Summary of Southern Spain Campaign – 11 August 1813

 

Regional areas of Southern Spain

There are three regions in Southern Spain
Lisbon region is a safe rear area for the Spanish army
Valencia region is the rear area for the Fifth French army
Seville region is the disputed area between them

The main French depot is at Valencia
The main Spanish depot is at Seville

French Strategy in Spain

King Joseph is the commander in chief of all French troops in Spain.
However he commands no respect from either his army commanders
Both Soult and Suchet are determined to remain independent commanders
Suchet wants to invade southern Spain and become King of Andalusia
Soult wants to defeat Wellington and become King of Portugal

All three agree that Soult will drive Wellington out of Spain
Suchet will invade Andalusia and take Seville
He will then detach two of his four corps to support Soult
Soult will invade Portugal and drive Wellington out of the Peninsula

Anglo-Spanish Strategy in Spain

Wellington is the commander in chief of all allied troops in the Peninsula
However all Spanish generals deeply resent this appointment
Giron is determined to take Madrid and become the hero of Spain

Wellington is well aware that he cannot rely on his Spanish generals
To defat the French he must first take Madrid
To do so the Spanish army must hold southern Spain to pin Suchet
Most importantly the Spanish must avoid a comprehensive defeat
This would allow both French armies to concentrate against Wellington

Diary of North Spain Campaign

01 February 1813 - Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France
04 February 1813 - Spanish army operational n Saville region
28 February 1813 - Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region
09 March 1813 - Start of Toledo campaign phase
13 March 1813 - Spanish win Toledo campaign phase
20 April 1813 - Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase
30 April 1813 - French win Cuidad Real campaign phase
08 June 1813 - Start of Merida campaign phase
15 June 1813 - Spanish win Merida campaign phase
02 August 1813 - Start of Jean campaign phase
11 August 1813 French win Jean campaign phase

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.
The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign
02 - Five campaign areas
50 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Spain
51 - 5th French Army order of battle
52 - Spanish Army order of battle
53 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Spain
54 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Spain
55 - Summary of campaign in Southern Spain

11 August 1813 – Southern Spain – End of Jean Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

The French won the first three battles of the campaign, forcing the Spanish army to retreat west to Linares, Jean and Alcaudette.

To pursue the retreating Spanish, Suchet had to detach infantry and cavalry brigades to secure his lines of supply. Despite this he lost many supplies to guerrilla attacks.

As Suchet struggled to secure his lines of supply, the Spanish counter attacked. They won the next four battles, including the city of Jean.

Suchet won the next battle at Linares, but he was down to one days supplies and was tempted to retreat. Instead he ordered a desperate attack on Martos, which he won and with it the campaign.

The campaign started on 26 September and ended on 7 February 2025

This was the first campaign to last nine days, earlier ones had only lasted six days. This was to allow the Spanish to counter attack after the French had taken Jean, which was the campaign objective. To do so the French had to expend almost all of their supplies, and detach the maximum number of infantry and cavalry brigades to secure their lines of supply. They would be at their weakest, and the Spanish at their strongest. Despite this the French won the final two battles, and also the campaign.

Seville Region

This map shows the location of the 29 battles fought in the Seville Region since the Sixth campaign bagan in June 2020. The French won 17 and the Spanish 12.

11 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 10

 

Main French depot at Hellin – 0 days supplies

French have no more reserve supplies
French occupy Martos
French have defeated Spanish army
Spanish general retreat

13th French army – resupply and secure Linares
14th French army – occupy Martos
15th French army – regroup and resupply at Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – retreat to Andjuar
2nd Spanish army – retreat off map
3rd Spanish army – retreat to Alcaudete

Guerrilla cease active operations

10 August 1813 – Battle of Martos

Tactical map of battle area

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

French have 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
4 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 4 infantry and 1 artillery battle casualties (1700 men)

Spanish have 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
They have lost 6 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery battle casualties (2700 men)

The French are running short of supplies, there are none left in their base at Hellin. St Cyr is ordered to attack Martos and destroy 2nd Spanish army before the campaign grinds to a halt.

