2 July 1813 – Northern Spain – End of Talavera Campaign

 

Battles fought during campaign phase

Soult won four of the six battles fought

Wellington won the remaining two

 

Soult took and held the city of Talavera and therefore won the campaign

 

The campaign started on 23 July and ended on 28 September 2023

This was the first campaign using our new wargame rules, which rely on just 1D6 to decide firing, melee and morale.   The rules worked well and needed only minor adjustments.   Wellington had two British and one Spanish corps in each of his three armies.  The Spanish were allocated garrison duties, so most of the fighting was done by the British brigades.   The Spanish infantry performed much better than expected.   

Madrid Region

At the end of the campaign the French had occupied Talavera

Soult ordered his army to hold the city and established his headquarters there

 

Wellington ordered his army to hold just west 

1 July 1813 – North Spain – Day 7

Wellington retreats and abandons Talavera

French win campaign phase

No guerrilla activity

 

1^st British army prepare to retreat

2^nd British army retreat and abandon Talavera

3^rd British army prepare to retreat

 

10^th French army resupply at Villacastin

11^th French army occupy Talavera

12^th French army resupply at San Martin

1 July 1813 – Battle of Talavera

Tactical map of battle area

Talavera is the district administrative centre and the campaign objective

It is held by 2^nd Anglo-Spanish army who have casualties to 10 of their 18 brigades

10^th French army have orders to take the city, they have casualties to 5 if their 17 brigades

 

French – 11 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 battle

General Hill has placed 8^th Spanish corps in and around the city of Talavera

3^rd British corps has been positioned to the right of the city

4^th British corps is on the left, either side of the river Tagus

Hill has taken commend of half of 4^th corps (between river and city)

 

Marshal Oudinot will arrive at the start of move 1 with his 11^th French army

End of move 2

French arrive on table and advance towards city

 

Left – 4^th British corps wait for French to advance

Left – British reserve artillery redeploy to fire across the river

Centre – Spanish cavalry deploy between city and 3^rd corps

Right – 3^rd British corps occupy farm and cavalry advance

 

Left – 33^rd Italian corps advance on the left bank

Left – Oudinot takes command of Italian troops on the right bank

Centre – 32^nd Westphalian corps advance through pass

Right – 31^st French corps advance, cavalry move right to counter British dragoons

End of move 4

French attack town and farm

 

Left – British infantry between river and city withdraw out of artillery range

Centre – Spanish garrison receive casualties, but pass morale test

Right – British cavalry lose cavalry melee and retreat shaken with 20% casualties

Right - British garrison of farm lose 10% casualties and withdraw

 

Left – French artillery more effective than British, concentrate on supporting infantry

Centre – Westphalian infantry skirmish with city garrison and cause 10% casualties

Right – French cavalry lose melee and rout with 20% casualties

Right - French infantry skirmish with garrison of farm and cause 10% casualties

End of move 6

French attack on town continues

British abandon walled farm

3^rd British corps redeploy

 

Left – British hold their ground

Centre – Spanish continue to hold all of Talavera

Right – British abandon farm and retreat to road

 

Left – Italians wait out of artillery range, waiting for their gunners to weaken enemy

Centre – Westphalian infantry and artillery continue to fire on city, but with no effect

Right – French infantry advance to the right of the abandoned farm

End of move 8

Time is running out, general French advance

 

Left - British hold their position and wait for French to attack

Centre – Spanish cavalry receive 10% casualties, fail morale and rout

Centre – Spanish garrison receive more casualties, but pass morale and hold

Right – British gunners seek cover in nearby square to avoid French lancers

 

Left – Italians advance both sides of the river

Centre – Westphalian infantry and artillery continue to fire on garrison

Right – French artillery hit Spanish lancers, who fail morale and rout

Right – Lancers charge gunners, who seek shelter in nearby square

Right – French infantry advance to attack British lines.

End of move 10

Fighting continues in Talavera

Wellington orders a general retreat

 

Left – 4^th British corps on the left bank retreat

Left – 4^th British corps on the right bank hold their position

Centre – Spanish abandon half of Talavera

Right – 3^rd British corps retreat

 

Left – Italians take bridge and pursue retreating British on left bank

Left – Italians infantry brigade routed and attack on right bank abandoned

Centre – Westphalian infantry have taken half of Talavera and fighting continues

Right – French pursue retreating British infantry

 

Summary

The Spanish still hold half of Talavera, but have no reserves

Wellington holds the road between the city and the river

The remainder of his army is in retreat

 

Most of the French army is still operational, but are widely dispersed

They will have to regroup in order to take the remainder of the city

There only two Spanish militia brigades fighting to hold the city

 

