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Friday, May 24, 2024

20 July 1813 – Battle of Ramales

 



Tactical map of battle area

11th French army has orders to attack Ramales
2nd British army has orders to move up to the border
They meet in an encounter battle

French army is commanded by Marshal Oudinot
British army is commanded by General Hill

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Spanish – 5 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

All of 2nd British army are on the table at the start of the game
4th corps is deployed in front of Ramales
General Hill is in the town with the garrison, 14 militia brigade
8th Spanish corps in on the left, 3rd British corps on the right

11th French army is off table at the start of the game
They will all arrive on table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Marshal Oudinot is the centre with 32nd corps
31st French corps is moving through the woods on the right
32nd Westhalian corps is in the centre
33rd Italian corps in on the left

General Hill has taken command of the right half of 4th corps
3rd British corps is advancing towards the farm on the right
4th British corps is deployed either side of the main road in the centre
8th Spanish corps is climbing the hill on the left

End of move 4

Marshal Oudinot is the centre with 32nd corps
31st French corps has cleared the woods and is deploying out of artillery range
32nd Westhalian corps has also deployed out of artillery range
33rd Italian corps infantry advance towards hill, cavalry and artillery protect their flank

General Hill has taken command of the right half of 4th corps
3rd British corps is deployed either side of the farm, with one brigade occupying it
4th British corps wait for French to come within artillery range
8th Spanish corps is on the hill, cavalry and artillery between the hill and the woods

End of move 6

Marshal Oudinot takes command of 33rd corps cavalry and artillery
31st French corps cavalry lose melee and rout
32nd Westhalian corps advance towards woods
33rd Italian corps attack hill

General Hill retreats level with rear of woods
3rd British corps retreat level with 4th corps, cavalry rout French cavalry
4th British corps retreat level with rear of woods, woods held by rifle brigade
8th Spanish corps one brigade routs from hill
End of move 8

Marshal Oudinot moves 33 corps cavalry and artillery to support 32 corps
31st French corps cavalry lose second melee and rout again
32nd Westphalian cavalry lose melee and rout
33rd Italian corps capture hill

General Hill withdraws infantry to rear of woods
3rd British corps cavalry rout French cavalry again
4th British corps hold rear of woods, woods held by rifle brigade
8th Spanish corps rout from hill

End of move 10

Marshal Oudinot orders a general attack on woods and farm
31st French corps attack farm, gunners receive 10% casualties
32nd Westphalian infantry enter woods
33rd Italian corps secure hill

General Hill withdraws to area in front of town
3rd British corps hold farm
4th British corps hold rear of woods
8th Spanish corps continue to rout

End of move 12

Marshal Oudinot continues the attack farm and woods
31st French infantry skirmish inside farm
32nd Westphalian infantry skirmish inside woods
33rd Italian corps hold hill

General Hill continues to fight to defend farm and woods
3rd British corps skirmish inside farm
4th British corps skirmish inside woods
8th Spanish corps rally to left of town

Summary

At nightfall the French hold the hill, but fighting continues for the woods and farm
Difficult to decide who is the winner of the battle
Technically Wellington still holds two of the three objectives

However both the woods and the farm are disputed and fighting continues
The French have lost more cavalry
The British have lost more infantry, and abandoned all of their guns
So if a second day of battle was fought Wellington would have to retreat.

The French have lost 3 infantry, 6 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (1900 men)
The British have lost 11 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (4700 men)

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