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Thursday, March 31, 2016

14 April 1813 – Battle of Murca


Tactical map of battle area
Wellington has ordered 2nd corps to occupy Murca and 4th corps to support them
4 infantry brigade has been detached from 2nd corps on garrison duty

Soult has ordered 13th corps to occupy Murca, and 3rd corps to support them

British– 28000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns
French – 32000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns
Table at start of wargame
Both armies have orders to occupy Murca (in centre of table)
The leading corps of each army are approaching the town
2nd British corps have one brigade detached on garrison duty
The remaining two corps will arrive on the table at the start of move 1
0800-1200
13th Polish corps send two brigades to occupy the town
The remainder of the corps deploy right of the town
3rd French corps have been ordered to deploy to the left of the town

2nd British corps have deployed right of the town to counter the Polish deployment
Wellington has ordered them not to garrison the town
He wants to outnumber the enemy on this flank
4th British corps have been ordered to deploy left of the town
But two rifle brigades have been ordered to occupy Murca

Both armies are deploying out of artillery range to avoid casualties
1200-1600
Wellington sends his light division into Murca to contest the town
The rifles quickly win the skirmish and force the Polish infantry to retreat
The remainder of 4th corps is ordered to hold their position

2nd British corps are now ordered to advance and engage Poles
With half of the Polish infantry still fighting for the town the British have local superiority.
1600-2000
The light division continue to press the shaken defenders of Murca, who break under the pressure and rout from the town.

2nd British corps come under artillery fire as they advance, and one brigade suffers 10% casualties.

The Polish lancers charge 2nd British dragoons, but they lose the melee and withdraw shaken.

Conclusion
13th Polish corps are in a desperate position.
They have lost two infantry brigades, and their cavalry are shaken
They have also failed to stop the advance of 2nd British corps
To avoid disaster Soult orders a general retreat

The French have lost 1200 casualties and two brigades in rout
The British have lost 400 casualties