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% NavarraAll Honour Is Lost
Portilla
o.