11 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 1

The whole French army advance to the border

This unexpected move takes Wellington by surprise

They also start to move supplies to the forward depots

10 May 1813 – North Spain – Llanes Campaign

Map of Europe

This map shows the location of the five campaign areas. 

Each square is a military region.  

The current location of each army group is shown.  

The stars show the location of previous phases.  

The colour indicates which side won.  

 

This is the 82^nd phase since the campaign started in April 2009.  

It is the 9^th in the sixth revision which started in June 2020 

 

The white star shows the location of Llanes

On 1^st January 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

 

Two allied armies would concentrate in Spain

British army at Oporto

Spanish army at Seville

Together they would drive the French out of Spain

 

Duke of Wellington would command the British army

They would concentrate in the Oporto region

They would then march into the Madrid region and engage the French

 

Marshal Soult would command the French army

They would concentrate in the Madrid region

They would hold the region against any allied attack

Map of Spain

This map shows the location of the four army groups in Spain.  

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

The stars show the location of previous campaigns fought in Spain. 

The colour of the star indicates which side won.  

 

The white star shows the location of Llanes

 

There are two allied armies in Spain

British army at Oporto

Spanish army at Seville

Their objective is to drive the French out of Spain

 

The Duke of Wellington commands the Anglo-Portuguese army

They are concentrated in the Madrid region

Their objective is to advance into the Madrid region and engage the French

 

Marshal Soult commands the Fourth French army

They are concentrated in the Madrid region

Their objective is to hold northern Spain

 

This map shows the current location of the four armies.
The colour of stars indicated which army has won the previous campaign phases.    

 

Map of North Spain

This map shows the location of the French and Anglo/Portuguese army.  

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

The stars show the location of previous campaigns fought in northern Spain. 

The colour of the star indicates which side won

 

There are three regions in Northern Spain

Oporto Region (on the left) is the concentration area for British army

Barcelona Region (on the right) is the held by irregular Spanish forces      

Madrid Region is the disputed area in the middle

 

Madrid Region

This map shows the location of the French and Spanish army. 

Each square is a military district.  

Nine squares is a military region.  

The stars show the location of previous campaigns fought in Spain. 

The colour of the star indicates which side won

 

This map is used for strategic (planning) movement.

Llanes District

This map shows the campaign area

It covers the area between Llanes and Santander

The district border is in the middle of the map

The top of the map is the northern coast of Spain

 

It shows the location of each French and British corps.

It also shows depots and detached brigades

Each square is a 2x2 foot scenic square.  

Nine squares is a wargames table.  

Nine squares is also a military district.   

 

This map is used for tactical (daily) movement

The Anglo-Spanish objective is to hold the port of Llanes

The French objective is to take Llanes

 

Campaign Diary

1 February 1813      Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France

20 February 1813    Anglo/Portuguese army operational in Oporto Region

27 February 1813    Fourth French army operational in Burgos Region

22 March 1813        Start of Valladolid campaign phase

29 March 1813        British win Valladolid campaign phase

10 May 1813           Start of llanes campaign phase

 

Fourth French Army

Marshal Soult

10^th French army - 19^th French corps

10^th French army – 20^th Westphalian corps

11^th French army – 21^st French corps

11th French army – 22^nd Vistula corps

12^th French army – 23^rd French corps

12^th French army – 24^th Italian corps

Reserve corps

 

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

The reserve corps has six infantry brigades for garrison duty

112000 infantry, 6000 cavalry, 180 guns

 

British Army

Duke of Wellington

1^st British army - 1st British corps

1^st British army - 2^nd British corps

2^nd British army - 3^rd British corps

2^nd  British army – 4^th British corps

4^th Spanish army - 5^th Spanish corps

4^th Spanish army - 6^th Spanish corps

Spanish militia

 

Each British and Spanish corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Spanish militia has twelve infantry brigades (one in each town)

 

British - 32000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 guns

Spanish - 32000 infantry. 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Militia -  48,000 infantry

         

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.   The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

 

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign

02 - Five campaign areas

40 - Introduction to the campaign in northern Spain

41 - Fourth French Army order of battle

42 - British Army order of battle

43 - Daily diary for the campaign in northern Spain

44 - Battle reports of all battles fought in northern Spain

45 - Summary of campaign in northern Spain

Summary of Central Germany Campaign – 9 May 1813

Regional areas of Central Germany

There are three regions in Central Germany

Dusseldorf Region is the rear area for Second French army

Their main depot is in Dusseldorf

Dresden Region is the rear area for the Russian Army

Their main depot is in Dresden                

Erfurt Region is the disputed area between them

 

