28 August 1813 – Battle of Cuellar

Tactical map of battle area

Despite his defeat at Santa Maria Wellington orders Picton to attack Cuellar
This will allow 2nd British army to retreat, rally and reorganise

French army is commanded by Marshal Marmont
British army is commanded by General Picton

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
All corps are full strength

Table at start of battle

 The French are deployed on the table at the start of the game
The British are off table and will enter the top of the table at the start of move 1

There are three game objectives
The side which holds at least two at the end of 12 moves will win

34 French corps occupy the farm on the right
35 Vistual corps occupy the woods and road junction in the centre
36 Italian corps occupy the large woods on the left

End of move 2

French readjust to approach of the enemy
CinC, left of the road, takes command of half of 35 corps,
34 corps unlimber artillery and move cavalry forward
35 corps move cavalry forward
36 corps unlimber and move cavalry forward

British enter table
CinC, left of the main road, has command of half of 8 corps
7 corps advance on the right
8 corps advance in the centre
9 corps advance on the left

End of move 4

French lose two cavalry melee and rout
CinC occupies woods at T junction
34 corps cavalry lose melee and rout
35 corps cavalry lose melee and rout
36 corps infantry enter woods

British cavalry and infantry receive artillery casualties
CinC infantry lose 10% casualties but pass morale test
7 corps cavalry win melee, corps advance
8 corps cavalry win melee, force gunners into nearby square
9 corps infantry approach woods on the left

End of move 6

French win fight for woods on the left
CinC hold between road junction and village
34 corps gunners run to square, cavalry rally
35 corps artillery rout cavalry
36 corps win melee for woods on the left

British lose melee for woods on the left
CinC hold between village and road junction
7 corps cavalry lose morale and rout
8 corps cavalry lose 10% to skirmish fire, fail morale and rout
9 corps infantry lose two melee in woods and rout

End of move 8

French rally and counter attack
CinC one brigade in rout, second still hols woods in the centre
34 corps cavalry and artillery rally and return to battle
35 corps cavalry rally and return to battle
36 corps still hold two southern sections of woods on the left

British rout on both flanks
CinC advance to attack woods in the centre
7 corps cavalry rout
8 corps rally cavalry but too weak to attack in the centre
9 corps all brigades rout, except for one which is shaken

End of move 10

French hold all three game objectives
CinC in woods in the centre with one infantry brigade
34 corps one brigade in rout but still hold village on the right
35 corps four brigades in rout, but last brigade supporting CinC in the woods
36 corps four brigades in rout, but holds all of woods on the left

British attacking woods in the centre and village on the right
CinC supporting attack on the village on the right
7 corps attacking the village and cavalry melee far right
8 corps four brigades in rout, but still attacking woods in the centre
9 corps four brigades in rout, cavalry rallied and advance to threaten gunners

End of move 12

French hold all three game objectives
CinC one brigade in rout, holds woods in centre with other brigade
34 corps three brigades in rout, holds village on the right with remainder
35 corps four brigades in rout, holds woods in the centre with remainder
36 corps five brigades in rout holds woods on the left with remaining brigade

British lost all three objectives and therefore the battle
CinC one brigade in rout, attacking woods in centre with other brigade and artillery
7 corps three brigades in rout attacking village with remainder of corps
8 corps two brigades in rout, attacking woods in the centre with remainder
9 corps five brigades in rout, gunners in village on the left.

Summary
At the end of the game the French have three infantry, one cavalry and two artillery brigades left. One infantry brigade is in each of the three game objectives.

The British have four infantry and two artillery brigades left

The French have lost 18 infantry, 5 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (7800 men)
The British have lost 20 infantry and 7 cavalry casualties (8700 men)

28 August 1813 – North Spain – Day 3

 

British attack Cuellar
1 British army – regroup and resupply at Quintana
2 British army – occupy Santa Maria
3 British army – attack Cuellar

French lose battle of Santa Maria
10 French army – regroup and resupply at Picuerga
11 French army – retreat to Burgos
12 French army – hold Cuellar

27 August 1813 – Battle of Santa Maria

Tactical map of battle area

Despite the defeat at Pisuerga, 2nd Army is ordered to attack Santa Maria
This attack is part of the British campaign plan
But it is also hoped to relieve pressure on 1st Army as they retrea t

11th French army is commanded by Marshal Oudinot
2nd British army is commanded by General Hill

