30 March 1813 – Battle of Talavera

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

All French and Spanish corps have orders to attack Talavera

The French CinC has specific orders to remain at I3

He will not take part in the battle

5 French brigades will be absent from the battle

4 on garrison duty and 1 below strength

All Spanish brigades are present

Spanish – 64000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 120 guns

French – 43600 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 guns

Table at start of wargame

7 and 8 French start on the table

8 French will arrive at the start of move 1

16 French will arrive at the start of move 9

All Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 1

The river is fordable to infantry and cavalry at half move rate

Artillery can only cross by the bridge

0800-0900

Spanish arrive on table (left)

French advance (right)

0900-1000

Spanish CinC orders 8 brigade to rejoin 2 corps

Spanish continue to advance

French start to deploy

1000-1100

8 Spanish brigade start to retreat from city bottom right

French artillery open fire on city, no casualties

Spanish start to deploy

1100-1200

French artillery fire, no casualties

French lancers charge Spanish cavalry, melee is a draw

French infantry enter city top right

Spanish infantry enter city top left

1200-1300  

French artillery redeploy

Spanish cavalry lose melee and retire shaken with 10% casualties

Spanish infantry occupy city left

French infantry occupy city right

1300-1400  

Skirmish in city is a draw, both sides lose 10% casualties

1 Spanish ordered to attack woods

1400-1500 

1 Spanish attack woods is a draw, both sides lose 20% casualties

2 Spanish cavalry lose morale and rout

3 Spanish artillery hit square, who pass morale with 10% casualties

1500-1600 

1 Spanish win melee in woods, French rout with 60% casualties

1 Spanish cavalry charge, lose melee and retire shaken with 20% casualties

3 Spanish infantry attack, French retire shaken with 20% casualties

Conclusion

The Spanish keep possession of Talavera

The French lost 5300 casualties and five brigades in rout

The Spanish lost 4000 casualties and two brigades in rout

Outcome

The Spanish win the battle

Battle Summary

The Battle of Talavera

The French started the battle with four brigades absent.

Marshal Suchet was also ordered not to take part in the battle

With three corps taking part, the CinC command points were missed

It resulted in corps commanders having to use their own command points

Command of the corps suffered as a result

The Spanish were stronger in infantry, but weaker in cavalry

However the battlefield was too crowded for the French to take full advantage

The artillery on both sides played a considerable part in the battle

However the outcome rested on control of Talavera

There was a prolonged infantry melee for the city

The French artillery provided better support and the Spanish suffered

However 7th and 15th French corps were overwhelmed

And eventually 8th French corps was forced to abandon the city

The French lost 5300 casualties and five brigades in rout

The Spanish lost 4000 casualties and two brigades in rout

The French defeat at Talavera, and their failure to take that city, means that they have lost this phase of the campaign.