End of Cordoba Campaign

 

Battles fought during campaign phase

The Spanish won the first two battles at Montoro and Espinal, but suffered heavy casualties which caused them to retreat.

The French won the third battle at Muriano, which secured the border area and allowed them to advance towards the campaign objective of  Cordoba.

They also won the fourth battle at El Carpio, which forced the 1^st Spanish army to retreat and abandon the campaign.   The French now held the northern part of Cordoba region.

The fifth battle was fought at Montilla in the south.   The Spanish won, and pursued 15^th French army back to Baena.   This was a serious set back for Marshal Suchet as it exposed his southern flank.   He must decide on a prompt attack on Cordoba to end the campaign before General Giron could march north.

The sixth battle was for possession of Cordoba, which was the military base for the Spanish Army of the South.   It  was also the campaign objective.   If the French lost they would have to retreat back into Jean region.   This was the hardest fought battle of the campaign, and the outcome was in doubt right to nightfall.   For a time it looked like the Spanish would win, but their luck deserted them as night fell.  

The French took Cordoba and won the campaign.

The campaign started on 9 January and ended on 28 April 2026

A new order of battle was introduced for this campaign, giving the Spanish four corps in each army against three in the French armies.  This proved too great an advantage for the Spanish, and the order of battle was adjusted after three battles

The French and Spanish would have three armies of three corps. However each French army would have to detach three infantry and one cavalry brigades to guard their lines of supply. This would leave the Spanish with 12 infantry brigades in each army and the French 9 infantry brigades. Both sides would have three corps artillery and two cavalry brigades. The cavalry and artillery would all be trained. The French would have slightly better trained infantry, particularly grenadier and light brigades. The revised order of battle worked very well for the last three battles of this campaign, but that is too few battles to properly test the revision. Unfortunately we shall not be back in southern Spain until we have fought a campaign in each of the other four campaign areas.

Cordoba Campaign – Day Seven

15 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 7

French occupy Cordoba and win campaign
13 French Army occupy Muriano
14 French Army occupy Cordoba
15 French Army occupy Espinal

Spanish abandon Cordoba and lose campaign
1 Spanish Army withdraw from campaign
2 Spanish Army withdraw from campaign
3 Spanish Army retreat to Montilla

Comments
The Spanish retreat from Cordoba allows the French to take the city,
which is the campaign objective. In doing so they win the campaign.

In the north 1st Spanish army has already abandoned the campaign
In the centre 2nd Spanish army retreat from Cordoba means they have also done so
In the south 3rd Spanish army abandons their pursuit of 15th French army
With the loss of Cordoba they are in danger of being surrounded
They retreat to Montilla, and will eventually also abandon the campaign

Cordova Campaign – Battle of Cordova

Battle of Cordova – table at start of game

Both armies are full strength at the start of the game
Each army has three corps
The Spanish have 12 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry and 3 corps artillery
The French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry and 3 corps artillery
The French infantry are better quality, the cavalry and artillery the same quality

There are three game objectives
The centre bridge on the left, the hill in the centre and the hill on the right
The Spanish occupy each objective with one corps

The French start the game on the south bank of the river Guadalquivir
They can only cross the river by using the four bridges and one ford
To do so they must cross in column of march

Cordova is the main Spanish supply and administrative city
To win the campaign the French must occupy the city

End of move 12

St Cyr takes command of half of 42nd Italian corps on the right bank
Roussard has command of two elite brigades on the left bank
St Cyr pins the Spanish on the right bank, Roussard attacks on the left bank
The Spanish are quickly routed and the Italians secure the left end of the brigade
The Spanish rally and counter attack, but are routed once more
However their artillery on the right bank fire on the Italian infantry causing heavy casualties
Both brigades retreat out of artillery range, leaving the Spanish in control of the bridge

In the centre 41st Polish corps cross the river and attack the hill in the centre
The Spanish reinforce the hill and fight despite heavy casualties
Abbe moves his infantry from the centre to reinforce the hill
A desperate Polish attack takes the hill as night falls

On the right 40th French corps advance on both banks of the river
Spanish dragoons charge and rout the French dragoons
Despite this the French infantry attack and take the hill.

At nightfall the French hold two of the three objectives and win both the game and the Campaign

French have lost 8 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3600 men)
Spanish have lost 16 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (6600 men)

French have 3 brigades in rout
Spanish have 11 brigades in rout

Comments

Despite the heavy Spanish casualties this game was in doubt until the end of the final move.
At the start of move 12 the Spanish were in possession of all three objectives
A prolonged infantry melee was fought on both hills, and was in debate right to the end
The Spanish only had to have one brigade on either hill to win the game and campaign
However their three critical dice rolls to decide the outcome were 1,1 and 2
It was a much more tense and uncertain game than the final casualties would indicate.