5 August 1813 – Battle of Alcaudete

Tactical map of battle area

15th French Army commanded by Marshal Augereau attack Alcaudete
3rd Spanish army commanded by General Del Parque defend Alcaudete

French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 3 infantry and 1 cavalry battle casualties (1300 men)

Spanish have 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
They have lost 7 infantry battle casualties (2800 men)

Table at start of battle

3rd Spanish Army is in position on the three game objectives
Hill on the left, woods in the centre, village on the right
CinC has taken command of the left half of 8th corps, plus 9th corps artillery

15th French Army will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French arrive on table and advance towards the town
CinC has taken command of the right half of 45th corps
43 corps advance into woods, they are outnumbered in infantry and cavalry
44 corps advance towards woods in the centre
45 corps advance to the left of CinC

Spanish observe arrival of the French Army
CinC unlimber artillery facing 45th Italian corps
7 corps wait for 43rd French corps to emerge from woods
8 corps unlimber artillery facing 44th Westphalian corps
9 corps deployed back from edge of hill to avoid artillery fire

End of move 4

French Westphalian gunners retreat shaken
CinC halt and unlimber artillery out of range of Spanish guns
43 corps charged by Spanish dragoons
44 corps lose 10% artillery casualties due to enemy fire and retreat shaken
45 corps deploy into column of attack

Spanish dragoons retreat shaken
CinC wait for enemy to come into artillery range
7 corps dragoons charge artillery, receive 10% casualties and retreat shaken
8 corps artillery cause 10% casualties to enemy gunners
9 corps wait behind ridge for enemy to attack

End of move 6

French prepare to retreat having lost 43rd and 44th corps artillery
CinC orders army to cease attack
43 corps shaken gunners fail morale and rout, taking nearby infantry with them
44 corps gunners receive 10% casualties, fail morale and rout
45 corps ordered to stop attack

Spanish hold all three game objectives and win battle
CinC orders army to prepare to attack French
7 corps prepare to attack French
8 corps prepare to attack French
9 corps prepare to attack French

Summary
The French start the battle outnumbered in infantry
To attack they must weaken at least one of the three Spanish corps
Two of their three corps artillery rout due to enemy artillery fire
One infantry brigade joins the rout
Outnumbered in infantry and artillery they call off the attack
Spanish prepare to attack, French order retreat.

French have lost 2 artillery casualties (200 men)
Spanish have lost 1 cavalry casualties (100 men)

5 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 4

Main French depot at Hellin – 48 days supplies

French attack Alcajudete
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – rally and resupply at Ubeda
14th French army – occupy Jodar
15th French army – attack Alcaudete

1st Spanish army – rally and resupply at Linares
2nd Spanish army – retreat to Jean
3rd Spanish army - defend Alcaudete

9 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Elche – capture 3 supplies – escort lose10%casualties

4 August 1813 – Battle of Jodar

Tactical map of battle area

The French have won the first two battles, at Ubeda in the north and Huelma in the south. They now attack Jodar in the centre before the Spanish can retreat.

14th French Army – 10 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
2nd Spanish Army – 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The three game objectives in the centre of the table are the bridge on the left, the woods in the centre and the village on the right. The winner will be the side which occupies two of the three at the end of the game.

The Spanish army are deployed on the three objectives at the start of the game
Two brigades of 6 corps are on the left bank of the river Guadalquivir
The rest of 6 corps are on the right bank under the command of general Elio
5th corps hold the centre, with one brigade in the woods
4th corps are on the right, with one brigade in the village

The French will enter the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French enter the table and advance towards Jodar
Marshal St Cyr has taken command of half of 42 corps
40 corps cavalry are detached to patrol the lines of supply
41 and 42 corps each have one brigade detached on garrison duty

French advance towards Jodar
CinC has taken command of cavalry, artillery and one brigade
40 corps delayed by moving through the woods on the right
41 corps delayed by marching over hill in the centre
42 corps advance on the left bank towards bridge

Spanish react to French advance
CinC wait for French to advance
4 corps advance cavalry and infantry to pin French as they emerge from woods
5 corps advance cavalry to pin French as t hey emerge from pass
6 corps wait for French to advance

