Scourge of War Boards

KEY TO FRENCH FORMATIONS:

N - Napoleon, Frioul (Guard), Victor (I Corps) and escort squadron of Polish Light Horse

I Corps - Victor:
R - Ruffin's division
L - Lapisse's division
V - Villatte's division
S - Senarmont's corps reserve artillery
B - Beaumont's cavalry division (part)

Guard Corps - Duc de Frioul:
GI - Guard infantry and artillery
GLC - Guard light cavalry

=========================

KEY TO SPANISH FORMATIONS:

1 - Redoubt #1, most northern defence (divided into two parts by the road).
2 - Redoubt #2 covering Asparn village (divided into two parts by the road).
3 - Redoubt #3 covering the far right flank.
4 - Redoubt #4 between Asparn and the Pass (divided into two parts by the road).
5 - Redoubt #5, a large work that protects the right rear of #2 and supports the left flank of #3.
6 - Redoubt #6 that covers the far right flank and the rear of Redoubts #3 and #5.
7 - Redoubt #7 that is sited right in the pass itself between two impassable woods.

AG - Areizaga Division, Girón Brigade.
AM - Areizaga Division, Mendoza Brigade.
AS - Areizaga Division, Schramm Brigade.
A - Areizaga Division, Artillery.

CR - Coupigny Division, Ricardos Brigade.
CGi - Coupigny Division, Girón Brigade.
CGu - Coupigny Division, Gulas Brigade.
C - Coupigny Division, Artillery.

LA - Lapeña Division, Abarca Brigade.
LU - Lapeña Division, Ulloa Brigade.

J - Jones Division.
LC - Las Casas Division (Cavalry).

=================================

SPANISH DEPLOYMENT:

The army engineers (such as they are - somewhat uneducated fellows) at first thought the pass was narrow and slender and the original deployment orders were written up on this basis. On his arrival General Castanos finds the pass is very much broader than he was advised - almost a mile wide and the initial deployments of Coupigny's and Areizaga's forward brigades showed the defence was far too thin.

All of Areizaga's 1st and Coupigny's 2nd divisions have therefore been placed in the main area of the lower pass with Lapeña's 4th in the reserve position at Redoubts #4, #6 and #7.

First Line
----------

The map shows Redoubt #1 held by Ricardo's whole brigade with the light infantry in the woods to the left. Three battalions line the breastworks with two in columns in reserve.

Brigade Girón of Areizaga's division is to the right rear with four battalions deployed in line on a ridge and three battalions (including both Guardia battalions) in divisional columns in support on the reverse slope. Both Coupigny and Areizaga are forwards with their front brigades.

Second Line
-----------

Brigade Girón of Coupigny's division holds Redoubt #2 with three battalions lining the breastworks and two in divisional columns in reserve.

Brigade Mendoza of Areizaga's division holds Redoubt #3 on the far right flank with three battalions lining the breastworks and three in divisional columns in reserve, one forward and two more further back. Directly in rear of Redoubt #3 is a quite substantial wood but as it is not shown on the map it can be traversed by close order troops. Redoubt #3 cannot be flanked on it's right as the terrain to the east is too broken for any troops to operate.

Brigade Schramm of Areizaga's division holds the large central Redoubt #5 which is shaped to cover the rear and right of Redoubt #2 and the left of Redoubt #3. Schramm has 3 battalions lining the breastworks and one in reserve to his left.

Third Line
----------

Brigade Gulas of Coupigny's division is on the south bank of the steep-sided stream bed that is to the south of Asparn and flows west. Gulas has the least well-drilled troops. His men are well-placed to cover the south edge of the woods that potentially allow Redoubt #2 to be outflanked on its left.

Brigade Abarca of Lapeña's division holds Redoubt #4 with three battalions and redoubt #6 with two battalions of grenadiers. A battery of guns supports the grenadiers and three batteries and a reserve battalion in column support Redoubt #4. One of the batteries is facing north-west to cover the woods in front of Gulas and two face north-north-east down the road and the main valley. These guns should make Redoubts #2 and #5 very warm for any enemy that reaches them.

Generals Castanos, Lapeña and Las Casas (Cavalry) are here, just in front of Redoubt #7.

Brigade Ulloa of Lapeña's division holds the Pass Redoubt (#7) with three battalions lining the breastworks, three in column of divisions in close support and one more further back.

Reserves
--------

Guns of Areizaga and Coupigny are on high ground facing inwards covering the road as it descends the southern slope of the pass.

Division Jones and cavalry division Las Casas are placed on a lesser ridge to the south.

Note that a secure safe zone/exit point is the far SW corner of the map where the road exits towards Madrid.

General Castanos, if any units need adjusting please advise.

The Army of Andalucia war artist has made these sketches:

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php ... en0001.jpg

Some finely dressed French generals appear out of the woods to the north and observe our position through their spyglasses. A squadron of light cavalry carrying a Polish guidon escort them. Is this the Emperor?

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php ... en0002.jpg

The same view as seen from General Ricardo's redoubt #1

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php ... en0003.jpg

General Girón's brigade of Coupigny's division occupying Redoubt #2. The two distant battalions are the two reserve units of Ricardo's brigade which gives some idea of scale of the position.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php ... en0004.jpg

View from redoubt #3 held by Mendoza's brigade. On the right a line of impassable rocks. These run along the battlefield's boundaries and should not be contacted or crossed by any unit flag. Near the house one of Girón's (Areizaga's) battalions and on the left three more in column behind his ridge. Just visible far left distance is one of Ricardo's reserve battalions.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php ... en0005.jpg

General Schramm inside Redoubt #5. Beyond is Redoubt #2 occupied by three battalions and two more in reserve behind it, one this side of Asparn village and one beyond. In the far right distance units of Girón (Areizaga) and Ricardo (Coupigny).

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php ... en0006.jpg

View from inside Redoubt #6 held by Abarca's grenadiers. Redoubt #5 is in front and Redoubt #2 beyond that and Asparn centre distance. You can see the line of breastworks of redoubt #4 on the extreme left with one of Gulas' battalions near the stream among the trees in front of it.

================

ORDERS OF BATTLE:

FRANCE:

Army Commander: Napoleon Bonaparte, Empereur des Francaise

I Corps: Maréchal Claude Victor-Perrin, Duc de Belluno
(17,502 inf, 1,273 cav, 48 guns)

1er Division: Général de Division François-Amable Ruffin
(4,966 inf, 12 guns)
Brigade: Général de Brigade André Adrien Joseph de La Bruyère
(3,359 inf)
1/ 2/ 3/9e Régiment Léger (442, 461, 453)
Bat Voltigeurs Mixte de Labruyere (320)
1/ 2/ 3/24e Régiment de Ligne (562, 558, 563)
Brigade: Général de Brigade Pierre Barrois
(1,607 inf)
1/ 2/ 3/96e Régiment de Ligne (441, 402, 432)
Voltigeurs 96e de Ligne (332)
Artillerie: Lt-Colonel Boyer, Major Compère
6e Compagnie 1er Artillerie à Pied (4 x 8 pdr, 2 x 6-inch htzr)(90 men)
7e Compagnie 1er Artillerie à Pied (6 x 8 pdr)(90 men)

2ème Division: Général de Division Pierre Belon Lapisse
(7,331 inf, 12 guns)
Brigade: Général de Brigade Nicolas-Joseph Maison
(3,714 inf)
1/ 2/ 3/16e Léger Régiment (529, 512, 507)
Btn Voltigeurs Mixte de Maison (466)
1/ 2/ 3/8e Régiment de Ligne (571, 562, 567)
Brigade: Général de Brigade Augustin Darricau
(3,617 inf)
1/ 2/ 3/45e Régiment de Ligne (501, 498, 495)
Btn Voltigeurs Mixte de Darricau (461)
1/ 2/ 3/54e Régiment de Ligne (558, 555, 549)
Artillery: Major Dubreton, Major Ferey
8e Compagnie 1er Artillerie à Pied (6 x 8 pdr)(90 men)
2ème Compagnie 8e Artillerie à Pied (4 x 8 pdr, 2 x 6-inch htzr)(90 men)

3ème Division: Général de Division Eugène Casimir Villatte
(5,205 inf, 12 guns)
Brigade: Général de Brigade Michel-Marie Pacthod
(2,474 inf)
1/ 2/ 3/27e Léger Régiment (453, 442, 425)
Bat Voltigeurs Mixte de Pacthod (366)
1/ 2/63e Régiment de Ligne (400, 388)
Brigade: Général de Brigade Jacques-Pierre-Louis Puthod
(2,731 inf)
1/ 2/ 3/94e Régiment de Ligne (480, 470, 461)
Bat Voltigeurs Mixte de Puthod (481)
1/ 2/95e Régiment de Ligne (423, 416)
Artillerie: Major Ordonne, Major Philippon
9e Compagnie 1er Artillerie à Pied (4 x 8 pdr, 2 x 6-inch htzr)(90 men)
6e Compagnie 8e Artillerie à Pied (4 x 4 pdr, 2 x 6-inch htzr)(78 men)

Division de Cavalerie: Général de Brigade Marc Antoine Bonnin de Beaumont
(1,273 cav)
1er Brigade: Colonel Jean-André Valletaux
(1,273 cav)
2ème Régiment de Hussards (4 sq)(152, 142, 147, 141)
4e Régiment de Hussards (4 sq)(176, 181, 175, 159)

Artillerie de Réserve: Général de Brigade Senarmont
(12 guns)
Major Mermet, Major Marmoncey
11e Compagnie 1er Artillerie à Pied (6 x 12 pdr)(90 men)
1er Compagnie 8e Artillerie à Pied (4 x 12 pdr, 2 x 6-inch htzr)(90 men)

Corps Garde Imperiale:

Commanding Officer: Général de Division Géraud Christophe Michel Duroc, Duc de Frioul
(6,572 inf, 1,421 cav, 12 guns)

Garde à Pied: Général de Division Jean Marie Pierre Francois Lepaige Dorsenne
(5,293 inf, 12 guns)
Brigade de Vieille Garde: Général de Brigade Anne Charles Lebrun, Duc de Plaisance
(2,523 inf)
1er Bat Chasseur à Pied Régiment (701)
2ème Bat Chasseur à Pied Régiment (694)
1er Bat Grenadier à Pied Régiment (571)
2ème Bat Grenadier à Pied Régiment (557)
Brigade de Moyenne Garde: Général de Brigade Louis Friant
(2,770 inf)
1/1er Régiment de Fusilier-Chasseurs (699)
2/1er Régiment de Fusilier-Chasseurs (696)
1/2ème Régiment de Fusilier-Chasseurs (688)
2/2ème Régiment de Fusilier-Chasseurs (687)
Artillerie à Pied de la Garde: Major Couterre, Major Pinotte
3ème Artillerie à Pied de la Vielle Garde (6 x 8pdr)(90 men)
4ème Artillerie à Pied de la Vielle Garde (6 x 8pdr)(60 men)

Division Garde à Cheval (part): Général de Division Comte Étienne Marie Antoine Champion de Nansouty
(1,421 cav)
Chasseurs à Cheval de la Garde (4 sq)(172, 169, 171, 168)
Chevau-légers Polonais (4 sq)(146, 149, 153, 150)
Chevau-légers de Berg (1 sq)(144)

SPAIN:

Cuerpo de Andalucia: Capitán-General Francisco Xavier Castaños
(25,820 inf, 3,257 cav, 60 guns)
Staff: Coronel Juan Bouligni

1° Division: Mariscal de Campo Juan Carlos Areizaga
(6,718 inf, 12 guns)
Brigada: General de Brigada Pedro Giron
(2,555 inf)
1° - 2° Cia. 3° Bon. Guardias Walonas Infantería Regimiento (362)
3° - 4° Cia. 3° Bon. Guardias Walonas Infantería Regimiento (358)
1° y 2° Bon. Reina Infantería Regimiento (318, 350)
1° y 2° Bon. Corona Infantería Regimiento (354, 370)
Provinciales de Lorca (443)
Brigada: General de Brigada Andres Mendoza
(2,277 inf)
1° y 2° Bon. Jaen Infantería Regimiento (355, 401)
1° - 2° Cia. 1° Bon. Irlanda Infantería Regimiento (360)
3° - 4° Cia. 1° Bon. Irlanda Infantería Regimiento (392)
1° - 2° Cia. 2° Bon. Irlanda Infantería Regimiento (394)
3° - 4° Cia. 2° Bon. Irlanda Infantería Regimiento (375)
Brigada: General de Brigada Juan Adam Schramm
(1,886 inf)
2° Bon. Wimpffen Infantería Regimiento (Suizos) (478)
3° Bon. Wimpffen Infantería Regimiento (Suizos) (486)
1° Bon. Preux Infantería Regimiento (Suizos) (457)
2° Bon. Preux Infantería Regimiento (Suizos) (465)
Artillería: Mayor Bernardo de Loza, Mayor Andreas Ruiz
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 6pdrs
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 8pdrs

2° Division: Mariscal de Campo Marques de Coupigny
(7,432 inf, 12 guns)
Brigada: General de Brigada Pedro Augustín Girón
(2,974 inf)
2° y 3° Bon. Extremadura Infantería Regimiento (573, 563)
1° 2° y 3° Bon. Ordenes Militares Infantería Regimiento (609, 639, 590)
Brigada: General de Brigada Antonio Ricardos
(2,898 inf)
1° Bon. Córdoba Infantería Regimiento (555)
5° - 6° Cia. Cazadores I.R. Campo Mayor (460)
2° Bon. Córdoba Infantería Regimiento (518)
Provinciales de Bujalanca (439)
Provinciales de Cuenca (458)
Provinciales de Ciudad Real (468)
Brigada: General de Brigada Gabriel Javier Gulas
(1,560 inf)
1° y 2° Bon. Voluntarios de Cataluña (403, 414)
Provinciales de Granada (376)
Provinciales de Truxillo (367)
Artillería: Capitán Mendoza, Mayor Belén
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 6pdrs
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 8pdrs (ex-French)

3° Division, Army of Andalucia: Mariscal de Campo Felix Jones
(5,102 inf, 12 guns)
Brigada: General de Brigada Alejandro O'Reilly
(1,442 inf)
2° Voluntarios de Granada (478)
3° Voluntarios de Granada (492)
Cazadores de Anteguera (472)
Brigada: General de Brigada Conde de Ricla
(1,445 inf)
1° Bon.Voluntarios de Barbastro (454)
Tercio de Tejas (499)
1° Voluntarios de Granada (492)
Brigada: Coronel Joaquin Navarro
(2,215 inf)
Provinciales de Jaen (410)
Provinciales de Búrgos (450)
Provinciales de Alcázar de San Juan (465)
Provinciales de Plasencia (445)
Provinciales de Guadix (445)
Artillería: Capitán Regorza, Capitán Mollà
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 8pdrs (ex-French)
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 6-inch htzrs (ex-French)

4° Division: Lieutenant General Manual de Lapeña
(6,568 inf, 24 guns)
Brigada: General de Brigada Silvestre de la Abarca
(3,486 inf)
3° Bon. Provinciales Granaderos de Galicia (448)
4° Bon. Provinciales Granaderos de Galicia (475)
2° Bon. Africa Infantería Regimiento (563)
1° 2° y 3° Bon.Búrgos Infantería Regimiento (646, 672, 682)
Brigada: General de Brigada Antonio del Ulloa
(3,082 inf)
Det. 3° Bon. von Reding Mayor II Infantería Regimiento (381)
1° - 2° Cia. 3° Bon.Zaragosa Infantería Regimiento (401)
3° - 4° Cia. 3° Bon.Zaragosa Infantería Regimiento (445)
3° Bon.Murcia Infantería Regimiento (461)
1° y 2° Bon. von Reding Mayor II Infantería Regimiento (457, 450)
Provinciales de Sigüenza (487)
Artillería: Capitán Santos, Capitán Garrido, Mayor Chúmez, Capitán Longila
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 6pdrs
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 8pdrs
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 4pdrs (ex-French)
Compañía de la Artillería 6 x 12pdrs

================

THE BATTLE:

The French assault up the Pass of Somosierra was that kind of event about which poets will write, musicians compose and artists paint. Soldiers of this battle will tell their tales of triumph, tragedy, fear and excitement for years to come in taverns and fine houses. The Frenchmen were unstoppable and stormed the Spanish works with elan and daring. Once they had broken through the first redoubt nothing seemed able to stop them. Possibly a weakness of the Spanish defence was to divide the responsibility of holding the line into a left and right flank. The Spanish left flank was Coupigny's 2nd division and it held responsibility for redoubt Nos.1 and 2 (at the foot of the hill and at the village of Asparn respectively) but could do little about the belt of woods on the extreme west side of the valley through which French tirailleurs scampered like mountain goats. The main road was held as stoutly as it could be and redoubt No.2 saw some tough fighting before it was captured. On the right Areizaga's 1st division was responsible for redoubt Nos.3 (far right) and 5 (behind and to the right rear of No.2). At the top of the pass Lapeña's 4th division occupied redoubt Nos.4 and 7 (astride the road south of Asparn and at the top of the pass respectively) and No.6 (to the extreme right rear covering the rear of redoubts 3 and 5).

Fatally the junction line of the Spanish 1st and 2nd divisions was where the French pressure was greatest and on the French left forces were sent against redoubt No.3 to prevent Areizaga's men from assisting the other flank or influencing the fight for the road. Areizaga failed to hold redoubt No.5 at all, the 4 Swiss battalions posted there appear to have fallen back before hardly defending it. Possibly by this point so many Spanish units were falling back that the men's resolve failed them entirely.

Napoleon and Marechal Victor grasped the essential point of the attack and urged their tired men directly up the road to seize the pass and close off the Spaniards escape route. Two squadrons of the Polish Light Horse and one squadron of Guard Chasseurs a Cheval contributed to the destruction of the Spanish centre at the critical moment - Lapeña personally got one battalion of the Murcia Regiment into square inside redoubt No.7 only for the men to flee as the Chasseurs charged them. Not even Spanish squares would stand firm amid the chaos of smoke, screams, running men and thundering horses. High up on the slopes 18 cannon of 4th division were deployed but these only fired a handful of shots before a charge by the French cavalry caused the gunners to limber up their cannon and flee for their lives. On the Spanish right in redoubt No.6 Capitán Longila's battery of 6 12-pound guns was captured where they stood having hardly fired at all. Their exit track to the pass was sealed by the French occupying redoubt No.7. Two whole battalions of grenadiers positioned in the same redoubt became prisoners as well.

When the collapse came it was sudden and complete, Spaniards fleeing in disorder over the pass and scrambling across the tree covered rocky slopes to either flank, casting aside muskets, packs and anything else that slowed them down.

General Coupigny was wounded badly in the thigh by a musket ball and carried away from the battle in agony on an artillery caisson (Pepe's avatar was killed in game and he respawned in the far south). General of Brigade Pedro Girón of Areizaga's division was killed in action, falling under a hail of sword blows and bayonet thrusts as he led the defence of redoubt No.3 (Jeff's avatar was killed in game as well).

Below the pass Felix Jones' 3rd division was in reserve. Castaños ordered him forwards but his men arrived just as the Spanish centre crumbled and his men merely added traffic to the already crowded road as troops and units tumbled back down the hill.

Castaños army was saved from total destruction by the presence of Luis de las Casas' 9th Cavalry Division made up mostly of regular horse and dragoon regiments. These 2,500 troopers guarded the lower slopes and let the river of refugees flow past them. In the afternoon French light cavalry came up to the pass and were posted to face las Casas but daylight had faded and fighting died down, the Spanish retreating into the night and the victorious French gathering up many thousands of prisoners, mostly from Areizaga's division that had been trapped on the east side of the pass. A few battalions of Coupigny's division also became prisoners.

General Areizaga was captured and both his surviving brigade commanders, Mendoza and Schramm, also. In a cruel twist of fortunes the four Swiss battalions of the regiments Preux and Wimpffen surrendered in a body, General Schramm at their head. These infantry had been taken into French service in late 1807 when the French invaded Spain for the first time and they served last summer in the corps of General Dupont. They had returned to Spanish service when Dupont surrendered the remnants of his corps north of Toledo in October. Now Schramm once again offered his sword to the French and it seems likely these regiments will enter the service of France for a second time, these foreign soldiers having been mercenaries for many years. It is most unlikely any Spaniard will serve France and the rest of the 4,500 prisoners taken this day will no doubt be sent to Burgos fortress.

The Army of Andalucia has been struck a severe blow; like a heavy wound in battle this injury may prove mortal. 1st division is all but destroyed, 2nd division and 4th have each lost a battery of guns and both these formations have also lost units taken prisoner. Jones' 3rd division is intact but his is the least competent of the four and his artillery drivers have joined the stampede along the road to Madrid. The battered brigades of 4th division and the cavalry are about the only coherent formations. The army has fled to Madrid throwing the city into a frightful panic. It is unlikely that Castaños will be able to rally his men even there, such is the fevered mood in the capital.

I took too many screenshots to upload them all individually so I have zipped them into an archive and uploaded them to my Dropbox.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/i4r6pfk7z803s ... 9.rar?dl=0

One of our players recorded some video - this shows the French breaking through at Spanish redoubt No.4 and the men of Lapeña's 4th division scattering and running. One of the Polish Chevau-Leger squadrons is doing immense execution here. The way that whole formations collapse and run when morale reaches a low level is a great feature of the new game and something we didn't often see in Gettysburg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4oSxI7TRos

Turn 19 is complete:

The First Half of March 1809, a Time of Terrible and Great Events. How Long Will Spain Suffer?!

"May you live in interesting times." - Confucian curse.

Gerona.

The French siege is proceeding apace and the impact of their heavy artillery makes the prospects for the garrison look bleak. General Castro within the fortress is doing all that he can but his civilians and enthusiastic militia are facing the finest soldiers in Europe. Already the besiegers engineers have dug saps to the outer works of the Forts of Capuchins and Montjuich and following heavy bombardments and assaults in the last few days both have fallen, leaving the French in command of the critical heights that command the east and south-east perimeter of the city.

Earlier, at the close of February the outer works of St Daniel, St Luis and St Narciso all fell to dramatic infantry assaults with sappers throwing grenadoes and engineers using axes to batter down the redoubt gates.

The siege is however very bloody and St Cyr's Italian troops that are principally involved in the assaults are taking heavy losses.

Outside the city groups of Spanish miquelets do all they can to disrupt the flow of materiel and supplies but the French commander has wisely allocated a brigade of dragoons to support his operations and these mounted troops are working hard to keep the lines of communicati0n with Rosas and Figueras open. Daily the guerillas skirmish with their opponents but each day fail to cut the road down which the heavy supply wagons continue to roll. Further second line battalions of French infantry also escort the supply convoys. Never before has such a large proportion of an army's soldiers been set to protect a line of supply. The strategy is working but how blunt has this made the spear-point of VII Corps that watches the road to Barcelona in the south?

Lerida.

All is quiet at this small fortress. The vagabond skeleton "army" of Aragon has stumbled and staggered away east, we presume to find some safer quarters to rest, recover and re-equip. This force of soldiers is still suffering attrition from desertion and sickness. In a few months might there be anything left of this tragic army at all?

To the west of town Spanish cavalry patrol beyond Mequinenza but all is peaceful here - for now.

Barcelona.

A Spanish sloop came to anchor in the roadstead. A ship's boat rowed ashore and a gentleman in fine attire climbed the wet quay steps to the dockside. A military band struck up a stirring tune and a row of officers saluted. One staff officer greeted the newcomer and after some brief formalities and the inspection of a company of soldiers of the garrison the visitor entered a coach drawn by six black horses and was whisked away to his headquarters. Alonso de Nava Grimón y Benítez de Lugo, Marqués de Villanueva del Prado has arrived in Barcelona to take up command of the Army of Cataluña. The previous commander Lieutenant General Vives, had been taken ill after a fall from his horse at the battle of Cervera and retired to his villa at Valls. Del Prado spent a few days dealing with paperwork and other administrative matters in the city before riding out on the Lerida road to meet his senior officers and his new commander in chief, Capitán General Llamas.

We understand that the Spanish forces between Lerida and Barcelona are returning to the capital of the province. No doubt a relief expedition to Gerona will soon be mounted.

Calatayud.

After the bloody struggle near the end of February an almost siege-like situation developed with the Spanish of General Villava attempting to encircle the town and cut it's supply road to Zaragosa. To this end a bridge of boats was built across the Rio Jalon about a mile and a half east of the town by which cavalry patrols and an infantry division were sent north to threaten this side of the French defences.

Within his earthworks Maréchal Mortier sat tight, awaiting a reinforcing division from the north. He sent the dragoons of General la Houssaye to the east to keep watch on the Spanish in that direction. Within a week Gazan's division arrived doubling the French strength in the town. One of Mortier's successes over this last few weeks has been a series of ruses intended to make his forces seem stronger than they are and make the Spanish doubt their ability to enclose the whole town lest they be too weak at some point. To this end General Villava pulled back General Adorno's Army of Murcia from its position in the west, withdrawing them to the right bank of the Ribota and strengthening his defences on the south side of the town.

All through the night of the 8th and 9th March the French were heard active in their defences, many lights indicated a busy movement of forces but daylight showed them still in their defences and no attack came. It transpired that Mortier had had a last minute council with his divisional generals who had suggested an attack out of the town in a different direction. Therefore, all morning of the 9th, the tired French infantry were marched around the town some more and only at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon was the corps ready to move. Several critical hours of daylight had been lost and the Spanish watching the town from the southern heights were ready to meet the onslaught.

Even so, when it came, the French attack was delivered with great élan and courage; la Houssaye's dragoons in particular crashing into Nuñes and Rosas' brigades on the Marsal road and throwing them back while Gazan's infantry attacked the breastworks held by the men of Villar's division.

Villava had intended to give ground and fall back towards Chames along his supply road, contracting his front and massing his forces to hold a position higher in the hills. To this end he ordered General the Prince of Anglona to bring his cavalry division south-east back over the Ribota and for General San Juan commanding the Army of Granada to burn the bridge of boats, withdraw his cavalry patrols and move south west to block the Marsal and Epinuil roads.

A confused running battle developed as the Spanish tried to withdraw and the French pushed after them. The ground was not suited to cavalry operations with many woods and narrow lanes winding between fields ploughed for the spring sowing. Nevertheless the French dragoons did great mischief among the less well drilled Spanish infantry, routing several battalions and capturing several hundred men.

At half past three in the afternoon the Spanish managed to bring their massed cavalry - two divisions - those of Anglona and Maceda to the centre of the battlefield on rising open ground which dissuaded la Houssaye from pressing his advantage further. This, and the late hour of the day, allowed the Spanish to retreat through Chames along the Cuenca road.


Maceda's cavalry division of the Army of Granada observing la Houssaye's dragoons across a shallow valley. The Spanish have now brought some companies of horse artillery to battle, something not seen before.

Mortier had secured Calatayud but he had not destroyed his enemy. Villava is in some chaos and part of his baggage train had to be abandoned to allow his army to withdraw but his men appear strangely elated by this battle. They felt as though, on the whole, they escaped a very bad fate with only minor injury and this has lifted the mood of the less experienced soldiers.

Valencia.

Mariscal de Campo el Conde de Caldagues, the loser of Oropesa and sometime commander of the Army of Cataluña, has been sued by lawyers retained by the estate of General Llamas over the supposed content of his memoirs. Certain chapters of the general's autobiography have been published in "l'Estrella" broadsheet and Llamas has clearly taken exception to certain passages related to his actions in battle around Murcia and Cervera.

Somosierra and Madrid!

A great and violent clash has occurred in the Guadarrama mountains north of the capital and to the shock of the citizens of Madrid the army of Capitán General Castaños has been rudely defeated and thrown back down the hills. It is rumoured that up to 15,000 Spanish were casualties or made prisoner following this catastrophe. Strategists of Europe are stunned at how rapidly the French wrested this immensely strong position from the defenders!


Battle of Somosierra. Polish light horse charge up the road while French infantry columns advance on the right with skirmishers on the far left.

The victor of the battle, Napoleon himself, has followed up his success with typical French daring and speed. The fight occurred on the 6th March and by the 13th French cavalry were entering Madrid from the north!

The Spanish troops of Andalucia, shaky from their lost battle panicked and abandoned the city, fleeing down the Aranjuez road, though they did not halt their flight even with the Rio Duero behind them. The city garrison made up of raw recruits and part-time soldiers melted away in the chaos and we have heard reports of soldiers looting stores, bakeries and wine warehouses in their panic to get supplies before they fled. Several merchants and nobles of the city have also joined the exodus, the long column of wagons, carts and fine coaches headed south, dust-covered and with horses neighing in panic and maddened dogs running hither and thither barking at everything in their excitement.

The French Emperor and his brother King Joseph entered the city on the 14th at the head of the Imperial Guard and Joseph's Royal Spanish Guards. On the north-west side of the city Spanish cavalry of the Army of Extremadura clashed with Chasseurs and Dragoons of General Junot's VIII Corps. The Spanish had been ordered into the city to aid it's defence and to try and destroy the vast storehouses there to prevent them falling into French hands but they were thwarted by the rapid advance of their enemy. The Spaniards, three brigades and a company of horse artillery led by General de Brigada Josef Solis, were so surprised at meeting Frenchmen so far west of the recent battle that they withdrew north-west back towards the town of Villalba. At this place the Extremadura army is crossing the river to approach Madrid. Victor's I Corps is already on the road to meet them. General Junot's VIII Corps is taking up the work of policing the city, rooting out Spanish monarchist sympathisers and watching the southern roads towards Aranjuez and Ocaña.


King Joseph Bonaparte I of Spain.

It is expected that King Joseph will make a formal return to his throne in the last weeks of March and a grand parade and state banquet is planned. Napoleon however is dealing each day with urgent correspondence from France and it seems as though he may have to quit Spain soon to look after affairs in Germany once more. Already the Imperial Guard has received orders to leave the city and return to Burgos.


Spanish officials surrender Madrid to Napoleon.

Villacastin and Valladolid!

At this small town on the southern periphery of the Leon plain there has been a bloodless confrontation between British and French. Part of the II Corps of Maréchal Soult had left Valladolid and gone south to Arevalo. There the Extremaduran Army of Count Belvedere quit it's good defensive position and withdrew. Soult followed aggressively to come upon a great allied host at Villacastin. There he encountered the British of Sir Arthur Wellesley as well as the Spanish of Theodor von Reding. Belvedere added his own army to the allied concentration until the French with barely 14,000 men was facing more than 50,000 enemy! The Maréchal was cool however and deployed on good ground to the north west of the town, his right flank resting on the Rio Adajo and for several days postured boldly, pinning the allied force in place. He even sent a strong body of hussars south towards the Avila road threatening the allied supply route and forcing them to face off his own light cavalry with a division of their own. This move has been of immense assistance to the Emperor, keeping strong forces tied down and unable to move upon Madrid or support Castaños.

On the 10th March word of the Spanish defeat at Somosierra arrived in the allied camp and the Conde de Belvedere marched his Army of Extremadura east towards Madrid to help protect it. His move was too late however and we can report that his corps has been obliged to halt just across the Rio Guadarrama at Villalba by the approach of Maréchal Victor's Corps from the city.

Sir Arthur Wellesley and von Reding spent a long evening discussing their options. They had French to the north, a vulnerable capital city to the east and their supply road to Ciudad Rodrigo to the west. They decided to push at Soult the next morning and did so after dawn. Soult however was waiting for just such a move and skilfully withdrew his corps in the face of stronger allied forces, north, across the Adajo at Arevalo where he collected more cavalry left there to guard the crossing, and made his way slowly towards Valladolid. His force is now some thirty miles south of the city with the armies of Wellesley and von Reding five miles beyond. The move north by all these forces was marked by several days of bitter skirmishing that has left losses on both sides.

Upon getting closer to Valladolid Soult was surprised to get news from his garrison commander that another Spanish army, that of General Cuesta and the Galicians, is to the west at Tordesillas. Soult is facing huge numbers of enemy now although Wellesley and von Reding are suffering supply problems with too many troops relying on one supply road.

In the North!

Maréchal Ney has remained at Santander patching up VI Corps with replacements. The guerillas have sent word to General Acevedo that two bodies of troops each of brigade size with attached guns, one of infantry, one of cavalry, have gone south from Santander to Espinosa and then taken the mountain road to Reynosa. These forces reached Reynosa by mid-month and have secured the town. They also pose a threat to Acevedo's right flank.

Maréchal Verdier's corps at Reynosa has marched south. It appears to have descended from the mountain region entirely.

In the area around Sahagun and Saldanha a confusing cavalry skirmish has been developing. Spanish mounted forces led by the Marques de Valladares have been patrolling in this area for some time. Dragoons commanded by General de Division Lorges arrived along the road from Carrion with a company of horse artillery and a lengthy period of light skirmishing and patrolling has taken place. Eventually the more numerous and boldly-handled French cavalry pushed their opponents back to the twin villages of Gradefes and Mansilla on the Rio Esla. Here the Spanish were supported by several brigades of infantry and some artillery, thought to be the garrison of Leon. The Spanish are resolutely defending the line of the river. Lorges has insufficient force to press the issue further but on the 15th March a dust cloud could be seen approaching from the east. It appears the French are making an advance deeper into Leon than heretofore.

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Campaign Map:

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php ... uge-02.jpg

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During the second half of March a number of grim and sanguine actions have been fought. Three battles to be precise; at Reynosa in the far north Cantabrian Mountains to the south-west of Santander which proved to be a French victory when a division of Spaniards moved south over the pass from Torrelavega to surprise the garrison of the town - they were driven back by a mixed force of dragoons, provisional cuirassier squadrons and a garrison brigade.


Reynosa, Torrelavega, Santander and part of Spain's Biscay coast.


The action at Reynosa.

La Romana's division was heading south from the Pass of Torrelavega and was met and delayed by a brigade of dragoons patrolling the lower pass roads. The French garrison and a nearby small cavalry division marched to the sound of the guns to halt the Spanish attack and throw it back.

About 15 or 20 miles south-east of Salamanca Marechal Victor's I Corps pursued and caught a retreating Anglo-Spanish army at the small town of Alba-de-Tormes. The Allies had been on the Madrid road near Villacastin but fell back due to a bungled supply situation. The French pursued from Madrid and caught the Allies crossing the Tormes river. The Conde de Belvedere's Spaniards fled the battle in haste, all but for a rearguard of two grenadier brigades and his cavalry division. Lt-Gen Thomas Graham recently took command of Sir John Moore's corps and his small force was able to halt the French at the river line although losses were heavy on both sides. The battle of Alba was a draw.


The town of Alba de Tormes in relation to Salamanca and Madrid. The Allies retreated from Villacastin.


The Battle of Alba.

Key:~

1. French 1er division (Ruffin)
2. French 2eme division (Maison)
3. French 3e division (Vilatte)
4. French cavalry division (Beaumont)
5. French artillery reserve (Senarmont)

SD. Spanish forces in disorder, retreating towards Tamames (off map to the west)
SR. Spanish rearguard of 2 grenadier brigades and Solis' cavalry division
U. British 1st or Union division (Fraser)
K. British 2nd or KGL division (Murray)
L. British 3rd or Light division (Hope)

The red line indicates Graham's final position, the blue arrows are the French attacks.

In the far north-east in Cataluna the Spanish Army of the Right commanded by Capitan-General Llamas advanced north out of Barcelona to attempt to lift the siege of Gerona. General de Division Gouvion Saint-Cyr blocked his advance with his VII Corps at the Rio Segura at the town of Ojos. Llamas Spanish army outnumbered the French by two to one and fought bravely, driving the French back with some loss. The battle of Ojos was a resounding Spanish victory although that night Llamas received news via a miquelets messenger that Gerona had surrendered two days prior, following a catastrophic detonation of the fortress' main magazines.


Barcelona and Gerona. The battle of Ojos was fought on the main road between Hostalrich and Gerona.


The Spanish victory at Ojos.

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The Northern Coast and the Cantabrian Mountains.

At Reynosa a polyglot division made up of disparate elements of several French formations had been tasked with garrisoning the town and passing units through on the vital Santander to Leon supply road. On the morning of the 18th of March a brigade of dragoons that was patrolling up towards the pass of Torrelavega was surprised by an advancing column of Spanish infantry who had come south over the hills in the night. A desperate and confused action soon escalated with the dragoon commander, Général de Brigade Vicomte Digeon, sending word down to the town and being supported by Duperre's infantry brigade and another cavalry formation under Général de Brigade Debellier that was ordered to pass through the town and on to Sahagun.

These troops fought a scrappy and tough battle but after an hour or more had contained the Spanish advance and the attackers, led by the Marqués de la Romana, fell back into the higher hills where the French cavalry could not easily pursue. The Spanish were let down by bad staff work as a second division commanded by Mariscal de Campo Felipe Jado Cagigal got lost on the poor mountain roads and failed to support La Romana.

Casualties were light in this encounter but the diversion of two divisions of Acevedo's army away from his main force compromised his ability to remain in the Torrelavega position later in the month.

Maréchal Ney and the VI Corps marched west from Santander a week later. At Torrelavega they encountered Acevedo's Spanish still holding position at the critical road junction there. However after two days of light skirmishing and probing the Spanish fell back and are reported to be moving west on the Gijon road.

Leon and Astorga.

Maréchal Verdier's corps has reappeared in northern Leon having been transferred south from the Cantabrian mountains. He pushed rapidly west, forcing a crossing of the Valderaduey in a series of heavy skirmishes and driving a division-strength Spanish force out of Leon itself. Beyond the city Verdier's cavalry pressed on along the Astorga road and by the end of March was within a few miles of the fortress. However his path was blocked by a Spanish army commanded by General Cuesta. Cuesta's Galicians had been operating further south towards Valladolid but had counter-marched as rapidly as they could upon hearing of the developing situation at Leon. Verdier is now facing an enemy considerably greater in size than his own corps, his cavalry scouts have identified six enemy divisions amounting to some 30,000 men; a force twice his own numbers.

Valladolid!

Marechal Soult and his brave II Corps made a steady withdrawal northward over several days from Villacastin. Lt-Genl Wellesley's English army supported by General von Reding's Spanish column pressed the French back until Soult was driven into Valladolid over the Adajo bridges. Soult had specific orders from the Emperor to hold the city but made no attempt to do so and fell back north-east, gathering his garrison formations and outlying cavalry screens to his main body and continuing to retreat. He halted at the end of March west of Torquemada in a position behind the confluence of the Pisuerga and Arlanzon.

The British and Spanish entered Valladolid in triumph the next day and there was an especially emotional scene on the steps of the cathedral in the main square. General Bruno Mutis, commander of the city garrison who had been forced to retreat after the bitter loss of the city in late January, approached the archbishop and falling to his knees kissed the churchman's robes.

"We have returned!" he exclaimed. "The sons of Valladolid have come back to their mother city. Now we shall defend her again!"

Mutis and von Reding were astounded to discover later that day, that the French had retreated without setting fire to their supply depot. Enough bread, grain, flour, salted meat, pickled preserves, leather hides for shoes and powder for cannon and muskets were secured to put an end to the critical supply position the Allies have faced in recent weeks. General Wellesley has made no public comment but senior officers close to his headquarters have suggested that the General has been carrying a smug air of contentment at this good news. It will however probably take the Allies several weeks to restructure their supply arrangements which until now have been hampered by an over-long supply route from Lisbon.

Alba de Tormes!

Marechal Victor and General de Division Lapisse commanding I corps attacked the town in the afternoon of the last day of the month. Lt-General Graham's small British corps fell back doggedly to the bridges across the Rio Tormes about a half-mile west of the town. Here a struggling mass of retreating Spanish troops, baggage carts and artillery drivers were trying to pour over the river to safety along the Tamames road. Graham's men, assisted by some Spanish grenadiers and cavalry held the bridges open just long enough for Conde de Belvedere's army to escape, though the Spanish troops are in no state to fight and must withdraw further to re-open a supply line from deeper inside Extramadura.

This battle opened with only a light level of contact but at the river events turned more determined and bloody. The Allies have lost more men including quite heavy losses to Murray's KGL division but they held the French at bay and Lapisse and Victor have been obliged to halt their westward advance.

Madrid!

French garrison forces continue to root out Bourbon sympathisers and are throwing many Spaniards into jail. Many complain of trumped up charges or even in some cases, no charges at all. Bodies of troops regularly disperse crowds and laws have been passed that gatherings of more than 20 persons are illegal.

His Majesty King Joseph has appointed a new court and government and in fact several prominent Spaniards have accepted roles in this structure. It would seem some are already tired of war and wish to serve any leader who will maintain peace. On the other hand Joseph's court is mostly packed with French officials and the French language must be used at court and on all state documents.

His Majesty Napoleon has left Spain and gone over the Pyrenees with his Imperial Guard to attend to urgent matters of state in Germany and on the Danube.

Andalucia and New Castille!

Capitan-General Castaños is said to be somewhere south of Madrid, gathering his shattered army about his headquarters and working hard to rebuild the confidence of his men. At least secure supply lines allow provisions to come north from the area of Baylen.

All is quiet around Calatayud. A strong body of French dragoons is said to have moved south-west from that place towards the capital. The well-known General de Division Kellermann is in command.

Cataluña!

A terrible battle has been fought about 20 miles south of Gerona near the minor farming community of Ojos. General Gouvion Saint-Cyr, commanding French VII Corps, left part of his command - mostly his Italian troops - besieging Gerona while he took part of his cavalry and three divisions south-east of the city to block any attempt to relieve the siege.

Contact was made on 21st March when a powerful force of Spanish cavalry marched via the main coastal road north out of Hostalrich. With his cavalry screen outnumbered more than two to one, Saint-Cyr drew in his screen and watched from behind the Rio Segura as a huge host of the enemy formed up on the fertile farmlands south of him. The enemy army was commanded by Capitan-General Llamas and in fact composed the majority of both the Army of Valencia and the Army of Cataluña. Llamas' more numerous cavalry kept the French horsemen at bay and prevented Saint-Cyr from discovering how badly outnumbered he was. All through the 22nd the Spanish slowly deployed and on the morning of the 23rd their cavalry became more assertive. By mid-afternoon of the 23rd it was clear an attack was developing.

The main strength of this great assault was directed on the small town of Mula which guarded two important crossings of the Segura. With the snows melting in the hills the river was flowing unusually fast and while cavalry and infantry were able to ford it at most places, the steep banks prevented artillery from crossing it anywhere but via the roads. Mula was therefore a critical location and General Reille's division was hit hard by no less than three Spanish divisions, plus a strong cavalry force. In the north or French left flank General Souham's division was kept occupied by a spoiling attack from General Laguna and in the south Montrichard's scratch garrison formation crumbled under pressure from General Quesada and his Valencians.

Saint-Cyr ordered a retreat in the late afternoon, his corps disengaging and falling back north. Due to disorganisation and the need to guard some prisoners and care for the wounded, Llamas' men slept that night on the field of victory.

In the morning the elation of success was tempered by terrible and unexpected news. A miquelets rider arrived at Llamas' headquarters at about eight and was shown into the general's presence as he partook of breakfast. The news was a shock. Gerona had surrendered! Two days earlier the French had stormed a breach in the east wall and made inroads into the city and in the evening a shell thrown by a French mortar had fallen through the roof of the main magazine of the fortress. Some soldiers were moving extra powder barrels out of the arsenal when sparks detonated these and a tremendous explosion tore the magazine apart. General Castro suddenly had hundreds of dead and wounded civilians on his hands and no ammunition to continue the defence. He was forced to surrender the next morning, the day before the battle of Ojos was fought.

Llamas questioned the guerilla and then dismissed him. He called his corps and division commanders to his villa for a council of war.


The defeated defenders of Gerona hand over their weapons.


French troops break into the city and reportedly commit terrible atrocities.

The Battle of Astorga, 4th April 1809:

Map of Spain and Portugal:

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php ... uge-02.jpg

The area in north-west Leon-Castille showing the fortress of Astorga and the city of Leon. The battle is just east of Astorga:



The battle:



Marechal Baron Verdier has marched his IV Corps of the Armee du Nord via Saldanha to take Leon which he accomplished in March. He then pushed west in a rapid advance to take the vital Spanish fortress of Astorga, gateway to Galician north-west Spain. However the Marechal was thwarted by the surprise appearance of Spanish General Cuesta and the Corps of Galicia of the Army of the Left which had made a foot-weary march from north of Valladolid to cut off the French route west.

Verdier's Corps is perhaps only 15,000 to 20,000 men. He faces an enemy whose numbers could be twice his own. He therefore decided to fall back on Leon but two days into his retrograde movement the Spanish army came after him in pursuit at a pace and with an enthusiasm not seen heretofore in the war. General Cuesta is much loved by his men and must have promised them the glory and riches of kings to coax such feats of movement from them!

This MP battle is being played today, Sunday 7th Feb 2016 and will be hosted by the Kriegspiel Group and use the KS Mod for Waterloo. It is being played on Crikey's excellent Spanish map "Montana Sagrada" available now as part of the KS Supplemental Maps Mod.

Mod download details and battle thread are on the KS Forum:

http://kriegsspiel.forumotion.net/t1451 ... tyle#14783

http://kriegsspiel.forumotion.net/t1656 ... 1809#17924

All are welcome to join us in our TeamSpeak server at 20:00 GMT (15:00 EST) but please make sure you have the three KS Mods downloaded (main mod, supplemental maps and sprites mod), installed and working before you join us as we need to make a prompt start.

Thank you.