!

With the battalion of the 47e forming up behind the trenches the time for the attack was now. Swords were drawn and bayonets fixed by the grenadiers in the forward trenches and the tricolour of the forlorn hope flew high.

And the breach was not a moment too soon as suddenly with an explosion of splinters and metal a British cannon ball tore apart the first of the French guns killing many of the crew and sending the others fleeing.

The assault started in a bloody fury of racing men, blasts of earth kicked up by British guns, screams, shouts and cries of Vive l'emperuer! The fusiliers of the 54e and one of the Sapper companies raced to the fore, providing a screen for the advancing forlorn hope (the French Les Enfants Perdus - lost children). But overall the 54e's advance was a failure. Their colonel's orders confused them and the battalion was scattered from the trenches to the front of the assault from the first.
However this was made up for by the 47e's swft advance into and over the trenches. The shooting from the British guns destroyed another three French guns and it seemed s though this would be the only breach made.

While the infantry ran forward, towards the breach that would soon be a pit of blood, bodies, smoke and fire. But the Cavalry, the lone troop of cuirassiers, also advanced riding into the cover of the ruins in no man's land which had previously been a point of bitter combat.

As part of the 54e colonel's blundering, one company of grenadiers had blustered their confused way across the trenches to the siege canal, where they were preparing to cross.

With the companies spread out across the barren ground before the fortifications, the British artillery began to star enjoying their work. It was as good as target practice and in their bombardment they hit the leading company of sappers and the remaining artillery piece on the right bank of the canal.

With their screen having taken much of the artillery flak, the forlorn hope now raced forward, clawing their way carefully up the apparently unguarded breech. Once on the edge they raised the colours, flying high the tricolour in the breech.

But in the trenches someone had blundered! Lieutenant colonel Patrick Roche, commanding the 47e, had anticipated to early the breach of the gate and, getting his men out of the way of the British artillery fire, had sent the entire battalion left down the trenches towards the canal, in the foot steps of the 54e's grenadiers. Furious Dubreton himself left his vantage point to personally correct the blustering Irishman.

Meanwhile in the breech, the lost children opened fire on the approaching Scots Greys who, forming in ranks, seemed ready to repulse the enemy from the breech. A rider was plucked from his saddle, and panic spread through the horses at the unexpected volley.

As they advanced, the sappers, with Von Brandenburg close by, suddenly became the target of Almeida's artillery. The shot landed dead centre sending men sprawling in all directions and causing general disorder and confusion in the ranks. Von Brandenburg dusted of his uniform with German calm.

The 54e, goaded on by their hopeless colonel, suddenly found themselves targets as close range shrapnel shattered their ranks cutting files down and terrifying their colonel's horse.

The Forlorn hope, positioned in the breech, now came under attack from the Gordons as the 92nd highlanders launched a bayonet charge. A melee of smoke, bayonet, musket but and boot ensued in which the lost children lost far more men than the defending highlanders.

The Forlorn fell back and the breech filled with smoke as the Gordons volleyed them, but they were the bravest of the brave, offered instant promotion, a rank for every boot that made it over that breech! They would try again.

The attack, now refocused, continued. The 54e and sappers joined in the bulk up the Forlorn's assault whilst the hope themselves charged headlong back into the breech. The 47e too were regrouped and back into the advancing battalion of company attack columns.

Carts of ammunition raced forward and hurried back laden with wounded. The breech was now being forced with two companies of Grenadiers lending their weight to the Forlorn hope's struggle for the walls.

The fight that ensued in the breech was bloodier even than the last. Not a shot was fired but every weapon was used; musket, bayonet, boot, shako, teeth, nails all were used for the downfall of the foe. The Gordons had to hold and the lost children had to break them.

But in the end the struggle was too bitter. The lost children were slaughtered to a man, they stood and died in the breech and only their colour was left flying to show where what had once been a company of men had stand. However it was death for the Gordons too and the Highlanders broke, scattering back to the safety of Almeida's interior town.

Dubreton, impatient with the progress of the assault, moved forwards his position, riding forward, with his gallopers, into the forward trenches. Earth flew up around him as the British continued their bombardment of the trenches, but the experienced soldier, a corporal at Toulon, did not even flinch.

