Game the first was Corunna, 16th January 1809. A well known battle to those that love the Peninsular War, it was the bitter end of the long retreat of the British army in the Peninsula that began months before when Napoleon crossed the Pyrenees and shattered the Allied armies raising insurrection against him. Turning his attention back East, the Emperor left Marshal Soult to mop matters up and he drove Sir John Moore and his army mercilessly back to the port town of Corunna.
The map lays out well in C&C:N. The principle pieces are all there -- notably the small town of Elvina which was the center of much bloody fighting.
In our game, my son, as is his wont, had no notion of waiting for my advance and instead descended on my right. He made good progress, but some lucky card play -- I came up with not one but two "Assault Right" cards -- blunted that business. Matters then turned to the center where he did everything in his power to push his Guards forward. For those unfamiliar, British Guard Grenadiers not only have five blocks to the usual four, but, depending on the cards played to activate them, they can roll as many as seven dice. I knew I had to do everything I could to blunt them and burned through tactical cards to hold him at bay.
In the end, his aggression got the better of him and I would up with a 6-3 victory. I am curious as to why the scenario allocated five tactics cards to the French and only four to the British. Each side receives the same number of command cards and I can see no reason for conferring this advantage on the French.
Still, a fine scenario and, for your enjoyment, here it is in 42 seconds:
Vive L'Empereur!
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