11th March 1814 – Battle of Irun

Irun Campaign Area

7 French          halt and reorganise               not involved

17 Polish         move to Irun on attack          on table

19 French        move to Irun on attack          ETA move 1

25 French        move to Irun on attack          on table

1 British          move to Irun and hold          ETA move 1

2 British          avoid enemy contact             not involved

3 British          move to E04 and hold          on table

4 British          avoid enemy contact             not involved

French                                     British            

47200 infantry                         32000 infantry                       

2800 cavalry                           2000 cavalry              

90 guns                                   60 guns

Table at start of wargame

17 Polish on table                  1000 casualties

19 French arrive move 1        full strength

25 French on table                 full strength

1 British arrive move 1          full strength

3 British on table                   full strength

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

British CinC - order 1^st corps to move right of road and 2^nd corps left of road

1 British – advance behind cavalry screen

3 British – advance behind cavalry screen

French CinC – order 19^th corps to move towards woods

17 Polish – advance to left of woods

19 French – advance towards woods

25 French –advance to right of woods

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

British CinC  - order 3^rd corps to hold

1 British – advance behind cavalry screen

3 British – artillery unlimber and cavalry move behind hill

French CinC –order 25^th corps to engage right of woods

17 Polish – advance behind cavalry screen

19 French – advance towards woods

25 French – artillery unlimber and cavalry move onto hill

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

British CinC  - orders 1^st corps to engage

1 British – advance towards hill, Portuguese brigade enters town

3 British – artillery fire on gunners, out of range.

French CinC – orders 17^th corps to engage left of woods

17 Polish – artillery unlimber, remainder advance to between woods and hill

19 French – advance towards woods

25 French – advance onto hill

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

British CinC  - orders 3^rd corps to retreat to line town to woods

1 British – artillery miss gunners, cavalry advance onto hill

3 British – no action

French CinC – no orders

17 Polish – artillery hit infantry, remainder advance

19 French – advance towards woods

25 French – artillery miss infantry

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

British CinC  - orders 1^st corps to retreat to road

1 British – artillery miss gunners, corps retreat towards road

3 British – withdraw to line town to woods

French CinC – no orders

17 Polish – artillery limber remainder advance

19 French – artillery unlimber, remainder enter woods

25 French – artillery miss infantry, remainder advance along hill

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

British CinC  - change 3^rd corps orders to hold

1 British -  artillery hit gunners, infantry move into broken ground

3 British – cavalry retreat to join infantry, highlanders enter woods

French CinC –no orders

17 Polish – advance after retreating British

19 French – advance through woods

25 French – advance along the hill

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

British CinC  - change 1^st corps orders to hold

1 British – artillery move and unlimber

3 British – artillery move and unlimber

French CinC – no orders

17 Polish – artillery hit infantry in broken ground

19 French – artillery hit highlanders, remainder advance

25 French – artillery miss cavalry, remainder advance

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

British CinC  - orders 1^st corps to retreat

1 British – artillery rout infantry, remainder start to retreat

3 British – artillery hit cavalry, who are charged by dragoons and retreat shaken

French CinC – no orders

17 Polish – artillery miss infantry, remainder advance

19 French – artillery miss infantry, remainder advance

25 French – artillery miss cavalry, remainder advance

Move 9 – 1600 to 17000

British CinC  - orders 3^rd corps to retreat

1 British – artillery miss infantry, remainder retreat

3 British – artillery miss gunners, remainder retreat

French CinC – no orders

17 Polish – artillery hit infantry, remainder advance

19 French – artillery miss infantry, remainder advance

25 French – artillery miss infantry, remainder advance

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

British CinC  - no orders

1 British – continue to retreat

3 British – continue to retreat

French CinC – no orders

17 Polish – All advance

19 French -  cavalry charge and rout gunners

25 French – artillery hit infantry, infantry win firefight

Game Casualties

French lose 1,600 infantry and 100 cavalry plus 100 gunners and 3 guns

British lose  3,200 infantry and 200 gunners plus 6 guns

Game Summary

The British held their own until 19^th French corps arrived

Wellington then ordered them to withdraw to the village and road

As the French attack neared the village he ordered a general retreat

The British broke contact and retreated before the French could reach them

Total casualties, including from earlier battles, at the end of this battle

British 3,400 casualties and one artillery in rout

French 2,000 casualties plus one infantry and one cavalry brigade