15 June 1813 – Southern Spain – End of Merida Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

Suchet won four of the six battles fought.

 

He won the first three, forcing the Spanish army to retreat west to Adjucen, Merida and Calamonte.

 

To pursue the retreating Spanish, Suchet had to detach more infantry brigades to protect his every lengthening lines of supply.   This was necessary because of the increased guerrilla activity, which resulted in the loss of the town of Bargas – not once but twice.

 

The French won the fourth battle to the east  of Adjucen.  However 2^nd Spanish corps occupied the city, and 13^th French army were forced to lay siege. 

 

The Spanish won at Calamonte, and also at the final critical battle of Merida.

 

By now the French were down to one or two days supplies for each corps, and the final blow was when the guerrilla captured Bargas for the second time.  This caused the collapse of the French supply system in the north. 

 

Suchet ordered his army to retreat east to resupply and regroup

 

The campaign started on 11 January and ended on 7 April 2023

 

The course of the campaign was very similar to historical campaigns in Spain.

The French armies defeated the Spanish field armies during the early part of the campaign.  However as they advanced they had to detach infantry brigades  to hold the captured towns.   The Spanish garrisons of those towns became guerrilla bands, and attacked both the lines of supply and the towns themselves.   During the latter part of the campaign the French supply system broke down, forcing Suchet to call off offensive operations and retreat to resupply and regroup.

 

Seville Region

Suchet orders his army to retreat to Toledo

 

Giron orders his army to deploy in and around Merida