8 August 1813 – Second battle of Huelma

 

Tactical map of battle area

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

French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 3 infantry and 2 artillery battle casualties (500 men)

Spanish have 12 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
They have lost 7 infantry, and 1 cavalry battle casualties (2900 men)

Marshal Augereau was defeated at the battle of Alcaudete on 5 August.
He retreated to Heulma where he rallied, regrouped and resupplied
This was the first French defeat of this campaign
General del Parque is determined to repeat his victory and retake Heulma.

Table at start of battle

French deployed in front of Huelma to defend the town
43 French corps hold the farm on the right
44 Westphalian corps hold woods in the centre
45 Italian corps hold the woods on the left

Spanish army will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French adjust to sighting the approaching Spanish army
CinC takes command of half of 44 corps in the centre
43 corps occupy farm
44 corps occupy woods in the centre
45 corps occupy woods on the left

Spanish army arrive on table
CinC takes command of half of 8 corps in the centre
7 corps advance towards farm on the right
8 corps advance towards woods in the centre
9 corps advance towards woods on the left

End of move 4

French wait for Spanish to come within range of artillery
CinC unlimber artillery between woods and farm
43 corps unlimber artillery to the right of farm
44 corps take cover behind woods
45 corps unlimber artillery to the left of wood

Spanish deploy out of range of French artillery
CinC artillery deploy in centre, protected by cavalry
7 corps artillery deploy facing farm on the right
8 corps infantry halt to await developments
9 corps artillery deploy facing woods on the left

End of move 6

French battered in centre and right

CinC cavalry 20% casualties and rout, joined by gunners
43 corps gunners routed with 10% casualties, joined by infantry
44 corps hold woods in the centre
45 corps hold woods on the left

Spanish attack in centre
CinC artillery rout cavalry and gunners
7 corps cavalry rout gunners
8 corps prepare to attack woods
9 corps pin French left flank

End of move 8

French retreat in centre
CinC rallied gunners, cavalry still in rout
43 corps garrison of farm 10% casualties, pass morale test
44 corps retreat to rear of woods in centre
45 corps hold woods on the left

Spanish attack in centre
CinC swing left to support 8th corps
7 corps attack farm and square on the far right
8 corps advance towards woods in centre
9 corps pin French left flank

End of move 10

French withdraw from woods in centre and farm on right
CinC joins garrison of farm on left
43 corps infantry square break and rout
44 corps retreat behind woods in the centre
45 corps hold woods on the left

Spanish attack woods in centre and farm on right
CinC move to support attack on woods in the centre
7 corps fire on farm, break infantry square on right
8 corps attack woods in the centre
9 corps pin French left

End of move 12

French abandon woods in centre and farm on the right
CinC escapes when farm is captured
43 corps garrison of farm captured, remainder of corps routed
44 corps abandon woods in centre and retreat
45 corps hold woods on the left at the end of the battle

Spanish capture woods in centre and farm on the right
CinC support 8 corps to take woods in centre
7 corps attack farm and capture garrison
8 corps attack and capture woods in the centre
9 corps pin French left flank

Summary
Spanish attack and capture woods in the centre and farm on the right
Having taken two of the three objectives they win the battle

French hold woods on the left, but retreat during darkness
French have lost 13 infantry 1 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (5500 men)

Spanish have lost 4 infantry casualties (1600 men)
1 French infantry brigade captured and 2 in rout, also 1 cavalry and 2 artillery

8 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 7

Main French depot at Hellin – 18 days supplies

French occupy Jean
Spanish attack Huelma
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – regroup and resupply at Ubeda
14th French army – occupy Jean
15th French army – defend Huelma

1st Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Linares
2nd Spanish army – retreat to Martos
3rd Spanish army – attack Heulma

5 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Tobarra – fail no casualties
9 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Elche – fail no casualties
13 guerrilla attack convoy Mortalalla to Huelma – fail no casualties

7 August 1813 – Battle of Jean

 

