Cordova Campaign – Day One

9 September 1813 – Southern Spain – Day 1

French attack Montoro
13 French Army attack Montoro
14 French Army observe El Carpio
15 French Army observe Espinal

Spanish hold Cordova-Jean border
1 Spanish Army hold Montoro
2 Span
3 Spanish Army hold Espinal

Comments

The campaign opens with both armies facing each other at the regional border between Cordoba and Jean.

The French campaign strategy is to defeat 1st Spanish army in the north and 3rd Spanish army in the south and then pin 2nd Spanish army in front of El Carpio against the river Guadalquivir and destroy them.

In the north Marshal Suchet attacks the town of Montoro, which is defended by General Giron.
Giron has four corps, three on the border and one in the town itself. Suchet has three corps.

In all previous campaigns both commanders had equal numbers of infantry, cavalry and artillery. The campaign model was that both would have an equal chance of winning. This model worked well in the other four campaign areas, but not in southern Spain. This area has always been the most difficult to recreate the historical problems encountered by the French. They always defeated Spanish field armies, but suffered from long lines of supply which were vulnerable to attack by the Spanish irregular troops. This type of campaign works well as a map exercise, but does not transfer to the wargames table.

Each French corps has four infantry and one cavalry brigades, plus corps artillery. Two Spanish corps have the same, but the other two have no cavalry. In each battle the Spanish will have 16 infantry brigades, two cavalry brigades and four corps artillery. The French will have 12 infantry brigades, three cavalry brigades and three corps artillery.

During the campaign I will command the French, and will be able to test how well the small cavalry superiority works, and whether it makes up for the infantry and artillery imbalance. If necessary I will adjust the Spanish troop types to reduce their combat and morale status.