13 June 1813 – Battle of Calamonte

 

Tactical map of battle area

15^th French army have orders to attack Calamonte

3^rd Spanish army have orders to defend the town

Both armies start the game with light casualties

 

 

43^rd French Army – 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

3^rd Spanish Army – 12 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The Spanish army is on the table at the start of the game

CinC has placed two infantry brigades in the town

He has taken command of the militia brigade and placed it at the far left

 

The French army will enter the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Left – 45^th Italian corps advance to the left of the hill

9^th Spanish corps swing to their right to fire on them

 

Centre – 43^rd French corps infantry advance through the pass

The CinC has taken command of their cavalry, artillery and one infantry brigade

He advances to the right of the corps

7^th Spanish corps wait for them to enter artillery range

 

Right – 44^th Westphalian corps advance to the right of the farm, lancers on their left

8^th Spanish corps artillery open fire, but no casualties

End of move 4

Left – 45^th Italian corps swing right to engage 9^th Spanish corps

Their cavalry observe the Spanish reserve cavalry

 

Centre - 43^rd French corps and army reserve all advance towards the town

7^th Spanish corps artillery hit leading infantry brigade, who pass their morale test

Spanish withdraw towards the town

 

Right – 44^th Westphalian corps advance, artillery unlimber

Cavalry move onto hill to threaten Spanish artillery

Spanish gunners fire on infantry, but no hits.

End of move 6

Left – Cavalry melee draw, 10% casualties each side

Italian infantry charge artillery, shaken with 10% casualties

Spanish infantry counter attack and rout leading brigade into supporting brigade

Italian artillery rout infantry brigade

 

Centre – Reserve artillery charge and rout Spanish gunners

Supporting infantry brigade fail morale and join rout

43^rd French corps advance towards town

 

Right – Westphalian lancers charge and rout gunners, despite 30% casualties

Supporting infantry brigade fail morale and join rout

Westphalian artillery and infantry advance in pursuit

End of move 8

Left – 45^th Italian corps fail and rout

Spanish have also lost three brigades, but continue to hold barn and artillery support

 

Centre – 7^th Spanish corps concentrate in and around the town

43^rd French corps advance to attack Calamonte

 

Right – 8^th Spanish corps attempt to retreat towards town

But they are hard pressed by 44^th Westphalian corps

End of move 10

Left – Italian corps in rout, less artillery which is moving to support the centre attack

9^th Spanish corps have three brigades in rout, the remainder are moving to support the town

 

Centre – 43^rd French corps have lost their cavalry, but their artillery open fire on town at  short range.   The infantry are in position to attack if the garrison are shaken.

7^th Spanish corps have lost three brigades, but still hold the town firmly

 

Right – 44^th Westphalian infantry have to deploy to attack Spanish infantry.  They win the melee, but lose valuable time.   

End of move 12

Left -  Spanish CinC has rallied one infantry brigade and one corps artillery

Italian artillery is approaching town, but too late to join battle.

 

Centre – French artillery fire on garrison at short range and inflict 10% casualties

However infantry pass morale test.   All available Spanish infantry now concentrated around the town.   Garrison still stand firm.

 

Right – Westphalians have finally broken 8^th Spanish corps, but it is too late for them to get close to the town before nightfall.

Summary

The Spanish have put up a determined defence and delayed both 44^th and 45^th corps long enough to prevent them getting close to the town.   In doing so they have suffered heavy casualties and lost two of their three corps artillery (the third was rallied during move 12 by the Spanish CinC).

The French have also suffered heavy casualties, especially their cavalry.   Two of the three brigades are routed and the third is shaken with 30% casualties.   45^th corps have broken and run, except for their artillery who have attempted to join the battle for the town.

Only in the centre have the French managed to attack the town.   43^rd corps artillery opened fire at close range on move 10, they also caused the garrison some casualties.  But it was not enough to weaken the defenders morale, and the French infantry soon found themselves outnumbered as surviving infantry brigades of 8^th and 9^th corps joined 7^th corps in the town.

The French have lost 5 infantry and 5 cavalry casualties (2500 men)

The Spanish have lost 9 infantry, 3 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (4100 men)

The Spanish have 8 brigades in rout, the French have 5 brigades.