23 March 1813 – Battle of Burgos

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

1, 2 and 4 British corps have orders to redeploy

3 British corps has orders to attack Sarracin

All four French corps have orders to attack Burgos

3 British corps will pin 14 French corps at Sarracin

But they would arrive too late to fight the battle

3 British corps will advance to C2

14 French will hold in E2

British – 34400 infantry, 2900 cavalry, 90 guns

French – 39200 infantry, 2800 cavalry, 90 guns

Any brigade with more than 30% casualties wil not take part in the battle

The British have three brigades absent for garrison or casualties

4^th British corps has considerable battle casualties

The French have two brigades absent for casualties

Table at the start of the wargame

2^nd British corps will arrive start of move 1

French HQ and 3^rd corps will arrive start of move 1

13^th French corps will arrive start of move 5

0800-0900

1^st British ordered to deploy between city and river

2^nd British ordered to deploy between city and T junction

4^th British ordered to hold Burgos

3^rd French ordered to take farm

6^th French ordered to attack Burgos

0900-1000

2^nd British ordered to deploy in front of farm

Remainder all advance and start to deploy

1000-1100

All continue to advance and deploy

1100-1200

6^th French artillery open fire on Burgos

Garrison suffer 10% casualties, but pass morale test

1200-1300  

13^th French arrive and are ordered to deploy between Burgos and farm

Artillery fire but no casualties

Garrison skirmish but no casualties

1300-1400  

3^rd French occupy farm

6^th French skirmishing Burgos receive casualties but pass morale test

1400-1500 

6^th French chasseurs charge British hussars, who are shaken with 10% caualties

Skirmish for Burgos continues

Artillery exchange fire, no casualties

1500-1600 

Burgos garrison shaken with 10% casualties from artillery and infantry

2^nd corps advance to engage farm, garrison pass morale with 10% casualties

13^th corps form column of attack ready to advance

1600-1700 

North East district of Burgos rout with 40% casualties

6^th French ordered to attack Burgos

3^rd French win skirmish for farm

2 British brigades rout and artillery retreat shaken

1700-1800 

French skirmish with South East district of Burgos

13 Polish lancers charge and rout 4 British artillery

Conclusion

2^nd British are ordered to withdraw

4^th British have lost half of Burgos

6^th French enter Burgos

13^th French advance to attack

Wellington orders his army to break contact and retreat

The British have lost 2900 infantry and 100 cavalry plus three brigades are in rout

The French have lost 1200 infantry

Outcome

The French have won and taken control of Burgos

Battle Summary

The French attack took the British by surprise

4^th British corps, which held Burgos, had considerable battle casualties

6^th French corps opened the attack on the city

Their infantry and artillery concentrated on the north eastern district

3^rd French corps occupied the farm to the south of the city

1^st and 2^nd British corps deployed to support the garrison

The garrison suffered from the French artillery, but held their position.

13^th Polish corps were ordered to deploy between the city and the farm

They were full strength, had no detachments or battle casualties

They immediately attacked and turned the tide

The city garrison gave way, and 6^th French were ordered to attack

With two brigades shaken and three in rout Wellington ordered a general retreat

The British had lost 2900 casualties

The French lost 1200 casualties