Tactical map of battle area

14th French Army commanded by General Saint Cyr attack Jean
2nd Spanish army commanded by General Elio defend Jean

French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 1 infantry and 1 artillery battle casualties (500 men)

Spanish have 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
They have lost 3 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery battle casualties (1400 men)

Table at start of battle

2nd Spanish Army is deployed on the table at the start of the battle
4th corps in and around the first game objective, the farm on the right
5th corps in and around the second game objective, the woods in the centre
6th corps around the third game objective, the bridge on the left
General Elio has taken command of half of 6th corps, between the river and the woods

14th French Army will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French advance towards the three game objectives
CinC has taken command of half of 42nd corps, on the right bank of the river
40 corps reach the hill on the right
41 corps advance in the centre
42 corps advance on the left

Spanish adjust to French advance
CinC unlimber artillery, advance cavalry between river and woods
4 corps advance to edge of farm, unlimber artillery
5 corps advance to T junction
6 corps await French advance

End of move 4

French advance, artillery unlimber
CinC halt and unlimber artillery
40 corps advance slowly over hill
41 corps artillery rout Spanish cavalry
42 corps advance on left bank towards bridge

Spanish lancers charge French gunners
CinC wait for Poles to advance
4 corps artillery fire on gunners, no casualties
5 corps lancers charge artillery, receive 10% casualties and rout
6 corps wait for Poles to advance

End of move 6

French artillery open fire
CinC artillery hit Spanish gunners
40 corps infantry receive 10% casualties, pass morale test
41 corps artillery move closer to farm
42 corps advance towards bridge

Spanish artillery open fire
CinC gunners receive 10% casualties, withdraw out of artillery range
4 corps infantry withdraw out of artillery range
5 corps routed cavalry fail morale test
6 corps wait for Polish infantry to come within range

End of move 8

French attack
CinC artillery routs infantry brigade
40 corps advance towards farm, one brigade routed
41 corps artillery force enemy out of farm
42 corps capture bridge and rout two Spanish brigades

Spanish lose bridge (game objective)
CinC one brigade routs due to 20% casualties
4 corps advance to attack French as they move down from hill
5 corps retreat to rear of woods
6 corps lose melee, rout and abandon bridge

End of move 10

French attack woods in centre and farm on right
CinC send inantry into woods
40 corps infantry enter farm, infantry lose 10% but pass morale
41 corps infantry support attack on farm
42 corps infantry skirmish across river, no casualties

Spanish prepare to counter attack woods in centre and farm on right
CinC infantry skirmish over river, no casualties
4 corps infantry lose 10% casualties, but pass morale test
5 corps prepare to counter attack in woods
6 corps rally but too weak to counter attack on left bank of river

End of move 12

French hold two objectives and win the battle
CinC after two hours fighting both infantry brigades routed from woods
40 corps lose melee but rally and hold farm
41 corps support attack on farm and rout infantry brigade
42 corps rout defenders and secure bridge

Spanish hold one objective and lose the battle
CinC unable to hold bridge
4 corps counter attack on farm fails
5 corps hold area between farm and woods, one brigade routed
6 corps unable to hold bridge, retreat to bridge on main road to Jean

Summary

This was a very hard fought battle and the outcome in balance until the last move
The winner was decided by the two infantry melee
The Spanish won the melee in the woods and routed the Baden infantry
The French won the melee and held the farm on the right
The Polish took both ends of the bridge on the left

French have lost 7 infantry casualties (2800 men)
Spanish have lost 8 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (3300 men

The French have 3 infantry brigades in rout
The Spanish have 1 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades in rout

7 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 6

 

Main French depot at Hellin – 30 days supplies

French attack Jean
No Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – retreat to Ubeda
14th French army – attack Jean
15th French army – resupply at Huelma

1st Spanish army – retreat to Linares
2nd Spanish army – battle of Jean
3rd Spanish army - resupply at Alcaudete

