Burgos Campaign – Day Seven

1 September 1813 – North Spain – Day 7

French lose campaign and retreat into Burgos district
10 French army – retreat to Picuerga
11 French army – retreat to Santa Maria
12 French army – retreat to Cuellar

British win campaign and hold Valladolid-Burgos district border
1 British army – occupy Quintana
2 British army – occupy Laguna
3 British army – occupy Coca

Burgos Campaign Map

Comments

Most of you will be aware that our campaigns, and the battles fought as a result, is very much a family affair. I do the map work on my own, and set up the table from the map with the two armies. I then brief Jan (my wife) at the table with a short background to the game and explain the winning conditions. For quite a long time this has been two of the three middle squares on the table. The player who controls at least two of those squares at the end of 12 game moves wins the game. Every square on my wargames table has a terrain feature, for example village, woods or hill. That is the object which must be controlled, rather than the whole square. Although I set up both armies on the table, Jan is free to change my deployment of her army, providing each corps remains in the square they occupy on the campaign map.

At the start of each campaign phase there is a declared objective. This is always the city which is the capitol of the military district being invaded. There is therefore always an attacking side, and a defending side. Because I run the map campaign I always command the attacking army.

The campaign map shows the area of the campaign, and the location of each corps at the start of the campaign. The British are on the left and the French on the right. There is one square between the two armies, which is no-mans-land. When a corps enters the square between them and the enemy a battle is declared. The British are the attacking force in this campaign and their objective is to take and hold the city of Burgos. They are deployed on the Valladolid side of the border with each army (of three corps) concentrated and ready to attack. The French are on the Burgos side of the border with one corps from each army on the border, and the remaining two in and around the nearest town to the border.

Normally the British would attack one army at a time. Because they are concentrated they have a slight advantage over the French. That advantage only last for the first battle, because the French react as soon as the first British army crosses the border. Because they have the advantage, it is usual for the attacking army to win at least two of the opening battles. At the end of three battles the defending army is normally in retreat towards the three towns on the right of the map, one of which is Burgos.

After the first three battles both armies have battle casualties, received during the wargame to decide the outcome of each battle. Often the losing army will have received more casualties than the attacking one Most of these casualties are replaced before the fourth battle is fought. Casualties in each brigade is reduced to 10%. This will affect both combat and morale tests for the brigade concerned, and it makes all six armies much more brittle than in the first three battles. It also makes it more difficult for the attacking player. Because he has to approach the defending army, who then normally fire first and can initiate cavalry charges. Therefore the advantage is with the attacking player in the first three battles and with the defender in the last three.

If you have followed the progress of the Burgos campaign you will be aware that things did not go smoothly. The attacking army, the British, only won one of the first three battles. Instead of advancing in pursuit of the retreating army they found themselves withdrawing back towards Valladolid. The British did win two of the next three battles, but only resulted in a draw. Because they had failed to take the French held city of Burgos they lost the campaign.

All of this does not matter much, because the whole purpose of the campaign is to produce interesting and enjoyable wargames. All six games were indeed both interesting and enjoyable. However they did highlight the weakness in requiring the attacker to force the defender to retreat after the first three battles.

The reason for the lack of British success was poor dice, made worse by particularly good dice for the French. We both feel that it is essential to accept the luck of the dice, even if it does mean a game which should last about a week only lasts a couple of days.

Burgos Campaign – Day Six

31 August 1813 – North Spain – Day 6

French attack Laguna
10 French army – regroup at Quintana
11 French army – attack Laguna
12 French army – retreat to Cuellar

British win battle of Laguna
1 British army – regroup at Palencia
2 British army – defend Laguna
3 British army – occupy Coca

Battle of Coca – Start of Battle

2nd British army retreated to Laguna having lost the battle of Santa Maria
11th French pursue and attack them at Laguna

French army is commanded by Marshal Oudinot
British army is commanded by General Hill

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

French have 9 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (3800 men)
British have 6 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2500 men)

The game objectives are the three squares at the top of the photo
Hill on the left
Woods in the centre
Bridge on the right
The side who controls two of the three at the end of move 12 will be the winner

Both armies are deployed on the table at the start of the game

The French started the battle with more casualties than the British
To have any chance of success they would have to weaken the British cavalry or artillery
To do so they would have to attack aggressively and hope to win the opening battle
They failed miserably and had lost the battle within 4 moves out of 12.

At the end of move 4 the British held all three game objectives
They were so confident that they advanced to rout the retreating French army

Comments
In a wargame, even more than in real life, it is really difficult for the side with more casualties to win. To do so they have to fight an aggressive game, and hope to win the opening moves and inflict casualties on the enemy cavalry or artillery. With superiority in either cavalry or artillery the weak infantry can then advance and hope to win the main battle.

This game opened with the French cavalry advancing on the left flank. They were charged by the defending British cavalry, and routed with 10% casualties. The British cavalry rallied and forced the nearby gunners into an infantry square. By the end of move 2 the battle was over on the left flank.

In the centre both CinC had taken command of two cavalry brigades to form a cavalry reserve. The French cavalry now advanced and were charged by the stronger British horse. The French won the first phase, but lost the second. Both French brigades were routed with 20% and 30% casualties. The British suffered 20% to one brigade, but both rallied. By the end of move four the battle was over in the centre.

