25 June 1813 – North Spain – Talavera Campaign

Map of Europe

 

This map shows the location of the five campaign areas. 

Each square is a military region.  

The current location of each army group is shown.  

The stars show the location of previous phases.  

The colour indicates which side won.  

 

This is the 88^th phase since the campaign started in April 2009.  

It is the 14^th in the sixth revision which started in June 2020 

 

The white star shows the location of Talavera

Map of Spain

On 1^st January 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

 

Two allied armies would concentrate in Spain

British army at Oporto

Spanish army at Seville

Together they would drive the French out of Spain

 

Duke of Wellington would command the British army

They would concentrate in the Oporto region

They would then march into the Madrid region and engage the French

 

Marshal Soult would command the French army

They would concentrate in the Madrid region

They would hold the region against any allied attack

This map shows the location of the four army groups in Spain.  

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

The stars show the location of previous campaigns fought in Spain. 

The colour of the star indicates which side won.  

 

The white star shows the location of Talavera

 

There are two allied armies in Spain

British army at Oporto

Spanish army at Seville

Their objective is to drive the French out of Spain

 

The Duke of Wellington commands the Anglo-Portuguese army

They are concentrated in the Madrid region

Their objective is to advance into the Madrid region and engage the French

 

Marshal Soult commands the Fourth French army

They are concentrated in the Madrid region

Their objective is to hold northern Spain

 

This map shows the current location of the four armies.
The colour of stars indicated which army has won the previous campaign phases.    

Map of North Spain

This map shows the location of the French and Anglo/Portuguese army.  

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

The stars show the location of previous campaigns fought in northern Spain. 

The colour of the star indicates which side won

 

There are three regions in Northern Spain

Oporto Region (on the left) is the concentration area for British army

Barcelona Region (on the right) is the held by irregular Spanish forces      

Madrid Region is the disputed area in the middle

Madrid Region

This map shows the location of the French and Spanish army. 

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

The stars show the location of previous campaigns fought in Spain. 

The colour of the star indicates which side won

 

This map is used for strategic (planning) movement.

Talavera District

This map shows the campaign area

It covers the area between Talavera and Madrid

The district border is in the middle of the map

 

It shows the location of each French and Anglo/Spanish corps.

It also shows depots and detached brigades

Each square is a 2x2 foot scenic square.  

Nine squares is a wargames table.  

Nine squares is also a military district.   

 

This map is used for tactical (daily) movement

The Anglo-Spanish objective is to hold the city of Talavera

The French objective is to take the city of Talavera

 

Campaign Diary

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

20 February 1813    Anglo/Portuguese army operational in Oporto Region

27 February 1813    Fourth French army operational in Burgos Region

22 March 1813        Start of Valladolid campaign phase

29 March 1813        British win Valladolid campaign phase

10 May 1813           Start of Llanes campaign phase

19 May 1813           British win Llanes campaign phase

25 June 1813          Start of Talavera campaign phase

 

Fourth French Army

Marshal Soult

10^th French army - 28^th French corps

10^th French army – 29^th French corps

10^th French army – 30^th Polish corps

11^th French army – 31^st French corps

11^th French army – 32^nd Westphalian corps

11^th French army – 33^rd Italian corps

12^th French army – 34^th French corps

12^th French army – 35^th French corps

12^th French army – 36^th Vistula corps

 Reserve

 

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

The reserve corps has six infantry brigades for garrison duty

168000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

 

British Army

Duke of Wellington

1^st British army - 1st British corps

1^st British army - 2^nd British corps

1^st British army – 7^th Spanish corps

2^nd British army - 3^rd British corps

2^nd  British army – 4^th British corps

2^nd British army – 8^th Spanish corps

3^rd British army – 5^th British corps

3^rd British army – 6^th British corps

3^rd British army – 9^th Spanish corps

Spanish militia

 

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

Spanish militia has six infantry brigades  

 

British - 96000 infantry, 6000 cavalry, 180 guns

Spanish - 48000 infantry. 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

Militia -  24,000 infantry

         

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

40 - Introduction to the campaign in northern Spain

41 - Fourth French Army order of battle

42 - British Army order of battle

43 - Daily diary for the campaign in northern Spain

44 - Battle reports of all battles fought in northern Spain

45 - Summary of campaign in northern Spain

 

 

Summary of Central Germany Campaign – 24 June 1813

Regions of Central Germany

There are three regions in Central Germany

Dusseldorf Region is the rear area for Second French army

Their main depot is in Dusseldorf

Dresden Region is the rear area for the Russian Army

Their main depot is in Dresden                

Erfurt Region is the disputed area between them

Diary of Central 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

 

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

01 February 1813    Formation of Second French army in Dusseldorf region

26 February 1813    Second French army declared operational.

27 February 1813    The Russians moved into the Erfurt region

28 February 1813    Davout entered Erfurt region and occupied Fulda district

14 March 1813        Start of Erfurt campaign phase

21 March 1813        French win Erfurt campaign phase

01 May 1813           Start of Gera campaign phase

09 May 1813           French win Gera campaign phase

16 June 1813          Start of Bayreuth campaign phase

24 June 1813          Russians win Bayreuth 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

20 - Introduction to the campaign in Central Germany

21 – 2^nd French Army order of battle

22 - Russian Army order of battle

23 - Daily diary for the campaign in Central Germany

24 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Central Germany

25 - Summary of campaign in Central Germany

 

24 June 1813 – Central Germany – End of Bayreuth Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

 

The Russians won four of the seven battles fought.

 

They also held the city of Bayreuth at the end of the campaign

 

The French won the first two battles at Kulmbach and Forchheim.

