Cuidad Real Campaign - Day 10

 

 

30 April 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 10

Despite the Spanish victory at Cuidad Real, it was obvious to general Giron that he was now in an impossible situation.   The loss of 3^rd Army meant that he was outnumbered two to one by the French.   Any delay would allow the French to concentrate four corps against two at Cuidad Real.   Consequently he ordered 1^st and 2^nd Spanish armies to retreat and abandon both Cuidad Real and Malagon.

Marshal Suchet wanted to destroy the Spanish army before they could retreat and escape.   Despite a shortage of supplies he ordered all three French armies to engage the Spanish.   14^th and 15^th armies would attack Cuidad Real.   13^th French army would attack Malagon. 

The retreat of the Spanish army prevented any further engagements.   The French occupied both towns with out any resistance.  

Suchet had failed to destroy the Spanish army, but he did occupy all of the Spanish towns, including Cuidad Real.   He therefore won the campaign.

Comments

The battle of Cuidad Real should have been the deciding one of the campaign. This city was the campaign objective of both sides.  

After nine days, and nine battles, both sides were at the end of their operational capacity.    Both had received considerable battle casualties.   Both were very short of supplies.

In normal circumstances the French should have lost the campaign when they lost the battle of Cuidad Real.   Although they had won five of the nine battles fought, their over extended lines of supply would have forced them to retreat to consolidate their depots.

Because of effective guerrilla activity the French had to detach more than half of their cavalry to protect their lines of supply.   This left the field armies at a distinct disadvantage.   The Spanish already outnumbered them in infantry, now they also outnumbered them in cavalry.  Without effective cavalry the French were unable to overcome their lack of infantry.   This resulted in more defeats than would be normal in Spain.

For the final battles the French had recalled about half of the detached cavalry.   It was a risk, because it would have an immediate effect on their supply system.   If they could quickly defeat the Spanish armies they would be able to live off the captured Spanish supplies.   But they would have to defeat three Spanish armies one after the other.

The Spanish won the first of the battles at Malagon.   The French won the second battle at Almagro.   The Spanish won the third battle at Cuidad Rodrigo.   So why didn’t the Spanish win the campaign?

The reason is the location of the Spanish armies for this final phase of the campaign.   They had already been forced to retreat from the central battles of Consuegra, Damiel and Valdepenas.   They were at the extreme left of the map for the final three battles.   The campaign rules are that if a corps retreats off the map they have left the campaign, and cannot enter again.   The Spanish defeat at Almagro meant that 1^st Spanish army had to retreat off the map, and thus leave the campaign.

Despite their defeat at Cuidad Real, the French now had six corps against the remaining four Spanish corps.   Suchet could now bring four corps against the two at Cuidad Real.   Having forced 1^st Spanish army to retreat off the map he could then bring all six French corps against the remaining two at Malagon.

Not surprising that Giron ordered 1^st and 2^nd Spanish armies to retreat before the French could destroy them both in two battles.

This is why I so prefer campaigns rather than one off battles.    The outcome of the campaign is not decided by the side who kills the most enemy.   Nor is it only decided by who wins the most  battles.   There are strategic objectives which are just as important as winning battles.   One is supply and another the location of the battles.

It is possible, though unlikely, that one side could win more battles than the other and still lose.  For example the French could lose the advantage in the centre (14^th French army) and south (15^th French army) but still win if 13^th French army forced 2^nd Spanish army to retreat off the map in the north.

In this campaign the French won more battles, but they were held in check in the centre and north.  It was only the retreat of 3^rd Spanish army in the south which gave them the campaign.

I think that the French deserved to win (but then I did command them).    They were outnumbered throughout the campaign, and they had increasing supply problems as they drove the Spanish back.   They also lost critical battles, though never suffered a crushing defeat.   If the Spanish had forced a draw at Almagro they, and not the French, would have won the campaign.

A very, very enjoyable campaign to play, and a good illustration of why Spain is fast becoming my favourite of the five campaign areas in the 1813 campaign.