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