2 August 1813 – Southern Spain – Jean Campaign

1813 Campaign

This is a fictional campaign loosely based on the 1813 campaign
It started in April 2009 and consists of stand alone campaign phases
Each phase is similar in size to the Waterloo campaign
This is the 92nd phase, each of which is shown on the above map
There have been six major adjustments to the campaign
The following maps are used for the current adjustment, which started in June 2020

Map of Europe

There are five campaign areas in Europe
North Germany – French v Prussians
Central Germany – French v Russians
Southern Germany – French v Austrians
North Spain – French v British
South Spain – French v Spanish

This is the campaign phase 19

Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Jean is the white star

Map of Spain

There are two campaign areas in Spain
North Spain – Fourth French and British Armies
South Spain – Fifth French and Spanish Armies

This is the eighth campaign phase to be fought in Spain

Jean is the white star

Map of South Spain

There are three regions in south Spain

Lisbon Region – Spanish rear area
Seville Region – campaign area
Valencia Region – French rear area

This is the fourth campaign phase to be fought in south Spain

Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Jean is the white star

Map of Seville Region

There are nine towns in Jean district
Each one is the size of the wargames table.

The campaign area is shown in white on this map
It covers the nine towns in Jean district
But also 6 towns in Hellin district

Hellin is the HQ and supply centre for Fourth French Army Group
Jean is the HQ and supply centre for the Spanish Army

Campaign Map

The Jean campaign is fought between the cities of Jean and Helin
The French Army of South Spain is deployed to the right of the district border
The Spanish Army is deployed to the left of the district border
The French objective is to take and hold the city of Jean

Each block represents one corps
Smaller oblong represents Spanish militia/guerrilla and supply columns

The French objective is to take and hold the city of Jean

Typical French corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades,1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Fourth French Army of Southern Spain – Marshal Suchet
37th French corps
38th French corps
39th Vistula corps
40th French corps
41st Baden corps
42nd Polish corps
43rd French corps
44th Westphalian corps
45th Italian corps

168000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Typical Spanish corps

6 corps have 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery
3 corps have 4 infantry brigades, and corps artillery
There are also 15 militia brigades, one in each town or city

Spanish Army – General Giron
1st Spanish corps
2nd Spanish corps
3rd Spanish corps
4th Spanish corps
5th Spanish corps
6th Spanish corps
7th Spanish corps
8th Spanish corps
9th Spanish corps
15 militia brigades

144,000 infantry, 60,000 militia, 6000 cavalry, 270 guns

Campaign Diary

01 Feb 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France
04 Feb 1813 Spanish army operational n Saville region
28 Feb 1813 Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region
09 Mar 1813 Start of Toledo campaign phase
13 Mar 1813 Spanish win Toledo campaign phase
20 Apr 1813 Start of Cuidad Real campaign phase
30 Apr 1813 French win Cuidad Real campaign phase
08 Jun 1813 Start of Merida campaign phase
15 Jun 1813 French win Merida campaign phase
02 Aug 1813 Start of 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 - Fifth 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

Introduction to the campaign in South Spain

Campaign areas of Spain

There are two campaign areas in Spain

North – 4^th French army v Anglo/Portuguese army

South – 5^th French army v Spanish army

This map shows the location of each army at the start of the campaign

South Spain

There are three regions in Southern Spain

But unlike Germany, the French do not have a secure rear area

All of Spain is in revolt against the French, who only control the area they occupy

Fifth French army is in Madrid region

The Spanish army is in Seville region

Seville Region

This is the region where the campaign will be fought

There are nine military districts in the region.  

Each campaign phase will take place in one region

 

At the start of the campaign Fourth French army is in Madrid district

The Spanish army is in Cordoba district

The first campaign phase will be Toledo district

Fifth French Army

Marshal Suchet

3^rd French corps

7^th French corps

15^th Vistula corps

16^th Italian corps

reserve corps

 

There is a detailed order of battle at Label 51

Spanish Army

General Giron

1^st Spanish corps

2^nd Spanish corps

3^rd Spanish corps

4^th Spanish corps

Spanish irregulars

 

There is a detailed order of battle at Label 52

 

Campaign Diary – working

1 February 1813 - Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France

1 February 1813 - Napoleon ordered the transfer of 50% of the veteran troops in Spain to north Germany.  There they would form the cadres of the newly created Grande Armee of Germany.   These troops would be replaced by an equal number of conscripts to maintain the number of troops serving in Spain.

