27 March 1813 – Battle of Morales

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

Encounter battle with both corps on attack orders

French - 16000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

British – 12000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

Because the battle is being fought at the bottom of the map, it will also be on the edge of the wargames table.  So I will put the top three squares on the bottom, thus moving the town to the centre of the table.

0800-1100

Both French and British deploy north of the town

Both send an infantry brigade into the town

1100-1200

Artillery fire on town

British infantry suffer 10% casualties, pass morale test

1200-1300  

Leading brigades skirmish inside town

Both send second brigade to support

French win skirmish, British brigade shaken with 20% casualties

Artillery are unable to fire into the town

Exchange counter battery fire, but no casualties.

1300-1500 

French win skirmish fight for possession of the town

Second British brigade moves through shaken brigade

Shaken brigade fail morale and rout

1700-1800 

Skirmish fight continues in the town

Neither side will give way

French artillery manhandles forward

British cavalry suffer 10% casualties

Conclusion

One British brigade is in rout

Their cavalry have suffered artillery casualties

It is clear to the British commander that he can not hope to take Morales

He orders a general retreat to avoid further casualties

The British have lost 800 infantry and one brigade in rout

The French have not suffered any casualties

Outcome

The French have won the battle of Morales

However this is only one of three battles fought today

Battle Summary

The French outnumbered the British by four brigades to three

Both corps have orders to attack Morales

Both send infantry into the town

The French artillery hit the British brigade.

There is an intense skirmish fight for possession of the town

Both corps send a second brigade into the town

The British suffer further casualties during the skirmish fight

A second brigade replaces the shaken British brigade

As the skirmish continues the shaken brigade routs

The French artillery manhandle forward and fire on the British cavalry

The horsemen receive 10% casualties but pass their morale

The British commander orders his corps to retreat to avoid further casualties

British suffer 800 casualties

French do not receive any casualties