Albacete Campaign – Set Up

Campaign Map on 7 September 1813

This map shows the location of each corps and independent brigade on the evening before the campaign starts.   It also shows the supply depots for each army.

There are four corps in the Spanish field army

In addition there are nine militia brigades, one for each town

The French also have four corps

Both armies start the campaign at full strength

Each French corps has four days supplies

Each Spanish corps has three days supplies

The initiative to start the campaign lies with the French

The Spanish cannot retreat and concentrate until the French start their attack

Fifth French Army

The French have three corps

Each has 4 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery brigade

In addition there is a reserve corps of 4 infantry brigades

These will supply the garrisons of captures towns and protect lines of supply

The total field army is 16 infantry, 3 cavalry and 3 artillery brigades

Spanish Army

The Spanish have four corps

Two have 4 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery brigade

Two have 3 infantry and 1 artillery brigade

The nine militia brigades form the garrison of each of the nine towns

They can only leave the town when it is occupied by the French

They then become a guerrilla brigade

They must still operate around their original town

The Spanish have 14 infantry, 9 militia, 2 cavalry and 4 artillery brigades

Campaign Notes

The French army has been reduced to three full corps and one reserve corps

The reserve corps has four infantry brigades, but no cavalry and no artillery

Their purpose is to provide garrisons for four French depots

If more depots are required one of the corps must detach an infantry brigade as garrison

The aim is to reduce the fighting ability of the French army.

They have the element of surprise at the start of the campaign

They must take advantage of this by hitting the forward Spanish corps hard

It is important that they badly damage at least two of the four Spanish corps

It is also important that they do not suffer too many casualties themselves

The French have less infantry and artillery brigades than the Spanish

Their only advantage is in cavalry.

They must try to avoid either cavalry or artillery casualties in the early battles

French and Spanish gunners are both average quality

French cavalry are average, Spanish cavalry are poor

French infantry is slightly better than the Spanish regular infantry

Supplies will be a particular problem in this campaign

Each depot will collect sufficient supplies each day to feed one corps for one day

To resupply the corps must be within three squares and not move that day

The further the French advance the more difficult their supply problems become

Their original depots will soon be too far away to resupply the advancing corps

To establish a depot in a captured town the corps must provide a garrison

This must be a full strength infantry brigade

As each town is captured its Spanish militia garrison become a guerrilla brigade

Each can attack any isolated French garrison or supply column

To count as support a French corps must be within one square of the town