Albacete Campaign – Day 1

Campaign Map on 8 September 1813

Suchet opens the campaign with an attack on Ropar.

16^th Italian corps have 4 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery brigades

3^rd Spanish corps have 3 infantry and 1 artillery brigades

There are also 3 militia brigades in the area, but not part of 3^rd corps

The Italians win the battle.

Move 9 of Battle of Riopar

The Italians ignore the two guerrilla bands

They use their cavalry to pin the Spanish artillery

And all four infantry brigades to attack the village and supports

Spanish artillery fire on the Italian gunners at long range

A very lucky dice throw inflicts 10% casualties

The Italian infantry inflict 10% casualties on two Spanish brigades

The Spanish retreat before the Italians can engage them in hand to hand combat

Campaign Notes

The Italians have won the first battle of the campaign

But they have failed to do much damage to the Spanish corps

They have also allowed them to retreat

The two Spanish infantry brigades will be slightly weaker in future

But the Spanish have infantry to spare

It will not take long for 3^rd Spanish corps to recover and take the field again

The Italians have only suffered 10% artillery casualties

But this will also remain for the duration of the campaign

It will reduce their combat and morale ability in this vital arm

The Italians had a full corps against one of the weaker Spanish corps

Despite this they failed to inflict serious damage and allowed them to withdraw