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Wednesday, November 27, 2024

7 August 1813 – Battle of Jean

 

Tactical map of battle area

14th French Army commanded by General Saint Cyr attack Jean
2nd Spanish army commanded by General Elio defend Jean

French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 1 infantry and 1 artillery battle casualties (500 men)

Spanish have 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
They have lost 3 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery battle casualties (1400 men)


Table at start of battle

2nd Spanish Army is deployed on the table at the start of the battle
4th corps in and around the first game objective, the farm on the right
5th corps in and around the second game objective, the woods in the centre
6th corps around the third game objective, the bridge on the left
General Elio has taken command of half of 6th corps, between the river and the woods

14th French Army will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French advance towards the three game objectives
CinC has taken command of half of 42nd corps, on the right bank of the river
40 corps reach the hill on the right
41 corps advance in the centre
42 corps advance on the left

Spanish adjust to French advance
CinC unlimber artillery, advance cavalry between river and woods
4 corps advance to edge of farm, unlimber artillery
5 corps advance to T junction
6 corps await French advance

End of move 4

French advance, artillery unlimber
CinC halt and unlimber artillery
40 corps advance slowly over hill
41 corps artillery rout Spanish cavalry
42 corps advance on left bank towards bridge

Spanish lancers charge French gunners
CinC wait for Poles to advance
4 corps artillery fire on gunners, no casualties
5 corps lancers charge artillery, receive 10% casualties and rout
6 corps wait for Poles to advance

End of move 6

French artillery open fire
CinC artillery hit Spanish gunners
40 corps infantry receive 10% casualties, pass morale test
41 corps artillery move closer to farm
42 corps advance towards bridge

Spanish artillery open fire
CinC gunners receive 10% casualties, withdraw out of artillery range
4 corps infantry withdraw out of artillery range
5 corps routed cavalry fail morale test
6 corps wait for Polish infantry to come within range

End of move 8

French attack
CinC artillery routs infantry brigade
40 corps advance towards farm, one brigade routed
41 corps artillery force enemy out of farm
42 corps capture bridge and rout two Spanish brigades

Spanish lose bridge (game objective)
CinC one brigade routs due to 20% casualties
4 corps advance to attack French as they move down from hill
5 corps retreat to rear of woods
6 corps lose melee, rout and abandon bridge

End of move 10

French attack woods in centre and farm on right
CinC send inantry into woods
40 corps infantry enter farm, infantry lose 10% but pass morale
41 corps infantry support attack on farm
42 corps infantry skirmish across river, no casualties

Spanish prepare to counter attack woods in centre and farm on right
CinC infantry skirmish over river, no casualties
4 corps infantry lose 10% casualties, but pass morale test
5 corps prepare to counter attack in woods
6 corps rally but too weak to counter attack on left bank of river
End of move 12

French hold two objectives and win the battle
CinC after two hours fighting both infantry brigades routed from woods
40 corps lose melee but rally and hold farm
41 corps support attack on farm and rout infantry brigade
42 corps rout defenders and secure bridge

Spanish hold one objective and lose the battle
CinC unable to hold bridge
4 corps counter attack on farm fails
5 corps hold area between farm and woods, one brigade routed
6 corps unable to hold bridge, retreat to bridge on main road to Jean

Summary


This was a very hard fought battle and the outcome in balance until the last move
The winner was decided by the two infantry melee
The Spanish won the melee in the woods and routed the Baden infantry
The French won the melee and held the farm on the right
The Polish took both ends of the bridge on the left

French have lost 7 infantry casualties (2800 men)
Spanish have lost 8 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (3300 men

The French have 3 infantry brigades in rout
The Spanish have 1 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades in rout

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