27 March 1813 – Battle of Palencia

 

Tactical map of battle area

The French are having problems reorganising their supply chain

Despite his defeats Wellington wants to take advantage of this

He orders 2^nd and 3^rd corps to attack Palencia before they can resupply

French – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

British – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The British will enter the table at the start of move 1

 

The French are deployed at the start of the game

21^st corps have put two brigades into Palencia

22^nd corps are deployed in front of the woods

The French commander has taken created a reserve in the centre

It consists of artillery from both corps, plus cavalry and infantry from 22^nd corps

End of move 2

British advance to contact

The British commander has also created a reserve

It consists of artillery from both corps, plus one infantry brigade from 2^nd corps

 

French reserve advance and deploy their artillery

21^st corps cavalry also advance to slow 2^nd corps advance

Remainder of the French hold their position and wait for the British to advance

End of move 4

On the left 2^nd corps advance towards town

Their cavalry are in the second round of melee

Both brigades have lost 20% casualties each

The French are disordered, the British shaken

 

In the centre French artillery rout Portuguese brigade with 20% casualties

 

On the right 3^rd corps have moved down from the hill

Their cavalry have met a charge by French lancers

In the first round of melee both sides have suffered 10% casualties

Both brigades are disordered.

End of move 6

On the left the French cavalry have won the melee, but lost 20% casualties

They have withdrawn and joined the single infantry brigade hold this flank

Three British infantry brigades advance to attack

 

In the centre the French reserve is in rout

Their cavalry lost the melee and routed

The nearby artillery failed their morale check as a result of this rout

The British cavalry had lost 20% casualties in the melee

But they rallied and charged, and routed the shaken gunners

 

On the right most of 22 corps have joined the rout in the centre

The two formed infantry brigades are retreating to the woods

Here they hope to cover the rout of the remainder

Three British brigades are advancing towards the woods

End of move 8

On the left the British have routed the French cavalry and infantry outside the town

They have now redeployed to storm the left hand section of the town

 

In the centre the British reserve artillery have moved closer to the town

One infantry brigade has been sent from 3^rd corps to support the attack

 

On the right two French infantry brigades have deployed inside the woods

British infantry and cavalry deploy to pin them there

End of move 10

On the left British infantry have stormed and taken the town

 

In the centre the British artillery routed the garrison from the right of the town

 

On the right the French infantry still hold the woods

 

Summary

The French have suffered a crushing defeat

9 of their 11 brigades are in rout

Only two infantry brigades are still formed to cover the rout

The British have taken the town

In doing so they have lost three brigades in rout

However the remainder are in no condition to pursue

 

The British have lost 6 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (2700 men)

The French have lost 16 infantry, 7 cavalry and 5 artillery casualties (7600 men)

27 March 1813 – North Spain - Day 5

The French still have serious supply problems, and their defeat at Medina is not helping.   Most of their corps are running short of supplies and desperately need time to reorganise their supply depots and redistribute the supplies from their main depot at Laguna.

The British are close to their depots and do not have any problems with supply. However they are in need of rest and reorganisation, and also to receive reinforcements to replace battle casualties.

Wellington is encouraged by his victory at Medina.   He also wants to take full advantage of the French supply difficulties.   He orders 1^st and 2^nd corps to attack Palencia.  The two French corps defending the town are almost out of supply.   If he wins, and they are forced to retreat, they will also suffer attrition casualties. 

 The French suffer a crushing defeat with 9 of their 11 brigades in rout

The British take the town, but are too tired to mount a pursuit

The British have lost 6 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (2700 men)

The French have lost 16 infantry, 7 cavalry and 5 artillery casualties (7600 men)

26 March 1813 – Battle of Medina

Tactical map of battle area

The French army is short of supplies

To distract Wellington, Soult orders 7^th and 13^th corps to attack Medina

13^th corps has to detach one brigade to garrison Arevalo

5^th and 6^th corps have orders to hold Medina

There is also a Spanish infantry brigade in garrison in the town

 

French – 6 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

British – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Spanish – 1 infantry brigade in Medina

Table at start of battle

6^th corps have placed a weak brigade in Medina to support the Spanish

The British commander has not created a separate command

The French army will enter from the right at the start of move 1

End of Move 2

The French commander has taken command of both corps artillery

He has also taken one infantry brigade to support the gunners

The British wait to see how the French attack develops

End of Move 4

The French advance, but halt outside enemy artillery range

The commander moves the artillery into range

As he does so they receive hit and lose 10% casualties

They lose their morale and are shaken

The British commander takes command of half of 5 corps

He sends one brigade to occupy the farm

End of Move 6

The shaken French gunners lose their morale and rout

The remaining gunners test morale and are shaken

The French were relying on the grand batter to soften up the enemy

This setback has effectively taken them out of the game

Half way through the battle the French must advance or lose

7^th corps is ordered to advance, with their cavalry leading

They are charged by the British dragoons

The melee is a draw with both sides suffering 10% casualties

End of Move 8

French cavalry lose second round of melee and rout through infantry supports

British cavalry fail to rally and charge nearest enemy, a shaken infantry brigade

The cavalry have 20% casualties and are disordered.