To win the campaign the Spanish must retake their base at Jean. They have more infantry than the French but have suffered more casualties to their cavalry and artillery.

Neither command is aware that their opponent is under orders to attack. The result is an encounter battle between Jean and Martos.

Table at start of battle

Jean is the city centre bottom
Martos is off table at the top

The game objectives are the three squares in the middle of the table
Bridge on the right, small woods in the centre, large woods on the right
The winner is the side which holds at least two objectives at the end of the game

40th French corps is crossing hill on the right with orders to take large woods
41st Baden corps is moving through Jean with orders to take small woods
42nd Polish corps is on the left bank of the river with orders to take brigade
CinC has taken command of half of 42nd corps on the right bank

4th Spanish corps has orders to take large woods on the right
5th Spanish corps has orders to take small woods in the centre
6th Spanish corps has orders to take bridge on the left
CinC has taken command of half of 6th corps on the right bank of river

End of move 2

French advance and deploy when they sight Spanish
CinC deploy to right of bridge
40 corps advance towards the woods
41 corps still passing through Jean
42 corps deploy to left of bridge

Spanish advance and deploy when they sight French
CinC deploy within artillery range of bridge
4 corps advance and enter woods on the right
5 corps advance and enter woods in the centre
6 corps deploy to left of bridge

End of move 4

French take the bridge
CinC cavary rout Spanish lancers
40 corps one brigade routed due to artillery fire
41 corps deploy outside town but unable to advance
42 corps advance to secure bridge to woods in the centre

Spanish abandon bridge and general retreat
CinC retreat from bridge following rout of cavalry
4 corps withdraw from northern half of woods
5 corps hold their position
6 corps rout after two rounds of melee

End of move 6

French concentrate on woods in the centre
CinC pursue retreating Spanish
40 corps withdraw from woods to avoid artillery casualties
41 corps pursue retreating Spanish
42 corps cross bridge to unite corps

Spanish withdraw on left and centre
CinC moves to centre
4 corps cavalry lose melee and rout
5 corps withdraw to rear of woods in the cenre
6 corps retreat

End of move 8

French attempt to break Spanish with artillery fire
CinC no command
40 corps hold southern half of woods
41 corps artillery fire twice, no casualties
42 corps artillery fire twice, no casualties

Spanish regroup to hold northern half of woods in centre and right
CinC no command
4 corps hold northern half of woods
5 corps hold woods in centre
6 corps regroup at northern bridge

End of move 10

French secure bridge on left and woods in centre
CinC no command
40 corps hold southern edge of woods on the right
41 corps hold woods in the centre
42 corps hold bridge on the left

Spanish lose two objectives and retreat
CinC no command
4 corps hold northern edge of woods on the right
5 corps abandon woods in the centre and retreat
6 corps abandon bridge on the left and retreat

Summary

The French have captured two of the three game objective
They occupy the bridge on the left and the woods in the centre
The woods on the right is disputed, each side hold half
Having taken two of the three objectives the French win the battle

French have lost 4 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1700 men)
Spanish have lost 4 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (1900 men)

10 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 9

 

Main French depot at Hellin – 0 days supplies

French have no more reserve supplies
French occupy Linares
French attack Martos

Spanish retreat to Andjuar
Spanish attack Jean
Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – occupy Linares
14th French army – attack Martos
15th French army – regroup and resupply at Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – retreat to Andjuar
2nd Spanish army – attack Jean
3rd Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Huelma

4 guerrilla attack convoy Tobarra to Riopar – fail no casualties
8 guerrilla attack convoy Elche to Jodar – fail no casualties
15 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Minateda – fail 10% casualties

9 August 1813 – Second battle of Linares

Tactical map of battle area

13th French Army commanded by Marshal Suchet attack Linare
1st Spanish army commanded by General Giron attack Ubeda

French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 4 infantry and 1 cavalry battle casualties (1700 men)

Spanish have 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
They have lost 9 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery battle casualties (3800 men)

On 6 August Marshal Suchet was unable to take Linares, and retreated to Ubeda to regroup and resupply. General Giron remained at Linares to regroup and resupply. The Spanish had suffered more casualties than the French, but Giron was determined to follow up his victory and take Ubeda. Suchet was determined on a second attempt to take Linares. At first light the Spanish set off to take Ubeda, and the French to take Linares. Neither side was aware of the intentions of the other.

