9 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Cordoba Campaign

1813 Campaign

This is a fictional campaign loosely based on the 1813 campaign
It started in April 2009 and consists of stand alone campaign phases
Each phase is similar in size to the Waterloo campaign
This is the 98th phase, each of which is shown on the above map
There have been six major adjustments to the campaign
The following maps are used for the current adjustment, which started in June 2020

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 campaign phase 25
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Cordoba 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 tenth campaign phase to be fought in Spain
Cordoba is the white star

Map of South Spain

There are three regions in south Spain
Lisbon Region – Spanish rear area
Seville Region – campaign area
Valencia Region – French rear area
This is the fifth campaign phase to be fought in south Spain
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Cordoba is the white star

Map of Seville Region

There are nine towns in Jean district
Each one is the size of the wargames table.
The campaign area is shown in white on this map
It covers the nine towns in Jean district
But also 3 towns in Hellin district
Hellin is the HQ and supply centre for Fourth French Army Group
Jean is the HQ and supply centre for the Spanish Army

Campaign Map

The Cordoba campaign is fought between the cities of Jean and Cordoba
The French Army of South Spain is deployed to the right of the district border
The Spanish Army is deployed to the left of the district border
The French objective is to take and hold the city of Cordoba
Each block represents one corps
The French objective is to take and hold the city of Cordoba

Typical French corps

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

Fourth French Army of Southern Spain – Marshal Suchet
37th French corps
38th French corps
39th Vistula corps
40th French corps
41st Baden corps
42nd Polish corps
43rd French corps
44th Westphalian corps
45th Italian corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Typical Spanish corps

6 corps have 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery
6 corps have 4 infantry brigades, and corps artillery

Spanish Army – General Giron
1st Spanish corps
2nd Spanish corps
3rd Spanish corps
4th Spanish corps
5th Spanish corps
6th Spanish corps
7th Spanish corps
8th Spanish corps
9th Spanish corps
10th Spanish corps
11th Spanish corps
12th Spanish corps

192,000 infantry, 6000 cavalry, 360 guns

Campaign Diary
01 Feb 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France
04 Feb 1813 Spanish army operational n Saville region
28 Feb 1813 Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region
09 Mar 1813 Start of Toledo campaign phase
13 Mar 1813 Spanish win Toledo campaign phase
20 Apr 1813 Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase
30 Apr 1813 French win Cuidad Real campaign phase
08 Jun 1813 Start of Merida campaign phase
15 Jun 1813 French win Merida campaign phase
02 Aug 1813 Start of Jean campaign phase
11 Aug 1813 French win Jean campaign phase
09 Sep 1813 Start of Cordoba 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
50 - Introduction to the campaign in southern Spain
51 - Fifth French Army order of battle
52 - Spanish Army order of battle
53 - Daily diary for the campaign in southern Spain
54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in southern Spain
55 - Summary of campaign in southern Spain

Summary of Central Germany Campaign – 8 September 1813

 

Regional map of Central Germany

There are three regions in Central Germany
Dusseldorf Region is the rear area for Second French army
Their main depot is in Dusseldorf
Dresden Region is the rear area for the Russian Army
Their main depot is in Dresden
Erfurt Region is the disputed area between them

Diary of Central German Campaign

The French Grand Army was destroyed during the 1812 Russian campaign
Napoleon had to create a new army to fight the 1813 campaign

01 February 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France
01 February 1813 Formation of Second French army in Dusseldorf region
26 February 1813 Second French army declared operational.
27 February 1813 Russians moved into the Erfurt region
28 February 1813 Davout entered Erfurt region and occupied Fulda district
14 March 1813 Start of Erfurt campaign phase
21 March 1813 French win Erfurt campaign phase
01 May 1813 Start of Gera campaign phase
09 May 1813 French win Gera campaign phase
16 June 1813 Start of Bayreuth campaign phase
24 June 1813 Russians win Bayreuth campaign phase
26 July 1813 Start of Halle campaign phase
01 August 1813 Russians win Halle campaign phase
02 September 1813 Start of Nordhausen campaign phase
08 September 1813 Russians win Nordhausen 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
20 - Introduction to the campaign in Central Germany
21 – 2nd French Army order of battle
22 - Russian Army order of battle
23 - Daily diary for the campaign in Central Germany
24 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Central Germany
25 - Summary of campaign in Central Germany

8 September 1813 – Central Germany – End of Nordhausen Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

The Russians won all six battles and won the campaign

The campaign started on 30 September and ended on  20 December 2025

 

Erfurt Region

Davout ordered his army to withdraw to Kassel

Wittgenstein held Nordhausen and controlled all of the district

8 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 7

French retreat west
4 French army – abandon Weringerode and retreat west
5 French army – regroup
6 French army – abandon Ebelben and retreat west

Russian win campaign
1 Russian army – occupy Weringerode
2 Russian army – occupy Nordhausen
3 Russian army – Occupy Ebelben

7 September 1813 – Battle of Ebelben

 

Tactical map of battle area

Sixth French army is commanded by Marshal Poniatowski
Third Russian army is commanded by General Winzingerode

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

French – 8 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3,500 men)
Russian – 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2,500 men)

Table at start of battle

The French are deployed at the top of the table in and behind Ebelben
The Russian army will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

The three game objectives are in the middle of the table
The hill on the left, the hill in the centre and the walled farm on the right
The player who holds at least two of the three at the end of 12 moves will win the game

End of move 2

French reach all three objectivs
CinC commands two infantry brigades in the centre right
16 corps, on the right, occupy the farm and deploy to the right and left
17 corps, in the centre, are delayed by having to march through the town
18 corps, on the left, reach the hill

