29 July 1813 – Battle of Baylen

Tactical map of battle area

Both commanders have ordered their army to concentrate at Baylen

8^th French, 15^th Vistula and 16^th Italian corps are in position

7^th French corps are still recovering from their rout and will not take part

2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th Spanish corps are in position

1^st Spanish corps will arrive on the left flank at 1200

Both armies have suffered considerable battle casualties

Spanish – 44000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 114 guns

French – 34000 infantry, 2900 cavalry, 90 guns

Table at start of wargame

The three French corps are in position at the top of the table

Three Spanish corps are advancing at the bottom of the table

1^st Spanish corps will arrive on the left at the start of move 5

0800-1000

All three Spanish corps advance and start to deploy to the right of the woods

They have left space on the left flank for 1^st corps to deploy when they arrive

15^th Polish corps have advanced to occupy the farm on the right

8^th and 16^th corps have moved their artillery forward into long range of the enemy

1000-1200

Spanish continue to deploy, artillery unlimber and open fire

CinC has joined 1^st corps who are about to arrive on the left flank

French artillery also fire on approaching Spanish, but fail to cause any casualties

8^th French corps (top left) wait for 1^st Spanish corps to arrive before they deploy

1200-1400

1^st Spanish corps is starting to arrive far left

All four Spanish corps are ordered to advance and engage the French

Spanish artillery redeploy to support the attack.

French artillery are proving ineffective and have only caused minor casualties

1400-1600

All four Spanish corps are now engaged with the French

On the left 8^th French corps have withdrawn to the fortified farm

1^st Spanish corps have been ordered to attack

Giron has joined 4^th Spanish corps and is about to order them to attack Baylen

1600-1800

General Giron orders 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th corps to attack

3^rd corps remain on engage orders and will support 1^st corps

Both sides are fragile due to previous casualties

However the French break first, and the rout spreads

The Spanish capture the whole of Baylen

They also take the right hand farm

Marshal Suchet orders all three French corps to retreat

Conclusion

The French have five brigades in rout and must retreat

The French have lost 2500 casualties and have five brigades in rout

The Spanish have lost 2400 casualties and have one brigade in rout