Table at start of battle

Linares in the town at the top of the table
Ubeda is behind the camera at the bottom of the table

Spanish army start the game in the town and on the high ground either side
All are in column of march and all will start their advance to Ubeda at the start of move on

French army is off camera at the bottom edge of the table
They will arrive on the table at the start of move one.

End of move 2

French advancing towards Linares
CinC between 37 and 38 corps
37 corps advancing slowly over the hill on the right
38 corps advancing between the farm and the woods in the centre
39 corps advancing to the left of the farm

Spanish advancing towards the three game objectives in the centre of the table
CinC in the centre between 1 and 2 corps
1 corps nearing the farm on the right (game objective)
2 corps advancing towards the woods in the centre (game objective)
3 corps advancing towards the large woods on the left (game objective)

End of move 4

French advance in column of march
CinC advance between 37 and 38 corps
37 corps reach north edge of hill on the right
38 corps reach southern edge of woods in centre
39 corps reach southern edge of woods on the left t

Spanish start to deploy behind the three game objective
CinC observe between 1 and 2 corps
1 corps deploy behind farm on the right
2 corps deploy behind woods in the centr
3 corps deploy behind woods on the left

End of move 6

French attack all three objectives
CinC takes command of 37 corps artillery and one infantry brigade
37 corps advance towards farm on the right
38 corps advance between woods in centre and farm on the right
39 corps artillery rout Spanish cavalry and one infantry brigade

Spanish rout between woods on left and in the centre
CinC takes command of farm on the right
1 corps withdraw to rear of farm on the right
2 corps cavalry and one infantry brigade rout
3 corps reinforce northern half of woods on the left

End of move 8

French attack all three objectives
CinC occupy woods in the centre supported by cavalry and artillery
37 corps enter farm, receive 10% casualties, pass morale test
38 corps enter woods in the centre
39 corps enter woods on the left, one brigade rout

Spanish fight to hold all three objectives
CinC prepares to counter attack farm on the right
1 corps withdraw towards hill
2 corps withdraw towards town
3 corps one brigade rout, remainder fight to hold woods on the left

End of move 10

French capture woods on the left and centre
CinC enter farm on the right but driven out by Spanish
37 corps withdraw having lost farm
38 corps secure farm in the centre
39 corps secure woods on the left and rout Spanish

Spanish hold farm on right, but loss woods in centre and left
CinC orders general retreat
1 corps retake farm on the right
2 corps abandon woods in centre and retreat
3 corps abandon woods on the left and rout

Summary

Despite starting the battle with more casualties than the French, general Giron fought a hard battle. Aware that with so many casualties his brigades would have brittle morale, he kept them behind cover to reduce artillery casualties. He also used his more powerful artillery, and his cavalry, to deter the French attacking.

The loss of the Spanish cavalry in the centre allowed the French infantry to attack the woods on the left and in the centre. This allowed their artillery to pound the Spanish infantry, who were too weak to maintain their morale.

At the end of the battle the French had taken all three game objectives, but a Spanish counter attack retook the farm. However the Spanish army was battered and had ten brigades in rout, compared with three French brigades in rout. Giron ordered the remaining brigades to retreat at nightfall

French have lost 9 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (3700 men)
Spanish have lost 13 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (5400 men)

9 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 8

Main French depot at Hellin – 9 days supplies

Spanish occupy Huelma
Spanish attack Ubeda

French retreat to Mortalalla
French attack Linares

Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – attack Linares
14th French army – regroup and resupply at Jean
15th French army – retreat to Mortalalla

1st Spanish army – attack Ubeda
2nd Spanish army – regroup and resupply at Martos
3rd Spanish army – occupy Heulma

10 guerrilla attack convoy Hellin to Tobarra – fail no casualties