12 March 1813 – South Spain - Day 4

 

Giron is reeling from the fighting of the last three days

He has held Bargas, and the French have retreated

However he is concerned that 2^nd corps will be surrounded

He orders them to abandon Bargas and retreat to Toledo

 

He is also concerned about his flanks, and particularly Albareal

3^rd corps is reduced to two infantry brigades and corps artillery

They are in no condition to hold Albareal

If the town is captured the French could by pass Toledo and invade Andalusia

He sends 1^st corps to support 3^rd corps and secure the town

 

Suchet has even more pressing problems

The failure of his attack on Bargas has forced 7^th corps to retreat towards Madrid

This has left a large gap between 15^th and 16^th corps

If the Spanish pursue 7^th corps they could take Madrid

 

He orders 16^th corps to attack Bargas to seal the gap and support 7^th corps

When they reach the town they find it empty as the Spanish have marched south

 

He could hold his position until 7^th corps have rallied and regrouped

This will give the initiative to Giron, who might attack and overwhelm

 

As a typical French marshal he considers that attack is the best form of defence

He orders 15^th Vistula corps to march south and attack Albareal

In doing so he hopes to crush the battered 3^rd Spanish corps

He will also open an alternative route to Andalusia

 

3^rd Spanish corps do much better than expected during the battle of Albareal

They have only two infantry brigades and corps artillery

But they hold the full strength 15^th Vistula corps at bay for nine moves

By then 1^st Spanish corps have started to arrive, and the town is secure

 

The Vistula cavalry were routed charging the Spanish guns

One of their four brigades also ran away, and a second was shaken

They withdrew under cover of darkness and abandoned their attack on Albareal

11 March 1813 – Battle of Bargas

Tactical map of battle area

Suchet has secured his flanks at Torrijos and Mocejon

He now leads the main attack on Bargas

Success here will open the main road to Seville

7^th French corps is supported by two brigades from the reserve

2^nd Spanish corps is deployed to defend Bargas

It is a full strength corps with four infantry brigades, one cavalry and artillery

It is also supported by the garrison of Bargas

 

French – 6 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Spanish – 5 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

2^nd Spanish corps, plus town garrison, deployed in and around Bargas

Suchet will arrive top centre with 7^th French corps at the start of move 1

End of Move 4

Suchet has taken command of reserve infantry and 7^th dragoons

He is advancing on the left

7^th corps infantry advance in the centre with artillery on their right

 

Spanish artillery have fired twice on French gunners

Hit both times and inflicted 20% casualties

French gunners pass morale test, but will have minus 2 penalty when firing

End of Move10

French dragoons charge and rout the Spanish lancers

But they are too far to the left to influence the main infantry attack

 

French gunners continue to fire, but with 20% casualties are ineffective

So the infantry are left to attack without any support

 

On the left Suchet leads the two reserve infantry brigades

Both are conscript infantry, and prove unable to break into the town

One brigade routs with 20% casualties

The second is disordered with 20% casualties

The militia garrison continue to hold despite 30% casualties

 

In the centre two brigades attack the other half of Bargas

They rout the garrison with 20% casualties

But one brigade is shaken with 20% casualties and the other disordered with 10%

 

On the right the remaining two brigades attack the Spanish gunners

The leading brigade charges the gunners, but is routed with 30% casualties

The second brigade attacks the Spanish infantry support

They also rout with 20% casualties

 

This is the first time that a French corps have suffered defeat in an open battle

They have lost 8 infantry and 2 gunners (3400 casualties) plus four brigades in rout

The Spanish have lost 8 infantry and 2 cavalry (3400 casualties) plus two brigades in rout.

 

At nightfall the Spanish artillery plus two infantry brigades are full strength

Only the French cavalry are full strength

Suchet orders a retreat to regroup and consider his options.

