11 September 1813 – Battle of El Carpio

Tactical map of battle area

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

French have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades, 3 corps artillery
Spanish have 16 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigades, 4 corps arftillery

All corps are full strength at the start of the battle

Table at start of battle

Both armies are deployed at the start of the battle

Spanish, at the top, are on the three game objectives
CinC has taken command of both cavalry brigades to form a reserve

French, at the bottom, are deployed in column of march
CinC has taken command of half of 40 corps on the left bank of the river

There are three objectives, all in the centre of the table
Inn on the left, woods in the centre and bridge on the right
The army which controls at least two at the end of 12 moves will win

End of move 2

French advance towards objectives
CinC advance to the left of the river
40 corps advance to the right of the river
41 corps advance towards woods in the centre
42 corps advance towards inn on the left

Spanish react to French advance
CinC moves cavalry forward between 6 and 7 corps
5 corps advance to outflank attack on inn
6 corps wait for French to advance
7 corps wait for French to advance
8 corps wait for French to advance

End of move 4

French artillery open fire on Spanish infantry
CinC artillery fire on infantry, advance towards bridge
40 corps observe Spanish on the right bank of the river
41 corps artillery fire on infantry, infantry skirmish with woods
42 corps artillery fire on infantry, infantry skirmish with inn

Spanish withdraw out of artillery range
CinC withdraw cavalry out of artillery range
5 corps receive casualties, withdraw out of artillery range
6 corps receive casualties, withdraw out of artillery range
7 corps receive casualties, withdraw out of artillery range
8 corps wait for French to advance

End of move 6

French attack inn on the left and woods in the centre
CinC gunners evade to square
40 corps hold their position
41 corps infantry enter woods
42 corps infantry skirmish with garrison of inn

Spanish counter attack between woods and river
CinC cavalry advance against gunners and lancers
5 corps move supports to rear of inn
6 corps withdraw infantry to rear of woods
7 corps advance to attack French HQ
8 corps wait for French to advance

End of move 8

French blue star is brigade in rout
CinC withdraw towards southern bridge
40 corps withdraw towards southern bridge
41 corps occupy woods, cavalry lose melee and rout
42 corps occupy inn, prepare to attack left of inn

Spanish yellow star is brigade in rout
CinC win cavalry melee
5 corps withdraw towards hill on the left
6 corps withdraw from woods in the centre
7 corps advance left of river
8 corps prepare to advance right of river

End of move 10

French attack on left and centre
CinC withdraw to southern bridge
40 corps withdraw and cross to left bank of river
41 corps attack between inn and woods
42 corps attack to left of inn

Spanish attack both sides of river
CinC cavalry threaten French infantry
5 corps withdraw to base of hill on the left
6 corps artillery and infantry attack woods
7 corps attack on left bank
8 corps attack on right bank

End of move 12

French blue star is brigade in rout
CinC retreat to southern bridge
40 corps cross to left bank and deploy to hold southern bridge
41 corps hold woods against counter attack
42 corps hold inn, corps pursue retreating Spanish

Spanish yellow stars are brigades in rout
CinC rallies heavy cavalry brigade
5 corps retreat with three brigades in rout
6 corps counter attack on woods fails
7 corps artillery fire on French at southern bridge
8 corps artillery fire on French at southern bridge

Summary

7th and 8th Spanish corps fire on 40th French corps at southern bridge
41st Polish corps have taken and hold woods in the centre
42nd Italian corps hold inn on the right, and pursue retreating 5th Spanish corps

The French hold two of the three battle objectives and win the battle
The Spanish hold the bridge on the left and pursue retreating 40th French corps

The French have lost 3 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (1500 men)
The Spanish have lost 13 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (5300 men)

The French have 1 brigade in rout
The Spanish have 7 brigades in rout

The French win the battle

11 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 3

 

French occupy Espinal
13 French Army regroup at Montoro
14 French Army attack El Carpio
15 French Army occupy Espinal

Spanish win battle of Espinal
1 Spanish Army regroup at Muriano
2 Spanish Army defend El Carpio
3 Spanish Army retreat to Montilla

10 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 2

French attack Espinal
13 French Army occupy Montoro
14 French Army observe El Carpio
15 French Army attack Espinal

Spanish win battle of Montoro
1 Spanish Army retreat to Muriano
2 Spanish Army hold El Carpio
3 Spanish Army hold Espinal

10 September 1813 – Battle of Espinal

Tactical map of battle area

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

French have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Spanish have 16 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 4 corps artillery

Both armies are full strength at the start of the battle

Table at start of battle

Both armies are deployed on the table at the start of the battle

The Spanish occupy the three battle objectives
Village on the left, hill in the centre and woods on the right

The French are deployed nearest to the camera

End of move 2

French move towards the three objectives
CinC has taken command of cavalry from 43 and 44 corps
43 corps advance towards woods on the right
44 corps advance towards hill in the centre
45 corps advance towards village on the left

Spanish respond to sighting French advance
CinC has command of both cavalry brigades
9 corps wait for French to approach
10 corps move their artillery forward off the hill
11 corps wait for French to approach
12 corps wait for French to approach

