Summary of Southern Spain Campaign – 30 April 1813

Regional areas of Southern Spain

There are three regions in Southern Spain

Lisbon region is a safe rear area for the Spanish army

Valencia region is the rear area for the Fifth French army

Seville region is the disputed area between them

The main French depot is at Valencia

The main Spanish depot is at Seville

French Strategy in Spain

King Joseph is the commander in chief of all French troops in Spain.

However he commands no respect from either his army commanders

Both Soult and Suchet are determined to remain independent commanders

Suchet wants to invade southern Spain and become King of Andalusia

Soult wants to defeat Wellington and become King of Portugal

 

All three agree that Soult will drive Wellington out of Spain

Suchet will invade Andalusia and take Seville

He will then detach two of his four corps to support Soult

Soult will invade Portugal and drive Wellington out of the Peninsula

 

Anglo-Spanish Strategy in Spain

Wellington is the commander in chief of all allied troops in the Peninsula

However all Spanish generals deeply resent this appointment

Giron is determined to take Madrid and become the hero of Spain

 

Wellington is well aware that he cannot rely on his Spanish generals

To defeat the French he must first take Madrid

To do so the Spanish army must hold southern Spain to pin Suchet

Most importantly the Spanish must avoid a comprehensive defeat

This would allow both French armies to concentrate against Wellington

         

Diary of North Spain Campaign

01 February 1813    Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France

04 February 1813    Spanish army operational n Saville region

28 February 1813    Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region

09 March 1813        Start of Toledo campaign phase

13 March 1813        Spanish win Toledo campaign phase

20 April 1813           Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase

30 April 1813           French win Cuidad Real campaign phase         

 

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 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

30 April 1813 – Southern Spain – End of Cuidad Real Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

Suchet won five of the nine battles.

He won the first three, forcing the Spanish army to retreat west to Malagon, Cuidad Real and Almagro.

To pursue the retreating Spanish, Suchet had to detach most of his cavalry to protect his every lengthening lines of supply.   This resulted in Spanish victories at Cuidad Real and Almagro.

The French won the first battle at Malagon, but lost the second.   They also lost the cricital second battle for Cuidad Real.

However Suchet did win the the second battle at Almagro, and forced Third Spanish army to retreat further west and abandon the campaign.

Although Giron won the last battle of the campaign at Cuidad Real, he was now outnumbered six French corps to four Spanish corps and had to accept defeat.

The campaign started on 24 September 2021 and ended on 31 August 2020

The larger campaign map, with the border in the centre and showing both district capitols worked well.   The French winning the first three battles resulted in all of the campaign taking place in Cuidad Real district.  But has the Spanish forced the French to retreat there was sufficient space to fight the campaign in Albacete district.

Seville Region

Suchet orders his army to occupy Cuidad Real.

Giron retreats south towards Jean

30 April 1813 – South Spain – Day 10

Despite the Spanish victory at Cuidad Real, it was obvious to general Giron that he was now in an impossible situation.   The loss of 3^rd Army meant that he was outnumbered two to one by the French.   Any delay would allow the French to concentrate four corps against two at Cuidad Real.   Consequently he ordered 1^st and 2^nd Spanish armies to retreat and abandon both Cuidad Real and Malagon.

Marshal Suchet wanted to destroy the Spanish army before they could retreat and escape.   Despite a shortage of supplies he ordered all three French armies to engage the Spanish.   14^th and 15^th armies would attack Cuidad Real.   13^th French army would attack Malagon. 

The retreat of the Spanish army prevented any further engagements.   The French occupied both towns with out any resistance.  

Suchet had failed to destroy the Spanish army, but he did occupy all of the Spanish towns, including Cuidad Real.   He therefore won the campaign.

29 April 1813 – Battle of Cuidad Real

Tactical map of battle area

This is the deciding battle of the campaign

If the French take Cuidad Real they have won the campaign

If they fail to do so the Spanish have won the campaign

 

14^th French Army – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

1^st Spanish Army –10 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

First Spanish Army is deployed on the left

CinC has taken command of the town, plus artillery and one brigade from 1^st corps.

 

14^th French army is deployed on the right

CinC has taken command of artillery and one brigade from each corps

End of move 2

French have advanced towards town

CinC reserve is moving towards 2^nd Spanish corps

 

Spanish artillery is concentrating on area between woods and hill

End of move 4

2^nd Spanish artillery fire on 28^th French hussars

Cavalry receive 10% casualties and are disordered

2^nd Spanish lancers charge 28^th hussars

Spanish win, French cavalry retreat with 30% casualties

 

1^st Spanish heavy cavalry charge 27^th lancers

French win, Spanish cavalry retreat with 20% casualties

 

French artillery open fire, but no casualties

End of move 6

1^st Spanish corps retreat as French approach

 

French reserve artillery hit 2^nd Spanish artillery, who retreat disordered

 

2^nd Spanish lancers charge and rout 12pdr French battery

Supporting French infantry fail their morale and join rout

End of move 8

27^th French corps press home their attack

They have taken the north east section of the town

1^st Spanish corps have lost  four brigades in rout

The remainder of the corps retreat between the town and the river.

 

French reserve have lost one battery and one infantry brigade

The remaining battery and brigade move forward to fire on the south east section of the town.

 

28^th Italian corps have one infantry brigade left, holding the north east section of the woods.  The remainder of the corps is in rout

2^nd Spanish corps have sent one infantry brigade into the south east section of the town.

