Jean Campaign – Day Six

Campaign Map

Main French depot at Hellin – 27 days supplies

French attack Jean
No Guerrilla brigades active

13th French army – retreat to Ubeda
14th French army – attack Jean
15th French army – resupply at Huelma

1st Spanish army – retreat to Linares
2nd Spanish army – battle of Jean
3rd Spanish army - resupply at Alcaudete

Guerrilla brigades have no opportunity to attack French convoys

Battle of Jean – End of Move 4

French have 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades are detached to protect lines of supply
They have lost 1 infantry and 1 artillery battle casualties (500 men)

Spanish have 13 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
They have lost 3 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery battle casualties (1400

There are three game objective
The bridge on the left, the woods in the centre and the farm on the right
The army which holds at least two at the end of the battle is the winner

On the right 40th French corps have to cross the hill to reach the farm
They are outnumbered by 4th Spanish corps, but manage to capture the farm

In the centre 41st Baden corps are also outnumbered by 5th Spanish corps
They fight their way into the woods, but are routed by the Spanish infantry

On the left 42nd Polish corps match two infantry brigades on the left bank
The CinC takes command of the rest of the corps on the right bank
They force 6th Spanish corps to withdraw and secure both ends of the bridge

Having taken two of the three objectives the French win the battle

Comments
Once more the French had to avoid unnecessary casualties
They were also at a severe disadvantage, having detached 3 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades
They put the best two Polish infantry brigades on the left bank of the river, and took the bridge

On the right bank they forces the Spanish to retreat, but were unable to inflict serious casualties

In the centre they had a similar problem, but routed the Spanish cavalry with artillery fire
This allowed their infantry to enter the woods, but they were routed by a counter attack

On the right the French were attacked as they attempted to deploy between the farm and the hill
It was only when the Spanish cavalry were routed in the centre that they could attack the farm
After two rounds of melee the French infantry had to retreat into the centre of the farm
But they managed to rally and keep hold of the farm until the end of the battle.

This battle was decided by the infantry melee for the woods and the farm.
In both, the French had committed their elite brigades to the attack
However due to really poor dice (three 1’s out of four rolls) they lost the melee
They were driven out of the woods, but managed to just hold the farm

Another very enjoyable wargame, but it has made me ponder whether I should replace my D6 for D10 to determine combat and morale. No decision yet, I need some more play testing to confirm whether it is just bad/good luck, or the odds need to be wider.