15 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 5

Soult is concerned about guerrilla activity against his lines of supply

He is also concerned how widely dispersed his three armies are

10^th army is ordered to occupy Comillas

11^th army will hold Reinosa

12^th army will hold Soncillo

 

Wellington is also concerned how dispersed are his three armies

1^st army has to retreat to Llanes

4^th army is ordered to move up to the border to threaten Reinosa

2^nd army will hold Aguilar

7^th guerrilla attack Torrelavega, repulsed with 30% casualties 

14 May 1813 – Battle of Comillas

Tactical map of battle area

Having lost the first two battles, Soult orders 10^th French Army to attack Comillas

The town is held by 1^st British Army and has a Spanish militia garrison

 

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

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

Spanish – 1 Infantry brigade

Table at start of battle

Comillas, top left, is garrisoned by one Spanish infantry brigade

1^st British army reserve of two infantry and one cavalry brigade is top left

1^st British corps is centre left

2^nd British corps is bottom left

 

19^th French corps is top right

10^th French army reserve three infantry and one cavalry brigade in the centre

20^th Westphalian corps is bottom right

End of move 2

Top: French advance north of hill

Centre: French lancers melee with British hussars, result draw

Centre: British artillery are deployed between farm and woods

Centre: One infantry brigade is sent into the farm to support the gunners

Bottom: Westphalian corps advance through the woods

End of move 4

Top: French artillery hit British dragoons, pass morale test with 10% casualties

Centre: French lancers lose melee and rout with 20% casualties

Centre: French infantry advance towards farm

Bottom: 20^th French infantry advance through woods

Bottom: Artillery exchange fire, no casualties

End of move 6

Top: British dragoons lose melee and retire shaken with 20% casualties

Top: French infantry lose melee and rout with 10% casualties

Centre: French infantry force British artillery to withdraw

Centre: British infantry advance to engage French attack

Bottom: French gunners routed by artillery fire

Bottom: French infantry advance through wood

End of move 8

Confused melee along the whole front continues with no decisive outcome

Top: Melee results in one cavalry and one infantry brigade rout on each side

Centre : Melee results in one infantry and one artillery brigade rout on each side

Bottom: British attack French as they exit woods, each side lose one infantry in rout

End of move 10

British army routs, except for town and farm

Top: British hold town with two infantry brigades

Centre: British hold farm with one infantry brigade

Bottom: 2^nd British corps break and run

Red stars are British routs

Blue stars are French routs

Summary

At nightfall the British still hold the town and the farm

But all the rest of their army has broken and run

At nightfall both garrisons retreat

The French have lost 6 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (2700 men)

The British have lost 7 infantry 5 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (3400 men)

14 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 4

Soult orders 10^th Army to attack Comillas

11^th French Army rally and resupply at Reinosa

12^th French Army retreat to Soncillo

 

1^st British Army defend Comillas

4^th Spanish Army regroup and resupply at Cabezon

2^nd British Army occupy Aguilar and take possession of 2 days supplies

 

8 guerrilla capture convoy to Medina with 2 days supplies

10 guerrilla attack town of Medina, forced to retreat with  no casualties

 

The battle of Comillas was hard fought, with heavy casualties on both sides

At nightfall the British were in retreat, but still held the town and farm

Under cover of darkness the two garrisons retreated to join the main army

13 May 1813 – Battle of Aguilar

 

Tactical map of battle area

Wellington orders 2^nd British army to attack the border town of Aguilar

12^th French army are deployed between the town and the border

 

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

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

Table at start of battle

Aguiler is the town centre right

12^th French army is deployed between the town and the border

23^rd French corps is at the top

24^th Italian corps is at the bottom

Army reserve of both artillery and two infantry brigades are in the centre

 

2^nd British army is off table on the left

It will arrive at the start of move 1

3^rd British corps is at the top

Army HQ in the centre

4^th British (Light) corps is at the bottom

End of move 2

2^nd British army arrive on the left

3^rd corps infantry is at the top

Army reserve of two artillery, two cavalry and two infantry brigades in the centre

4^th (light) corps infantry is at the bottom

 