End of move 4

French advance
CinC advance towards bridge
40 corps gunners fail morale, abandon guns and run into woods
41 corps advance towards woods
42 corps advance towards bridge

Spanish retreat towards Jodar
CinC withdraw level with north edge of woods
4 corps cavalry charge gunners, who run away
5 corps withdraw level with north edge of woods
6 corps withdraw level with CinC

End of move 6

French attack bridge on the left and woods in the centre
CinC advance towards bridge
40 corps square (far right) advance to force cavalry to withdraw
41 corps advance to left of woods, infantry enter woods
42 corps win melee and take left end of bridge

Spanish withdraw left and centre, advance on right
CinC infantry lose morale and rout
4 corps advance supported by cavalry
5 corps withdraw to rear of woods
6 corps lose melee and rout

End of move 8

French capture bridge on the left and woods in the centre
CinC advances towards town in support of 41 corps
40 corps artillery rout cavalry, remainder of corps hold woods
41 corps capture woods and pursue retreating Spanish
42 corps capture bridge and pursue retreating Spanish

Spanish retreat on left and centre hold right
CinC abandon bridge and retreat, one brigade in rout
4 corps cavalry rout, but remainder hold village on the right
5 corps abandon woods and retreat to town
6 corps rally but unable to deploy, continue to retreat

Summary
French have captured bridge on the left and woods in the centre
They are unable to advance against the village on the right

Spanish retreat on left and centre, and must abandon village on the right
There is no chance of the Spanish retaking either the bridge or woods in the centre

The French have therefore won this battle

French have lost 1 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (500 men)
Spanish have lost 5 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (2200 men)

4 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 3

Main French depot at Hellin – 60 days supplies

French attack Ubeda
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – occupy Ubeda
14th French army – attack Jodar
15th French army – rally and resupply at Huelma

1st Spanish army – retreat to Linares
2nd Spanish army – defend Jodar
3rd Spanish army - rally and resupply at Alcaudete

4 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Riopar – capture 6 supplies – escort lose10%casualties

3 August 1813 – Battle of Ubeda

Tactical map of battle area

13th French army cross border and attack Ubeda
1st Spanish army have orders to advance to border

13th French Army – 10 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
1st Spanish Army – 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The game objectives are the three hills in the centre of the table
The side which occupies at least two at the end of the game has won

1st Spanish army are deployed on the table at the start of the battle
On the left 2nd corps complete with a lancer brigade
In the centre 3rd corps, who have no cavalry, on and around the centre hill
On the right 1st corps complete with a dragoon brigade
The CinC is behind 3rd corps in the centre
3rd militia brigade is the garrison of Ubeda and must remain in the town

13th French army will arrive at the start of move 1
37th Young Guard corps is on the right
38th French corps is in the centre
39th Vistula corps is on the left

End of move 2

French
CinC has taken command of guard cavalry and artillery between woods and road
37 corps is advancing through the woods on the right
38 corps has halted out of artillery range
39 corps is advancing towards the hjill on the left

Spanish
CinC has taken command of 2 corps cavalry, infantry and artillery
1 corps has started to climb the hill on the right
2 corps is waiting for the French to come within artillery range
3 corps has started to climb the hill on the left

End of move 4

French approach three objectives
CinC artillery hit infantry square
37 corps approach right hand hill
38 corps artillery hit gunners
39 corps approach left hand hill

Spanish deploy on three objectives
CinC half out of artillery range between left and centre hills
1 corps deploy on right hand hill
2 corps deploy on left hand hill
3 corps lose infantry and artillery casualties, both pass morale test

 

End of move 6

French attack hills on the left and right
CinC fire on square in right hand valley
37 corps win melee on right hand hill
38 corps infantry advance towards centre hill
39 corps three brigades on left hand hill rout

Spanish lose right hand hill
CinC cavalry charge guns but fail to charge home
1 corps infantry rout from right hand hill, but continue to hold valley
2 corps continue to melee on left hand hill
3 corps withdraw artillery into pass

 

End of move 8

French capture hills on the right and left
CinC halt in support of 37 corps
37 corps occupy right hand hill (game objective)
38 corps prepare to attack centre hill (game objective)
39 corps occupy left hand hill (game objective

Spanish army retreat having lost 2 of 3 game objectives
CinC withdraw but support 3 corps on centre hill
1 corps retreat with artillery in rout
2 corps retreat with four brigades in rout
3 corps withdraw with both flanks in retreat

Summary
Spanish retreat having lost two of the three game objectives
With 1 and 2 corps in retreat, 3 corps in the centre have to abandon centre hill
With seven brigades in rout the Spanish army accept defeat and retreat

The French have taken two of the three game objectives (left and right hills)
They are about to attack the third game objective (hill in the centre)

The French have won this battle.

