Tactical
map of battle area
Background
to battle
This is an encounter battle
The British have orders to block the approach to Arriba
The French have orders to attack Arriba
British – 12000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns
French – 12000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns
Note – Both corps have one brigade each detached on
garrison duty
Table at start of wargame
Both corps start the wargame on the table
0800 - 1300
The battle opens with a race for the centre, to control
the road to Arriba.
Both corps deploy their cavalry to protect the approach
march
The British are nearer, and unlimber their artillery
between the farm and the marsh.
The remainder of the corps starts to deploy
Darmagnac orders the garrison to rejoin 13th
corps to take part in the battle
1300 - 1600
Polish artillery sent forward to be within range of the
British infantry
In doing so they unlimber within short range of the
British gunners
They receive 10% casualties, but pass their morale
Return fire and hit British gunners, who are shaken with
10% casualties
Polish infantry sent to engage British infantry who have
entered farm
1600 - 1700
Polish artillery hit British gunners again, who rout with
20% casualties
The British right (at the farm) are now outnumbered by
four to two
With the loss of his artillery Picton orders his corps to
retreat
Conclusion
The battle was decided by short range counter battery
fire
In addition the Polish infantry outnumbered the British
by four to three
They were more concentrated and could bring four brigades
to engage two
Without artillery Picton was unable to hold the farm
against such odds
The Polish lost 100 gunners and three guns
The British lost 200 gunners and six guns
Outcome
Although casualties were light, the Polish achieved a
clear victory
The British were forced to retreat to avoid heavy
casualties
Battle
Summary
The battle started with a race for the Arriba road, which
the British won
The cavalry faced each other on the eastern flank, but
neither would risk a charge
Picton sent his infantry to occupy the farm, covered by
his artillery
The Polish artillery was sent forward, protected by the
broken ground on their left
They unlimbered within short range of the British gunners
In a brief exchange of fire both artillery received
casualties
However the British gunners were shaken
The four Polish infantry brigades now advanced against
the two British in the farm
As they did so their artillery hit the British gunners
once more, who broke and routed
With the loss of artillery support the farm garrison
faced heavy casualties
Picton ordered a general retreat before they could be
pinned and attacked.
The French lost 100 gunners and three guns
The British lost 200 gunners and six guns
