28 March 1813 – Battle of Valladolid

 

Tactical map of battle area

Wellington is determined to keep up the pressure on the retreating French

His two recent victories have forced the French to retreat in the north and south

He orders 1^st and 4^th corps to attack before the French can retreat from Valladolid

 

Soult had intended to abandon Valladolid and retreat 8^th and 16^th corps to Laguna.

This surprise attack has forced him to fight for the city.

 

The French army is almost out of supply.   They desperately need a few days to regroup and resupply.   A victory at Valladolid would allow the rest of the army to do so.

 

French – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

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

Table at start of battle

The French are deployed in and behind Valladolid

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

End of move 2

The French commander has taken command of the infantry and artillery between the woods and Valladolid

 

1^st British corps, on the left, is advancing towards the woods

4^th British corps, on the right, is moving to the right

They will attack between the city and the river

End of move 4

On the left 8^th corps cavalry have charged the British hussar brigade

After one round of melee it is a draw with both sides losing 10% casualties

As the melee is in progress 1^st British corps advance

Their artillery hit a French brigade, who pass their morale test with 10% casualties

 

In the centre Wellington has taken command of an infantry brigade from 4^th corps

He is attempting to outflank the French artillery

 

On the right the French cavalry have lost their melee and are in rout

4^th British corps advance along the river bank.

End of move 6

On the left the British hussars have won the melee and routed the French cavalry

This has forced the French artillery to retreat to their infantry supports

The French infantry brigade next to the town have received 10% casualties 

 

In the centre infantry commanded by Wellington have routed the French artillery

The gunners have abandoned their guns and routed into Valladolid

 

On the right the British cavalry have also routed the enemy cavalry

The French infantry between the city and the river are moving into Valladolid

4^th corps are now free to attack Valladolid

 

Things are not looking good for the French

End of move 8

On the left British artillery concentrate on brigade between guns and town

The infantry receive 20% casualties, but continue to pass their morale test

The French artillery hit the British gunners (require 11 using 2D6)

The gunners are shaken, but rally and pass their second morale test

 

In the centre Wellington has ordered 4^th corps to move to their left.

They will engage the town garrison and support the planned 1^st corps attack

End of move 10

On the left 1^st British corps advance to attack the woods

In doing so they have screened their artillery

 

In the centre Wellington commits the reserve to support 1^st corps

 

On the right 4^th British corps have redeployed in front of Valladolid

Their artillery are firing on the town at short range

But have not inflicted any casualties on the garrison

Their infantry have casualties and are not strong enough to attack

But they are pinning the garrison

 

French infantry continue to occupy the rear sections of the town

End of move 12

On the left 8^th French corps break after two rounds of hand to hand fighting

Both sides suffer heavy infantry casualties, but the French break first

 

In the centre 16^th corps still hold Valladolid

They have suffered light casualties, and two brigades are shaken

4^th British corps are too weak to launch an infantry attack on the city

 

At nightfall Marshal Soult orders 16^th corps to retreat and abandon Valladolid

Summary

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties

The extensive infantry melee on the left was decided after three moves

 

The French held the city at nightfall, so were the technical winners

However with the rout of 8^th corps they would he heavily outnumbered

Wellington could now move his artillery into close range of the town

It would be only a matter of time before 16^th corps would have to surrender

At nightfall Soult ordered a retreat and gave the victory to Wellington

 

The French have lost 14 infantry, 4 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (6300 men)

The British have lost 9 infantry, 5 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (4200 men)

 

The French have 7 brigades in rout and 2 are shaken

The British have 1 brigade in rout and 5 are shaken