With the breech now clear of troops a company of the 28th foot rushed for the gap, a cheval-de-frise ready to assemble amongst the rubble and dead. Along the walls the blue coated artillery men sponged and loaded their guns, taking aim on their infantry targets.

But the French gunners were quicker and with but two remaining 12 pounders they blew open the gates, revealing the troop of Scots Greys waiting inside. With two gaps in the British defences now Cuts would have to fight for all he was worth, which so far in the campaign he had proved quite cheap.

With the defenders busy handling the cheval de frise, the leading companies of 54e grenadiers and sappers charged through the breech. The grenadiers from the siege works quickly engaged the 28th* whilst the 54e volleyed the assembled Scots greys. In the ensuing combat the sappers broke and fled, leaving the 54e's grenadiers to be trapped in Almeida, between the 28th and the cheval de frise and the Scots greys.

With the sappers sent packing the defenders got their barricade swiftly in place across the breech and not a moment too soon for the grenadier company of the 47e was closing in, bayonets and bearskins bristling in the shot torn air. The Cheval de frise sank in amongst the piles of French and British dead whilst the single company of 28th formed a line ready to volley behind it.

And inside Almeida the stranded 54e were having to fight hard for their lives. With their only escape blocked and no way forward the grenadiers suddenly found themselves under attack from the nearby troop of Scots Greys. With admirable initiative their Captain quickly formed the grenadiers into square as the Greys' charge hit home.

Seeing the plight of their fellow grenadiers, the 47e's charged for the breech. In a vicious hand to hand they shifted the 28th and  their cheval de frise with very few casualties, breaking the defending British and sweeping their defences aside. But already the 54e's hastily formed square had given way and their Captain and survivors were captured. However the breech was again open and it would be a brave man that could hold it now.

At the gate too the 47e had broken through, their voltiguer company forcing back the 28th with constant unwavering musket fire. Both the elite companies of the 47e were now inside the fortress and the break point had come, the fate of the assault would be decided here, feet from the breeches. Not underestimating the value of this fight and with more courage than many a private soldier, Dubreton himself rode headlong through the breech to join the 47e in their last push. It was do or die, glory or death!

Almost as soon as they were through the breech, Dubreton and the grenadiers found themselves forced into square by a combined charge from the Greys and 28th. The combat was like hell itself, and though outnumbered in both force and valour, yet did the courage of Dubreton and his men hold sway, for with the chef de brigade, sword bared, fighting at their head the grenadiers routed the 28th and sent the Greys flying for the safety of the Highlanders' line.
At least one breech was thus secured for the emperor

At the gate however the British were not ready to play fair. With the voltiguers' engaged by the 28th's bayonet charge to their front, the Scots greys were able to charge their fleshy and exposed flank, cutting the light infantry to pieces in a pincer of bayonet and sabre.
The gate was thus held for Britain, but much good would it do Almeida now.

With ammunition wagons and gallopers up and reinforcing the assault the 47e, 54e and engineers pressed home the attack making good use of the foot hold won by Dubreton and the 47e's grenadiers. It was a French victory of the very finest, and won by their noble leader in bloody hand to hand combat. The South-western walls of Almeida were successfully secured by the assaulting infantry as the British force dissolved through the streets of the town and out, away East. Dubreton would rise yet further in the lists of France's finest generals and deservedly so, for there was no other as worthy as he. He led from the front and no denying.

Meanwhile in the streets of Almeida, General Cuts handed the order to retreat proudly to his aide. It was strange to be proud of retreating, but Cuts was pleased. He had brought this army safe down the Tagus to Almeida and would now lead it safe on to Lisbon. True, he had lost Almeida, but he had given the Frogs a bloody nose and had saved a British army. Horse guards would be pleased. Wellesley could now hold out in Lisbon behind the lines of Torres Vedra and with the French's woefully depleted artillery they could not hope to attack him there. Yes Cuts was pleased. He had lost this little castle, but had he not saved Portugal? And what had Wellesley done, or Moore, no today he was Britannia's hero!