End of move 4

French attack
CinC pin enemy cavalry
43 corps artillery fire on woods, infantry advance
44 corps observe hill in the centre
45 corps artillery hit infantry, infantry and cavalry advance

Spanish withdraw on left and right flank
CinC observe enemy cavalry
9 corps withdraw to centre of woods to avoid artillery fire
10 corps wait for French to approach
11 corps infantry brigade rout with 10% casualties
12 corps observe enemy wait for French to approach

End of move 6

French attack woods on the right
CinC observe enemy cavalry
43 corps win melee to the right of the woods
44 corps redeploy artillery to engage Spanish cavalry
45 corps artillery force garrison to withdraw

Spanish support village on the left and woods on the right
CinC observe enemy cavalry
9 corps infantry lose melee and rout
10 corps send two brigades to support woods on the right
11 corps garrison withdraw to avoid artillery fire
12 corps send two brigades to support village on the left

End of move 8

French capture village on the left
CinC move cavalry reserve forward as Spanish cavalry retreat
43 corps capture southern half of woods on the right
44 corps artillery force Spanish cavalry to retreat
45 corps prepare to attack left hand hill in the centre

Spanish retreat to avoid French artillery
CinC withdraw cavalry reserve
9 corps retreat to northern half of woods on the right
10 corps redeploy to meet possible attack from village
11 corps withdraw from village, redeploy to counter attack
12 corps observe French centre

End of move 10

French attack all three objectives
CinC fighting cavalry melee between hill and woods
43 corps hold southern half of woods
44 corps attack left half of hill
45 corps pursue retreating Spanish

Spanish extensive fighting, five brigades in rout
CinC continues cavalry melee
9 corps hold northern half of woods on the right
10 corps fighting to hold left half of hill in the centre
11 corps attempting to rally routed brigades
12 corps hold right half of hill in the centre

End of move 12

French blue stars are routed brigades
CinC cavalry win melee
43 corps lose melee in woods and four brigades rout
44 corps win melee and hold half of hill in the centre
45 corps garrison of farm routed

Spanish yellow stars are routed brigades
CinC yellow stars are routed brigades
9 corps hold three of four sections of woods on the right
10 corps lose melee for left half of hill, six brigades routed
11 corps occupy farm on the left
12 corps hold right half of hill

Summary

At nightfall the Spanish hold the farm on the left
They also hold half of hill in the centre and three quarters of woods on the right
The French hold half of hill in the centre and one quarter of woods on the right

Neither side hold two of the three game objectives
The Spanish hold one and most of the other two

The result in a draw, but the Spanish declared the winners

French have lost 5 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2100 men)
Spanish have lost 17 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (7100 men)

6 French brigades in rout
11 Spanish brigades in rout

9 September 1813 – Battle of Montro

Tactical map of battle area

13th French Army commanded by Marshal Suchet attack Montoro
1st Spanish army commanded by General Elio defend Montoro

French have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Spanish have 16 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 4 corps artillery

All brigades are full strength

Table at start of battle

Both armies are deployed on the table at the start of the battle
All corps will move towards the battle objectives at the start of move one

There are three objectives on the table which are
Farm on the left
Small woods in the centre
Large woods on the right
The army which holds at least two objectives at the end of 12 moves will win

End of move 2

French have advanced towards objectives and start to deploy
CinC has taken command of half of 38 corps and is between 37 and 38 corps
37 corps start to deploy in front of woods on the right
38 corps start to deploy in front of the woods in the centre
39 corps start to deploy in front of the farm on the left

Spanish have reached all three objectives
CinC has taken command of half of 4 corps and is between 1 and 2 corps
1 corps start to occupy large woods on the right
2 corps start to occupy small woods in the centre
3 corps start to occupy farm on the left
4 corps remain in reserve behind Montro

End of move 4

French approach all three objectives
CinC hold centre between 37 and 38 corps
37 corps approach large woods on the right
38 corps approach small woods in the centre
39 corps skirmish garrison of farm on the left

Spanish 4 corps deployed in the centre
CinC withdraw reserve cavalry out of artillery range
1 corps mass in the centre of woods on the right
2 corps hold northern half of woods in the centre
3 corps garrison of farm withdraw with 10% casualties
4 corps deploy in the centre between HQ and 2 corps

End of move 6

French capture farm on the right
CinC hold centre between 37 and 38 corps
37 corps continue to fight for woods on the left
38 corps continue to fight for woods in the centre
39 corps capture farm on the left

Spanish continue to hold woods on the right and in the centre
CinC hold right centre
1 corps continue to fight for woods on the right
2 corps continue to fight for woods in the centre
3 corps lose farm on the left
4 corps move to support 3 corps

End of move 8

French continue to attack woods in the centre and right
CinC holds centre between woods in the centre and right
37 corps continue to attack woods on the right, but last reserve committed
38 corps continue to attack woods in the centre, but last reserve committed
39 corps secure farm on the left, pursue 3 Spanish corps