Diary of Central German Campaign

The French Grand Army was destroyed during the 1812 Russian campaign

Napoleon had to create a new army to fight the 1813 campaign

 

01 February 1813    Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

01 February 1813    Formation of Second French army in Dusseldorf region

26 February 1813    Second French army declared operational.

27 February 1813    The Russians moved into the Erfurt region

28 February 1813    Davout entered Erfurt region and occupied Fulda district

14 March 1813        Start of Erfurt campaign phase

21 March 1813        French win Erfurt campaign phase

01 May 1813           Start of Gera campaign phase

09 May 1813           French win Gera campaign phase

                             

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.   The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign

02 - Five campaign areas

20 - Introduction to the campaign in Central Germany

21 – 2^nd French Army order of battle

22 - Russian Army order of battle

23 - Daily diary for the campaign in Central Germany

24 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Central Germany

25 - Summary of campaign in Central Germany

9 May 1813 – Central Germany – End of Gera Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

Davout  won four of the six battles fought.

However it was not a one sided campaign, nor an easy French victory

The Russians managed to hold the French attack at the border, and only at the very end did they retreat east towards Gera.   The French failed to take the city, which was their campaign objective.  But they did win more battles and they did force the Russians to retreat.   After nine days both armies were low on supplies and in urgent need of reinforcements.

The campaign started on 3 February 2022 and ended on 8 April 2022

Erfurt Region

Wittgenstein ordered his army to retreat to Gera

Davout was too weak to pursue, and settled for holding the border towns of Naumburg, Jena and Sulza

9 May 1813 – Central Germany – Day 9

 

In the north 5^th French army attack Naumburg

2^nd Russian army abandon the city and retreat east to Kretzschau

 

In the centre 4^th French army occupy Jena

1^st Russian army retreat to Jena

 

In the south 6^th French army rally, regroup and resupply at Sulza

3^rd Russian army rally at Lederhose

 

Both armies are both now low on supplies and in need of reinforcements

Neither are capable of renewing hostilities

The French have failed to take Gera

However they have finally forced the Russians to retreat from the border

It is a limited French victory, but still a victory.

 

8 May 1813 – Battle of Jena

Tactical map of battle area

4 French army attack Jena

1 Russian army hold Jena

 

Both armies have minimal battle casualties

Two brigades with 10% casualties on each side

 

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

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

Table at start of battle

1^st Russian army is deployed on the right side of the table

Witgenstein has created a reserve of two infantry brigades

They are held behind Jena, ready to occupy the town when required

 

4^th French army are off table on the left

They will arrive at the start of move 1

End of move 2

4^th French army advance on the left

Compans has also created a reserve of two infantry brigades in the centre

Both corps have their artillery close to the main road to support the reserve

 

1^st and 2^nd Russian corps have advanced to support Jena

The reserve remain behind the town

End of move 4

2^nd French corps deploy out of artillery range

Artillery move forward into range

2^nd Russian corps move forward to defend town

 

French reserve march towards the town

Russian reserve infantry enter the town

 

6^th French corps move forward

1^st Russian corps move forward to meet them

End of move 6

2^nd French corps cavalry melee with Russian guard cavalry

Russians withdraw shaken

French artillery deploy within close range of Jena

 

Russian reserve infantry garrison Jena before French arrive

French reserve infantry halt short of the town

 

6^th French corps artillery deploy within short range of Jena

Cavalry advance to protect gunners, charged by Cossacks

Cossacks win melee, French cavalry rout

Cossacks retreat with 20% casualties

End of move 8

2^nd French corps cavalry charge and rout gunners

Nearby square fail their morale and join rout

French gunners hit garrison, who make their morale with 10% casualties

 

Russian reserve infantry in town retire to avoid close range artillery fire

French reserve infantry enter town

 

6^th French corps artillery redeploy to fire on Russian infantry

French infantry advance in column of attack

1^st Russian corps cavalry rally with 10% casualties

Russian infantry form line to meet French attack

End of move 10

2^nd French corps pursue retreating Russians

French reserve infantry take Jena

6^th French corps advance in the south

One brigade is routed by Russian artillery fire

End of move 12

2nd Russian corps cavalry rally and threaten French gunners

2^nd French corps infantry form square and gunners seek safety in nearest one

 

French reserve infantry occupy Jena

Russian reserve infantry rout

 

6^th French corps halt and form line

1^st Russian hold their position

Summary

At nightfall both armies hold defensive positions

However the French occupy Jena and win the battle

 

The French have lost 3 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (1500 men)

The Russians have lost 4 infantry 3 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (2100 men)