4 March 1914 – Battle of Valladolid

Tactical map of battle area

Four French corps attack three British corps

British – 36000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

French – 56000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

Table at start of wargame

British HQ     start on table

1 corps         arrive move 1

2 corps         start on table

4 corps         start on table

French HQ    start on table

3 corps         arrive move 2

4 corps         arrive move 1

6 corps         start on table

14 corps        start on table

4^th French corps has four infantry brigades, but no cavalry nor artillery

0800 – 1100

All corps are within sight of each other

Blinds are replaced with figures

Soult has decided to attack 1^st corps, the British left flank

He has placed 4^th corps, his reserve, in support of 3^rd corps

First blood goes to 2^nd British artillery, who hit the leading French column

1100 – 1400

The French infantry advance, supported by cavalry

Artillery continue to fire, but the French guns will soon be masked by the infantry

French infantry have lost 2400 casualties, British infantry 1200 casualties

1400 - 1600

British cavalry advance to cover infantry attack

Two brigades routed and third is shaken

French centre and right lose firefight and are driven back

French left draw firefight, and still have 4^th corps intact

But forced to abandon attack without support from centre and 

British Right Flank

British cavalry have withdrawn shaken

But the infantry has won the fire fight and routed French infantry

The French light cavalry have been routed

Two French infantry brigades are also in rout

Third French infantry brigade is shaken

The British have won on this flank

British Centre

Two British rifle brigades win the firefight and hold the hill

The two French brigades on the left have just been driven back and are shaken

The rear French brigade on the right is also shaken from earlier casualties

The French cavalry (top right) have been routed

The British have won in the centre

British Left Flank

British have lost cavalry and artillery forced to withdraw

But they have won skirmish fight and still have four brigades of infantry

French cavalry have withdraw shaken

3^rd corps infantry draw in skirmish battle

4^th corps infantry ready to attack

The French have won on this flank

But without support from the centre and right have to withdraw

Conclusion

By nightfall the French centre and left have been defeated and forced to retreat

Their right wing has been held in check, and are ordered to withdraw

Although outnumbered the British have held all along their line

The French have lost 6400 infantry and 400 cavalry

They have four brigades in rout and five brigades shaken

The British have lost 3600 infantry and 300 cavalry

They have one brigade in rout and one brigade shaken

Outcome

Both armies have suffered heavy casualties

But it is a clear British victory

The British will hold their ground

The French will withdraw to establish the “no mans land” square

Battle Summary

Heavily outnumbered Wellington opted for a defensive battle

His best corps held the hill in the centre, with one corps either side

Marshal Soult deployed his three standard corps opposite each British corps

He placed his reserve corps, who had neither cavalry nor artillery, in the centre

The battle opened with artillery fire, the French lost 2400 casualties, the British 1200

Soult ordered his left and centre corps to advance and pin the British

The reserve corps would join his right hand corps and form the main attack

As the French infantry neared the British position their artillery had to stop firing

The British cavalry moved forward to threaten the French infantry

The French cavalry charged, but lost the subsequent melee

The French centre and left wing lost the firefight and withdrew in disorder

The French right held their own, but had to retreat to avoid being outflanked

The French lost 7000 during the battle, the British lost 3900