12 June 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 4

 

French retake Bargas

The battle of Adjucen

 

In the north 13^th French corps attack 1^st Spanish corps at Adjucen

3 infantry brigades are detached for garrison duty

1 cavalry brigade is detached to retake Bargas

6^th cavalry and 4^th infantry brigades attack Bargas

Guerrillas retreat leaving the town undefended

 

In the centre 14^th French army occupy San Pedro, regroup and resupply

2^nd Spanish army retreat to Merida

 

In the south – 15^th French army prepare to attack Calamonte

3^rd Spanish army rally, regroup and resupply at Calamonte

Guerrillas attack convoy to Nambroca, attackers lose 10% casualties, convoy safe

11 June 1813 – Battle of San Pedro

Tactical map of battle area

14^th French army have orders to attack San Pedro

The town is held by 2^nd Spanish army

 

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

Spanish Army – 11 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Both armies are on the table at the start of the game

The Spanish are deployed either side of San Pedro at the top of the table

The French are deployed at the bottom of the table

 

The river can only be forded by one of the three bridges

End of move 2

Left – 42^nd Polish corps is advancing to the right of the fortified farm

5^th Spanish corps is moving down from the hill to confront the Poles

 

Centre – 40^th French corps is advancing along the main road

6^th Spanish corps remain in and behind the town

 

Right – 41^st Baden corps is advancing on the right of the river Guidana

French CinC has taken command of Polish and Baden cavalry brigades

He is advancing between the hill and the river to support the Baden advance

4^th Spanish corps is advancing to defend both the top and centre bridges

Spanish CinC has brought forward his only cavalry brigade to support 4^th corps

End of move 4

Left – 42^nd Polish corps enter the fortified farm

5^th Spanish corps move down from the hill

Artillery open fire but no casualties

 

Centre – 40^th French corps cavalry charge and rout Spanish gunners

6^th Spanish corps hold town and await French infantry attack

 

Right – French CinC sends his cavalry forward

Baden cavalry fight two rounds of melee with Spanish lancers, draw both lose 20%

Polish lancers charge artillery, lose 10% and are shaken having failed morale test 

Far Right – 41^st Baden corps artillery open fire on Spanish infantry

Their infantry approach top bridge

4^th Spanish corps suffer 10% casualties to two infantry brigades

Their artillery halt Polish lancers charge.

End of move 6

Left – 42^nd Polish corps press home their attack

5^th Spanish corps artillery and two infantry brigades are routed

 

Centre – 40^th French corps artillery move into close range and fire on town

Infantry advance to attack the town

 

Left – French Baden cavalry win melee but lose 30% casualties

Polish lancers rally and charge artillery, but are driven back with 20% casualties

 

Far Left – 41^st Baden artillery pound Spanish infantry, two brigades shaken

Baden infantry attack across bridge and rout both shaken brigades

 

Summary

By 1200 the French have won the battle.

The Spanish still hold the town, but both 4^th and 5^th corps are broken

The French pause to regroup to attack the town.

Under cover of that pause the Spanish retreat and abandon the town

 

The French have lost 5 cavalry casualties (500 men)

The Spanish have lost 8 infantry, 4 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (3900 men)

Six Spanish brigades are in rout

11 June 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 3

French lines of supply cut at Bargas

The battle of Santa Pedro

 

In the north 13^th French army regroup to attack Adjucen

Guerrillas hold Bargas cutting French lines of supply

38 corps send their cavalry brigade to retake Bargas and open lines of supply

 

In the centre 14^th French army attack San Pedro

Guerrillas attack convoy to Albareal, attackers lose 10% casualties, convoy safe

Guerrillas attack convoy to Nambroca, neither side lose casualties, convoy safe

 

In the south 15^th French army occupy Manchita

3^rd Spanish army retreat to Calamonte

Guerrillas attack convoy to Guadamur, attackers lose 10% casualties, convoy safe

10 June 1813 – Battle of Manchita

 

Tactical map of battle area

15^th French army have orders to take the walled town of Manchita

43^rd French corps will arrive at the start  of move 1

44^th Westphalian corps will arrive at the start of move 5

45^th Italian corps will arrive at the start of move 5

 

