Cuidad Real Campaign - Day 9

29 April 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 9

15^th French army have occupied Almagro and forced 2^nd Spanish army to retreat and quit the campaign.

The French have effectively won the campaign.

The loss of 3^rd Spanish army means that the Spanish can not hope to win

However the fate of Cuidad Real is still be be decided.

The French campaign objective is to take the city, and to destroy the Spanish Army.   After eight days, and eight battles, the Spanish have been driven back to the final three towns of Malagon, Cuidad Real and Almagro.

The Spanish have held Malagon, and lost Almagro.   All now depends on Cuidad Real, which is the main Spanish depot for this campaign.

The French have won five of the eight battles fought, but are now at the end of a long supply line.   All six French corps are low on supplies, and carry considerable battle casualties.   They are relying on taking Cuidad Real to provide much needed supplies.  

Battle of Cuidad Real end of move 12

The French started the battle at a serious disadvantage.   The Spanish held a strong defensive position, and outnumbered them 14 brigades to 11 French brigades.

The French deployed in the true and tested two corps and a strong reserve in the centre.  The reserve consisted of both artillery batteries and two elite infantry brigades.

The reserve was ordered to support the Italian corps, which was on the French left flank.   Unfortunately they suffered a serious of setbacks.   Spanish cavalry routed both artillery batteries, and one of the two infantry brigades.

Without the support of the reserve, the Italian corps was unable to make any impression on the Spanish right flank.  Their opening attack was on a woods held by a single Spanish infantry brigade.  The outcome was the loss of their cavalry and one infantry brigade.  The sole remaining Italian brigade was hard put to hold half of the woods.

The French corps on their right flank could do no wrong.  Despite the loss of their artillery and best infantry brigade to the reserve, they eventually broke the Spanish left flank and took the north east section of the town.

At nightfall the Spanish still held the south east section of the town, and the remaining French infantry were in the wrong position to launch a final attack.

The French had failed to take Cuidad Real, they had also failed to crush 1^st Spanish Army.

Comments

On the surface this critical battle looks very much like many of the earlier battles.   Once more the French were outnumbered.    Once more the Spanish held a strong defensive position.    The sole French advantage was that they held the initiative and could dictate the critical point of attack.

Once more the French weakened the two flanking corps to create a strong central reserve.   Once more it consisted of both artillery batteries and two elite infantry brigades.  This would leave the two corps without any artillery and weak in infantry.   Neither would be able to attack the stronger Spanish corps to their front, who not only had more infantry but also had artillery.

French success would depend on good use of their reserve.   In this battle that reserve would support the Italian corps, which was the French left.   However it would not be sufficient to defeat the Spanish corps to their front.  They would also have to take the strongly held Cuidad Real in the centre.

To so so the French artillery would have to advance to close range of the town.   Despite their infantry support, the guns would be very vulnerable in the final approach to the town.

Move 6, exactly half way through the game, would be the deciding move.   The French artillery would have to advance within charge move of the Spanish cavalry in order to unlimber within short range of the town.   Which side moved first would be critical.  This is decided by drawing a (poker) chip showing the corps to move first.   The Spanish moved first.

The Spanish lancers charged the nearest French battery.   The gunners had just unlimbered, but their infantry support was just out of supporting range.   Normally the infantry should be in square and offer a safe refuge to the gunners.   The Spanish charged and the French gunners tested to see if they could evade.   The gunners lost and must now stop the enemy cavalry with firepower.   They only needed 5 for a hit with 2D6, they totalled 4.   The Spanish charged home, the gunners were broken and routed with 10% casualties.   A rout is 8” directly away from the cause of the rout.   This sent the gunners right into their infantry support.   The infantry had to test their morale, they needed 3 with 1D6, they rolled 1 and joined the rout. 

Half way through the game the French reserve had lost half of their artillery and infantry.

The French were more sucessful on their weak right flank.   Here they defeated the Spanish corps to their front and even took part of the town.   But it was just not enough.

To win the French needed to defeat the First Spanish Army and take the town.   They failed to do either.  

It may have looked just like the earlier games at  the start, but this one proved to be one of the most difficult games for the French commander (me).   They had good luck to balance the bad.  But unfortunately it was in the wrong place and at the wrong time.  

All of which made for a very enjoyable game, and a well deserved win for Jan.