 

Summary

The French have lost 4 infantry casualties (1600 men)

The Spanish have lost 2 infantry and 2 casualties (1000 men)

 

11 March 1813 – South Spain - Day 3

 

7^th French corps attack Bagas

15^th Polish corps resupply at Torrijos

16^th Italian corps occupy Mocejon and establish a depot

 

1^st Spanish corps remain in reserve at Toledo

2^nd Spanish corps fight battle of Bargas

3^rd Spanish corps rally, resupply and regroup at Albareal

4^th Spanish corps retreat to Sequilla

Spanish transfer supplies from Toledo to Albareal

 

The French suffer an unexpected defeat at Bargas

It is the first time this happened in a formal battle

And despite them outnumbering the Spanish in infantry

 

French lost 8 infantry and 2 gunners (3400 casualties)

Spanish lost 8 infantry and 2 cavalry (3400 casualties)

French have four brigades in rout and one shaken

Spanish have two brigades in rout

10 March 1813 – Battle of Mocejon

Tactical map of battle area

Soult has won the first battle of the campaign

He keeps up the pressure by attacking Mocejon

The Italians are supported by 10 brigade from the reserve

 

4^th Spanish corps have orders to hold Mocejon

They are a weak corps of just three infantry brigades and no cavalry

They also have the support of the town garrison

 

French – 5 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Spanish – 4 infantry brigades, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

4^th Spanish corps are in position in and around Mocejon

A walled town adds plus 1 to garrison combat test

16^th Italian corps will arrive centre top at the start of move 1

Table at end of move 4

Spanish artillery have deployed to the left of the town

Two infantry brigades are deploying to the right of the town

Artillery fire on Italian gunners, but no casualties

 

Italian infantry are deploying on the right

Artillery in the centre

Cavalry on right to prevent enemy artillery moving closer to infantry

The cavalry have halted just out of artillery range

Table at end of move 8

Italian cavalry charge Spanish artillery

Receive 10% casualties, which prevent them charging home

Receive another 10% casualties and retreat disordered

 

Italian artillery fire on right side of town

Hit military garrison twice, but they pass morale with 20% casualties

Infantry advance against the town and supporting infantry on right

Table at end of move 12

Italian infantry attack infantry to right of town

Win melee and rout Spanish infantry with 30% casualties each brigade

However they also receive 10% casualties each brigade

 

Two brigades storm right side of town

Militia garrison already have 20% casualties

Rout garrison with 40% casualties

But again each Italian brigade receive 10% casualties

 

Spanish artillery hit Italian gunners who lose 10% casualties

But pass morale test

 

Italian cavalry again charge Spanish artillery

Receive another 10% casualties and halt disordered with total 30% casualties

 

Summary

At nightfall the Spanish still hold the left halt of the town

Their artillery are still full strength

But they have lost two infantry brigades

And the Italian infantry are in the town

The Spanish retreat under cover of darkness

 

The Italians have lost 4 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (2000 men)

The Spanish have lost 10 infantry casualties (4000 men)

 

10 March 1813 – South Spain - Day 2

 

3^rd Spanish corps retreat after losing battle of Torrijos

Town garrison move into hills and become first guerrilla group

 

15^th corps occupy Torrijos

3 infantry brigade establish garrison and depot at Torrijos

 

16^th Italian corps, and 10 infantry brigade, attack Mocejon

The Italians won the battle of Mocejon

But in doing so they lost too many casualties

All six brigades suffered 10% casualties

 

Spanish lost 4000 casualties and two brigades in rout

Italians lost 2000 casualties

9 March 1813 – Battle of Torrijos

 

Tactical map of battle area

Suchet does not want to open the campaign with a risky all out battle

He orders 15^th Vistula corps to attack 3^rd Spanish corps at Torrijos

He hopes that Giron will move his reserve to support 3^rd corps

This would Suchet to attack south along the main Madrid to Seville road

3^rd Spanish corps have orders to hold Torrijos

They are a weak Spanish corps, with only three infantry brigades and no cavalry

 

French – 5 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Spanish – 4 infantry brigades, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

3^rd Spanish corps are in and around Torrijos (centre)

One of the three brigades has been sent into the village to support the garrison

 

15^th Vistula corps will enter centre top at the start of move 1

They must enter on the road through the pass

End of move 4

The Spanish artillery deployed at the far end of the pass

This caused the Polish commander to send his lancers over the hill

It took them two turns (two hours) to do so, and another to deploy in line

This delayed the rest of the Vistula moving through the pass

It also caused the Spanish to redeploy their artillery to cover the pass and the lancers

End of move 7

Spanish artillery have fired three times, but no casualties

 

Polish artillery hit square supporting gun with first rout fired

Infantry fail morale and rout

 

Polish infantry moving to right of artillery to form up

Cavalry have advanced to charge range of Spanish artillery

End of move 12

Cavalry charge and rout Spanish gunners

Artillery hit garrison who lose 10% casualties but pass morale test

Infantry move into contact with town and infantry on right

 

Garrison on left lose melee and rout

Garrison on right draw melee and hold until nightfall

Infantry on right of town lose and rout

 

Summary

Everything went wrong for the unfortunate Spanish

Their artillery failed to inflict a single casualty

Their infantry folded and ran with heavy casualties

Only one brigade managed to hold in the town until nightfall

 

Poles have lost 2 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (900 men)

Spanish  have lost 10 infantry and 2  gunner casualties (3400 men)

9 March 1813 – South Spain - Day 1

 

Suchet does not want to risk all on a combined attack along the whole front.