3^rd Spanish army have orders to hold Manchita

7^th Spanish corps are in and around the walled town of Manchita

8^th Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 1

9^th Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 5

 

French army are full strength, but have two infantry brigades detached

Spanish army are full strength, but only 7^th corps have cavalry brigade

 

15^th French Army – 10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

3^rd Spanish Army – 12 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

7^th Spanish corps are deplolyed in and around the town

Two infantry brigades are in the town

The remainder of the corps is to the left of the town

End of move 2

Spanish artillery open fire, no casualties

Spanish CinC takes command of cavalry brigade

8^th Spanish corps arrive on road top centre

 

French CinC takes command of cavalry brigade

He moves to the left of the hill to threaten Spanish flank

43^rd French corps arrive on road bottom centre

End of move 4

43^rd French corps advance

Artillery fire on Spanish cavalry, no casualties

Dragoons charge Spanish militia cavalry

 

8^th Spanish corps move to right of town

7^th Spanish corps artillery fire on infantry, no casualties

Militia cavalry counter charge, melee is a draw 10% casualties on each side

End of move 6

On the left 45^th Italian corps arrive bottom left

Spanish cavalry win second round of melee.

French dragoons retreat shaken

Spanish cavalry then charged by newly arrived 45 corps cavalry

Spanish cavalry lose melee and retreat shaken

 

In the centre 9^th Spanish corps arrive on road

Town garrison come under artillery fire, but no casualties

French infantry approach town

 

On the right 8^th Spanish corps advance right of town

44^th Westphalian corps arrive and advance over hill

End of move 8

On the left 45^th Italian corps advance, cavalry charge artillery

Spanish gunners seek shelter in square and abandon their guns

7^th Spanish corps withdraw towards rear of town

 

In the centre French CinC rallies dragoons on hill

43^rd French artillery advance to short range of town

Infantry advance to assault town

Spanish CinC abandons routed cavalry and takes command of town

9^th Spanish corps advance to left of town

 

On the right 8^th corps start to deploy, artillery fire on cavalry

44^th Italian corps reach front of hill

Cavalry receive 10% casualties but pass morale test

End of move 10

On the left 45^th Italian corps deploy to attack, artillery fire on square

7^th corps continue to withdraw slowly

9^th Spanish corps arrive behind 7^th corps

 

In the centre French attach town with three brigades

Spanish garrison rout, but all three French brigades receive 10% casualties

Spanish reserve pass their morale test .

 

On the right 8^th Spanish corps continue to deploy

44^th Italian corps continue to advance, artillery deploy, cavalry pin Spanish infantry

End of move 12

On the left the Spanish hold their ground as 9^th corps start to deploy

French CinC moves to support 45^th Italian corps with his weak cavalry brigade

 

In the centre 43^rd French corps press home their attack on the town

The reserve Spanish brigade is routed and the French take the town

The remainder of 43^rd corps swing left to support the Italian attack

 

On the right 8^th Spanish corps break before 44^th Westphalian corps even arrive

Their artillery hit the nearest Spanish square, who are shaken

Their well placed cavalry charge and rout the square and the nearby artillery

This forces two nearby infantry brigades to test morale, both fail, both join rout

 

Summary

A clear victory for the French

Not only have they taken the town, but also routed 8^th Spanish corps

 

The French have lost 3 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (1600 men)

The Spanish have lost 9 infantry, 1 artillery and 1 cavalry casualties (3800 men)

10 June 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 2

 

The battle of Manchita

 

In the north 1^st Spanish army retreat to Adjucen having lost the battle of Santa Amalia

13^th French army have occupied the town and are regrouping after the battle

Spanish guerrilla brigades have been active and have taken the town of Bargas.

 

In the centre 14^th French army have closed up to the border in order to attack San Pedro

2^nd Spanish army are taking up defensive positions just west of the border.

In the south 15^th French army have attacked the walled town of Manchita

All movement in the mountains is in column of march

Both armies are dispersed and will reach the battlefield throughout the day