Guerrilla brigades have no opportunity to attack French convoys

6 August 1813 – Battle of Linares

Tactical map of battle area

13th French Army commanded by Marshal Suchet attack Linares
1st Spanish army commanded by General Giron defend Linares

French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 4 infantry and 1 cavalry battle casualties (1700 men)

Spanish have 14 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
This includes the militia garrisons of Linares and Ubeda
They have lost 6 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery battle casualties (2600 men)

 

Table at start of battle

Spanish hold the three game objectives at the start of the battle
1 corps farm on the right
HQ and 2 corps small woods in the centre
3 corps large woods on the left
2 militia brigade are garrison of Linares
3 militia surprised by French advance and run for cover in large woods on left

French will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French arrive on table
CinC centre right has taken command of artillery from 37 and 38 corps
37 corps advance slowly over the hill on the right
38 corps advance between woods and farm in the centre
39 corps advance to the left of farm

Spanish react to French advance
CinC has taken command of two infantry brigades to the right of the road
1 corps advance to engage French as they advance beyond hill
2 corps artillery unlimber
3 corps artillery unlimber

3 militia reach safety of woods on the left

End of move 4

French infantry form column of attack
CinC move artillery to support 38 corps
37 corps advance over hill on the right
38 corps wait for artillery to deploy
39 corps artillery open fire on woods

Spanish artillery open fire
CinC artillery fire on French gunners
1 corps wait for French to attack
2 corps artillery fire on French gunners
3 corps infantry withdraw from left hand woods section

End of move 6

French attack woods
CinC split grand battery to engage Spanish HQ and 2 Corps
37 corps remain on hill observing 1 Spanish corps
38 corps blocked by CinC deployment
39 corps occupy forward section of woods

Spanish withdraw left and centre
CinC advance artillery to engage 38 French corps
1 corps advance to threaten centre
2 corps withdraw out of artillery range
3 corps 10% casualties on one brigade, retreat to rear half of woods

End of move 8

French attack woods on the left and centre
CinC infantry charge and rout gunners
37 corps outnumbered, pin 1 Spanish corps
38 corps cavalry rout Spanish lancers
39 corps occupy nearest woods section

Spanish retreat to keep out of range of French gunners
CinC gunners routed and abandon guns
1 corps wait for French to advance
2 corps lancers rout, then rally with 20% casualties
3 corps withdraw behind woods

End of move 10

French attack woods on the left and in the centre
CinC redeploy guns to engage farm on the right
37 corps continue to pin 1 Spanish corps
38 corps attack 2 Spanish corps
39 corps attack 3 Spanish corps

Spanish withdraw but keep control of all three game objectives
CinC withdraw to rear of woods in the centre
1 corps hold farm on the right
2 corps cavalry lose melee and rout, taking one infantry brigade with them
3 corps hold part of woods on the left

End of move 12

French continue to attack woods on the left and the centre
CinC artillery hit farm twice, but garrison continue to hold
37 corps continue to pin 1 Spanish corps
38 corps break Spanish centre
39 corps fail to take woods on the left

Spanish hold two objectives and dispute the third
CinC drive French out of woods in the centre
1 corps hold farm despite 20% casualties
2 corps break and rout
3 corps dispute woods on the left

Summary

On the right 37th French corps are too weak to attack
But pin 1st Spanish corps throughout the battle

In the centre the Spanish hold woods and farm

On the left 3rd Spanish corps hold three sections of the woods
They also continue to hold the fourth section

The Spanish hold two objectives and dispute the third
They win the battle

French have lost 3 infantry casualties (1200 men)
Spanish have lost 8 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (3400 men)

6 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 5

Main French depot at Hellin – 36 days supplies

French attack Linares
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – attack Linares
14th French army – regroup and resupply at Jodar
15th French army – rally, regroup and resupply at Huelma

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

14 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Mortalalla – fail and rout – guerrilla lose10%casualties
15 guerrilla brigade – attack convoy to Minateda – fail and retreat – no casualties

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)