He orders 15^th Vistula corps to attack Torrijos, hoping that Giron will commit his reserve to support 3^rd Spanish corps

The battle of Torrijos was a disaster for the Spanish.   Their artillery failed to inflict a single casualty.   Three out of four infantry brigades routed with heavy casualties.  The fourth held the town until nightfall, when they retreated

The Poles could do no wrong.   Their artillery hit three out of three.   The cavalry charged and routed the Spanish gunners.   A major infantry attack just before nightfall completed their victory.   For this comprehensive victory they suffered minimum casualties

Spanish lost 3200 casualties and rout brigades in rout

Poles lost 900 casualties and one brigade shaken

 

 9 March 1813 – South Spain – Toledo Campaign

 

Europe 1813 Campaign Areas

There are five campaign areas in Europe

Three in Germany

Two in Spain

This is the 36^th campaign phase of the solo version of the 1813 campaig

Regions of Spain

This campaign phase is set in the Seville Region of south Spain

In January Napoleon ordered that 50% of the troops in Spain be sent to Germany to as the basis of the three new armies forming his new Grande Armee of Germany.  In return they would receive an equal number of conscripts to maintain the numbers in Spain.

King Joseph was tasked to create a new strategic plan for Spain and Portugal.   Marshal Soult would be responsible for northern Spain, Marshal Suchet for southern Spain.    Both marshals were determined to keep their independence and ignored orders from Madrid.

Suchet had the easier task, and it was agreed he should march south, defeat the only remaining Spanish field army and capture Seville.  He would then send two of his five corps to support Soult who would invade Portugal and clear Wellington out of the Peninsula.

The campaign opened on ?? March when Suchet marched south from Madrid into the Seville Region.

Seville Region

This map shows the location of the two armies at midnight on ??? March 1813.

Toledo district is the location of this campaign

It is in the centre of the map

Each square on this map is one days march and one wargame table.

Toledo District

This is the map which will be used during the campaign

It shows towns,villages, roads, rivers and major terrain features

It also shows the location of each depot

This map is used to transfer battles to the wargames table

Each square is a 2x2 foot terrain board on the wargames table

Fifth French Army

Marshal Suchet

7^th French corps

15^th Vistula corps

16^th Italian corps

Reserve corps

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

The reserve corps has four conscript brigades for garrison duty

80,000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

Spanish Army

General Giron

1^st Spanish corps

2^nd Spanish corps

3^rd Spanish corps

4^th Spanish corps

1^st and 2^nd corps have four infantry and one cavalry brigades, plus corps artillery

3^rd and 4^th corps have four infantry brigades and corps artillery

There are also 9 militia brigades, one in each town

100,000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 120 guns

Reference

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign

02 - Five campaign areas

50 - Introduction to the campaign in southern Spain

51 – 5^th French Army order of battle

52 - Spanish Army order of battle

53 - Daily diary for the campaign in southern Spain

54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in southern Spain

55 - Summary of campaign in southern Spain

 

 

Summary of North Germany Campaign

Regional map of North Germany

There are three regions in North Germany

Osnabruck Region is the rear area for First French army

Their main depot is in Osnabruck

Brunswick Region is the rear area for the Prussian Army

Their main depot is in Berlin                     

Brunswick Region is the disputed area between them

Diary of North German Campaign

The French Grand Army was destroyed during the 1812 Russian campaign

Napoleon had to create a new army to fight the 1813 campaign

1 January 1813 - Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

8 January 1813 - The Prussian army concentrated in Berlin region

19 February 1813 - First French army concentrated in Osnabruck

20 February 1813 -  Prussians moved into the Brunswick region

26 February 1813 - Napoleon advanced into the Brunswick region

1 March 1813 -  Start of Brunswick campaign phase

Brunswick Campaign – 1 to 8 March 1813

Napoleon won three of the five battles fought

However he lost the last battle and failed to defeat the Prussian army

Despite this he took and held the city of Brunswick and therefore won the campaign

