25 June 1813 – North Spain – Talavera 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 88^th phase since the campaign started in April 2009.  

It is the 14^th in the sixth revision which started in June 2020 

 

The white star shows the location of Talavera

Map of Spain

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

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 Talavera

 

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.

Talavera District

This map shows the campaign area

It covers the area between Talavera and Madrid

The district border is in the middle of the map

 

It shows the location of each French and Anglo/Spanish 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 city of Talavera

The French objective is to take the city of Talavera

 

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

19 May 1813           British win Llanes campaign phase

25 June 1813          Start of Talavera campaign phase

 

Fourth French Army

Marshal Soult

10^th French army - 28^th French corps

10^th French army – 29^th French corps

10^th French army – 30^th Polish corps

11^th French army – 31^st French corps

11^th French army – 32^nd Westphalian corps

11^th French army – 33^rd Italian corps

12^th French army – 34^th French corps

12^th French army – 35^th French corps

12^th French army – 36^th Vistula corps

 Reserve

 

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

The reserve corps has six infantry brigades for garrison duty

168000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

 

British Army

Duke of Wellington

1^st British army - 1st British corps

1^st British army - 2^nd British corps

1^st British army – 7^th Spanish corps

2^nd British army - 3^rd British corps

2^nd  British army – 4^th British corps

2^nd British army – 8^th Spanish corps

3^rd British army – 5^th British corps

3^rd British army – 6^th British corps

3^rd British army – 9^th Spanish corps

Spanish militia

 

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

Spanish militia has six infantry brigades  

 

British - 96000 infantry, 6000 cavalry, 180 guns

Spanish - 48000 infantry. 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

Militia -  24,000 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