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The game objective are the three centre squares
Woods on the left
Hill in the centre
Bridge over the river Douro on the right
The side who controls two of the three at the end of move 12 will be the winner

The river Douro can only be crossed using one of the three bridges

French army is deployed on the table at the start of the game
31 corps, on the right can move at the start of move 1
32 corps, in the centre, can move at the start of move 1
33 corps, on the left, can move at the start of move 1

British army is off table at the top
They will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French arrive at all three game objectives
CinC has taken command of 32 and 33 corps cavalry
31 corps half of corps either side of the river Douro
32 corps infantry hold hill either side or road, artillery in the centre
33 corps infantry enter woods, artillery to the left of the woods

British enter table and advance towards game objectives
CinC commands half of 4th corps on the left bank of river
4 corps light division and cavalry brigade on the right bank of river
5 corps artillery move to left to counter French cavalry
6 corps artillery move to the right to counter French cavalry

End of move 4

French deploy on the three objectives
CinC attempt to move through woods, blocked by enemy artillery
31 corps deploy either side of middle bridge
32 corps artillery withdraw into pass to avoid enemy cavalry
33 corps enter southern half of woods

British deploy out of artillery range
CinC advance on left bank of river
4 corps advance on right bank of river
5 corps advance towards hill
6 corps enter northern half of woods

End of move 6

French cavalry charge gunners
CinC cavalry charge gunners who evade to square
31 corps infantry pass test with 10% casualties
32 corps skirmish melee on right hand hill undecided
33 corps melee to left of woods undecided

British advance to attack
CinC advance on left bank
4 corps advance on right bank
5 corps skirmish melee on right hand hill undecided
6 corps cavalry and infantry melee both undecided

End of move 8

French start to withdraw
CinC rallying cavalry after losing melee
31 corps withdraw from middle bridge
32 corps lose right half of hill, but still hold left half
33 corps withdraw from northern half of woods

British capture bridge on the river Douro
CinC capture left bank
4 corps capture right bank
5 corps capture right half of hill
6 corps capture northern half of woods

End of move 10

French rally and prepare to counter attack
CinC rally both cavalry brigades, but one has 20% casualties
31 corps rally and prepare to counter attack
32 corps hold left hill, rally south of right hill
33 corps will melee for south east section of woods

British capture bridge and right half of hill
CinC regroup at west end of bridge
4 corps regroup at east end of bridge
5 corps hold right half of hill, prepare to attack left hald
6 corps hold northern half of woods, rout from south east section

End of move 12

French hold woods at the end of the battle
CinC cavalry in reserve due to casualties
31 corps rally at bridge leading to town
32 corps rout from hill in the centre
33 corps retake woods

British hold hill and bridge at the end of the battle
CinC holds left side of bridge
4 corps hold right side of bridge
5 corps capture both half of hill
6 corps rout from woods

Summary

British attack hill and rout defenders
French attack woods and rout defenders
The British hold two of the three objectives and win the battle

The French have lost 14 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (5700 men)
The British have lost 6 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2500 men)

The French have 7 brigades in rout, the British have 3.

27 August 1813 – North Spain – Day 2

 

British attack Santa Maria
1 British army – retreat to Quintana
2 British army – attack Santa Maria
3 British army – observe border

French win battle of Pisuerga
10 French army – concentrate on border
11 French army – defend Santa Maria 12 French army – advance to border

26 August 1813 – Battle of Pisuerga

Tactical map of battle area

The campaign opens with the British attack north of the river Douro.

French army is commanded by Marshal Soult
British army is commanded by Duke of Wellington

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

 

Table at start of battle

There are three game objectives, all in the centre of the table
The army who occupies at least two at the end of move 12 will win the game

Hill on the left
Road junction in the centre
Village on the right

The French army is deployed on the table at the start of the game
28 corps (right) cannot move until move 2
29 corps (centre) can move at the start of move 1
30 corps (left) cannot move until move 2

The British army will arrive at the top of the table at the start of move 1

End of move 4

French reach hill on the left and village on the right
CinC takes command of cavalry and two brigades from 29 corps
28 corps halt out of artillery range, one brigade enters village
29 corps cavalry withdraw out of artillery range
30 corps infantry and artillery start to climb hill

British advance towards game objectives in the centre
CinC unlimbers grand battery centre left
1 corps halt out of artillery range, infantry approach village
2 corps deploy out of artillery range
3 corps infantry start to climb hill

