11 March 1813 – Battle of Sarracin

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

Both corps have orders to attack

The Spanish garrison will not fight on their own

British – 1200 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Spanish – 4000 infantry

French – 1600 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

14^th French corps will arrived at the start of move 1

0800-1200

The British deploy their artillery and cavalry south of the tow

The infantry deploy west of the town

11 Spanish militia have withdrawn behind the British

The French deploy their artillery and cavalry to counter the British

Three infantry brigades move towards the northern town section

One brigade remains in square to protect the gunners

The French are doing so to keep out of range of the British gunners

1200-1500  

British artillery hit lancers, who make morale with 10% casualties

French artillery hit gunners, who fail morale and are shaken with 10% casualties

French and British infantry skirmish in northern half of Sarracin

British fail morale and are shaken with 20% casualties

British infantry advance to engage enemy infantry north of town

1500-1600  

British infantry north of town receive 10% casualties, fail morale and rout

This caused garrison to check their morale, they fail and rout into infantry reserve

Reserve also fail  morale and join rout

Further south the shaken British gunners fail morale and rout

The supporting Spanish militia also fail and rout with them

Only the British cavalry remain formed

Conclusion

With his whole corps, less the cavalry, in rout Picton orders a general retreat

The French have lost 100 cavalry

The British have lost 1200 infantry and 100 gunners, and have four brigades in rout

Outcome

The battle is a clear French victory

The British will retreat on 12 March 1813.

Battle Summary

The battle opened with the Spanish holding the town, supported by British cavalry

Picton arrived first with the remainder of his 3^rd corps

He deployed his cavalry and artillery south of the town

The French countered with their artillery and cavalry

They sent their infantry to attack the north of the town, out of artillery range

The British has first blood, against the enemy lancers

But there followed a run of bad luck

First the gunners suffered 100 casualties, were shaken and never recovered

Then the highland brigade lost the skirmish in the town, and were also shaken

Finally Picton lost the skirmish north of the town, and they routed

The rout spread along the whole British line

Only the dragoons were left to cover the retreat

The British lost 1300 casualties and four brigades in rout

The French lost 100 cavalry.