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Saturday, December 5, 2015

30 March 1813 – Battle of Talavera


Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle
All French and Spanish corps have orders to attack Talavera
The French CinC has specific orders to remain at I3
He will not take part in the battle
5 French brigades will be absent from the battle
4 on garrison duty and 1 below strength
All Spanish brigades are present
Spanish – 64000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 120 guns
French – 43600 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 guns
Table at start of wargame

7 and 8 French start on the table
8 French will arrive at the start of move 1
16 French will arrive at the start of move 9
All Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 1

The river is fordable to infantry and cavalry at half move rate
Artillery can only cross by the bridge

0800-0900
Spanish arrive on table (left)
French advance (right)
0900-1000
Spanish CinC orders 8 brigade to rejoin 2 corps
Spanish continue to advance
French start to deploy
1000-1100
8 Spanish brigade start to retreat from city bottom right
French artillery open fire on city, no casualties
Spanish start to deploy
1100-1200
French artillery fire, no casualties
French lancers charge Spanish cavalry, melee is a draw
French infantry enter city top right
Spanish infantry enter city top left
1200-1300  
French artillery redeploy
Spanish cavalry lose melee and retire shaken with 10% casualties
Spanish infantry occupy city left
French infantry occupy city right
1300-1400  
Skirmish in city is a draw, both sides lose 10% casualties
1 Spanish ordered to attack woods
1400-1500 
1 Spanish attack woods is a draw, both sides lose 20% casualties

2 Spanish cavalry lose morale and rout

3 Spanish artillery hit square, who pass morale with 10% casualties


1500-1600 
1 Spanish win melee in woods, French rout with 60% casualties
1 Spanish cavalry charge, lose melee and retire shaken with 20% casualties
3 Spanish infantry attack, French retire shaken with 20% casualties


Conclusion
The Spanish keep possession of Talavera
The French lost 5300 casualties and five brigades in rout
The Spanish lost 4000 casualties and two brigades in rout

Outcome
The Spanish win the battle

Battle Summary
The Battle of Talavera
The French started the battle with four brigades absent.
Marshal Suchet was also ordered not to take part in the battle
With three corps taking part, the CinC command points were missed
It resulted in corps commanders having to use their own command points
Command of the corps suffered as a result
The Spanish were stronger in infantry, but weaker in cavalry
However the battlefield was too crowded for the French to take full advantage
The artillery on both sides played a considerable part in the battle
However the outcome rested on control of Talavera
There was a prolonged infantry melee for the city
The French artillery provided better support and the Spanish suffered
However 7th and 15th French corps were overwhelmed
And eventually 8th French corps was forced to abandon the city
The French lost 5300 casualties and five brigades in rout
The Spanish lost 4000 casualties and two brigades in rout

The French defeat at Talavera, and their failure to take that city, means that they have lost this phase of the campaign.

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