27 June 1813 – Battle of Villacastin

Tactical map of battle area

10^th French army has orders to cross into Talavera District and attack the border town of Villacastin.

 

1^st Anglo-Spanish army have orders to hold Villacastin.

7^th Spanish corps is in and around the town

1^st and 2^nd British corps is in support

 

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

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

Spanish – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of game

1^st British corps is deployed either side of the walled farm

7^th Spanish corps is in and around Villacastin

2^nd British corps is deployed on the hill on the right

 

French army will enter table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

British advance either side of the town

French arrive on table

 

Left – 1^st British corps advance through woods on the left

Centre – Wellington has taken command of the right half of 1^st corps

Centre – 7^th Spanish corps is in and around town

Right – 2^nd British corps advance towards farm on the right

 

Left – 30^th Polish corps move advance over hill on the left

Centre – 29^th French corps advance over pass in the centre

Centre – General Vandermaesen has taken command of the left wing of 29^th corps

Right – 28^th French corps advance either side of farm on the right

End of move 4

French advance within artillery range of town

 

Left – British artillery hit French gunners

Centre – Spanish gunners lose 10% casualties to artillery fire

Right – British deploy early due to loss of Spanish artillery

 

Left – French gunners fail morale for loss of 10% casualties and are shaken

Centre – French cavalry charge disordered Spanish gunners, who flee to town

Right – French occupy farm and unlimber artillery within range of town.

End of move 6

French advance on town

Cavalry melee

 

Left – British advance and win cavalry melee

Centre – Garrison receive 10% casualties and pass morale test

Right – British cavalry lose melee and retreat behind infantry

 

Left – Polish lancers lose melee and are shaken with 10% casualties

Centre – French advance towards town, cavalry move to left flank

Right – Guard cavalry win melee

End of move 8

French attack town

 

Left – British win cavalry melee and infantry form line

Centre – Spanish garrison of left half of town retreat shaken

Right – British cavalry and Portuguese infantry routed

 

Left – Polish lancers and gunners routed

Centre – French infantry attack town and supporting artillery

Right – Guard cavalry rout British dragoons and Portuguese infantry

End of move 10

French take Villacastin

 

Left – British advance towards hill

Centre – Both town garrisons forced to retreat

Right – British artillery withdraw due to cavalry threat

 

Left – Polish infantry on hill rally

Centre – French infantry prepare to enter Villacastin

Right – French advance

End of move 12

British counter attack Villacastin

Battle is a draw

 

Left – 1^st British corps withdraw in rout

Centre – British counter attack left half of Villacastin

Centre – Half of 7^th Spanish corps withdraw in rout

Right - 2nd British corps hold their position

 

Left – 30^th Polish corps withdraw in rout

Centre – French hold half of Villacastin and contest other half

Centre – Half of 29^th French corps withdraw in rout

Right – 28^th French corps pause attack.

 

Summary

On the left both British and Polish corps withdraw

In the centre the French take Villacastin

Both the French and Spanish are losing heavy casualties

On the right the French halt their attack

 

Both sides have lost heavy casualties

Both have six brigades in rout

The French have the upper hand

 

The French win the battle

 

The French have lost 11 infantry and 5 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (5000 men)

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

The Spanish have lost 6 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (2500)

 

The French have 6 brigades in rout

The British have 4 brigades in rout

The Spanish have 2 brigades in rout