9 August 1813 – North Spain – Leon Campaign

1813 Campaign Areas

There are five campaign areas in the 1813 Campaign, three in Germany and two in Spain.   The campaign is divided into campaign phases, each lasting about ten campaign days.  This is the twenty seventh campaign phase of the 1813 Campaign and the sixth phase in Northern Spain.

All Spain

All eleven previous campaign phases are shown.   A blue star indicates a French victory and red or yellow an Allied victory

There are two campaign areas in Spain.

Northern Spain – 4th French army v British army

Central Spain    - 5th French army v Spanish army

Each square on the map is 21 miles which is one days march.   It is also a wargames table.

Northern Spain

All 30 previous battles fought are shown.    A blue star indicates a French victory, a red star a British victory and one white start is a drawn battle.   Each square on this map covers the same area as our 6x6 foot wargames table.

Summary of the campaign in Northern Spain

By the end of January 1813 most of the experienced French troops had been withdrawn from Spain to form the new Grand Army in Germany.   Marshal Soult was ordered to organize all remaining troops in Northern Spain into the new Fourth French Army.   He was to concentrate them at Burgos and to hold the northern border with Portugal

On 2 February 1813 Wellington took the border city of Cuidad Rodrigo and marched his Army east to drive the French out of Spain.   He reached Zamora on 27 February 1813, where he received reports that the Soult was still at Burgos but preparing to march on Valladolid.

Wellington halted at Zamora on 28 February 1813, to allow his army to rest and reorganise after their long march from Portugal.  He was aware that the French were at Burgos, and that he would have to fight to take Valladolid.

1 March 1813 – Valladolid Campaign.    Wellington opened the campaign by defeating the French and occupying Valladolid.   The French counter attacked and won the battles of Arriba and Medina.   Wellington halted the French advance at Palencia and went on to defeat them again at Palencia.   Soult was forced to retreat east.

9 March 1813 – Burgos Campaign.   The campaign opened with a determined French attack during which they won the battles of Agular, Sarracin and Burgos.  Wellington rallied and counter attacked to win at Agular, Castrojarez and Burgos.   However Soult won the third battle of Burgos and with it the campaign.   Wellington was forced to retreat towards Portugal.

25 March 1813 – Zamora Campaign.   The French won the first battle at Morales.  However Wellington won at Zamora, Benavente and again at Morales.   Soult regrouped and won a series of four battles at Zamora and Benavente resulting in the French also winning the campaign.  Once more Wellington had to retreat.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   Wellington was forced to accept the seven day cease fire in order to rally and reorganise his shattered army.   He ordered them to retreat to Oporto and concentrate there.   Soult halted his army at Zamora

12 April 1813 – Oporto Campaign.   Wellington was determined to prevent a retreat into Portugal and opened the campaign with an aggressive advance.   He was defeated at the first battle at Chaves, but won the three battles for Murca.    This town became the centre of the campaign, and the French attacked again and again.   By 19 April both armies were battered, had lost considerable battle casualties and were low on supplies.  But when Wellington defeated the third attempt to take Murca Soult ordered his army to withdraw.  

28 April 1813 – Tordesillas Campaign.   Soult was determined to hold Wellington on the Spanish/Portuguese border.  But Wellington was equally determined to establish himself in Spain.   This campaign developed into a series of victories for Wellington.   He won six of the seven battles fought, and the seventh was a draw.   He took Tordesillias, pursued the retreating French and took Valladolid after two days of fighting.   Both armies were battered during the 14 day campaign.  On 11 May 1813  Soult ordered his army to retreat to Burgos to rally and regroup.  Wellington called a halt at Valladolid.

Introduction to the Leon Campaign

Having secured Portugal and Galicia Wellington wants to shorten his lines of supply by moving his main base from Oporto to Santander on the north coast of Spain.   To do so he must first take Leon.

To prevent this Soult has deployed his army between Astorga and Sahagun.

Leon Campaign Map

This map shows the area covered by the Leon campaign.  Each square is 7 miles.  It shows all major terrain features, major and secondary roads and all cities and towns   It also shows the location of the French and British corps at the start of the campaign.  

This map is used for all campaign movement and on the campaign diary blog.

Leon Wargames Map

This map covers the same area as the campaign map, but each square is the same as one 2x2 foot square used on the wargames table.   When a battle if declared this map is used to prepare the wargames table.

Leon Campaign Objective

At the start of the campaign the two armies are deployed as shown on the map above.

Soult is concerned about his communications with France.  He has been forced to abandon the main road from Valladolid to Bayonne.   He is determined to defeat Wellington, take Valladolid and secure his communications.

Fourth French Army

Marshal Soult

7^th corps

8^th French corps

13^th Polish corps

16^th Italian corps

Reserve corps

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

The reserve corps has four infantry brigades and will provide depot garrisons

80000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 artillery

British Army

Duke of Wellington

1^st British corps

2^nd British corps

3^rd British corps

4^th British corps

Reserve corps

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

The reserve corps has four infantry brigades and will provide depot garrisons

In addition there are three Spanish irregular brigade sized groups

92000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 artillery