9 June 1813 – Battle of Santa Amalia

Tactical map of battle area

French launch a surprise attack on Santa Amalia

1^st Spanish corps is in and around the town

2^nd Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 1

3^rd Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 5

 

37^th French corps enters table at start of move 1

38^th and 39^th corps both arrive at the start of move 5

 

13^th French Army – 10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

1^st Spanish Army – 11 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

HQ and 1 Spanish corps in and around Santa Amalia

2 Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 1

3 Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 5

 

HQ and 37 French corps will arrive at the start of move 1

38 French and 39 Polish corps will arrive at  the start of move 5

End of move 2

Spanish commander has taken command of half of 1 corps

The remainder of 1 corps is in the town and to the right of it.

2 corps has arrived and is moving towards the woods

3 corps will arrive at the start of move 5

 

French commander has taken command of half of 37 corps

Remainder of 37 corps is moving through the pass

End of move 4

Spanish expand to the left

2^nd corps moves to take up position behind the walled farm

Reserve open fire on approaching French infantry

1^st  corps advance to engage French as they emerge from pass

 

French redeploy

Reserve infantry move onto hill due to Spanish artillery fire

37^th corps deploy in front of town, artillery move onto hill

End of move 6

Spanish move into position

1^st  corps receive first casualties, fail morale and are shaken

Reserve wait for French to advance

2^nd corps arrive at woods on the left

3^rd corps enter table centre rear

 

French artillery inflict first casualties

38^th corps move onto hill

37^th corps artillery fire on infantry outside town

Reserve infantry on hill to left of pass

39^th corps advance between farm and pass

End of move 8

Spanish lose infantry melee

1^st corps infantry lose melee and retire shaken with 20% casualties

Reserve cavalry charge French gunners, who retreat  into square

2^nd corps complete deployment to the left of the town

3^rd corps move to deploy to the right of the town

 

French approach town

38^th corps move over right hand hill

37^th corps infantry win melee and force Spanish to retreat shaken

Reserve infantry approach town

39^th corps deploy, gunners abandon guns and retire to square

End of move 10

Spanish lose town

3^rd corps forced to halt due to French advance

1^st corps routed and abandon town

Reserve hold to left of town

2^nd corps deploy in support of Reserve

 

French attack

38^th corps cavalry rout shaken Spanish infantry

37^th corps storm town and rout garrison

Reserve cavalry rout Spanish gunners

39^th corps advance and receive casualties

End of move 12

Spanish retreat and abandon Amalia

3^rd corps retreat with minimum casualties

1^st corps rout with five brigades in rout

Reserve retreat with artillery in rout

2^nd corps retreat with one brigade in rout

 

French occupy Amalia

38^th corps advance but unable to pin retreating Spanish

37^th corps take town with light casualties

Reserve advance, but cavalry are shaken

39^th corps advance but only when Spanish rout

 

Summary

A slow battle due to the late arrival of most of both armies

1^st Young Guard have won the battle almost without support

Not only have they taken the town, but they have routed 1^st Spanish corps

The remainder of the French army arrived too late to take much part in the fighting

 

The French have lost 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1300 men)

The Spanish have lost 5 infantry, 2 artillery and 1 cavalry casualties (2300 men)