21 July 1813 – Battle of Baylen

Tactical map of battle area

Marshal Suchet attacks Baylen with 8^th and 16^th corps

Only one brigade has been detached on garrison duty

General Giron has deployed 3^rd and 4^th Spanish corps to defend the town

Both are three brigade corps and neither have any cavalry support.  

5 Militia brigade are the garrison of Baylen

Spanish – 28000 infantry, 60 guns

French – 28000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Table at start of wargame

The Spanish start the game on hold orders

The French start the game on engage orders

0800-0900

8^th French corps (left) advance either side of the woods

This is the strongest corps, with four infantry and one cavalry brigade.

16^th Italian corps (right) also advance either side of the woods

They have three infantry and one cavalry brigade

The absence of Spanish cavalry allows the French artillery to advance without threat

0900-1000

The French and Italian cavalry advance to pin the Spanish

Their infantry advance behind the artillery

Giron orders 4^th corps to extend their left to include the town

13 infantry brigade is sent to occupy the right hand section of the town

1000-1100

8^th corps artillery unlimber and prepare to open fire

Their cavalry advance to threaten the Spanish artillery

The infantry on their right also advance to engage the inn

16^th corps artillery continue to advance

Their cavalry move onto the hill to protect the gunners

Their infantry on the right continue to advance

The Spanish artillery open fire, but cause no casualties

13 brigade continues to occupy the town

1100-1200

8^th corps artillery open fire and hit the Spanish infantry

Their infantry continue to advance towards the inn

16^th corps artillery unlimber within close range of the town

Their infantry on the right continue to advance

The Spanish infantry pass their morale test for artillery casualties

They are ordered to move behind the inn to avoid further casualties

1200-1300

Suchet changes 8^th corps orders from engage to attack

Lancers charge Spanish gunners, receive 100 casualties and retire shaken

Infantry on left advance on Spanish square

16^th corps continue to advance

Cavalry move off hill to support advance

Gunners fire on garrison and inflict 400 casualties

Spanish garrison pass morale for casualties

1300-1400

8^th corps infantry rout Spanish square

Suchet rallies shaken cavalry behind woods on left

16^th corps infantry continue to advance

Artillery continue to fire, but no casualties

3^rd Spanish infantry move to halt French infantry

Gunners limber and withdraw guns

1400-1500

8^th corps halt their right and advance their left

Rallied cavalry move out of woods to support new attack

Suchet moves to 16^th corps and orders them to attack

Infantry and cavalry move towards the woods lower right

4^th Spanish corps withdraw their artillery 

1500-1600

8^th corps continue to advance

16^th corps storm the woods and rout defenders

French artillery continues to fire but no hits

Giron moves to rally routed infantry in woods

1600-1700

8^th corps cavalry charge guns, but fail to charge home and retire shaken

In doing so they disrupt the supporting infantry

On the left French infantry storm the farm, but lose melee and rout

In doing so they take their supporting brigade with them.

16^th corps cavalry also charge guns, but charge home and rout gunners

The supporting Spanish infantry square pass their morale test

1700-1800

8^th corps cavalry are caught up in the infantry rout and join them

Infantry charge the guns and rout the gunners

Despite this Suchet orders them to call off their attack and regroup

16^th corps charge the town and rout the garrison

Suchet has rallied the two brigades which took the woods

He is leading them towards the centre to rejoin their corps.

1800-1900

8^th corps halt their attack and redeploy to engage the farm on the left

16^th corps send infantry to occupy the left hand section of the town

The remainder of the corps advance to pursue the retreating Spanish

3^rd Spanish corps continue to hold the farm

All of 4^th Spanish corps are in retreat

One brigade in square covers the retreat

1900-2000

8^th corps continue to fire on the farm, but with no effect

16^th corps occupy the right hand town section

The remainder of the corps continue to pursue the retreating Spanish

At nightfall the Spanish continue to hold the left hand town section and also the farm

However half of 3^rd corps, and all of 4^th corps, are in retreat

Conclusion

Suchet has won a convincing victory

He has defeated and routed both 3^rd and 4^th Spanish corps

At nightfall the Spanish still hold two of the three objectives

But they are surrounded and must either retreat or surrender

The French have lost 2400 casualties and have three brigades in rout

The Spanish have lost 8400 casualties and have five brigades in rout