16 June 1813 – Battle of River Guadiana

Tactical map of battle area

3rd Spanish corps have orders to hold river between Almadan and Don Pedro

4th Spanish corps have orders to move to join 3rd corps

15th Vistula and 16th Italian corps have orders to cross river and hold bridgehead

Spanish – 23200 infantry, 54 guns

French – 19200 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 57 guns

Table at start of wargame

3rd Spanish corps and 5 guerrilla start on the table

4th Spanish corps arrive start of move 1

15th Vistula and 16th Italian corps start on table.

The river is fordable by cavalry and infantry

They cross at half movement rate and are disordered

Artillery must use a bridge to cross river

0800-1200

4^th Spanish corps (left) have arrived and deployed between farm and marsh

15^th Vistula and 16^th Italian corps have both crossed the river

The cavalry have reformed, but the infantry are still disordered by the river crossing

Marshal Suchet (right) has taken command of the lancer brigade

The Italians have come under fire from the Spanish artillery

One brigade has lost 10% casualties but have made their morale

1200-1600

On the right 15^th Vistula corps have crossed the river and are advancing to attack 3^rd Spanish corps.   Their lancers charge and rout the gunners, who take the infantry in the woods with them.  The lancers fail their morale and charge the nearby square, who are poor class infantry with 20% casualties.  With one cavalry charge 3^rd Spanish corps are broken and in rout.

On the left both 16^th Italian corps and 4^th Spanish corps are still deploying.  Before they exchange fire General Giron orders the Spanish to retreat and cover the rout of 3^rd corps.

Conclusion

This crushing defeat has allowed half of the French army to cross the river Guadiana with minimum casualties. 

The French have lost 100 cavalry casualties

The Spanish have lost 1600 infantry and 200 artillery casualties

15 June 1813 - Southern Spain

7^th and 8^th French corps pin 1^st and 2^nd Spanish corps

15^th and 16^th French corps move into position to attack river Guadiana

4^th Spanish corps have to halt to resupply

3^rd Spanish corps move to counter French concentration

2 Spanish guerrilla escort 8 Italian brigade to Navalmoral where they will be held as POW.

14 June 1813 - Southern Spain

Suchet receives report that Navalmoral has been captured by guerrillas and that the garrison is retreating towards Guadalupe.   He must decide whether to order 16^th corps to retake Navalmoral or to continue to join with 15^th corps and attack between Don Pedro and Alamadan.  He orders 16^th corps to resupply and then join with 15^th corps and prepare to attack.   He moves his HQ to join 15^th corps to control the proposed attack on the river Guadiana.

He also orders 7^th and 8^th corps to advance to pin the Spanish at Cuidad Real

8 infantry brigade have been forced to abandon Navalmoral and are attempting to retreat to Guadalupe.   As they reach D09 they are ambushed by 2 guerrilla brigade.   Already shaken from their fight at Navalmoral, and retreating shaken, the Italians lay down their arms and surrender.

Giron is expecting the French to attack Cuidad Real.  He orders 1^st and 2^nd corps to hold the river north of the city.  4^th corps is ordered to move east to counter 16^th French corps.