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