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)