With no reserves Wellington orders a general retreat

The French have won the battle

 

French have lost 4 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (1800 men)

British have lost 6 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2500 men)

Spanish have lost 2 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (900)

 

2 French brigades in rout

3 British brigades in rout

2 Spanish brigades in rout

 

1 July 1813 – North Spain – Day 6

French retreat from Avila

French attack Talavera
Guerrilla attack Valdemoro and two convoys

1^st British army regroup and resupply at Avila

2^nd British army attacked at Talavera

3^rd British army resupply a t Torrecilla

 

10^th French army retreat to Villacastin

11^th French army attack Talavera

12^th French army regroup and resupply at San Martin

 

12th guerrilla attack Valdemoro, garrison lose 10% casualties

13^th guerrilla capture convoy from Mostoles to Maqjueda, escort lose 10% casualties

15^th guerrilla capture convoy from Valdemoro to Carranque, no casualties to escort

30 June 1813 – Battle of Avila

 

Tactical map of battle area

Wellington commands 1^st Anglo-Spanish army at Avila

1 infantry and 1 cavalry brigade are non operational due to casualties

 

Soult commands 10^th French army who attack Avila

1 infantry and 1 cavalry brigade are non operational due to casualties

A second infantry brigade is the garrison of Villacastin

 

French – 10 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

British –    7 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

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

Table at start of battle

Wellington has deployed his army in and around the walled town of Avila

1^st British corps is on the left, 2^nd British corps is on the right

7^th Spanish corps is in the town

He has created a reserve of his two best British brigades, behind the town

 

Soult will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Both British corps have advanced to the forward edge of the town

 

Soult is advancing towards the allied line

28^th Young guard corps is on the right

29^th French corps is in the centre

30^th Polish corps is on the left

Soult has created a reserve centre left

It consists of one brigade and corps artillery from 29^th and 30^th corps

End of move 4

French artillery have received first casualties of the game

 

Left - 1^st British artillery hit French gunners with first shot of the game

Centre - Wellington is leading reserve forward between 1^st corps and the town

Right - 2^nd British corps is still out of artillery range

 

Left -30^th Polish corps has reached southern edge of hill

Centre - French reserve deploys, gunners pass morale with 20% casualties

Centre - 29^th French corps deploy out of artillery range

Right - 28^th Young guard deploy out of artillery range

End of move 6

French advance

 

Left - Wellington moves reserve to support 1^st corps

Centre - Spanish artillery rout French cavalry

Right - 2^nd corps artillery infantry and gunners rout, but rally and return

 

Left - 30^th Polish halt on hill

Left - French reserve advance in support of Poles

Centre - 29^th French cavalry charge Spanish guns, are routed with 20% casualties

Right - 28^th French artillery rout British gunners, infantry and cavalry, infantry advance

End of move 8

French attack

 

Left - British infantry receive 10% casualties, but pass morale test.

Left – British reserve deploy behind 1^st corps

Centre – Spanish cavalry rout from artillery fire, nearby gunners join them

Right – British gunners rally and return to guns

 

Left – Poles wait on ridge, British are too strong to attack

Left – French reserve fire on gunners and infantry

Centre – French infantry in position to attack garrison

Right – French prepare to attack

End of move 10

French take right half of Avila

 

Left – British reserve move towards Avila

Left – Highland brigade fail morale with 20% casualties and retreat

Centre – Right hand garrison of Avila fail morale and retreat with 20% casualties

 Right – 2^nd British corps withdraws facing the French

 

Left – Polish infantry prepare to advance

Centre – French reserve prepare to attack left half of Avila

Centre – French infantry enter right half of Avila

Right – 28^th French corps advances

End of move 12

Fighting continues at nightfall, but Wellington still holds Avila

 

Left – Highland brigade rally with 20% casualties

Centre – Spanish hold left half of Avila, and counter attack right half

Right – 2^nd British corps withdraws to village

 

Left – Polish infantry remain on hill

Centre – French reserve fail to take left half of Avila

Centre – 29^th corps take right half of Avila

Right – 28^th corps redeploy and do not pursue withdrawing British 

 

Summary

Despite heavy fighting both sides have suffered minor casualties

All routed brigades, except French chasseur brigade, have rallied from rout

At nightfall the Spanish hold left half of Avila and are attacking right half

Wellington’s reserve of two British brigades are in position to support town

Soult orders a retreat, Wellington has won the battle

 

French have lost 4 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (1900 men)

British have lost 3 infantry and 3 artillery casualties (1300 men)

Spanish have lost 1 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (900 men)

