Friday 16 February 2018

The raid on Le Croisac. Revolutionary War Campaign.

As I mentioned in the previous post the Allies are planning an attack on the coastal town and garrison of Le Croisac in order to neutralise the threat of Republican troops operating in their rear while advancing on St Nazaire and Nantes. ‘Reliable’ pro Royalist sources have given some indication of the number of troops in the garrison and a large(ish) brigade of English and Emigre troops is poised to carry out the attack, supported by the Royal Navy. The commander of the English decides that an attack should be made immediately rather than waiting until later in the day or the following morning (decided by a dice roll). So at midday on Day 4 (turn 7) after  marching from Batz the troops formed up to assault the town and fort (well, a pretty substantial coastal battery).
The landward side of the fort.
The 'Artillerie de la Cote' in their distinctive uniforms. They were disbanded in 1792 but I am sure that  individual companies would have remained in existence for some time, if only to avoid conscription.
The telegraph station, in communication with their sister station across the bay to the North.
A naval gunboat creeps towards the fortress under cover of darkness.
HM Armed Cutter Bludgeon
Lt. Blowhorn RN, commander of the Bludgeon.
The oared gunboat under orders to land a party of seamen and marines under the guns of the fort.
Here things started to unravel for the English. With only four light cannon there was no way these were going to have much impact on the assault other than to cover the attackers flank should the Republican cavalry that were  suspected to be in the town decide to interfere. Scouts reported that the defenders appeared stronger than first anticipated (another unlucky dice roll) as the original garrison which was due to be relieved had not yet left and their relief was already in place, thereby doubling the size of the garrison, which was made up as follows:
Aux armes!!

General Adhemar Patacaisse:
84eme Demi-Brigade - 3 battalions including battalion guns

19eme Demi-Brigade - 3 battalions (Colonel Tetedeballe)

9eme Chasseurs a Cheval (Colonel Graise de Rognon) - 4 squadrons

Artillerie de la Cote - (Commandante Bastian de Pierre)  - six 24pdr fortress cannon


At anchor in the harbour was the Republican Frigate 'Paravent', a singularly unexpected presence (I threw double 6 on the 'random or unexpected event' table) that would undoubtedly throw the English plans in the bin as far as the involvement of the Royal navy was concerned.

English forces march towards the town.
All three battalions of the 4th Foot.

The English commander with is faithful hounds surveys the town while the Royal Artillery deploy their popguns.
The garrison of Le Croisac.
Lowensteins Chasseurs cover the advance of two battalions of English.
The fort.
French sailors manning the seaward-facing cannon.

The harbour at Le Croisac.

So all is set for the attack. How it unfolds remains to be seen as it is being played out this evening.



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3 comments:

  1. I await the report with interest. Some lovely stuff there Colin.

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  2. Hmmm, I having a nagging feeling that things won't go well for the British and their Allies:(

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  3. Lovely setup Colin.....will watch out for the battle report 🙂

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