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