End of move 6

French advance onto the three game objectives
CinC cavalry charge gunners then rout back to their start line
28 corps infantry enter village, 10% casualties, pass morale test
29 corps hold their position in the centre
30 corps infantry and artillery climb hill

British attack village
CinC artillery fire on cavalry, no casualties
1 corps skirmish village
2 corps hold out of artillery range
3 corps withdraw out of artillery range on hill

End of move 8

French occupy hill on the left
CinC cavalry and infantry receive casualties, both pass morale test
28 corps replace garrison in village on the right
29 corps withdraw level with CinC
30 corps drive British infantry off hill on the left

British attack village and centre
CinC artillery support 2 corps attack in the centre
1 corps enter village on the right
2 corps advance in centre
3 corps abandon hill on the left

End of move 10

French win road junction, lose village
CinC tries to rally two infantry and cavalry brigade
28 corps lose melee and rout from village
29 corps counter attack and take road junction
30 corps hold hill

British take village, lose road junction
CinC move grand battery to support 2 corps
1 corps win melee and take village
2 corps lose melee and rout from road junction
3 corps observe hill

End of move 12

French hold hill on the left and road junction in the centre
CinC attempts to rally two infantry and one cavalry brigades
28 corps abandon village and retreat
29 corps win melee and hold road junction
30 corps hold hill

British hold village on the right, lose melee for road junction
CinC counter attack on road junction fails
1 corps occupies village on the right
2 corps lose melee for road junction and rout
3 corps observes hill on the left

Summary
Although outnumbered 29th French corps hold road junction
They also hold the hill on the left, but have abandoned the village
Having held two of the three game objectives the French win the game

The French have lost 10 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (4300 men)
The British have lost 4 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1700 men)
The French have five brigades in rout; the British also have five in rout

26 August 1813 – North Spain – Day 1

British attack Pisuerga
1 British army – attack Pisuerga
2 British army – observe border
3 British army – observe border

French win battle of Pisuerga
10 French army – defend Pisuerga
11 French army – hold Santa Maria 12 French army – hold Cuellar
12 French army – hold Cuellar

26 August 1813 – North Spain – Burgos Campaign

 

Map of Europe

There are five campaign areas in Europe
North Germany – French v Prussians
Central Germany – French v Russians
Southern Germany – French v Austrians
North Spain – French v British
South Spain – French v Spanish

This is the 22th campaign phase

Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Burgos is the white star

Map of Spain

There are two campaign areas in Spain
North Spain – Fourth French and British Armies
South Spain – Fifth French and Spanish Armies

This is the ninth campaign to be fought in Spain

Burgos is the white star

Map of North Spain

There are three regions in North Spain
Oporto Region – British rear area
Madrid Region – campaign area
Barcelona Region – French rear area

This is the fifth campaign phase to be fought in North Spain

Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Burgos is the white star

Map of Madrid Region

There are nine districts in Madrid Region

There have been 22 battles fought in this region
The French have won 23 and the British 9
Each star shows the location of a battle fought

Campaign Map

The Burgos campaign is fought between the cities of Valladolid and Burgos
The French Army of North Spain is deployed to the right of the district border
The British Army is deployed to the left of the district border
Each block represents one corps
The British objective is to take the city of Bugos

Typical British corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

British Army – Duke of Wellington
1st British corps
2nd British corps
3rd British corps
4th British corps
5th British corps
6th British corps
7th British corps
8th British corps
9th British corps

British - 168000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Typical French corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Fourth French Army of North Spain – Marshal Soult
28th Young Guard corps
29th French corps
30th Polish corps
31st French corps
32nd Westphalian corps
33rd Italian corps
34th French corps
35th French corps
36th Vistula corps

168000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Campaign Diary

01 February 1813 - Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France
20 February 1813 - Anglo/Portuguese army operational in Oporto Region
27 February 1813 - Fourth French army operational in Burgos Region
22 March 1813 - Start of Valladolid campaign phase
29 March 1813 - British win Valladolid campaign phase
10 May 1813 - Start of Llanes campaign phase
19 May 1813 - British win Llanes campaign phase
25 June 1813 - Start of Talavera campaign phase
02 July 1813 – French win Talavera campaign phase
25 August 1813 – Start of Burgos campaign phase

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign. The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign
02 - Five campaign areas
40 - Introduction to the campaign in northern Spain
41 - Fourth French Army order of battle
42 - British Army order of battle
43 - Daily diary for the campaign in northern Spain
44 - Battle reports of all battles fought in northern Spain
45 - Summary of campaign in northern Spain