Scenario - March 10-11, the Portuguese at Chaves

Historical Background

Convinced that La Romana would pose no further obstacle to his invasion plans, Soult marched his forces south across the frontier of Portugal. To face the French alone, Silveira sought a defensible position near the frontier and sent a detachment forward (line regiment and peasants) to menace the flank of the French advance to gain time. Since the cavalry of Franceschi together with the infantry of Heudelet were still pursuing La Romana to the east, the Portuguese detachment fell on Soult’s main body with Lahoussaye’s Dragoons and Delaborde’s division leading. The detachment were easily beaten and sent scrambling back toward the main body which Silveira had now positioned at San Pedro, a league south of Chaves. The location was ideally suited as the ground between the river and mountains narrows to offer a compact area from which to defend. [1]

Soult halted at Monterey to allow his rearguard and convoy of sick to close up with the main body and by March 10, he resumed his advance. Making use of the roads paralleling the Tamega River, Franceschi’s light horse and Heudelet’s division leave La Romana to march down the eastern side while Caulaincourt’s brigade of dragoons and Delaborde’s infantry marched down the western side of the Tamega. Hearing of Soult’s approach, Silveira gathered all his forces to the position at San Pedro. This order was not well received by the masses of militia and Ordenanza as they did not want to abandon the town of Chaves to the French. A mixed force of the Chaves regiment (12^th Line), militia and Ordenanza remained behind, under the command of Migelhaes Pizarro, to defend the dilapidated town. The 3,000 man force were further aided by 1,200 armed civilians resolved to defend their town.

A reconnaissance of the village and Silveira’s position at San Pedro, Soult surmised if Silveira could be driven off from his position at San Pedro, the defenders of Chaves would have no further choice than to surrender. The following morning, Delaborde and Lahoussaye attacked the San Pedro position forcing Silveira to give ground and retreat to Vila Real. Despite their patriotic resistance Pizarro was forced to surrender Chaves on the 12^th of March. [2]

Location

The town of Chaves did include many a number of medieval and 17^th century fortifications. However, since their construction, the state of the battlements is described as dilapidated. Encircling the town should not have posed a problem for Soult as the as the ground surrounding Chaves is relatively open, but hilly. The position held by Silveira is most likely astride the junction of the N103 and A24. This is a league distance from Chaves and offers Silveira two exit routes; it is high enough to overlook the town of Chaves.

Google Maps Terrain 

Forces

French forces have encircled the town of Chaves and players have an option to do the siege on a separate table, but our focus in on the conflict between Delaborde and Silveira.  

The Portuguese defenders of Chaves muster 500 troops (1st line), 2,000 militia and 1,200 armed citizens.

At San Pedro, Silveira has approximately 9,000 troops of which 2,800 are regular troops, 2,500 militia, 50 cavalry and the remainder Ordenanza.

Objectives

The French must rout Silveira from his position at San Pedro. A quick victory would hasten a surrender of Chaves, whereas stout resistance until nightfall would only strengthen the resolve of the defenders of Chaves to continue their resistance.  

The Portuguese must hold their position at San Pedro until nightfall. This would give the partisans an option to work their ‘miracles’ during the night.

Footnotes:

[1] C. Oman, History of the Peninsula War, volume II, p. 224

[2] ibid, p.226