All Honour Is Lost ZAMBRANAJARMINON 21-VII-1837 No sooner had Don Carlos passed the Ebro, than the whole of the Isabelino forces were directed against him. A powerful diversion was therefore devised; and, the northern provinces being by this time relieved from the pressure occasioned by the presence of a large enemy force, it was determined to make them active in a fresh plan of operations, which, while it facilitated the movements of the expedition, was. calculated to alarm Madrid, and lead to the acquisition of supplies. A second column, composed of Navarrase, Guiptizcoans, Castilians, and Aragonese, was, therefore, ordered to advance from Alava into Old Castile, under General Zaratiegui, accompanied by Brigadiers Elio, Iturbe, and Batanero, On the 20 July, Zaratiegui was prepared to cross the Ebro, near Miranda, aided by a demonstration on the side of Santander, made by Guergue, at the head of a flying column. Baron das Antas instantly left Vittoria, to pursue the expedition, taking the Haro road; while, with the same view, Escalera sallied forth from Pamplona, and moved rapidly upon the Ebro. In the morning of the 21 a smart action took place with the elements of the Portuguese Division stationed in Puebla de Arganzén and the Almansa battalion, which were compelled to abandon the little town of Zambrana. In the afternoon, while occupying this position, and the village of Santa Cruz, the Carlists were attacked by the whole Portuguese Divison, supported by the garrisons of Vittoria, Puebla, Armifion, and Miranda, amounting to nine infantry battalions and three hundred horse; Zaratiegui vigorously received the shock of the enemy, that, after failing at all points, were driven back with considerable loss, and pursued. Zaratiegui took the Portuguese infantry in flank and repulsed it despite repeated charges made by the cavalry, who nevertheless managed to release two battalions about to lay down their arms. In re-crossing the Zadorra numbers of them perished. The muskets and swords collected upon the field sufficed to equip the unarmed supernumeraries accompanying the expedition. WARGAMING THE BATTLE This was a rather confusing engagement. There were three separate actions: In the morning a National Militia Cazadores company of Mondonedo found the Carlists near the Portilla hermitage and the troops in Puebla and Armifon tried to rescue them, Then Martin Zurbano’s Rioja Volunteers had a go at it and got a bloody nose. The last action involved the entire PAD and the Almansa battalion. In the end the Militia company was rescued and the Isabelinos retreated to Armifion protected by the Portuguese cavalry. This gives three nice scenarios to play.All Honour Is Lost ‘The game starts with the Mondofiedo Cazadores fortified in the Portilla hermitage and a Carlist battalion attacking it. The Isabelino garrisons enter the table on the Armifion road and Zurbano’s vanguard from the NE on the road to Portilla. The other Carlist units are about to cross the Ebro River and enter the table south of Ocio. They are concealed. Once the first garrison units engage the Carlist roll a D6 to determine the turn of the Portuguese Auxiliary Division’s arrival. The PAD enters the table in column on the Arminon road. The Ocio creek is fordable but the tree line and small wood in front of Santa Cruz del Fierro conceals the Carlists movements. ‘The Ebro River is impassable at any point. ISABELINOS 24 Column : Col. Manuel Mendes CO: General das Antas (Aggressive) - Sappers Company - 3: Infantry Ret. - 6M Infantry Ret. > 3x Cagadores > 1*Horse Art. Brigade = 4m Cagadores = 2x sads. 24 Lancers CARLISTS ‘Spanish: CO: General Antonio de Zaratiegui = 1x Bat 18! Inf, Ret., Almansa, 2n4 CO: Brigadier D. Joaquin Elio = 2x Urban Companies Vanguard : Col. don Martin Zurbano La Rioja Volunteers - Volunteers Bat., (4 Coys) = Aragonese free coy. (light) = La Rioja Alavesa Sqd. (small) Portuguese Auxiliary Division: (Marching from Vitoria) 4% Column : Gen. Baron das Antas = 1st Infantry Ret. = 100 Infantry Ret. = 1xsqd. 6% Cavalry Ret. ~ SihHorse Art. Brigade (half battery) - 60 Aragonese supranumeraries 4s Brigade: Iturbe ~ 4 Guiptizeoa - 7% Guipizcoa 204 Brigade: Oteiza - 1 Navarra - 7 Navarra 3% Brigade: Novoa - 5h Castilla - 1: Valencia Cavalry: Col. Francisco Ortigosa - 50 supranumerary officers ~ 2s! Navarra > 4% NavarraAll Honour Is Lost Portilla o.