Counting down to Ameixial

With just over 24 hours to go before the refight of the 1663 Battle of Ameixial takes place at the Hong Kong Society of Wargamers' June meeting, how are the preparations going?

The picture above gives the map for the battle provided with the scenario in 'To the Peace of the Pyrenees : European War Scenarios 1622-1663', a Pike and Shot Society publication that goes with their 'Twilight of Divine Right' rules.

In the spring of 1663 the Spanish had launched their most successful invasion of Portugal since the outbreak of the Portuguese Restoration War - through which Portugal reasserted independence from its earlier union with the Spanish crown.  The Spaniards had over-run most of Southern Portugal and in May had captured Évora, opening the way to a march on Lisbon.  Shortages of food, ammunition and money held up a decisive advance by the Spanish, giving time for the Portuguese to assemble an army of about 17,000 men.  This included an English Brigade, given to the Portuguese by Charles II in exchange for his marriage to Catherine of Braganza, daughter of John IV of Portugal.  

When the Portuguese army advanced, the Spaniards left a garrison in Évora but fell back with their main army to a better defensive position along a ridge next to the town of Ameixial de Victoria.  Despite leaving nearly 4,000 men in Évora, the Spanish army still outnumbered the Portuguese overall, particularly in cavalry though having less infantry.  The quality of the Spanish army, comprising ad hoc regiments put together from contingents from Spain, Italy and Germany, was inferior to their opponents.  Their commander, John of Austria, an illegitimate son of Philip IV of Spain and a former suitor for the hand of Catherine of Braganza, had seen military success in his youth in Italy and Spain, but had led his armies to defeat at the battle of the Dunes in 1658. He was noted for his indolence.

At the Dunes, John of Austria had led an army that included French rebels and English Royalist soldiers against a French army backed by English soldiers of the Commonwealth.  Now he found himself facing an army with an English brigade put together from both old parliamentary veterans and royalists.  It was commanded by a Huguenot, Frederick Schomberg, who had been in French service (as well as Swedish and Dutch service at other times : he got around before being killed at the Battle of the Boyne while serving William of Orange).  Aside from tensions within the English ranks, the Portuguese despised them for being Protestants!

For the refight, the Spanish army has 10 infantry regiments, all of them musket heavy.  These form the centre of the Spanish line, together with an artillery battery and a reserve of one cavalry regiment.  The centre is commanded by General Guzmán.  To their left is a small wing of three cavalry regiments under General Morera.  The main body of 8 regiments of Spanish cavalry are on the right in front of the town.   When I decided to do this battle I found that I was short of 3 infantry regiments for the Spanish.  The extra troops, together with figures for the commanders on both sides, are now almost finished.  

New regiments on the painting desk at the end of last week

Figures for 2 regiments fully painted and being mounted on bases earlier this morning

The Spanish commanders

The Portuguese commanders : Sancho Manoel de Vilhena with the Royal standard in the front, Schomberg to the right, Inez de Mello on the left.

Under the scenario, the quality of the Spanish generals is not very good.  John of Austria is rated 1, all the others are 0, meaning that they cannot give their troops extra actions, only give them a chance to re-roll failed morale tests

For the Portuguese, de Vilhena and Schomberg are rated as 1, de Mello as 0.

The Portuguese army is deployed in only two wings.  The larger one, with all the infantry the artillery and one cavalry regiment, is led by Schomberg and deployed along the centre.  6 cavalry regiments in three lines are deployed on the left under de Mello, facing the Spanish cavalry in front of the town.

To reflect the poorer quality of the Spanish troops, all of their infantry and cavalry are designated as 'D'.  This means that when rolling for their quality, they use a row on the table that gives a 1 in 3 chance of being raw, 1 in 6 of being Elite and 1 in 2 of being standard trained troops.  The Portuguese are designated as 'C', so have only a 1 in 6 chance of being raw or elite and a 2 in 3 chance of being standard trained troops.  I am also rolling for units being 'Wavering' or 'Determined'.  I have not had time to play test the scenario, so we shall see if this over eggs the pudding tomorrow.

The Spanish army, cavalry, baggage and artillery to the right, infantry - less three regiments in progress - on the left.  The buildings are not really Portuguese style but are the best I can do at the moment with what I have.

The Portuguese, Infantry, baggage and artillery to the right, cavalry on the left.  Given the painted regiments that I have available, four of the Portuguese infantry have red coats but only two of them are designated as the English regiments of Apsley and Pearson

8 pm Update : All regiments ready

First to finish

Second lines up

Third and last - for now