On the right flank the British occupied both ends of the bridge, with the elite light division was on the right bank. There was never any real likehood of a French victory on this flank. With the loss of their centre and left, the French retreated without a shot being fired.

When one side has such overwhelming reverses so early in the game both players have to decide whether to accept the outcome, or go back to the start positions and refight the game. Most would agree to do so, and thus avoid the sheer waste of time setting up the game. However in a campaign game this is not really an option. We both felt obliged to accept the sheer unfairness of the poor dice rolled by the French player (which was me). Even if this did mean losing a critical battle, which in turn would decide the campaign in favour of the British.

Burgos Campaign – Day Five

 

 

30 August 1813 – North Spain – Day 5

French attack Coca
10 French army – occupy Quintana
11 French army – pursue British to Laguna
12 French army – attack Coca

British win battle of Coca
1 British army – retreat to Palencia
2 British army – retreat to Laguna
3 British army – defend Coca

Battle of Coca – End of Move 2

Wellington’s invasion of Burgos District has suffered a major set back
He has lost three of the four battles fought so far
His army have been forced to abandon the invasion and retreat into Valladolid District

The French defeated Picton at the battle of Cuellar two days ago
They now attack him at Coca as he regroups and resupplies his army

12th French army is commanded by Marshal Marmont
3rd British army is commanded by General Picton

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

French start the battle with 8 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3500 men)
British start the battle with 9 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (3900 men)

Despite starting the battle with more casualties, the British win the battle.

Comments

Both armies started the battle with considerable casualties from earlier in the campaign.
This would mean that most brigades has 10% casualties and would have brittle morale
They would also be less effective in combat than those without any casualties

On the right the French infantry reached the hill without any artillery casualties
Hand to hand infantry fighting decided the outcome, which was a victory for the French

The British heavy cavalry charged and routed the French cavalry in the centre left
However they also received casualties and would both rout when a nearby brigade routed
The Polish lancers rallied and supported the attack on the town

French infantry took the hill on the left, again after extensive infantry hand to hand fighting

So the battle was decided by the Vistula Legion attack on the town
This was delayed until the cavalry melee was decided
The Polish artillery then concentrated on the right half of the town]
The garrison was routed and Polish infantry entered
However the highland brigade launched a counter attack, which routed the Poles
Meanwhile two more Polish brigades attacked the left half of the town
Heavy fighting resulted in a Polish withdrawal
At nightfall two British brigades held the town, one was shaken and the other disordered
But there were no Polish infantry left to attempt a counter attack

Normally when both sides start a game with heavy casualties there is a quick winner
One rout often leads to many more amongst the supporting brigades
Aware of this danger, the French player attacked with great caution
He managed to attack all three objectives, and all were hard fought
But the town was the deciding one, and both sides ended the game battered
If the French had just one formed infantry brigade near the town they would have won
But they didn’t.

Very enjoyable game with the winner decided at the end of move 12.

Burgos Campaign – Day Four

29 August 1813 – North Spain – Day 4

French attack Quintana
10 French army – attack Quintana
11 French army – regroup and resupply at Burgos
12 French army – rally and regroup at Cuellar

British lose battle of Quintana
1 British army – defend Quintana
2 British army – regroup and resupply at Santa Maria
3 British army – retreat to Coca

Battle of Quintana – End of Move 2

Their defeat at Picuerga has forced 1st British army to retreat to Quintana
10th French army follow up their victory, enter Valladolid district and attack them

10th French army is commanded by Marshal Soult
1st British army is commanded by Duke of Wellington

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

French have 6 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2500 casualties)
British have 4 infantry casualties (1600 casualties)

On the left 28 French corps attack the woods held by 1 British corps
The British put up a determined defence, but lose the woods late in the day

In the centre 29 French corps attack the town held by 2 British corps
They take the right half of the town, but can make no progress against the left half

On the left Soult takes command of three infantry brigades and captures the hill
The remainder of 30 Polish corps move to support the attack on the town

Despite starting the game with more casualties, the French take two of the three objectives
In doing so they win the battle

Comments
This was another very close run game.

The French started the game with more casualties than the British.
They also had to attack, because the British retreated after losing an earlier battle

29 French corps, in the centre, had the majority of casualties
They also had to attack the town, which was the most difficult objective
It is not surprising that they failed to take it.

On the left the CinC took command of three Polish infantry brigades to attack the hill
They took it with ease, and the British could not organise a determined counter attack

But it was on the right that the most interesting battle was fought
The French routed the British cavalry and pushed back the infantry to the right of the woods
They then brought up their artillery close range and battered the defending highland brigade
Two French brigades attacked the woods, one from the front and one from the right
They routed the highland brigade, but also lost their brigade on the right
The British guards brigade counter attacked with just one move to go
The result was a draw, both sides lost 10% casualties but passed their morale

We agreed to fight an extra move to decide the game
Once more both sides lot 10% casualties and both passed their morale test
Of course we had to fight another move to decide the game
This time the British lost 10% and automatically routed with 30% casualties
The French did not lose any casualties, but failed their morale and were shaken
Though shaken the French remained in the woods, and could claim victory

It is really enjoyable when a game goes all 12 moves without a decision
And then has to fight a further two to determine the winner
It was clearly a convincing French victory 
But if they had lost that melee for the woods they would have lost the game