4 February 1813 - Spanish army operational n Saville region 

3 March 1813 - Fifth French army operational in Madrid Region

9 March 1813 – Start of Toledo campaign phase

13 March 1813 – Spanish win Toledo 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 – 5^th 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

17 July 1813 – Southern Spain – Linares Campaign

1813 Campaign Area

There are five campaign areas in the 1813 Campaign, three in Germany and two in Spain.   The campaign is divided into campaign phases, each lasting about ten campaign days.  This is the twenty fourth campaign phase of the 1813 Campaign and the fifth phase in Southern Spain

Spanish Campaign Area

Wellington commands the Anglo-Portuguese army in northern Spain who are tasked to drive the Fourth French army, commanded by Marshal Soult, out of Spain.   They have fought five campaign phases and the British have won three.

Marshal Suchet commands the Fifth French army who have the objective of invading Andalusia and taking the capital city of Seville.   He is opposed by General Giron who commands the Spanish army.  They have fought four campaign phases and each have won two.

The French won the last campaign phase and have occupied the city of Cuidad Real, which is now their main supply base.   The Spanish have concentrated in front of Linares, which is their main base.

Linares Campaign Area

This map shows the area covered by the Linares campaign.  It shows all cities, towns and villages.  It also shows the location of all Spanish and French corps and brigades at the start of the campaign.

Each town has a Spanish militia brigade as garrison.  When the town is occupied by the French that garrison becomes a guerrilla band.  They can only operates in the immediate area of that town.   The French occupy Probete at the start of the campaign, and the garrison have become the first guerrilla band.

This map is used for all campaign movement and on the campaign diary blog.

 

Linares Wargames Map

This map covers the same area as the campaign map, but each square is the same as one 2x2 foot square used on the wargames table.   When a battle if declared this map is used to prepare the wargames table.

Summary of the campaign in Southern Spain

By the end of January most of the experienced French troops had been withdrawn from Spain to form the new Grand Army in Germany.   On 1 February 1813 Marshal Suchet was given command of all the remaining troops in Southern Spain.  He was ordered to abandon Seville and withdraw all the scattered garrisons to Madrid.

General Giron commanded all Spanish troops south of Madrid.   As the French withdrew he ordered his army to concentrate at Badajoz.  It took two weeks for them to do so.   He ordered an immediate advance on Madrid

On 28 February 1813 the Spanish Army reached Merida.   Their slow march allowed the Suchet to reorganize his Army and to march them west to meet the Spanish.   As the Spanish entered Merida, his army arrived at Almarez. 

5 March 1813 – Almarez Campaign.  Marshal Suchet opened the campaign by defeating the Spanish at Almarez and followed that by a second victory at Naval Moral.   The Spanish regrouped and countered by winning at Serrejon and Almarez.  Suchet retreated towards Madrid, allowing Giron to claim a Spanish campaign victory.

18 March 1813 – Talavera Campaign.   The Spanish dominated this campaign, winning both battles at Talavera and a draw at Las Vantas.    The campaign ended in a draw with the Armistice.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   Despite their run of victories the Spanish Army had dispersed due to battle casualties and lack of supplies.   They accepted the cease fire in order to reorganise their field army.   It was agreed that the Spanish would concentrate at Aranjuez and the French retreat to Toledo.

12 April 1813 – Toledo Campaign.   The French advance was relentless and the Spanish could do little to delay it.   The guerrilla bands caused some problems for the lines of communication and supply, and even captured two garrisons.   But Suchet ignored his lack of supplies and attacked Moncejon.   The Spanish army was broken and retreated.

Fifth French Army

Marshal Suchet

7^th French corps

8^th French corps

9^th Vistula corps

10^th Italian corps

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery.   

Spanish Army

General Giron

1^st Spanish corps

2^nd Spanish corps

3^rd Spanish corps

4^th Spanish corps

1^st and 2^nd corps each have four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

3^rd and 4^th corps each have three infantry brigades and corps artillery

Each town has a militia brigade

When a town is occupied by the French the militia become guerrillas.