Sharpe’s Rifles, an unexpected encounter

Hi, It's time for new battle report! This time I decided to play some of Sharpe's adventures and bundled them in some sort of campaign based upon the television series. The idea of this whole campaign thing was born when I bought some nicely painted Foundry 95th Riflemen and some King Philippe's War miniatures (which I used to represent some Spanish guerillas). For this small campaign I will use modified Lord of The Rings skirmish rules and all of the missions will be played on 90cm by 75cm sized table as I only want to recreate some small skirmished with at most 30 miniatures on the table. Enough talking up to the actual battle report!

"It’s 1809, Sir Arthur Wellesley, the commander of the British army fighting the French in Iberian Peninsula, is saved from three pursuing French cavalrymen by Sergeant Richard Sharpe. Wellesley rewards Sharpe with a field promotion to lieutenant and command of the "chosen men", a handful of sharpshooters previously led by Rifleman Patrick Harper. The two men take an instant dislike to each other. Wellesley has no money to pay his men; however, he has arranged for a loan from the Rothschild family. James Rothschild has set out from Vienna with a badly needed bank draft, but is overdue. Sharpe, his men, and a company under Major Dunnett are sent out to search for him. While Sharpe and his men are out scouting the terrain, the company is surprised and wiped out by enemy cavalry led by Colonel de L'Eclin and a mysterious man in black civilian clothes, with only a few survivors the band takes refuge in a small cottage and Captain Murray succumbed to his wounds. After addressing his wounds, the band decides to head back to the British lines. But then they suddenly encounter a band of Spanish guerrillas led by Commandante Teresa Moreno and Major Blas Vivar (Simón Andreu). In the confusion that follows a skirmish begins."

The goal of the mission is to route or kill the enemy or simply capture the enemy leader. The company of "chosen men" lead by the brave lieutenant Sharpe! These fine lads are equipped with their trusty rifles which have a strength of 3 and a range of 56cm. The company starts on the road at the west side of the table.

The band of experienced Spanish guerrillas led by Commandante Teresa Moreno. These miniatures are equiped with old-fashion muskets which have a strength of 3 and a miserable range of 42cm. The guerillas also have the ability of camouflage which add +1 for the British player to hit them.

During the first hour of the eleven hour during skirmish, Sharpe and his men rushed across the road. Some of his men found cover in the dense scrubbery which grew on the surrounding fields. Luckily for them they quite quickly found some good cover as the Spanish guerillas also moved towards the company.

Under the command of Commandante Teresa Moreno, the Spanish band of guerillas swiftly charged across the battlefield using the cover of the many cornfields and hedgerows. However during their swift advance they entered the range of the British rifles and endured a volley fired by Sharpe and two of his chosen men. The volley however wasn't quite succesful as the British wanted as none of the Spanish brigands on the road were hit due to their supreme camouflage and cover. Now aware of the danger the Spanish guerilla remained in the dense cornfield for several turns as they slowly advanced towards Sharpe, ready to use their short-range muskets with deadly effect.

Unable to spot the brigands in the cornfield, the British riflemen remained stationnary trying to spot the enemy for an hour with no effect! In the meanwhile the brigands were able to fire a volley, their deadly crossfire instantly killed two riflemen! Enraged by the loss of his men, Sharpe fired his trusty rifle into the smoke and managed to kill one of the bandits!

Now within charging range, Commandante Teresa Moreno attacked supported by his most loyal follower in the fierce melee that follow another chosen men was killed! Sharpe devasted by the loss of another good friend, brutally fired several rounds into the cornfield killing another brigand by using one of his two might points. But while Sharpe temporarily left his cover, El Commandante took his musket and fired a bullet at short range, wounding the brave Sharpe while he was heading towards the safety of the reeds. Now outnumbered and wounded it was only a matter of time for the Sharpe before he would be overwhelmed and captured!

As the battle continued, both players ran out of bullets and powder and were forced to resolve their fate by melee. Sharpe used his last two bullets to wound El commandante and kill one of his bandits. Again followed a brutal melee as both parties clashed near the reeds, the melee however wasn't fair as the brigand leader used his remaining might points to win the battle and wound Sharpe. Stunned by the loss of his friend and commander, the remaining riflemen surrendered! But as one of the bandits was trying to steal Sharpe's rifle, Sharpe stabbed the bandit in his arm! He was still alive but severly wounded at both chest and arms. Sharpe and the remaining riflemen were last seen heading towards the guerilla basecamp near the monastery of El Campino escorted by the famous and brave Commandante Teresa Moreno. In the meanwhile a French scout witnessed the brigand column and decided to inform his commander, it would not take much manpower to kill the small band of brigands and their captives ...