 

The battle is evenly balanced.  

1^st Spanish corps are in retreat and have lost half of the town

2^nd Spanish corps have won their flank, but are not well placed to support the town

 

27^th French corps have won the northern flank

They are well placed to take the northern half of the town

However the reserve and 28^th Italian corps are broken

End of move 10

27^th French corps continue to engage 1^st Spanish corps

Six Spanish brigades are in rout, and only  one left to delay the French attack

 

2^nd Spanish corps swing north and attack the French reserve

The lancers have charged and routed the last French artillery battery

The infantry are moving in support  

End of move 12

1^st Spanish corps are in rout, one brigade left to delay the French

27^th French corps have occupied the north east section of the town

The remainder of the corps are redeploying south to support them

 

French reserve and 28^th Italian corps are pinned or in rout

 

2^nd Spanish corps hold the south east section of the town

The remainder of the corps is redeploying north to support them

 

Summary

The Spanish have lost more casualties than the French

However the French have failed to take all of Cuidad Real

Therefore the Spanish have won the battle

 

The French have lost 4 infantry. 3 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (2100 men)

They have 2 infantry, 2 artillery and 1 cavalry brigades in rout

The Spanish have lost 8 infantry, 3 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (3800 men)

They have 5 infantry, 1 artillery and 1 cavalry brigades in rout

29 April 1813 – South Spain – Day 9

15^th French army have occupied Almagro

3^rd Spanish army has been defeated and forced to retreat and withdraw from the campaign.

 

The French have effectively won the campaign.

However the fate of Cuidad Real has still to be decided.

The French campaign objective is to take the city, and to destroy the Spanish Army.   After eight days, and eight battles, the Spanish have been driven back to the final three towns of Malagon, Cuidad Real and Almagro.

The Spanish have held Malagon, and lost Almagro.   All now depends on Cuidad Real, which is the main Spanish depot for this campaign.

The French have won five of the eight battles fought, but are now at the end of a long supply line.   All six French corps are low on supplies, and carry considerable battle casualties.   They are relying on taking Cuidad Real to provide much needed supplies.  

The battle was hard fought on both sides.   As night approached the French had won in the north, but lost in the south.   They had taken the north east section of the town but to win would have to take the south east  section as well.   Despite their best efforts they failed to do so, and the Spanish could claim victory.

28 April 1813 – Battle of Almagro

Tactical map of battle area

15^th French army is ordered to attack Almagro

23^rd cavalry brigade is ordered to return and join them

They will not arrive until the start of move 9

15^th French Army – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

3^rd Spanish Army – 9 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Spanish deployed on the left

French will arrive on the right table edge at start of move 1

End of move 2

Spanish CinC has taken command of Almagro and placed a second brigade in the town.

French have arrived on the right

CinC has taken command of two infantry brigades and both artillery batteries

23^rd cavalry brigade will arrive at the start of move 9

End of move 4

5^th Spanish corps advance within range of hill

Their cavalry move towards the centre to threaten the French reserve

29^th French corps deploy behind the crest of the ridge

They want to pin 5^th Spanish, but not risk artillery casualties

French reserve are moving to attack town and Spanish right

Artillery advance, infantry form square to deter Spanish cavalry

6^th Spanish corps retreat level with the town

30^th Westphalian corps move off hill, screened by their cavalry

End of move 6

5^th Spanish corps swing right to attack the French reserve

29^th French corps remain out of sight on the hill

They have not yet had time to react to the Spanish redeployment

French reserve advance to within short artillery range of the town

one infantry brigade remain in square to protect them from Spanish cavalry. the second had

advanced behind the cover of the woods

6^th Spanish corps continue to withdraw as the Poles advance

30^th Westphalian corps continue to advance in pursuit of the retreating Spanish.

End of move 8

29^th French corps move down from hill

5^th Spanish corps react by turning to face them

Spanish artillery open fire and hit 15 infantry brigade

French infantry pass morale test with 10% casualties

French reserve artillery open fire on town at close range

Both batteries hit, garrison receive 20% casualties.

Garrison fail morale test and are shaken

30^th Westphalian corps advance towards 6^th Spanish corps

Spanish artillery open fire on cavalry, but no casualties

End of move 10

29 French corps advance

15 infantry brigade receive more casualties but continue to advance

23 cavalry brigade arrive and join corps attack

5^th Spanish corps cavalry charge French cavalry

Melee is a draw with 10% casualties on either side

Spanish garrison fail morale and both brigades rout

French reserve artillery redeploy to face south

Reserve infantry advance to occupy town

30^th Westphalian cavalry charge and rout Spanish gunners

The nearby garrison have to test their morale, fail and rout

Westphalian infantry advance

6^th Spanish corps infantry continue to hold area between town and farm

End of move 12

29^th French corps attack farm

French cavalry win melee and rout Spanish lancers

15 infantry brigade charge and rout gunners despite 30% casualties

All three infantry brigades advance in column to attack Spanish line

Two brigades are routed, one is shaken

French reserve enter and occupy Almagro

30^th Westphalian infantry attack in column

Spanish line hold, one Westphalian brigade is routed and the other shaken

Summary

After a very hard fought battle the French finally take the town

Spanish infantry hold both flanks, but retreat under cover of darkness

The French have lost 5 infantry casualties (2000 men)

The Spanish have lost 5 infantry and 2 artillery casualties (2200 men)

There are 8 Spanish brigades in rout and 3 French