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Sunday, May 17, 2015

7 March 1813 – Battle of Medina


Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle
One  British corps has orders to attack Medina supported by a guerrilla brigade.
Medina is held by 3rd French corps, and 14th corps have orders to support them.
No wargame was fought because the British were outnumbered two to one

British – 10800 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns
Guerrilla – 1000 infantry
French – 32000 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 60 guns
0800 to 1200
1 British corps and 11 guerrilla receive orders to attack Medina
The British advance to attack
14 French receive orders to march to support Medina 
1200 to 1600
1 British and 11 guerrilla attack Medina
British and French each receive 400 casualties
Guerrilla receive 100 casualties
14 French arrive and join battle
1200 to 1600
British receive 800 casualties
Spanish receive 100 casualties
British ordered to retreat back to Simancas
Spanish rout towards woods in A09

Conclusion
French win battle of Medina
British retreat, Spanish rout
The Spanish will rout on 8 March

Outcome
The British and Spanish will retreat next day
The French will consolidate their position and regroup

Battle Summary
The British were unwise to attack Medina
They started the battle with one brigade on garrison duty, and 1200 battle casualties
They knew that they were attacking two full French corps
The addition of a guerrilla brigade did nothing to even the odds
The British deserved to lose, and were fortunate not to rout
The Spanish deserved to lose and rout, which they did.
British lost 800 infantry
Spanish lost 100 infantry
French had no casualties

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