A. INTRODUCTION
By the end of 1810, the French had driven the Spanish out of central Spain and were besieging the remaining garrisons at Cadiz, Valencia, and the far northern ports. Wellington's army had retreated to an impregnable defense line near Lisbon where it was virtually besieged by Marshal Massena. Although they had nearly achieved victory, the French marshals had also reached the end of their tether: the partisan guerrillas, the long supply lines, the harsh climate and the indefatigable English opposition soon began to erode the French position.
No longer able to feed his army, Massena fell back from Lisbon into Spain. After reorganizing their forces, Soult and Massena initiated a new offensive in May 1811 but the French were defeated first at Fuentes de Onoro (May 5) by Wellington, and two weeks later they lost a second battle at Albuera (May 16) to the Anglo-Spanish army commanded by Beresford.
Armed with a functional siege train, in 1812, Wellington took the offensive and captured the key forts of Ciudad Rodrigo (January 19), and Badajoz (April 19). In July, Wellington defeated Marmont at Salamanca then liberated Madrid in August.
Pushing the French steadily toward the Pyrenees, Wellington's offensive continued in 1813, finally culminating in another major victory at the Battle of Vittoria (June 21). By early 1814, the French had been driven out of the peninsula and Wellington's army had entered France. The last battle of the Peninsular War was fought near Toulouse in April 1814, a few days after Napoleon's forced abdication.
B. GAME EQUIPMENT
The components required to play this scenario are the same as those used in Scenario VIII (The Peninsular War).
C. VICTORY CONDITIONS
The victory conditions are identical to those in Scenario VIII. This scenario begins in June 1811 and ends in April 1814.
D. SPECIAL RULES
All special rules from Scenario VIII are in effect.
E. INITIAL DEPLOYMENT
1. French Player (deploys first)
a. French forces: At Ciudad Rodrigo: Marmont, Ney, 8I, 1C * At Burgos: Bessieres, 5I, lC * At Badajoz: Soult, 4I, lC * At Madrid: Joseph, Leader (0), 4I * At Seville: Victor, 2I * At San Sebastian: Leader (0), 4I * At Barcelona; Baylen, Cordoba, Granada, and Toledo: 2I each * At Pamplona, Saragossa, and Talavera: 1I each * With any French force(s) in Spain: two Leader (0), 2I, 1C * In French Force Pool: 12I, 1GI.
b. French satellite forces: At Barcelona: Leader (0), 1I (I) * At Saragossa: 1I (I) * At Pamplona: 1I (N) * At Seville: 1I (Po) * At Granada: 1I (R) * At Talavera: 1I (R) * At Madrid: 1I (Sp) * With any French satellite force: lC (I) * In French Force Pool: 1I (Po), 1I (Sz), 1I (I), 1C (I).
2. Non-French Player
Note: Unit types “P” and “M” from Scenario VIII are in effect.
a. Spanish forces: In Portugal, within one hex of Badajoz: Blake, Costanos, 2I * At Corunna: 2I, 1M * At Valencia: 2I, 1M * At Cadiz: 1I, 1M * At Cartagena: 1I, 1M * With any Spanish infantry unit: Pallafox, Cuesta * In any vacant hex in Spain: 6P (one per hex) * In Spanish Force Pool: 14I, 3C, 6M.
b. English forces: In Portugal, within two hexes of Ciudad Rodrigo: Wellington, 4I, 1I (K) * In Portugal, within one hex of Badajoz: Beresford, 2I * At Lisbon: Hill, 1I * At Cadiz: Leader (0), 1I * At Gibraltar: 1I * In English Force Pool: 2I * English satellite forces: In Portugal, within two hexes of Ciudad Rodrigo: 2I, 1C (Pt) * In Portugal, within one hex of Badajoz: 2I (Pt) * Any vacant hex(es) in Portugal: 6M, 3P (no more than 1 partisan strength point per hex) * In English Force Pool: 4I (Pt).
F. REINFORCEMENTS AND REPLACEMENTS
1. All Reinforcement and Replacement rules from Scenario VIII are in effect. The Reinforcement schedules from Scenario VIII are used beginning with June 1811.
2. At the start of the scenario, the non-French player should record seven Spanish Replacement Points and six Portuguese Replacement Points on the Production Track printed on the Campaign Game Card.