Russian army advance towards the three objectives
CinC has taken command of cavalry from 8 and 9 corps
7 corps, on the right, are delayed by having to pass through the woods
8 corps, in the centre, advance to the right of the main road
9 corps, on the left, advance to the left of the farm

End of move 4

French occupy farm on the right
CinC commands half of 17 corps in the centre
16 corps infantry occupy farm on the right
17 corps infantry climb hill in the centre
18 corps infantry climb hill on the left

Russian reach both hills
CinC commands cavalry reserve in the centre
7 corps clear woods on the right and start to deploy
8 corps climb hill in the centre
9 corps approach hill on the left

End of move 6

French artillery hit Russian gunners
CinC infantry brigade retreat with 20% casualties
16 corps counter battery fire, no casualties
17 corps artillery hit Russian gunners
18 corps cavalry retreat with 10% casualties

Russian approach all three objectives
CinC reserve artillery hit and shaken with 10% casualties
7 corps infantry approach supports for farm
8 corps infantry deploy to attack hill on right
9 corps infantry approach hill on the left

End of move 8

French hold all three objectives
CinC hold centre between hills
16 corps hold farm, two brigades rout
17 corps continue melee on hill
18 corps hold hill on the left

Russian attack all three objectives
CinC hold area between two hills
7 corps will infantry melee to right of farm
8 corps continue melee on hill
9 corps prepare to attack hill on the left

End of move 10

French lose melee on both hills
CinC hold centre between two hills
16 corps win melee and hold farm
17 corps lose melee and retreat from hill on the right
18 corps lose melee and retreat from hill on the left

Russian attack all three objectives
CinC hold centre between two hills
7 corps attack on farm fails
8 corps capture hill on the right
9 corps win melee on hill on the left

End of move 12

French retreat to Ebelben
CinC hold approach to Ebelben
16 corps retreat and abandon fortified farm on the right
17 corps retreat and abandon hill in the centre
18 corps retreat and abandon hill on the left

Russian occupy all three game objectives
CinC hold centre between two hills
7 corps occupy fortified farm on the right
8 corps occupy hill in the centre
9 corps occupy hill on the left

Summary
The Russians occupy all three objectives and win the battle

French have lost 22 infantry,3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (5000 men)
Russians have lost 12 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (9200 men)

French have 8 brigades in rout, Russians have 4 brigades in rout

7 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 6

 

French abandon Nordhausen
4 French army – day 2 siege of Weringerode
5 French army – abandon Nordhausen and retreat west
6 French army – defend Ebelben

Russian attack Ebelben
1 Russian army – day 2 siege of Weringerode
2 Russian army – occupy Nordhausen
3 Russian army – attack Ebelben

6 September 1813 – Battle of Nordhausen

Tactical map of battle area

French army is commanded by Marshal Moncey
Russian army is commanded by General Constantine

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

French have 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3,100 men)
Russians have 5 infantry casualties (2,000 men)

Table at start of battle

French are deployed in and around the city of Nordhausen
Russians will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

There are three game objectives:
Hill centre left
Hill centre
Fortified farm right
The army which controls at least two objectives at the end of 12 moves will win

Both armies start the game with casualties from previous battles

End of move 2

French advance towards the three game objectives
CinC has taken command of 2 brigades from 14 corps
13 corps advance on the right, one brigade enters fortified farm
14 corps advance in the centre, one brigade starts to climb hill
15 corps advance on the left, one brigade starts to climb hill

Russians enter table and advance towards the three game objectives
CinC has taken command of half of 5 corps
4 corps advance through woods on the right
5 corps advance towards hill in the centre
6 corps advance towards hill on the left

End of move 4

French occupy all three objectives
CinC commands infantry on hill in the centre
13 corps occupy farm on the right
14 corps deploy between two hills in the centre
15 corps occupy hill on the left

Russian deploy out of artillery range
CiC commands half of 5 corps in the centre
4 corps deploys north of the woods on the right
5 corps infantry advance onto hill on the right
6 corps linfantry advance towards hill on the left

End of move 6

French lose cavalry melee on the right
CinC major infantry melee on centre hill
13 corps lose cavalry melee and retreat shaken
14 corps hold area between two hills
15 corps reinforce hill on the left

Russian continue melee on right hand hill
CinC push forward between two hills
4 corps win cavalry melee on the right
5 corps lose one infantry melee on right hand hill
6 corps move onto hill prepare to attack

End of move 8

French witdraw towards Nordhausen
CinC one brigade in rout, artillery hold firm
13 corps cavalry rout, remainder hold farm
14 corps two brigades rout from hill
15 corps artillery rout, remainder hold hill

Russian capture hill in the centre
CinC hold area between two hills
4 corps advance to attack farm
5 corps capture hill in the centre
6 corps prepare to attack hill on the left

End of move 10

French abandon both hills
CinC artillery fire on Russian attack on farm
13 corps hold farm, but infantry on their right lose melee
14 corps abandon hill and reform in front of Nordhausen
15 corps all in rout

Russian capture both hill and attack farm
CinC hold area between the two hills
4 corps cavalry rout from artillery fire
5 corps infantry secure hill on the right
6 corps infantry secure hill on the left

End of move 12

French hold farm on the right
CinC rallies reserve to the right of Nordhausen
13 corps hold farm on the right
14 corps rally in front of Nordhausen
15 corps rout into woods on the left

Russian hold both hills
CinC hold area between hills
4 corps fail to take farm, four brigades in rot
5 corps hold hill on the right
6 corps hold hill on the left

Summary
The Russians hold two of the three objectives and win the battl

French have lost 12 infantry, 3 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (8100 men)
Russians have lost 15 infantry casualties (6000 men)

French have 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 artillery brigades in rout
Russians have 4 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades in rout