23 August1813 – Battle of Sanabria

Tactical map of battle area

Wellington was defeated at Leon on 20 August and had to retreat

He had rallied his army just south of Sanabria

Soult is determined to attack Wellington before he can recover from this defeat

Both armies have suffered considerable campaign casualties

The French are low on supplies and will be in trouble if they lose this battle.

British – 51200 infantry, 3500 cavalry, 116 guns

French – 52000 infantry, 3900 cavalry, 114 guns

Table at start of wargame

 7^th, 13^th and 16h French corps are deployed on the table

1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd British corps also deployed on table

8^th French corps will arrive top centre start of move 1

4h British corps will arrive bottom left start of move 1

0800-0900

All four French corps advance

2^nd British corps advance on to hill in cenre

4^th British corps arrive between 1^st and 2^nd corps

0900-1000

French continue to advance

All infantry are in column of march to move faster

Wellington waits for French attack to develop

2^nd British corps occupy hill in centre

4^th British corps start to arrive between 1^st and 2^nd corps

1000-1100

French deploy into column of attack

British artillery open fire and cause some casualties to French gunners

4^th British corps start to deploy between 1^st and 2^nd corps

1100-1200

13^th Polish corps move forward to attack hill in centre

16^th Italian corps move forward on right

Italian artillery open fire and hit infantry square

1200-1300

13^th Polish and 16^th Italian corps continue to advance

The Poles are hidden from British artillery by the hill in the centre

Italians receive artillery casualties but pass morale and continue to advance

1300-1400

Polish infantry reach crest of hill in centre

British infantry test morale and stand, Portuguese fail and rout

Polish lancers charge cavalry and artillery to right of hill

Both have 20% casualties, both break and run

Nearby infantry square joins them

Italian hussars charge and rout British dragoons

Infantry square fire on hussars, who also rouot

British artillery fire on Italian infantry

Two brigades rout

16^th Italian corps attack is broken

1400-1500

In the centre 4 Italian brigades charge 2 British

Both British retreat in rout, one Italian brigade is also in rout

2^nd British corps is broken and in retreat

Fortunately 4^th British corps is deployed behind them

On the right 16^th Italian corps halts and attempts to rally

Suchet moves to join them and take control

The white stars indicate brigades in rout, 9 British and 3 French 

1500-1600

In the centre 13^th Polish corps regroup on hill and prepare to continue attack

Suchet orders the newly arrived 8^th corps to attack the hill on the right

16^th Italian corps attempt to rally and regroup

1600-1700

In the centre 2^nd British corps is in full retreat

Behind them 13^th Polish corps is moving forward off he hill

4^th British corps stand firm as 2^nd corps flow around them

8^th French corps advance towards the right hand hill

Their cavalry charge and rout the gunners

16^th Italian corps have rallied behind them and are moving forward in support

1700-1800

On the left artillery from 7^th and 13^th corps advance to engage 1^st British corps

7^th corps infantry remain within the town at present

In the centre 2^nd British corps has passed through 4^th corps

13^th Polish corps have reformed and now advance to engage 4^th British corps

Their cavalry charge and rout the British gunners attached to 4^th corps

On the right 8^th and 16^th corps have combined to attack 3^rd British corps

Without their artillery the British infantry can only hold their position

Italian lancers have withdrawn, but remain within charge move of the crest of the hill

British infantry have to remain in square in the face of this threat

1800-1900

Soult orders all four corps to attack

On the left 7^th corps infantry deploy outside the city and advance

In the centre 13^th corps advance to attack 4^th corps

7^th and 13^th corps artillery concentrate to support the attack

On the right 8^th and 16^th corps advance to occupy the hill

Wellington orders his army to retreat

Conclusion

2^nd and 3^rd British corps are in rout

1^st and 4^th British corps are in good order, but outnumbered

Three of the four British cavalry brigades are in rout

Wellington orders a general retreat to avoid the destruction of his army

The British have lost 9400 casualties and nine brigades in rout

The French have lost 4300 casualties and three brigades in rout