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

Summary of Central Germany Campaign – 8 September 1813

 

Regional map 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 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
26 July 1813 Start of Halle campaign phase
01 August 1813 Russians win Halle campaign phase
02 September 1813 Start of Nordhausen campaign phase
08 September 1813 Russians win Nordhausen 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 – 2nd 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

8 September 1813 – Central Germany – End of Nordhausen Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

The Russians won all six battles and won the campaign

The campaign started on 30 September and ended on  20 December 2025

 

Erfurt Region

Davout ordered his army to withdraw to Kassel

Wittgenstein held Nordhausen and controlled all of the district

8 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 7

French retreat west
4 French army – abandon Weringerode and retreat west
5 French army – regroup
6 French army – abandon Ebelben and retreat west

Russian win campaign
1 Russian army – occupy Weringerode
2 Russian army – occupy Nordhausen
3 Russian army – Occupy Ebelben

7 September 1813 – Battle of Ebelben

 

Tactical map of battle area

Sixth French army is commanded by Marshal Poniatowski
Third Russian army is commanded by General Winzingerode

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Russian – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

French – 8 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3,500 men)
Russian – 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2,500 men)

Table at start of battle

The French are deployed at the top of the table in and behind Ebelben
The Russian army will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

The three game objectives are in the middle of the table
The hill on the left, the hill in the centre and the walled farm on the right
The player who holds at least two of the three at the end of 12 moves will win the game

End of move 2

French reach all three objectivs
CinC commands two infantry brigades in the centre right
16 corps, on the right, occupy the farm and deploy to the right and left
17 corps, in the centre, are delayed by having to march through the town
18 corps, on the left, reach the hill

Russian army advance towards the three objectives
CinC has taken command of cavalry from 8 and 9 corps
7 corps, on the right, are delayed by having to pass through the woods
8 corps, in the centre, advance to the right of the main road
9 corps, on the left, advance to the left of the farm

End of move 4

French occupy farm on the right
CinC commands half of 17 corps in the centre
16 corps infantry occupy farm on the right
17 corps infantry climb hill in the centre
18 corps infantry climb hill on the left

Russian reach both hills
CinC commands cavalry reserve in the centre
7 corps clear woods on the right and start to deploy
8 corps climb hill in the centre
9 corps approach hill on the left

End of move 6

French artillery hit Russian gunners
CinC infantry brigade retreat with 20% casualties
16 corps counter battery fire, no casualties
17 corps artillery hit Russian gunners
18 corps cavalry retreat with 10% casualties

Russian approach all three objectives
CinC reserve artillery hit and shaken with 10% casualties
7 corps infantry approach supports for farm
8 corps infantry deploy to attack hill on right
9 corps infantry approach hill on the left

End of move 8

French hold all three objectives
CinC hold centre between hills
16 corps hold farm, two brigades rout
17 corps continue melee on hill
18 corps hold hill on the left

Russian attack all three objectives
CinC hold area between two hills
7 corps will infantry melee to right of farm
8 corps continue melee on hill
9 corps prepare to attack hill on the left

End of move 10

French lose melee on both hills
CinC hold centre between two hills
16 corps win melee and hold farm
17 corps lose melee and retreat from hill on the right
18 corps lose melee and retreat from hill on the left

Russian attack all three objectives
CinC hold centre between two hills
7 corps attack on farm fails
8 corps capture hill on the right
9 corps win melee on hill on the left

End of move 12

French retreat to Ebelben
CinC hold approach to Ebelben
16 corps retreat and abandon fortified farm on the right
17 corps retreat and abandon hill in the centre
18 corps retreat and abandon hill on the left

Russian occupy all three game objectives
CinC hold centre between two hills
7 corps occupy fortified farm on the right
8 corps occupy hill in the centre
9 corps occupy hill on the left

Summary
The Russians occupy all three objectives and win the battle

French have lost 22 infantry,3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (5000 men)
Russians have lost 12 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (9200 men)

French have 8 brigades in rout, Russians have 4 brigades in rout