The third at Hollfeld was a draw, but declared a Russian win

The French won Pregnitz, and laid siege to the city

The Russians won Munchberg, but had to retreat

The Russians also won the first battle of Bayreuth

They withdrew to the city, and won the second battle of Bayreuth

 

The French defeated the Russian army in most of the battles

But twice they were unable to take the town, and the Russians won

 

In the final battle both armies fought to a standstill

But the Russians held Bayreuth and the French could no longer attack

 

After seven days of fighting the French ran out of supplies

They were forced to withdraw, regroup and resupply

The Russians won the campaign

 

The campaign started on 19 April 2023 and ended on 16 June 2023

Erfurt Region

Davout ordered his army to retreat to Kulmbach, Hollfeld and Forchheim.

 

Wittgenstein was too weak to pursue, and settled for holding Bayreuth

When the French retreated he reoccupied Pegnitz and Munchberg.

23 June 1813 – Battle of Bayreuth Day 2

Tactical map of battle area

At the end of the first day of fighting 1^st Russian army retreated to Bayreuth

4^th French army immediately followed them to continue the attack

Both armies had suffered heavy casualties in the first day of fighting

These casualties resulted in the loss of 2 French and 3 Russian brigades

Most remaining brigades had 10% casaulties

 

French – 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Russian – 10 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The Russians are concentrated in and around the city of Bayreuth

1^st corps, which has lost their cavalry and artillery, hold the city

The French will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Left – French CinC advances through the woods with half of 10^th corps

Left – Remainder of 10^th corps advance to the left of the woods

Centre – 11^th corps advance towards Bayreuth, they have no artillery or cavalry

Right – 12^th corps advance to the right of the unoccupied fortified farm

End of move 4

Left – Guard cavalry rout Russian cuirassiers

Centre – 11^th corps prepare to attack Bayreuth

Right – Russian artillery rout French gunners

End of move 6

French attack Bayreuth

Left – Guard cavalry rout Russian gunners

Left – Guard cavalry routed by Russian infantry square

Centre – French infantry skirmish with garrison

Right – Cossacks rout French lancers and then threaten attack on town

Right – 1^st Russian corps advance towards fortified farm

End of move 8

French attack falters

Left – French infantry and artillery routed

Centre – Russians withdraw to northern half of Bayreuth

Right – Cossacks rout French infantry and gunners

End of move 10

French attack halts

Left – French retreat at end of firefight

Centre – French unable to secure southern half of Bayreuth

Right – French win melee, but unable to advance

 

Summary

 At nightfall the Russians still hold half of Bayreuth

They have three infantry brigades and two artillery batteries operational

The French have five infantry brigades, but no cavalry or artillery

The Russian gunners prevent the French infantry from holding half of city

 

The French have lost 5 infantry,4 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (2500 men)

The Russians have lost 13 infantry, 5 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (5800 men)

The French have 5 brigades in rout, the Russians have 9 brigades in rout

23 June 1813 – Central Germany – Day 7

5^th French army lay siege to Munchberg – day 1

4^th French army continue attack Bayreuth

6^th French army lay siege to Pednitz – day 2

22 June 1813 – Battle of Bayreuth

Tactical map of battle area

Bayreuth is the campaign objective

It is the capitol of Bayreuth district

It is also the main Russian depot

 

French – 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Russian – 11 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

1^st Russian army is deployed on the table

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

 

Both armies start the game with campaign casualties

 

The French have nine brigades with 10% casualties

They also have three infantry brigades absent on garrison duty

 

The Russians have 10 brigades with 10% casualties

They also have one infantry and one cavalry brigade absent with casualties

End of move 2

French arrive on table

 

Left – 11^th French corps advance either side of farm

Centre – 10^th Young Guard advance through pass

Right – CinC has taken command of two infantry brigades and 12^th corps artillery

Right – 12^th French corps advance through woods

End of move 4

Russians occupy woods and fortified farm

French continue to advance, artillery unlimber

 

Left – 11^th corps approach woods

Centre – Young Guard clear pass

Right – CinC advance towards Russian centre

Right – 12^th corps pin 1^st Russian corps

End of move 6

Guard artillery routed

 

Left – French skirmish with woods, Russians receive 10% casualties

Centre – Russian artillery hit guard gunners, who rout with 20% casualties

Right – French artillery fire but no casualties

Right – 12^th corps continue to pin 1^st Russian corps

End of move 8

French attack along the whole front

Two routed Russian batteries rally

 

Left – French cavalry and artillery rout

Left  - Russian cavalry and infantry rout, gunners rally

Left – French take part of woods, Russians fall back through woods

Centre – Extensive skirmish and melee combat

Centre – Russian cavalry and infantry rout, gunners rally

Centre – French artillery rout

Right – Russians withdraw from fortified farm

Right – French press home their attack

End of move 10

French press home their attack

Russians withdraw towards Bayreuth

Green stars are Russian brigades in rout

Blue stars are French brigades in rout

White stars are continued fighting

 

Left – French attack Russian held northern woods

Centre – Russian squares retreat under attack from French columns

Right – 3^rd Russian corps is broken and in rout

 

Summary

Russians hold left and centre, but have lost their right flank

French continue to press home their attack

Russians retreat towards Bayreuth

 

The Russians still hold Bayreuth and claim a draw

There are seven Russian brigades in rout

There are three French brigades in rout

 

The French have lost 2 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (500 men)

The Russians have lost 8 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (3600 men)

22 June 1813 – Central Germany – Day 6

5^th French army regroup, 2^nd Russian army redeploy around Munchberg

4^th French army attack 1^st Russian army at Bayreuth

6^th French army lay siege to Pegnitz – day one