Bailen scenario July 19, 1808. Courtesy of Vincent Tsao.

An account of the campaign and two maps can be found at  http://www.btinternet.com/~a.jackson/bailen.htm . There are differences between the OB used there and in this scenario. This scenario is heavily based on George Nafziger’s OB.




Treat the Spanish as disordered if they fight in column against infantry or artillery, due to linear doctrine. Redding is in command and can change De Coupigny’s orders when the 1st division card is drawn. There is no brigade structure and orders must be given by regiment. Up to four units may be given a single order is they are within 2 inches of each other and are all facing the same direction. But they cannot be given more than one order per turn, so they may not change formation and then move.

The town blocks of Bailen have a defensive value of 3 because of defensive preparations.

Spanish regular infantry are treated as C class because they often fought well, despite how many rules rate them. Likewise the Walloon Guards are rated as B class. The provincial and militia units are rated as E class because they have just been formed and have little to no training. Later in the war they might rate as D class. Spanish artillery are rated C class as they did a decent job. The cavalry are rated as E class because they never really were very good. The Spanish will have enough trouble because of the small number of staff officers. Those few they have are not stellar.

Special rules: Sapper units may be assigned to infantry units and then will move as part of that unit. An infantry unit with assigned sappers will add the sapper unit’s skirmish factor to its own when fighting in. Any second hit scored on this unit during a turn will come from the sapper. A sapper unit that takes 50% casualties is removed from the table. Sappers do not count as units for victory conditions.
(this is now an "official" rule in the 2nd edition of LFS)

The Reding & Preux Swiss regiment will immediately surrender – and be removed from the table – if the Marines of the Guard are routed, permanently shaken, or wiped out.
For victory conditions, French units can escape if they can move directly off the east side of the table without any formed un-routed enemy troops barring the way.  Wagons must be able to escape off the road that passes through Bailen.

French marginal victory: 13 units or more can escape.
French substantial victory: 19 units can escape.
French major victory: gain a substantial victory and have all wagons able to escape.

Spanish victory: less than 13 units can escape.
Spanish major victory: less than 7 units can escape.
Spanish crushing victory: No French can escape. Do this and you can presume Dupont orders Vedel to surrender too, for the historical result.

The game lasts 12 or 13 turns. At the end of turn 12 roll a die, on 4, 5 or 6 Castanos appears and the game ends. If not, then play turn13 and the game ends. In either case any French who can’t escape are assumed to be captured.

Cards needed:

Poor/cautious commander.
French Corps commander (Dupont)                      Spanish 1 division (Reding)
French 1 division (Barbou)                                    Spanish 2 division (de Coupigny)
French 3 division (Frere)                                       French cavalry division
French cavalry brigade (optional)                         French train

What ifs:

If you have enough figures, time and a big table you can try the following changes. You will need to add cards to the deck for each division, and one for Castanos himself.

Castanos appears on turn 13, along the same road Dupont has used. Or you can dice for Castanos starting on turn 9. A 1 on D6 will have him arrive then, a 1 or 2 on turn 10, etc.
Vedel appears on turn 20 or dice as above starting on turn 16.

For a smaller, faster variation assume Vedel was not sent off in the first place. Have his division off-table in the road column behind Frere, before the wagons. Roll for appearance like the others. In this case, roll for Castanos to appear on game turn 9, so the Spanish have a chance.

Play balance: If you find the French winning too easily, make Barbou cautious.