First Carlist War small encounter

Several weeks ago, my mate Francesc (isabellino) and me (carlist) had a small affair involving all my painted miniatures for the first Carlist War. It resulted in two carlist battalions plus two squadrons and a small party of guerrilla against two isabellino line batallions, one FFL battalion and an artillery section. It was a complete destruction of the carlist brigade as the isabellino were waiting in a trully confortable way the arrival of the carlist while they were delivering volley after volley of musketry and cannon fire. By the end of tha game, the carlist cavalry reached an isabellino battalion...that fromed square in an admirable way resulting in the complete destruction of the troopers.

Not a bad game but a little bit boring because I spent the whole game trying to cross the battlefield under heavy lead rain. Francesc did a good job really professional. ow, I'm painting a carlist mountain gun to give the liberals a little of their own medicine.

Free Scenario to download! Baranda 1836 First Carlist War.

After a loong period of no blogging, no painting and no wargaming I'm back with a present to all the community. I'm posting a free wargame scenario for the First Carlist War. This is the first engagement in what was called the Gomez expedition so you can expect more scenarios comming soon. At one time I was willing to do some kind of scenario book but after seeing kingscarbine master work: "All honour is lost" I realized that I need to work really hard.
I think that the orbat (specially the isabellino) is something original, never before published. If you play it and you like it please let me know and if you find something odd or some bad spelling please correct me.
By the way, the map is brother's contribution and he is looking for job so if you work for a design company and know about a vacant...

Here you have the scenario: Baranda 1836

First Isabellino brigade

Dear Gentlemen,
Here I present you my first Isabellino Brigade consisting in two spanish line battalions, one french foreign legion battalion, one battery and command.
Now I'm busy painting my firts carlist brigade to begin playing some samll battles.
I hope you will enjoy them.

Isabellino Infantry

I've painted a couple of units of isabellino line infantry in early uniforms.
Since Perry miniatures come in packs of 6, I've decided to group my units in multiples of 3. My regular size infantry units will have 18 figures in 6 stands representing more or less a company for each stand. Trully, each battallion had 8 companies but you know, casualties and desertion made the units understrenght.

These two units represent the 2nd or 3rd battallion of a regiment because are carring battalion flags (those with the burgundian cross).

Credits:

36 Perry miniatures painted with Vallejo and the army painter products. Flags by Adolfo Ramos. Sorry because some of thee pictures are not really good.

Isabellino artillery First Carlist War

Following the French Foreign Legion the second post about the FCW is this stand of liberal (or isabelino) artillery. The miniatures are foot artillery painted in summer uniforms (white trousers).

There were not big arrays of artillery through all the war but a foot artillery stand is a "must have" for a lot of armies. This stand can represent a section of two guns in blackpowder or other rules.

Credits:

Perry miniatures painted with Vallejo, the army painter shades and varnish. Bases by warbases.

The French Foreign Legion during the 1st Carlist War.

As a result of an agreement between liberal Spain and France, the last gave support to Isabella sending the Foreign Legion which fought in Algeria.

1835
The legionnaires from Algeria disembark in Tarragona (19/8) and soon are joined with other recruits from France. At this time it numbers:
- 6 Superior officers
- 123 officers and medics
- 4143 soldiers from Algeria
- 571 soldiers from France (Pau depot)
- 343 horses.

During this year the legion fights in a lot of small actions in the north-western part of Catalonia: Balaguer (29/8), Guimerà (20/9), Granadella (27/9) and Tremp (17/11).

At the end of the year, the legion fights in Arguez in Aragon were the 5th bon. defends the village from a Carlist attack winning with odds of 1 to 10.

1836
Fights in the battle of Arlaban (16-17 /01) and is destined to Pamplona and its fortified lines. At this time, Bernelle creates 3 squadrons of polish lancers, a mountain howitzer battery with French and Spanish artillerist, an engineer company and a medical corps company including a stretcher bearers section (maybe the first one of this type in Spain). The legion is posted in the following places all near Pamplona:
- 1st bon. Zubiri
- 2nd bon. Urdáriz
- 3rd and 4th bons. medical corps, lancers battery and HQ at Larrasoana
- 5th bon. Zuviain
- 6th bon. Zabaldica and Archoriz

3500 Carlist occupy Tirapegui heights (26/4) thus threatening Larrasoana. Bernelle and all the troops there fight during 6 hours retreating in good order. The carlist attack Viscarret (16/5) and Zubiri (3/07) where Bernelle and two bons joints the troops of Brig. Clonard (2 Guard bons and Borbon rgt.) to repel the carlist attack. More Carlist attacks on Puente la Reina (17/7) and Zubiri again (30/7) are stopped thanks to the Legion.

Differences with the government and the lack of pays moved Bernelle to refuse the command of the legion. At first, Colonel Beau nicknamed Lebeau (The handsome) took command until the arrival of Brigadier Conrad (summer 1836). Conrad was loved by all his man as he knew a lot of them and spoke several languages encouraging them in their own mother tongue. Conrad was nicknamed “Der Alte Fritz” and rode a white horse.

At the end of this year the legion fought at Arroniz (14/09), Villalba (19/09) and Allo (21/12).

1837
In January the legion still has 3 infantry bons, the cavalry and the artillery. In March fights at Dos Hermanas (15/03) and Larrainzar (21/03).

When the Royal Expedition departs from the north, the legion is reduced to 2 infantry battalions, 2 cavalry squadrons and a mountain battery of six guns. With those forces starts the persecution of the carlists fighting them at Huesca (24/05) where it had 350 dead and wounded (23% of the total) and Barbastro (02/06) where the liberal legion, now only one battalion of infantry, fought its carlist counterparts in a vicious fight. In this last battle, Conrad was dead.

After this battle, the legion was almost destroyed and the last remnants, under orders of capt. Bazaine were sent to Pamplona as garrison troops where it remained until the end of the war.

In 08/12/1839 the last legionnaires, numbering only 500 were sent back to France.

Miniatures
18 miniatures from Perry painted using Vallejo acrylics and the Army Painter shades and varnish. The flag is from Adolfo Ramos.