Llanes Campaign – Day 5

15 May 1813 – North Spain – Day 5

Soult is concerned about guerrilla activity against his lines of supply

He is also concerned how widely dispersed his three armies are

10^th army is ordered to occupy Comillas

11^th army will hold Reinosa

12^th army will hold Soncillo

 

Wellington is also concerned how dispersed are his three armies

1^st army has to retreat to Llanes

4^th army is ordered to move up to the border to threaten Reinosa

2^nd army will hold Aguilar

7^th guerrilla attack Torrelavega, repulsed with 30% casualties

 

Comment

After four days of fighting both armies are widely dispersed and unsupported.

 

In the north 1^st British army has been forced to retreat to Llanes.

10^th French army have pursued them and are at Comillas

The French are now overextended and their lines of supply under attack

Their southern flank is open and in danger from 4^th Spanish army

They have a chance to take Llanes, which is the campaign objective

But to do so  they have to attack over a defended river line.

 

In the centre 4^th Spanish army hold Cabezon

They are ordered to advance to the border and prepare to attack Reinosa

11^th French army have halted at Reinosa

Their southern flank is open and in danger from 2^nd British army

However their lines of supply to Medina is secure

 

In the south 12^th French army have been forced to retreat to Soncillo

They occupy a strong position and their flanks are secure

Their lines of supply to Medina are also secure

2^nd British army have advanced to Aguilar

Their northern flank is exposed to 11^th French army

Their lines of supply are overextended.

 

Both commanders are aware that they must concentrate their armies

However neither want to retreat.

 

If Wellington orders 2^nd army to retreat to Camon he can secure his flanks.

He can then concentrate on driving 10^th French army back over the Llanes-Santander border.

 

Soult is in a more difficult position.   His strength is in the centre and south, where 11^th and 12^th armies support each other

However his real advantage is in the north, where the capture of Llanes would give him the campaign objective.

10^th corps have long supply lines, open to attack by the guerrillas

And a defeat at Llanes would put 10^th army in real danger of being cut off and forced to surrender.

 

Only 4^th Spanish army and 11^th French army are currently operational.  

If the French could take Cabezon they would be in a strong position to win the campaign.   However their lines of supply would then be more open to attack.

 

If the Spanish could take Reinosa Wellington could move the centre of operations into Santander district.   This is clearly his intention, because he has moved the Spanish forward to the border, placing them within attacking range of Reinosa.

 

This has been one of the most complicated campaign phases for a long time.

Caused mainly by the lack of French success and their inability to move into Llanes district.

 

Day 6 should bring another battle, either for Cabezon or Reinosa.  

And the result will have a dramatic effect on the outcome of the campaign.