1813 Campaign - Command and Control Information

Campaign Map for 29 October 1813

In the past I have tried to explain how the campaign administration is run.    It is really difficult to do so without seeing what I actually use.   The whole thing is too much to put on here, but this is an example of 1^st and 2^nd British corps on 29 October 1813.

On the map you will see that 1^st corps is attacking 7^th French corps at Ribadeo. 

2^nd corps is moving south to Ourense.

I hope to explain what is involved in the issue of those two orders

Order of Battle for 1^st and 2^nd British Corps

This chart only shows the two corps concerned, there is a similar chart for 3^rd and 4^th British corps.

1^st corps shows the commanding general as Stewart, who is an average commander

Each brigade is listed with the following information

Strength – at start of campaign

Class – A would be elite, B is average, C is poor

Fire – effective volley fire, A would be veteran, B is average, C is poor

Skirmish – skirmish ability, A would be riflemen, B is average, C is poor

Casualties – current casualties, always keep first 400

Garrison – if a brigade is detached for garrison duty

2^nd corps shows the same information

But note that three brigades are in rout

Current Daily Orders

There are only three British depots at present

Santiago has been captured by the French, and lost their 3 days supplies

Ourense is the new main depot, they have received 7 days and issued 1 days

Corunna starts with 1 day, it receives 1 day and ends with 2 days

1^st British corps starts the day with 4 days supplies

It does not receive any because it has orders to attack

It always uses 1 days supplies each day

It ends the day with 3 days.

2^nd British corps starts the day with 3 days supplies

It has to retreat because it lost a battle

Therefore it does not receive any supplies and ends the day with 2 days

Campaign Comments

This is the information which will decide what orders are given to each corps.

If you look at the map you will see that 1^st British corps is cut off from the main depot at Ourense, because the French have captured Santiago.

The only depot available to them is Corunna (covered by the symbol for 1^st corps)

If you check the depot you will see that Corunna has only one days supplies at the start of the day.   And that is the only depot available to resupply both 1^st and 3^rd British corps.

I appreciate that all of the above is quite complicated, and I hope that I have been able to explain it well enough for you to understand the command and control information available to the CinC when he writes his orders at the start of the day.

I trust that you will also see that Wellington took a big risk ordering 1^st and 3^rd corps to attack Ribadeo.   If they lost the battle they would still have 3 days supplies, but they would only have Corunna to resupply.  And that depot only receives one days supplies each campaign day.