27 March 1813 – Battle of Zamora

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

Encounter battle with two French and two British corps on attack orders

French – 36000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

British -  28000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns 

Table at start of wargame

2 British – arrive start of move 1

6 French – arrive start of move 1

HQ British – arrive start of move 5

4 British – arrive start of move 5

HQ French – arrive start of move 5

14 French – arrive start of move 5

0800-1200

2 British and 6 French arrive on table and advance south of Zamora

Both corps send infantry into the city.

1200-1500 

4 British and 14 French arrive and advance north of the city

Both sides reinforce skirmish in city

French suffer 10% skirmish casualties and are shaken

British reserve receive 10% artillery casualties and are disordered

1500-1600 

Wellington orders his infantry to attack the city

In the first round of melee both sides suffer 10% casualties

Both pass morale test

1600-1700 

British win second round of melee

French rout with 50% casualties

Support brigade in city joins rout

1700-1800 

British pursue routed infantry

Two French support brigades outside city join rout

Both sides enter northern half of city

French rout

Conclusion

By nightfall the British have captured three of the four city sections

With four brigades in rout Soult orders his army to retreat

The British have lost 1600 infantry

The French have lost  3200 infantry and four brigades in rout

Outcome

The battle is a close victory for Wellington

6^th French corps is broken, but 14^th corps untouched.

Battle Summary

The British started the battle heavily outnumbered in infantry

3 British advanced to occupy the southern half of the city

6 French advanced to block them

The French infantry in Zamora suffered first casualties

The British brigade suffered artillery casualties

Both commanders sent a second brigade to support the attack

The artillery on both sides pounded the reserve infantry

But the battle was decided by the leading infantry brigades in the city

The French were the first to become shaken

Wellington immediately ordered the highland to charge them with the bayonet

The first round of melee was a draw, but the French suffered more casualties

The highlanders won the second round and the French routed with 50% casualties

The support brigade broke with them

The highlanders advanced in pursuit

Two French brigades outside the city joined the melee

4 British arrived and sent two rifle brigades into the northern half of the city

14 French countered by sending two of their brigades to contest the city

With the loss of four brigades in rout Soult ordered a general retreat

The British had lost  1600 casualties

The French had lost  3200 casualties and four brigades in rout