5 March 1813 – Battle of Arriba

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 13^th 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