Merida Campaign – Battle of Manchita

Start of game

15^th French army have orders to take the walled town of Manchita

43^rd French corps will arrive at the start of move 1

44^th Westphalian corps will arrive at the start of move 5

45^th Italian corps will arrive at the start of move 5

 

3^rd Spanish army have orders to hold Manchita

7^th Spanish corps are in and around the walled town of Manchita

8^th Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 1

9^th Spanish corps will arrive at the start of move 5

 

French army are full strength, but have two infantry brigades detached

Spanish army are full strength, but only 7^th corps have cavalry brigade

 

15^th French Army – 10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

3^rd Spanish Army – 12 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Battle of Santa Manchita – Move 12

The battle was won by 43^rd French corps

But they could not have done so without the support of 45^th Italian corps

7^th Spanish corps held the French at bay until the Italians arrived

Their cavalry and artillery forced 7^th corps to withdraw

The French then took the town.

The French lost 3 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (1600 men)

The Spanish lost 9 infantry, 1 artillery and 1 cavalry casualties (3800 men)

 

Comments

The battle started badly for the French, when their cavalry lost the first melee

The town walls prevented the French gunners from being very effective

The infantry could only attack the front of the town

 

The arrival of 45^th Italian corps on move 5 proved decisive

Their cavalry forced the Spanish outside the walls to form square

As their artillery opened fire the squares have to withdraw slowly

This allowed the French infantry to attack three sides of the town at once

The Spanish garrison lost 60% and routed, each French brigade lost 10%

 

45^th Italian corps had open ground between the pass and the farm

So they arrived quickly, and were soon in action in support of the centre

 

44^th Westphalian corps had to cross the hill on the right

This delay prevented the infantry from taking any part in the battle

Their artillery did open fire, but proved ineffective

 

8^th Spanish corps arrived at the start of move one, and has no terrain obstacle

If they were allowed to advance they would prevent French infantry attacking the town

To delay them the Westphalian cavalry had to advance and suffered 10% casualties   

 

For most of the battle it seemed likely the Spanish would hold the town

They has two of their best infantry brigades in garrison

The town walls would give them added protection against artillery and infantry.

 

By move 10 their infantry support outside the town had been forced to withdraw

French infantry could advance to attack three sides of the town

The garrison suffered their first artillery casualties just as the French infantry attacked

The garrison was routed with 60% casualties, but the support brigade passed their morale

 

On move 12 one of the attacking French brigades entered the town

They pushed the broken garrison into the support brigade, who then lost their morale

 

It is interesting that 9^th Spanish corps held against a deployed Italian corps

But 8^th Spanish corps broke when attacked by Westphalian cavalry and artillery

One Spanish brigade was shaken when hit by artillery fire

Well placed Westphalian cavalry charged and broke the square

The routed infantry, pursued by the cavalry, broke the nearby artillery

As the gunners routed two nearby Spanish infantry brigades had to test their morale

Both failed, both routed.

 

The French have won a second battle with most of their army arriving too late to take part.