French make minor adjustments having seen the allied attack formations

End of move 4

3^rd British corps approach the northern hill

British reserve halt out of artillery range

Both artillery brigades move into range of the French

4^th (light) corps approach the southern hill

 

23^rd corps (top) keep their left back from edge of hill to avoid British artillery

Reserve artillery open fire on British gunners

24^th corps move forward to the edge of the ridge, supported by their cavalry

End of move 6

3^rd British corps skirmish with 23^rd French corps

British reserve artillery concentrate on French gunners

4^th British corps skirmish with 24^th Italian corps

British are more effective, but skirmish continues

End of move 8

3^rd British corps win skirmish, French infantry retreat shaken

French cavalry charge Portuguese brigade

Fail to break infantry and retire shaken

 

French gunners receive 20% casualties and retreat shaken

British reserve limber guns and advance

Cavalry protect flanks

 

4^th British corps win skirmish, riflemen are particularly effective

French infantry rout, covered by lancer brigade

 

Summary

The battle was decided by the superior British skirmish ability

British gunners also won the artillery duel

French retreat  and abandon Aguilar

 

The French have lost 11 infantry, 1 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (4700 men)

The British have lost 5 infantry casualties (2000 men)

 

13 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 3

 

Wellington orders 2^nd army to attack Aguilar

1^st army to hold Comillas and resupply

4^th Spainish to hold Cabezon, rally and regroup

The battle of Aguilar is won by the superior British skirmish

4^th corps contain two rifle brigades, who are particularly effective

3^rd corps Portuguese brigade beat off an attack by French cavalry

Convincing British victory and another setback for the French

12 May 1813 – Battle of Cabezon

Tactical map of battle area

First battle of the campaign is a surprise attack on the border town of Cabezon

The town has a garrison of one militia brigade

 

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

Spanish – 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

4^th Spanish army start the game on the table

They have created a reserve of two brigades behind the town

11^th French army will enter from the right at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Spanish reserve enters the town, making a garrison of three brigades

The remainder of 4^th Spanish army advance either side of the town

 

11^th French army enter from the right

They have created a reserve of two brigades in the centre

 move 4

Spanish have deployed and unlimbered their artillery either side of the town

French continue to advance

End of move 6

Both armies artillery open fire, no casualties on either side

22^nd Vistula corps advance

End of move 8

5^th Spanish artillery hit French cavalry, who pass their morale test

21^st French artillery hit garrison at close range, they pass their morale test

 

French reserve advance towards the town

They will not attack until the garrison has been weakened by artillery fire

 

Vistula artillery hit Spanish infantry, who pass their morale test

Cavalry melee is a draw with each side suffering 20% casualties

End of move 10

21^st artillery have inflicted 20% casualties, but garrison still hold

Remainder of corps move south to attack the town if possible

 

French reserve move south to support 22^nd corps attack

 

22^nd Vistula corps press home their attack

Cavalry melee has resulted in 30% casualties and both brigades rout

Leading infantry brigade suffer 20% casualties and are shaken

6^th Spanish corps also suffer casualties, but hold their ground

End of move 12

21^st artillery continue to fire on garrison, who hold despite 30% casualties

Infantry are still deploying when darkness falls

 

French reserve infantry melee with 6^th Spanish corps

The Vistula infantry move to support, but do not arrive before nightfall

Most of 6^th Spanish corps has broken and run, but the artillery remains

 

Summary

The Spanish, and in particular the reinforced garrison, fought much harder than expected.    At nightfall they still held the town, and only three brigades were in rout

Both sides suffered heavy casualties, but the Spanish won

 

The French have lost 7 infantry and 5 cavalry casualties (3300 men)

The Spanish have lost 7 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (3100 men)

 

12 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 2

Wellington orders his army to advance to the border

But to avoid combat unless the French cross into Llanes district

 

Soult orders 3^rd French army to attack Cabezon

He considers the Spanish held centre to be the allied weak point

The Spanish army are advancing as part of the main allied advance

 

The battle of Cabezon proves the effectiveness of 4^th Spanish army

They contain the best Spanish troops and are under Wellington’s direct command

Despite the best efforts of 11^th French army, they still hold the town at nightfall,

Not a good start for the French army of Northern Spain.