Santiago Campaign – Day 10

Campaign Map on 28 October 1813

To keep the French off balance Wellington orders all guerrilla bands to attack French depots of Oviedo, Astorga and Sanabria

6^th guerrilla attack Sanabria.   They suffer 800 casualties and rout

7^th guerrilla attack Oviedo.   They suffer 800 casualties and rout

8^th and 9^th guerrilla both attack Astorga. 

They capture the town and rout the garrison with 400 casualties

They also take 2 days supplies

Unable to attack in the north, Soult orders 8^th corps to attack Santiago

He also orders the reserve cavalry and artillery to support the attack

Santiago is Wellington’s main depot

2^nd British corps is deployed just east of the city in a strong defensive position

They hold their own for most of day, but are eventually broken and routed

General Cole orders them to rally in Santiago 

Battle of Santiago

Cole deploys his corps at the mouth of the pass on the left

Two infantry brigades hold the heights on either side of the pass

Santiago is off table on the left

8^th corps deploy immediately in front of the pass

Reserve cavalry and artillery move to attack the British right flank

However they are held between the hill and the farm until late in the day

The infantry on each hill make it very difficult for the two French wings to concentrate

But once they do so they quickly break the British centre

Campaign Notes

The French outnumber the British two to one in cavalry and artillery.  

Despite less infantry than the British, it is only a matter of time before they win

Far more interesting was the guerrilla activity

With the French concentrated at Ribadeo, Lugo and Ponfererada the three rear towns are left at the mercy of the guerrilla bands.  

Each guerrilla only has a maximum of 3 days supplies, and they must move to a farm or village to resupply.  This means that most of the time they are moving to supply, or halted doing so.   However on this day there are four guerrilla in position and ready to attack.

The outcome is decided by the roll of 1D6.   The guerrilla must roll 6 to rout the garrison and take the town.   A roll of 1, 2 or 3 will result in them taking casualties and routing or retreating.

At Oviedo and Sanabria they both roll 1.   Both guerrilla suffer 20% casualties (800 men) and rout.

However at Astorga two guerrilla attack at the same time.   Each need 5 or 6 to rout the garrison.   The first dice is 3, the second is 5.    The garrison rout, leading behind two days supplies.

The French victory is very important.   The loss of Santiago with its three days supplies is a blow to Wellington.   Worst still his lines of communication to Portugal are cut.

However Astorga is also the French main depot, and commands their lines of communication back to Salamanca, Valladolid and Madrid.    The loss of two days supplies is equally serious.   Even more so is the loss of all supplies from Salamanca.   Until Astorga is retaken they will have to rely entirely on what they can forage.

It will be interesting to see who can open their lines of supply first, and what they will have to abandon to do so.