Blucher ordered his army to retreat behind the river Elbe

They deployed along the eastern bank

He established his new headquarters at Magdeburg

Napoleon deployed his army along the western bank

He moved his headquarters to Brunswick

The campaign started on 19 July 2020 and ended on 13 August 2020

8 March 1813 – North Germany – End of Brunswick Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

Napoleon won three of the five battles fought

However he lost the last battle and failed to defeat the Prussian army

Despite this he took and held the city of Brunswick and therefore won the campaign

The campaign started on 19 July 2020 and ended on 13 August 2020

This campaign phase was the first using the new higher level of command.  There was no change to the campaign system and wargames.   But the higher level maps were all redesigned to introduce the new military regions.

Brunswick Region

Blucher ordered his army to retreat behind the river Elbe

They deployed along the eastern bank

He established his new headquarters at Magdeburg

Napoleon deployed his army along the western bank

He moved his headquarters to Brunswick

8 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 8

Napoleon falls back to Brunswick to rally and regroup his battered army

3^rd corps is ordered south to join them at Brunswick

Although he lost the battle of Cremlingen, he is still strong enough to defy Blucher

Blucher orders his army to hold their positions, regroup and resupply

1^st corps arrives from Weyhausen and is placed in reserve

Both armies are urgently in need of resupply and battle casualty replacements

The French are very low on supplies, and must immediately resupply

Blucher has won a hollow victory at Cremlingen.

He delayed the French attack by keeping his infantry on the reverse slope

His artillery damaged the French infantry, particularly the Guard

But in doing so they also suffered heavy casualties

Three of his four cavalry brigades are too weak to be deployed

And without cavalry he cannot pursue the French

In effect both armies have fought themselves to a standstill.

7 March 1813 – Battle of Cremlingen

Tactical map of battle area

Blucher has concentrated his army for a last stand at Cremlingen

1^st corps is marching south to join him, but will not arrive for 24 hours

There are three Prussian reserve brigades in the town

They come under direct command of Blucher

The three French corps are in need of resupply and reinforcements

But Napoleon has ordered them to attack anyway, before 1^st corps can arrive

All arrive on table start of move 1

If the French do not win on the first day, the Prussians will have another corps on day 2.

French – 10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Prussian – 13 infantry brigades, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Prussian army are deployed on right of table

3 military brigades beside town are under command of Blucher

They cannot move until he takes personal command of them

French army will arrive on table at the start of move 1

End of move 4

Napoleon has taken command of 4^th and 13^th corps artillery

He has created a grand battery between 4^th and 13^th corps

1^st corps, on the left, is the main attack

4^th corps has deployed out of artillery range to support 1^st corps

13^th corps is also deploying out of artillery range

The grand battery will engage 3^rd Prussian corps

If they do sufficient damage 4^th and 13^th corps will attack

Blucher has taken command of 3 military brigades

He is moving them into position between 2^nd and 3^rd corps

2^nd and 4^th corps have deployed on the ridge out of sight

Only the Prussian artillery are in view

4^th corps artillery were unlucky with their first shot

They required 12 to hit the guard artillery, they got 11.

End of move 6

Guard (left) approach ridge

2^nd Grenadiers receive 10% artillery casualties and are shaken

Guard artillery hit Prussian gunners who pass morale test with 20% casualties

4^th French corps (centre) hold their position

They are outnumbered and will not attack unless 1^st or 13^th corps breakthrouogh

Napoleon’s grand battery hit 3^rd corps gunners and infantry

Both fail morale test and are shaken

13^th corps advance to attack 3^rd Prussian corps

Blucher halts behind hill out of sight of French artillery

End of move 9

French guard attack left hand hill

1^st brigade melee but rout after losing 20% casualties

2^nd brigade receive artillery casualties, fail morale and also rout

3^rd and 4^th brigade in rear unable to advance

cavalry advance to charge guns, but receive 20% casualties and are shaken

4^th corps (centre) and 13^th corps (right) both too weak to attack

Grand battery prevent Prussian reserve infantry advancing

Summary

A French victory depended on the guard attack, which failed

Artillery played a role, but 1^st brigade losing melee was the decider

Guard cavalry halted by Prussian artillery

With the rout of the guard the French lost the battle

The French have lost 7 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2900 men)

The Prussians have lost 3 infantry and 4 artillery casualties (1400 men)