20 September 1813 – Summary of Campaign in Central Spain

Battles fought in Central Spain

Campaign History

By the end of January most of the experienced French troops had been withdrawn from Spain to form the new Grand Army in Germany.   On 1 February 1813 Marshal Suchet was given command of all the remaining troops in Southern Spain.  He was ordered to abandon Seville and withdraw all the scattered garrisons to Madrid.

General Giron commanded all Spanish troops south of Madrid.   As the French withdrew he ordered his army to concentrate at Badajoz.  It took two weeks for them to do so.   He ordered an immediate advance on Madrid

On 28 February 1813 the Spanish Army reached Merida.   Their slow march allowed the Suchet to reorganize his Army and to march them west to meet the Spanish.   As the Spanish entered Merida, his army arrived at Almarez. 

5 March 1813 – Almarez Campaign.  Marshal Suchet opened the campaign by defeating the Spanish at Almarez and followed that by a second victory at Naval Moral.   The Spanish regrouped and countered by winning at Serrejon and Almarez.  Suchet retreated towards Madrid, allowing Giron to claim a Spanish campaign victory.

18 March 1813 – Talavera Campaign.   The Spanish dominated this campaign, winning both battles at Talavera and a draw at Las Vantas.    The campaign ended in a draw with the Armistice.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   Despite their run of victories the Spanish Army had  dispersed due to battle casualties and lack of supplies.   They accepted the cease fire in order to reorganise their field army.   It was agreed that the Spanish would concentrate at Aranjuez and the French retreat to Toledo.

12 April 1813 – Toledo Campaign.   The French advance was relentless and the Spanish could do little to delay it.   The guerrilla bands caused some problems for the lines of communication and supply, and even captured two garrisons.   But Suchet ignored his lack of supplies and attacked Moncejon.   The Spanish army was broken and retreated.

4 June 1813 – Cuidad Real Campaign.   The Spanish were deployed north of the river Guadiana, with their main supply base in Cuidad Real just south of that river.   The French advanced over a wide area to prevent the Spanish from retreating and concentrating all of their army south of the river.   The French won the first two battles, but lost the third.  The Spanish retreated south of the river.   Despite long supply lines under attack from guerrilla bands, Suchet ordered his army to attack the defended river line.  He won the fourth battle and the campaign.   Once more the Spanish army was forced to retreat.

17 July 1813 – Linares Campaign.   The French concentrated at Probete and advanced south along three roads.  They won the first three battles and occupied the town of Baylen.   As they occupied towns the Spanish militia garrison fled to the mountains and became guerrilla bands.  As the French lines of supply grew longer, they came under attack from the guerrilla.   Suchet was forced to send one of his four corps back to defeat the guerrilla and reopen his lines of supply.   Giron immediately attacked and took El Hoyo and then Baylen.   Suchet was forced to retreat to Probate and abandon his advance.   The Spanish had won the campaign.

7 September 1813 – Albacete Campaign.   The French concentrated at Albacete and advanced south along three roads, with their fourth corps in reserve.   They won the battles of Riopar and Elda, but allowed the defeated Spanish to retreat.   Once more the guerrilla played a major part in the campaign.  As the French advanced south, they attacked their depots in the north.  This delayed the French attack on Molina, which they also won.   The final battle at Hellin was hard fought and really a draw.   But the Spanish retreated to resupply and the French declared a victory.   The French won the campaign.

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.   The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

01 - introduction to the 1813 campaign

02 - the five campaign areas

50 - introduction to the campaign in Central Spain

53 - daily diary for the campaign in Central Spain

54 - battle reports of all battles fought in Central Spain

20 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Albacete Campaign

Tactical Map

The campaign opened with the French Army in and around Albacete.

The French were heavily outnumbered by the Spanish, who were deployed over a large area south of Albacete.   The Spanish field army was slightly smaller than the four French corps, but there were also nine brigades of infantry providing garrisons for the nine town spread through the campaign area.

The French plan of campaign was to advance with three corps in line, and the fourth in reserve.   The reserve corps would provide garrisons for each town as it was captured and establish supply depots.

The first battle was at Riopar, which was a French victory.  But the defeated Spanish were allowed to retreat without pursuit.

Suchet ordered a more determined attack at Elda.   This resulted in heavier casualties on both sides.   Once more the Spanish were allowed to retreat without pursuit.

With his flanks secured Suchet now ordered an attack on Hellin.   But the Spanish retreated without a battle.   The French now had to halt in order to reorganise their supply chain.  This allowed the Spanish to regroup in front of Molina.

The French now concentrated their army at Hellin, in preparation for a final push south against Molina.    This allowed the guerrilla bands to attack the rear French depots, disrupting the French lines of supply.

Suchet ignores the threat to his lines of supply and orders an attack on the Spanish in front of Molina.   This results in a third French victory, but again an inconclusive one.   The Spanish retreat south of Molina, but still hold the city.

The French are now desperately short of supplies.  A vital supply column has been ambushed and taken by the guerrilla.  Three of his northern depots are under attack by the guerrilla.   A further pursuit of the Spanish field army risks the destruction of his own army.   He orders his army to fall back on Hellin and resupply.

Both armies pause to regroup and resupply.   During this period Suchet is able to reorganise his lines of supply and tackle the guerrilla problem.   However before he can complete his reorganisation the Spanish attack him at Hellin.

Due to the success of the guerrilla on the French lines of supply, the Spanish field army has also managed to regroup and resupply.   Giron orders an attack on Hellin, hoping to catch the French unprepared.

Both commanders are aware that this battle will decide the campaign, and both are determined to win.   The result is a hard fought battle, and one that results in a draw.   By nightfall both armies have suffered heavy casualties, and have committed all of their reserves.   The Spanish have lost more casualties than the French, and more brigades broken and in rout.   As a result the odds are more even, should the battle continue for a second day.    The Spanish hold half of the town and the left flank, the French hold the other half of the town and the right flank.  

The campaign is decided on the supply situation.  The Spanish army are about to run out, and will face heavy attrition casualties until they resupply.  To do so they must retreat south to their depots.   At nightfall Giron orders his army to break contact and retreat.  

Both armies are exhausted and unable to continue without offensive operations without a lengthy period of rest and regrouping.  The French have failed to take Molina, and the Spanish have no chance of taking Albacete.   Suchet hold two thirds of the towns and has defeated the Spanish in all four battles fought.   He claims victory in the campaign.

Strategic Map

The Albacete campaign was the sixth phase in Southern Spain between the Fifth French and the Spanish armies.   It lasted 13 days and there were four battles.   The French won all four. 

The French lost 7200 infantry, 300 cavalry and 3 guns

The Spanish lost 22400 infantry, 300 cavalry and 12 guns

The French won the campaign

The campaign started on 23 February 2019 and ended on 20 April 2019