Spanish commit 4 corps to support woods in the centre and on the right
CinC holds centre between woods in the centre and woods on the right
1 corps only one brigade left to hold woods on the right
2 corps only one brigade left to hold woods in the centre
3 corps attempt to rally routed brigades in woods behind farm
4 corps committed to support fighting for woods in the centre and woods on the right

End of move 10

French blue stars show routed brigades
CinC holds centre between woods on the left and woods on the right
37 corps losing battle for the woods on the right
38 corps captures woods on the left
39 corps holds farm on the left

Spanish yellow stars show routed brigades
CinC sends two brigades to support woods on the right
1 corps last brigade routed from woods on the right
2 corps artillery fire on woods on the left
3 corps attempt to rally in woods to the left of Montro
4 corps rout from woods on the right

End of move 12

French hold farm on the left
CinC continue to hold right centre
37 corps lose melee and withdraw from woods on the right
38 corps lose melee and withdraw from woods in the centre
39 corps hold farm on the left

Spanish hold woods in the centre and on the right
CinC captures woods on the right
1 corps rally behind woods on the right
2 corps capture woods on the left
3 corps rout from farm on the left
4 corps rally behind woods on the right

Summary
Both sides suffer heavy casualties fighting for the woods
The Spanish have more reserves and retake both woods
At nightfall the Spanish hold two of the three objectives

French have lost 13 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (5300 men)
Spanish have lost 21 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (8500 men)
The French had four brigades in rout, and Spanish six.

The Spanish held two of the three objectives at the end of 12 moves and won the battle.

9 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 1

French attack Montoro
13 French Army attack Montoro
14 French Army observe El Carpio
15 French Army observe Espinal

Spanish hold Cordova-Jean border
1 Spanish Army hold Montoro
2 Spanish Army hold El Carpio
3 Spanish Army hold Espinal

9 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Cordoba Campaign

1813 Campaign

This is a fictional campaign loosely based on the 1813 campaign
It started in April 2009 and consists of stand alone campaign phases
Each phase is similar in size to the Waterloo campaign
This is the 98th phase, each of which is shown on the above map
There have been six major adjustments to the campaign
The following maps are used for the current adjustment, which started in June 2020

Map of Europe

There are five campaign areas in Europe
North Germany – French v Prussians
Central Germany – French v Russians
Southern Germany – French v Austrians
North Spain – French v British
South Spain – French v Spanish

This is the campaign phase 25
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Cordoba is the white star

Map of Spain

There are two campaign areas in Spain
North Spain – Fourth French and British Armies
South Spain – Fifth French and Spanish Armies
This is the tenth campaign phase to be fought in Spain
Cordoba is the white star

Map of South Spain

There are three regions in south Spain
Lisbon Region – Spanish rear area
Seville Region – campaign area
Valencia Region – French rear area
This is the fifth campaign phase to be fought in south Spain
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Cordoba is the white star

Map of Seville Region

There are nine towns in Jean district
Each one is the size of the wargames table.
The campaign area is shown in white on this map
It covers the nine towns in Jean district
But also 3 towns in Hellin district
Hellin is the HQ and supply centre for Fourth French Army Group
Jean is the HQ and supply centre for the Spanish Army

Campaign Map

The Cordoba campaign is fought between the cities of Jean and Cordoba
The French Army of South Spain is deployed to the right of the district border
The Spanish Army is deployed to the left of the district border
The French objective is to take and hold the city of Cordoba
Each block represents one corps
The French objective is to take and hold the city of Cordoba

Typical French corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades,1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Fourth French Army of Southern Spain – Marshal Suchet
37th French corps
38th French corps
39th Vistula corps
40th French corps
41st Baden corps
42nd Polish corps
43rd French corps
44th Westphalian corps
45th Italian corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Typical Spanish corps

6 corps have 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery
6 corps have 4 infantry brigades, and corps artillery

Spanish Army – General Giron
1st Spanish corps
2nd Spanish corps
3rd Spanish corps
4th Spanish corps
5th Spanish corps
6th Spanish corps
7th Spanish corps
8th Spanish corps
9th Spanish corps
10th Spanish corps
11th Spanish corps
12th Spanish corps

192,000 infantry, 6000 cavalry, 360 guns

Campaign Diary
01 Feb 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France
04 Feb 1813 Spanish army operational n Saville region
28 Feb 1813 Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region
09 Mar 1813 Start of Toledo campaign phase
13 Mar 1813 Spanish win Toledo campaign phase
20 Apr 1813 Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase
30 Apr 1813 French win Cuidad Real campaign phase
08 Jun 1813 Start of Merida campaign phase
15 Jun 1813 French win Merida campaign phase
02 Aug 1813 Start of Jean campaign phase
11 Aug 1813 French win Jean campaign phase
09 Sep 1813 Start of Cordoba 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
50 - Introduction to the campaign in southern Spain
51 - Fifth French Army order of battle
52 - Spanish Army order of battle
53 - Daily diary for the campaign in southern Spain
54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in southern Spain
55 - Summary of campaign in southern Spain