A country is in financial chaos and its nominal head is  being pressured into ever closer European political  union by financiers. It’s funny how the more things change, the more they stay the same. This Thursday we weren’t in present day Greece but Spain. John G and I were the forces of traditional Spain, the Carlists. Nick led the Christino forces with Ken’s British auxiliary force in support. British forces in a Liberal intervention, is nothing new?

We therefore refused our light cavalry brigade, with the intention of skirmishing with our carbine armed cavalry. In the centre, a brigade dug in on the ridge. JonG lined the walls of the pueblo to anchor our left wing.

The Christinos were reluctant to move their cavalry forward but their centre and right were anxious to oust the Carlists from their position.

In a few turns, the British riflemen were trading shots with the defenders of the village. The artillery added to JonG’s discomfort but his orders left him little room to manoeuvre. However, the British Legion avoided a direct assault and swerved around the outlying buildings.

In the centre the Carlists artillery thinned the Christino ranks but advancing in column, the attackers were soon at the bottom of the central ridge.

We had shown too much faith in our “entrenchments”, only light cover in the rules. The Carlists were having difficulty holding on and the order system left our cavalry milling around in the rear.

A Carlist infantry battalion broke on the left of the line and started to fall back. Our left wing was testing morale after the defenders were showered with shot and shell. A spirited Carlist battalion tried to launch a local counter attack but again the orders were not specific enough. The target of the column, a depleted Christino battalion did a very neat 45 degree reverse fall back and the counter – attack faltered.

Our only consolation was that the massive British column had indeed skirted the village and looked ready to sweep all before it but alas for Liberal hopes, the gallant British refused to close with the defenders. Many thanks to Nick for bringing his terrific collection from a much overlooked period. The rules were a variant of General de Brigade and took a bit of getting used to with regard to the order system. A very thought provoking game all the same. Thanks to all.