30 July 1813 – Southern Spain – Linares Campaign Summary

Tactical Map

The campaign opened with the French Army in and around Probete.

Suchet’s plan of campaign was to advance along the three roads leading south, with one corps on each and his reserve in the centre.

First contact was made at El Hoyo and La Carolina.  The French won both battles and occupied both towns.  The defeated Spanish corps retreated south.

The first major battle was in the centre at Baylen.   Two French corps defeated the main Spanish army and occupied the city.   Suchet had achieved the campaign objective.   But he must now hold it.

As the French advanced and occupied each town, the Spanish militia garrisons took to the hills and became guerrilla bands.   The further the French advanced the longer their lines of supply and the more vulnerable their convoys to attack by the guerrilla.

The French had to garrison each town to keep their lines of supply open.  These garrisons now came under attack.   The guerrilla took Abenogar and ambushed the garrison as they retreated towards Probete.   The loss of this infantry brigade threw the French supply chain into chaos.

The Spanish counter attack started with the second battle of El Hoyo, where they defeated the French.

Suchet had to send one of his corps back to secure his rear area and re-establish his lines of supply.  He concentrated the remainder of his army at Baylen.

Giron took advantage of this to order his four corps to attack the three French corps at Baylen.   By this time both armies had suffered considerable battle casualties, and most brigades were below full strength.  This reduced their morale and combat efficiency.   The gunners of both armies proved ineffective in the early stages and the battle was decided by hand to hand fighting.  The superior numbers of Spanish infantry won the day.   Baylen was taken and 16^th Italian corps broken and forced to retire.

With the loss of this battle Suchet was forced to acknowledge that he was unable to take and hold Baylen.   He ordered his army to rally at Probete.  But it would be some weeks before he could resupply, reinforce and prepare to advance again.

The Spanish occupied Baylen and La Carolina, but were too weak to pursue the defeated French.  However they were in firm control of Baylen and had therefore won the campaign.

Strategic Map

The Linares campaign was the fifth phase in Southern Spain between the Fifth French and the Spanish armies.   It lasted 12 days and there were five battles.   The French won the first three, but the Spanish won the fourth and fifth battle.  

The French lost 11200 infantry, 500 cavalry and 20 guns

The Spanish lost 12000 infantry and 20 guns

The Spanish won the campaign

The campaign started on 14 October 2017 and ended on 10 February 2018