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They have withdrawn and joined the single infantry brigade hold this flank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