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)