Bailen - 19 July 1808 - Fought 4 times over 3 Fridays - 17, 24 April & 1 May 2026

 The Battle of Bailen saw the Spanish, under Castanos, beat Marshal Pierre Dupont, with the French trying to escort their baggage train to the town of Bailen.  Napoleon was not best pleased!

The French are challenged by needing to protect the baggage and by having part of the Spanish army, arrive in the French rear to the West.  French re-inforcements will arrive near Bailen, both of these arrivals are variable.

Games 1 and 2

Mike and I fought the battle on the 17th April using Matt Bradley's BBB scenario in the IO Group pages.  Here is the map:

Game 1

We set up the table and I took the French.  My troops included the Marins de la Garde as an aggressive, veteran skirmisher unit ranging (two stands of figures) down to Schramm's Swiss brigade, who were previously in Spanish service - they are removed if they take casualties or if the Marins unit is destroyed.

Set up

At this point I was in with a chance.  My plan is to charge up the road and also do a right hook.

Move 2

By move 2 it had all gone wrong.  2/3 of my cavalry was mainly blown away, the Marins were dead, so Schramm's Swiss decided to become chocolatiers and watchmakers, the baggage train elected to do a hard right and sneak along the line of the Olive groves.

  

Move 4

By turn 4 I was running out of troops, the Spanish were also approaching from my rear through the Olive Groves.  Time to surrender.....

Game 2

As our game had ended quickly, Mike and I had a very early lunch, swapped sides and started again. 

Set-up - my Spanish lads line the ridge west of Bailen:

Move 2 

Mike goes to the left, so I need to move my troops right to counter this.  He sends one unit to guard his rear (I didn't do that) and ensures his cavalry don't get wiped out.  All good so far.

Move 4

My move to my right was sluggish, Mike also got his reinforcements on to put pressure on my rear.  His unit blocking the river bridge did well, repulsing my impetuous assaults but eventually getting removed.

My troops were now able to assault the French baggage.

End

Mike surrendered on move 5, Spanish troops were pouring into the battle, his units had failed to defend the baggage and there was no longer any way he could win.

Having played the battle twice in one day, I suggested that we give Mark Smith's scenario for the same battle a try.  

Bailen games 3 & 4

Games 3 & 4 use Mark Smith's scenario for Bloody Big Peninsular Battles Scenario book, which should be on sale soon. Here is Mark's map.   Mark has made the map longer and narrower and the woods are in different places.  

The French troops get skirmish ability and are not rated passive and/or fragile.

Game 3

Set up

My initial deployment was, once again, a central push and right hook.  In Mark's scenario the baggage stays on the road, so someone has to protect it!

Move 2

By move two my forces were approaching Mike's defenders, holding the ridge and making good use of the woods.

 Move 4

By the end of move 4 I was advancing on the right and bringing the baggage forward ready for a dash to Bailen.

Move 6

At this point I have not broken through anywhere, but there are still a couple of moves to go....

Move 8 and end.

By move 8 my attacks had failed to break Mike's line and he counterattacked, pushing me back.

Victorious Spanish take the baggage train!

This game had lasted much longer, partly because a different map orientation meant that it took longer to close to combat, partly the French were tougher and had skirmishers.

We reset the battle, swapped sides and fought the battle again....

Game 4

Set up - I was the Spanish and waited for Mike's assault.  Here's the initial positions.  Sadly my photos for turn 2 are way too blurry....

Turn 4 

Here's Mike throwing in his right hook and advancing more slowly in the middle.  Threatening my left made me move troops to counter this.

Turn 6

Mike's push into the woods succeeds, he pushes my left back.  I throw all I have available to stabilise the situation.

Turn 8

By turn 8 the Spanish had stopped Mike's right hook and middle assault, but fresh French troops appearing the other side of Bailen were able to take two objectives at minimal cost.

Turn 9

The game ended at the end of French turn 9.  Mike had 3 objectives, enough for a draw.  The Spanish were beginning holding on but would not have the strength to recapture any of the objectives lost to the French.

Final thoughts

• Playing the same battle with two different scenarios makes it interesting - Matt rated the French as weaker than Mark.
• Playing the same game twice, swapping sides, makes you appreciate your opponent's challenges each time.
• The second two games lasted much longer and Mike almost won as the French, so victory is possible.
• There is a discussion to be had about what constitutes a win.  Will the French always lose, is that the "right" outcome?  Should the scenario always ensure the historical result, or balance the game so that it is possible to achieve a result very far from history, such as a crushing French victory at Waterloo?  I guess that's one of the reasons we game!

My thanks go to Mike for playing the same battle 4 times - next up is more Peninsular action at Rolica.