The infantry win the melee and the cavalry rout

 

Without cavalry support 7^th French corps are unable to continue to attack

13^th Polish corps are too weak to attack 6^th British corps on the hill

 

The French abandon the attack and retreat

Summary

The French started the battle outnumbered

To attack their artillery would have to weaken the British defenders

They failed to do so, and the attack was doomed.

 

The French have lost 3 infantry, 4 cavalry and one gunner casualties (12500 men)

The British have lost 4 cavalry casualties (400 men)

 

26 March 1813 – North Spain - Day 4

 

Soult is short of supplies.

He establishes a new depot at Palencia and transfers 4 days supplies from Coca

The French now have six depots and must detach infantry to garrison them

Four of the six French corps have only 1 or 2 days supplies

It will take another two days to reorganise and resupply

To distract Wellington he orders 7^th and 13^th corps to attack Medina

 

Wellington has problems of his own

He concentrates his army in front of Benavente, Zamora and Medina

1^st, 3^rd and 4^th corps are in urgent need of reorganisation and resupply

Fortunately 5^th and 6^th corps in front of Medina are battle ready

 

The French start the battle of Medina with 6 infantry brigades, against the 7 British and 1 Spanish brigades.   To have any change of a successful attack their artillery must cause some damage to the British.   They fail to do so, and the subsequent French attack fails.

25 March 1813 – North Spain - Day 3

 

Following his defeat at Valladolid Wellington orders a general retreat

 

The French occupy Palencia, Valladolid and Arevalo.  

Soult must now reorganise his depots and lines of supply

He now occupies six of the nine Spanish towns

Their Spanish garrisons are now guerrilla bands

They are moving into position to attack the French garrisons and convoys

 

The first guerrilla attack is on the garrison of Quintana

The attackers are driven off with a loss of 20% casualties

However the attack halts resupply to the French north wing

24 March 1813 – Battle of Valladolid

Tactical map of battle area

Soult is determined to follow up his victory at Arevalo

He orders 8^th, 16^th and 22 corps to attack Valladolid

Wellington is preparing to retreat, but must stand and fight

He has 1, 3, 4 corps, plus 5 Spanish brigade in Valladolid

 

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

British – 13 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

British army on the left

Wellington has taken command of one infantry, one cavalry and corps artillery

5 Spanish brigade is garrison of Valladolid

 

French army on the right

Soult has taken command of two cavalry brigades

Table at end of move 2

3 British has deployed on hill

1 British cavalry rout enemy cavalry, charge infantry and are routed in turn

HQ advance between 1 and 4 British

4 British enter Valladolid

5 Spanish brigade rout having received 10% casualties

 

22 Polish advance either side of woods

HQ advance in support of 22 Polish

8 French advance off hill

16 Italian advance to attack Valladolid

Artillery hit and rout garrison

Table at end of move 4

3 British cavalry hold their own in cavalry melee

1 British move into woods

HQ combined artillery hit both French artillery as they deploy

4 British, including light division, move into Valladolid

 

22 Polish cavalry charge enemy cavalry, result a draw

HQ combined cavalry advance, leading brigade defeated and rout

8 French artillery receive 10% casualties as they unlimber, pass morale

16 Italian artillery also receive casualties as they unlimber, also pass morale

 

Soult is not confident of holding Valladolid against the light division

He orders 16^th corps to hold the nearest edge and delay the British

Table at end of move 6

3 British cavalry draw second round of melee, but withdraw with 20% casualties

Remainder of 3 British move to front of ridge to meet French attack

1 British lose melee in woods and rout, reserve infantry fail morale and join rout

HQ half of artillery rout when attacked by infantry

4 British fight three melee for possession of Valladolid

Lose one melee and rout, other two are drawn

 

22 Polish cavalry withdraw from melee with 20% casualties

Remainder of corps advance to attack ridge

HQ cavalry force enemy infantry into square

8 French attack woods with two brigades

Each lose 10% casualties but take woods

Third brigade rout enemy artillery

16 Italian infantry charge advancing infantry

Win one melee in Valladolid, draw second

Draw also melee just outside the city

Table at end of move 8

3 British lose battle for the hill and retreat

1 British continue to retreat

HQ (cavalry and artillery) cover the retreat

4 British win two out of three melee, but also retreat

British have seven brigades in rout (red star)

 

22 Polish take hill

HQ (two cavalry brigades) in rout

8 French move through woods

16 Italian occupy right half of Valladolid

French have four brigades in rout (blue star)

Summary

The British centre is broken and in rout

The north flank is still fighting on the hill, but retreat

The south flank have taken Valladolid, but must retreat because of the centre

 

The French have lost 14 infantry, 4 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (6100 men)

The British have lost 20 infantry and 5 cavalry casualties (8500 men)

 

After a hard fought battle the French have won a close and costly victory

24 March 1813 – North Spain - Day 2

 

In the north 2^nd British and 21^st French observe Palencia

In the centre 8^th, 16^th and 22^nd French attack Valladolid

In the south 7^th French occupy Arevalo and establish depot

5^th and 6^th British retreat to Medina

 

The battle of Valladolid was a close run and very costly affair

The main French attack broke the British centre

On the French right the British held until the centre broke

On the French left the British took Valladolid, but had to retreat

Both sides suffered heavy casualties

The British lost 20 infantry and 5 cavalry casualties

The French lost 14 infantry, 4 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties