"1813 Linares Campaign" Topic

This is the tenth campaign fought in Spain, and the fifth in southern Spain. Once more the Spanish Army test their skills against a mixed French, Italian and Polish army.

The Spanish have won two campaigns, the French also two and a third was a draw.

Despite this very even campaign performance, I am not at all sure that I have got the balance right for the Spanish Army. If memory serves me well it was more luck than judgement that they have done so well.

The French have 16 infantry brigades, 4 cavalry brigades and 4 corps artillery. Half of the infantry are C class.

The Spanish have 26 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigades and 4 corps artillery. There are 14 regular infantry brigades, but 10 of them are C class. There are 12 militia brigades, all are C class and are independent of the regular army.

For this campaign I am trying to increase the influence of the Spanish irregular troops. The Spanish outnumber the French in infantry, but half are militia garrison troops. When a city or town is captured by the French the militia garrison take to the hills and become a guerrilla band. But they must remain close to their original garrison town.

Guerrilla attacks on isolated garrisons or supply trains are decided by a single dice throw. They need a 6 to rout a garrison or capture supplies. However there will be at least six bands operational and each can attack every two or three days. When under attack the garrison cannot forage, and will lose one days supplies.

The introduction to the campaign is now on the campaign diary blog. It includes a history of the Spanish in southern Spain, all of the campaign maps and photos of both armies.

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Day One. When the French start to move south they will have to supplement their supplies with foraging. To do so they must establish sufficient depots to feed their army. Each corps will require one depot, and must provide the garrison from their field army.

There are three roads leading south, the main road in the centre and one on each side through the mountains. Suchet orders half of his army to use the main road, and one corps each on the mountain roads.

But first he must secure one town on each mountain route and establish a depot.

7th corps are ordered to garrison Abenojar, and 15th corps Almagro. 8th and 16th corps move south to maintain communications with them.

The Spanish garrisons of both towns move into the nearby hills as the French approach. There are now three guerrilla bands. They will remain in hiding until the main French army moves south. They will then attack isolated garrisons and supply convoys.

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Day Two. All four French corps halt to garrison Abenojar and Almagro and to resupply in preparation for an attack on the Spanish.

The French now occupy three Spanish towns, forcing their Spanish militia garrisons to retreat into the surrounding hills and villages. In doing so they have created three guerrilla bands.

When the main French army continue their advance south these guerrilla bands will start to attack isolated garrisons and supply trains.

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Day Three. The French army advance along three roads. The main army of two corps use the centre road through the valley, One corps advance on either side along mountain roads.

The first battle of the campaign is fought on the western road through the mountains at the town of El Hoyo.

7th French corps is understrength because they have detached one of their four infantry brigades to garrison Abenojar. However Villatte is confident that he can defeat the Spanish.

General O'Donnell commands the 1st Spanish corps, which is the best of the four corps in the Spanish army. In addition he has the support of the garrison of El Hoyo.

The Spanish have 16000 infantry against 12000 French. Both have 1000 cavalry and 30 guns.

The full battle report can be found here

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Day Three. Whilst 7th corps was attacking El Hoyo, 15th Vistula was attacking La Carolina on the western road through the mountains.

The Poles were also one brigade short, having also detached it for garrison duty. And they were considerably outnumbered by 2nd Spanish corps, who were supported by the garrison of La Carolina.

The battle opened badly for the Polish cavalry, who were defeated by the Spanish irregular cavalry. The Polish artillery also performed poorly. However the infantry won the day.

At night fell General Espana ordered his battered corps to retreat, leaving the militia garrison of La Carolina to their fate.

The Spanish lost 2400 casualties against 400 Poles.

The full battle report can be found here

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Day Three. The two French flank corps made contact first.

7th corps attacked El Hoyo on the right, and 15th corps La Carolina on the left. In the centre 8th and 16th corps also made contact at Baylen, but too late to attack.

Both 7th and 15th corps won their battles. Both Spanish corps suffered heavy casualties and were forced to retreat. But both French corps also suffered casualties, and both failed to take the town concerned.

Marshal Suchet had not achieved the great victory he hoped for and expected.

He still had the main Spanish army in front of him at Baylen and he had failed to secure his flanks at El Hoyo and La Carolina.

He must now decide whether to risk all on a second day of battle, or to wait and regroup before he attacked again.

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Day Four. Suchet orders all four corps to advance
7th corps occupy El Hoyo and capture the Spanish depot
15th corps occupy La Carolina and capture the Spanish depot
3rd and 4th corps attack Baylen

The Spanish put up a brave defence to hold Baylen
However they have no cavalry to counter the two French brigades
This allows the French to advance and deploy their guns at close range
The Spanish suffer heavy casualties and by nightfall are in retreat
The French lose 2600 casualties and three brigades in rout
The Spanish lose 8400 casualties and five brigades in rout

In the north Spanish guerrillas attack Abenojar and Almagro
Both garrisons hold, but are unable to forage
One guerrilla band lose 100 men and rout
The second retreat shaken

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Day Five. The Spanish abandon Baylen and retreat south
Giron orders his army to concentrate and rally at Linares
All four corps are running short of supplies
A considerable number of supplies have been lost due to recent defeats

The French occupy Baylen and secure the Spanish depot
They now hold six towns, and must detach one infantry brigade to garrison each one
All four corps have suffered battle casualties and must be resupplied and reinforced

1 guerrilla band attack Probate, which is the main French depot
They are repulsed shaken, but the garrison are unable to forage
In addition all supply distribution is disrupted.

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Day Six. Suchet orders his four corps to halt, rally and resupply
All six captured towns are now garrisoned and depots established
They will now be able to forage to ease the supply difficulties
A large supply train moves from Probe to Baylen

The Spanish army is concentrated around Linares
Giron orders them to rally and reorganise
There are insufficient supplies, and they most are in the wrong place
All four corps receive supplies, but only sufficient for one day
Guerrilla bands are ordered to redeploy and attack French supply columns

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Day Seven. The French have advanced beyond their supply system
All four corps are running short of supplies
Suchet orders them to concentrate infantry casualties in one brigade per corps

The Spanish regular Army are also short on supplies
However they are nearer to their supply base
They have suffered higher casualties than the French and must reorganise

Two guerrilla bands attack Abenojar and rout the garrison and capture the town
They also secure the depot, which has three days supplies for 7th corps
The loss of the town is not critical, but supplying 7th corps is

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Day Eight. 7th French corps detach an infantry brigade to retake Abenojar. They arrive too late to attack the town, but will do so tomorrow.

The previous garrison are ambushed as they make their way to Probete. Already weak and shaken by their defeat they surrender. The Spanish show no mercy and all 3600 men are killed

Giron orders all guerrilla bands to concentrate behind the French lines. They are to attack any supply columns, but not occupied towns. They will only attack a depot when two bands can do so together.

Of the six bands two have suffered casualties and cannot attack on their own. However they can join with a full strength band and attack together.

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Day Nine. The battle of El Hoyo
This is the fourth battle in the Linares campaign, which is set in southern Spain.

7th French corps hold the town of El Hoyo.
They have lost one infantry brigade and detached a second

1st Spanish corps attack with twice as many infantry

The Spanish cavalry defeat the French dragoons
This allows them to force the gunners to take shelter in El Hoyo
Their infantry storm the town and rout the garrison
The French lose 3400 casualties, the Spanish 2000
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Day Nine. 7th French corps send 26 brigade to retake Abenojar. They are then attacked by 1st Spanish corps, who outnumber them two to one. The Spanish take the town and rout the garrison.

16th Italian corps is sent north to clear out the guerrilla bands

The loss of 7th French corps is a serious blow to Suchet
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Day Ten. The Spanish occupy El Hoyo and secure French depot with one days supplies
Remainder of the Spanish Army resupply and regroup

7th French corps rout towards Abenojar
16th Italian corps secure the French rear area against guerrilla bands
8th French and 15th Vistula resupply and regroup

The French supply system is in a mess
8th and 15th corps are isolated and unsupported
Suchet must decide whether to attempt to hold or retreat
If he retreats he will have failed in the campaign objective of taking Linares.

Day Eleven. All four Spanish corps are ordered to concentrate and prepare to attack Baylen

Suchet is determined to hold Baylen and then take Linares
He orders 8th, 15th and 16th corps to concentrate at Baylen
7th corps is ordered to rally and reorganise at Abenojar
They will then march south to Baylen

Both commanders have decided that there will be a final battle at Baylen.

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Day Twelve. Suchet orders his army to hold Baylen. Three of his four corps are deployed in and around the town. However 7th French corps two days north of Baylen, is out of supply and is therefore unable to march to support him.

Giron orders his Army to attack Baylen. Three of his four corps are in position, and the fourth will arrive at midday.

Both armies have suffered considerable battle casualties and most of their brigades have brittle morale as a result. It is unlikely that any corps will be able to withstand many casualties in the coming battle.

The Spanish advance and come under heavy artillery fire. However the French gunners fail to inflict many casualties and the Spanish morale holds.

When the fourth Spanish corps arrives, Giron orders a general advance on attack orders. Baylen is taken and the Italian garrison routed. The panic quickly spreads throughout the Italian corps, leaving a hold in the middle of the French battle line.

Marshal Suchet orders a general retreat.

You will find a full battle report on the Campaign Diary Blog
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Day Twelve

The French retreat from Baylen allows the Spanish Army to occupy the town, which is the campaign objective for both armies.

Suchet orders his army to retreat north and attempt to rally at Probete.

Giron orders his army to garrison both Baylen and La Carolina, and to secure the French supplies abandoned at both towns. His troops are too weak to attempt a pursuit of the French, but he has achieved his campaign objective.

The Spanish have won the Baylen campaign.

You will find the final locations on the Campaign Diary Blog
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