30 June 1813 – North Spain – Day 5

French retreat from Torrecilla

French attack Avila

Guerrilla attack El Casar and two convoys

 

1^st British army attacked at Avila

2^nd British army regroup and resupply at Talavera

3^rd British army regroup and resupply at Torrecilla

 

10^th French army attack Avila

11^th French army advance towards Talavera

12^th French army retreat from Torrecilla

 

10^th guerrilla attack El Casar, repulsed with 30% casualties

11^th guerrilla attack convoy to Mostoles, repulsed with 20% casualties

15^th guerrilla capture convoy to Carranque, escort suffer 10% casualties

29 June 1813 – Battle of Torrecilla

 

Tactical map of battle area

General Picton commands the Third Anglo-Spanish army at Torrecilla

It consists of 5^th and 6^th British and 9^th Spanish corps

He has lost 18 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties at San Martin

 

Marshal Marmont commands the Twelfth French army, tasked to take the town

He has 34^th and 35^th French and 36^th Vistula corps

He has lost 5 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties at San Martin

 

French – 11 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

British –    6 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Spanish – 2 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Picton’s army is deployed in and around Torrecilla at the start of the battle

He has created a reserve of two British infantry brigades behind the town

 

The French will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French army arrive on table

 

Left – 6^th British artillery move closer to town

Centre – wait for French to approach

Right – 5^th British corps for French to approach

 

Left – 36^th Vistula corps advance over hill

Centre left – Marmont has taken command of 36^th and 35^th corps artillery

Centre right – 35^th French corps advance towards town

Right – 34^th French corps advance over hill

End of move 4

French army continue to advance

 

Left – 6^th British artillery deploy between hill and town

Centre – Spanish cavalry move to right, between town and hill

Right – 5^th British corps wait for French to approach

 

Left – Vistula corps advance screened by high ground

Centre left – Combined artillery unlimber at extreme range

Centre – right – 35^th French corps halt out of artillery range

Right – 34^th French corps advance screened by high groun

End of move 6

French halt in the centre, arrive within attack range on the flanks

 

Left – British artillery redeploy to fire on infantry on hill

Centre – Artillery and garrison both receive artillery casualties, both pass morale test

Right – Artillery counter fire, but no casualties

 

Left – Vistula lancers advance to engage British cavalry

Centre – Artillery hit gunners and town, remainder half out of artillery range

Right – Infantry move onto hill, out of sight of British artillery

End of move 8

French attack town

 

Left – British dragoons rout Vistula lancers

Centre – Garrison receive more artillery casualties, but pass morale test

Right – British infantry withdraw on hill

 

Left – With the loss of their cavalry the Vistula infantry halt

Centre – French infantry advance to storm town, cavalry are shaken by artillery fire

Right – French infantry on hill prepare to attack

End of move 10

Full French attack

Extensive infantry melee in town

 

Left – British cavalry withdraw, infantry melee on hill

Centre – British and Spanish artillery withdrdaw

Centre -  Both Spanish brigades routed in town, also one French brigade

Right – Portguese brigade lose 20% in firefight, but pass morale test

 

Left – French attack hill, first round of melee is a draw

Centre – French artillery advance as enemy gunners withdraw

Centre – French take all of town, but one brigade fails morale and routs

Right – French win melee, but Portuguese refuse to retreat

End of move 12

British hold town at nightfall and win battle  

 

Left – British brigade rout, but remaining brigade continues musket fire

Centre – British infantry in town receive casualties but pass morale test

Right – British retreat , Portuguese infantry rout

Left – Infantry brigade rout remaining infantry continue musket fire

Centre – French artillery pound British garrison

Right – French infantry occupy British hill

 

Summary

At nightfall British infantry hold all of Torrecilla

Fighting on left hill is a draw

French have taken hill on the right

Anglo-Spanish have won the battle

  

French have lost 4 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (1800 men)

British have lost 7 infantry and 2 artillery casualties (3000 men)

Spanish have lost 4 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (1700 men)

 

Anglo-Spanish have 4 brigades in rout

French have 4 brigades in rout

29 June 1813 – North Spain – Day 4

French occupy Maqueda and secure 3 days supplies

French attack Torrecilla

No guerrilla activity

 

1^st British army regroup and resupply at Avila

2^nd British army retreat to Talavera

3^rd British army defend Torrecilla

 

10^th French army advance towards Avila

11^th French army occupy Maqueda

12^th French army attack Torrecilla

 

No guerrilla attacks today

10, 11 and 15 groups are regrouping and resupplying

12, 13 and 14 groups are retreating to their safe areas