12 August1813 – Battle of Mayorga

Tactical map of battle area

Wellington has ordered 2^nd and 3^rd British corps to hold Mayorga, a major town on the right of the allied position.   He has ordered both corps to resupply, but they are unable to do so because they are attacked.

Soult wants to take full advantage of the upset to Wellington’s plans by his defeat at Sanabria.  He orders 13^th Polish and 16^th Italian corps to attack Mayorga.

The loss of Mayorga would open the road to Valladolid to the French.

French – 32000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

British – 32000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Table at start of wargame

Mayorga is the group of buildings in the centre of the table

2^nd and 3^rd British corps are deployed in and around the town

13^th Polish and 16^th Italian corps will arrive at the top of the table at the start of move one

0800-1200

13^th Polish corps (left) advance towards village

Cavalry are on the left (behind the village)

Artillery on right of village

16^th Italian corps (right) Advance through woods

They then move to support the Poles

Cavalry on their right to protect open flank

British artillery open fire, and hit, leading Italian brigade

Italians test and pass morale

1200-1600

Both French and British artillery have been firing for most of this period

But neither side has suffered any further casualties

The French must now advance if they are to achieve anything before nightfall

British dragoons (on the left) have advanced to engage the Polish lancers

1600-2000

On the far left the British dragoons charge the Polish lancers

The dragoons win the melee and the lancers rout with 10% casualties

13^th corps artillery fire to support infantry advance, but no casualties

The leading infantry brigade suffer 30% casualties to British artillery

They rout into the two supporting brigades, who also fail morale and join rout

16^th corps artillery also fire in support, but also prove ineffective

Italian infantry advance in support of 13^th corps

Leading brigade suffers 20% casualties and rout

Supporting brigade fail morale and join rout.

Conclusion

With five infantry and one cavalry brigade in rout the French attack is broken

Soult orders both corps to halt and retreat

The British have won a convincing victory

The French have lost 1700 casualties

The British have not suffered any casualties

Game Note

Such a one sided game is very unusual

The British have had very good dice throws

The French have had particularly bad dice throws

Also the British have moved first at critical points

Their cavalry advanced at the end of one move and charged at the start of the next

Their artillery fired before the French infantry could engage them

The British artillery caused 1600 casualties

The French artillery failed to cause any casualties

The French supporting infantry brigades all rolled very low morale dice