9 March 1813 – Battle of Torrijos

 

Tactical map of battle area

Suchet does not want to open the campaign with a risky all out battle

He orders 15^th Vistula corps to attack 3^rd Spanish corps at Torrijos

He hopes that Giron will move his reserve to support 3^rd corps

This would Suchet to attack south along the main Madrid to Seville road

3^rd Spanish corps have orders to hold Torrijos

They are a weak Spanish corps, with only three infantry brigades and no cavalry

 

French – 5 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Spanish – 4 infantry brigades, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

3^rd Spanish corps are in and around Torrijos (centre)

One of the three brigades has been sent into the village to support the garrison

 

15^th Vistula corps will enter centre top at the start of move 1

They must enter on the road through the pass

End of move 4

The Spanish artillery deployed at the far end of the pass

This caused the Polish commander to send his lancers over the hill

It took them two turns (two hours) to do so, and another to deploy in line

This delayed the rest of the Vistula moving through the pass

It also caused the Spanish to redeploy their artillery to cover the pass and the lancers

End of move 7

Spanish artillery have fired three times, but no casualties

 

Polish artillery hit square supporting gun with first rout fired

Infantry fail morale and rout

 

Polish infantry moving to right of artillery to form up

Cavalry have advanced to charge range of Spanish artillery

End of move 12

Cavalry charge and rout Spanish gunners

Artillery hit garrison who lose 10% casualties but pass morale test

Infantry move into contact with town and infantry on right

 

Garrison on left lose melee and rout

Garrison on right draw melee and hold until nightfall

Infantry on right of town lose and rout

 

Summary

Everything went wrong for the unfortunate Spanish

Their artillery failed to inflict a single casualty

Their infantry folded and ran with heavy casualties

Only one brigade managed to hold in the town until nightfall

 

Poles have lost 2 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (900 men)

Spanish  have lost 10 infantry and 2  gunner casualties (3400 men)