French have lost 5 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2100 men)
Spanish have lost 9 infantry, 1 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (3900 men)

3 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 2

Main French depot at Hellin – 72 days supplies

French attack Ubeda
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – attack Ubeda
14th French army – hold Elche
15th French army – occupy Huelma

1st Spanish army – defend Ubeda
2nd Spanish army – advance to border
3rd Spanish army - retreat to Alcaudete

5 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties
10 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties
14 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – capture 3 supplies – escort lose10%casualties
15 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy – fail – no casualties

2 August 1813 – Battle of Huelma

Tactical map of battle area

The campaign opens with surprise attack by 15th French army on the town of Huelma. Two infantry brigades are absent on garrison duty and one cavalry brigade is absent patrolling lines of supply.

3rd Spanish army is deployed in and around the town. 8th corps is deployed on the border between Jean and Helin military districts. 7th and 8th corps are deployed around Huelma. 13th militia brigade is the town garrison

15th French Army – 10 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigades, 3 corps artillery
3rd Spanish Army – 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigades, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The three game objectives are in the centre of the table
Village on the left, woods in the centre, large woods on the right
The side which occupies two of the three will win the game

8th Spanish corps occupy the woods in the centre
7th and 9th Spanish corps may not move until the start of move 2

All three French corps will enter the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French have entered the table and are advancing towards the objectives
CinC has taken command of half of 44 corps
43 corps race to reach the woods before the Spanish
44 corps about to deploy screened by lancer brigade
45 corps moving through extensive woods on the left

Spanish HQ, 7 and 8 corps arrive on table
CinC moving to join corps
7 corps advancing towards extensive woods on the right
8 corps redeploy to meet French advance
9 corps will reach the village on the right before the French

End of move 4

French win first cavalry melee
CinC approach woods in the centre
43 corps enter woods on right and form square
44 corps cavalry charge Spanish cavalry
45 corps approach village on left

Spanish reach all three objectives
CinC takes command of 8 corps left of main road
7 corps enter woods on right, cavalry advance through woods
8 corps cavalry withdraw disordered when charged by French lancers
9 corps enter village on left

End of move 6

French attack
CinC win skirmish for woods, Spanish retreat
43 corps occupy half of woods on the right
44 corps cavalry charge lancers, who retreat shaken
45 corps deploy to attack village on the left

Spanish withdraw as French approach
CinC brigade in woods retreat disordered with 20% casualties
7 corps occupy half of woods on the right
8 corps advance in square to drive off cavalry
9 corps withdraw from village on the left

End of move 8

French occupy two of the three game objectives
CinC infantry enter woods in the centre
43 corps fighting for woods on the right continue
44 corps withdraw out of artillery range
45 corps infantry win melee and enter village on the left

Spanish withdraw and regroup
CinC prepares to counter attack woods in the centre
7 corps still holds one of the four wooded sections on the right
8 corps withdraw to hold approach to Huelma
9 corps lose melee and retreat behind village on the left

End of move 10

French occupy all three game objectives
CinC occupy woods in the centre
43 corps occupy large woods on the right
44 corps halt to right of main road
45 corps occupy village on the left

Spanish whole army in retreat
CinC retreat two brigades in rout
7 corps retreat one brigade in rout
8 corps retreat one brigade in rout
9 corps retreat three brigades in rout

Summary
French press home their attack on all three game objectives
Most Spanish infantry brigades are conscript, when one goes they all go

French have lost 2 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (900 men)
Spanish have lost 8 infantry casualties (3200 men)

Two French brigades in rout
Five Spanish brigades in rout, two with no casualties