11 June 1813 – Battle of San Pedro

Tactical map of battle area

14^th French army have orders to attack San Pedro

The town is held by 2^nd Spanish army

 

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

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

Table at start of battle

Both armies are on the table at the start of the game

The Spanish are deployed either side of San Pedro at the top of the table

The French are deployed at the bottom of the table

 

The river can only be forded by one of the three bridges

End of move 2

Left – 42^nd Polish corps is advancing to the right of the fortified farm

5^th Spanish corps is moving down from the hill to confront the Poles

 

Centre – 40^th French corps is advancing along the main road

6^th Spanish corps remain in and behind the town

 

Right – 41^st Baden corps is advancing on the right of the river Guidana

French CinC has taken command of Polish and Baden cavalry brigades

He is advancing between the hill and the river to support the Baden advance

4^th Spanish corps is advancing to defend both the top and centre bridges

Spanish CinC has brought forward his only cavalry brigade to support 4^th corps

End of move 4

Left – 42^nd Polish corps enter the fortified farm

5^th Spanish corps move down from the hill

Artillery open fire but no casualties

 

Centre – 40^th French corps cavalry charge and rout Spanish gunners

6^th Spanish corps hold town and await French infantry attack

 

Right – French CinC sends his cavalry forward

Baden cavalry fight two rounds of melee with Spanish lancers, draw both lose 20%

Polish lancers charge artillery, lose 10% and are shaken having failed morale test 

Far Right – 41^st Baden corps artillery open fire on Spanish infantry

Their infantry approach top bridge

4^th Spanish corps suffer 10% casualties to two infantry brigades

Their artillery halt Polish lancers charge.

End of move 6

Left – 42^nd Polish corps press home their attack

5^th Spanish corps artillery and two infantry brigades are routed

 

Centre – 40^th French corps artillery move into close range and fire on town

Infantry advance to attack the town

 

Left – French Baden cavalry win melee but lose 30% casualties

Polish lancers rally and charge artillery, but are driven back with 20% casualties

 

Far Left – 41^st Baden artillery pound Spanish infantry, two brigades shaken

Baden infantry attack across bridge and rout both shaken brigades

 

Summary

By 1200 the French have won the battle.

The Spanish still hold the town, but both 4^th and 5^th corps are broken

The French pause to regroup to attack the town.

Under cover of that pause the Spanish retreat and abandon the town

 

The French have lost 5 cavalry casualties (500 men)

The Spanish have lost 8 infantry, 4 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (3900 men)

Six Spanish brigades are in rout