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Sunday, October 20, 2013

11th March 1814 - Battle of Le Boulou (3)




Perpignan Campaign Area
8th French has orders to attack Le Boulou
18th Italian have orders to attack Le Boulou
20th French have orders to resupply and reorganise
26th French have orders to attack Le Boulou

1st Spanish have orders to move west
2nd Spanish have orders to move to Le Boulou
3rd Spanish have orders to halt and resupply
4th Spanish have orders to move west

As soon as the battle starts both commanders order all corps to concentrate

French                                     Spanish          
60000 infantry                         61600 infantry                       
4000 cavalry                           4000 cavalry              
120 guns                                 120 guns




Table at start of wargame 
8 French arrive move 1          full strength                move to Le Boulou
18 Italian arrive move 1         full strength                move to Le Boulou
20 French arrive move 5        4000 casualties          move to Le Boulou
26 French arrive move 1        full strength                move to Le Boulou

1 Spanish on table                 full strength                hold farm
2 Spanish on table                 2400 casualties           hold position
3 Spanish arrive move 3        full strength                move to Le Boulou
4 Spanish on table                 full strength                hold Le Boulou




Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
Spanish CinC-change 1st corps orders move to right of farm
1st Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive
2nd Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive
4th Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive
French CinC-change 8th corps orders to engage between woods and hill
8th French-advance behind cavalry screen
18th Italian-advance behind cavalry screen
26th French-advance behind cavalry screen


Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
Spanish CinC-change 3rd corps orders to deploy to the left of the farm
1st Spanish-start to deploy between farm and hill
2nd Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive
4th Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive
French CinC-change 18th corps orders to engage Le Boulou
8th French-advance and deploy artillery
18th Italian-advance and deploy artillery
26th French-advance in column of march


Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
Spanish CinC-change 4th corps orders to support 2nd corps and engage
1st Spanish-artillery fire on enemy gunners
2nd Spanish-artillery fire on enemy gunners
3rd Spanish-advance to left of farm behind cavalry screen
4th Spanish-orders arrived too late to move
French CinC-change 26th corps orders to engage farm
8th French-cavalry advance through hills in the centre
18th Italian-deploy into column of attack
26th French-advance in column of march


Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
Spanish CinC-move to 1st corps change orders to move towards hill
1st Spanish-move to right and vacate farm
2nd Spanish-cavalry suffer casualties and retire out of artillery range
3rd Spanish-cavalry and artillery move ahead of corps
4th Spanish-corps advance, cavalry move towards hill
French CinC-move to 18th corps change orders to hold
8th French-artillery cause infantry casualties
18th Italian-artillery cause cavalry casualties
26th French-artillery unlimber, infantry move into woods 


Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
Spanish CinC-move to join 4th corps
1st Spanish-change orders to halt and retire shaken infantry square
2nd Spanish-artillery cause gunner casualties, change orders to halt and retire  
3rd Spanish-advance and unlimber artillery
4th Spanish-cavalry move onto hill
French CinC-move to 20th corps change orders to engage
8th French-artillery cause infantry casualties
18th Italian-artillery cause infantry casualties
20th French-start to arrive, cavalry sent to hold hill
26th French-artillery cause infantry casualties, infantry move into woods 



Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
Spanish CinC-change 4th corps orders to hold, move to join 1st corps
1st Spanish-artillery miss gunners, infantry brigade rout
2nd Spanish- artillery miss gunners, cavalry retire
3rd Spanish-cavalry withdraw, infantry enter farm
4th Spanish-change orders to halt, deploy
French CinC-move to join 26th corps
8th French- artillery rout infantry, cavalry on hill advance
18th Italian- artillery miss gunners, waiting for orders to advance
20th French-all advance
26th French- artillery hit infantry, advance into woods

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
Spanish CinC-change 1st corps orders to retreat
1st Spanish-artillery hit infantry, cavalry rejoin corps
2nd Spanish- artillery miss gunners, infantry retire
3rd Spanish-deploy corps, cavalry lose melee and are shaken
4th Spanish-cavalry retire from hill
French CinC-change 26th corps orders to engage
8th French- all advance
18th Italian- artillery miss infantry, limber and prepare to advance
20th French-all advance
26th French-cavalry win melee enemy shaken, infantry advance through woods 



Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
Spanish CinC-change 1st corps orders to retreat
1st Spanish-artillery miss infantry, gunners retreat into square, cavalry move to centre
2nd Spanish- artillery miss gunners, infantry retreat
3rd Spanish-artillery hit infantry, change orders to halt
4th Spanish-artillery miss infantry
French CinC-move to 18th corps change orders to engage
8th French- artillery hit infantry, skirmishers hit infantry, corps advance
18th Italian- artillery unlimber remainder advance
20th French-artillery unlimber remainder advance
26th French-artillery hit square, cavalry withdraw infantry advance



Move 9 – 1600 to 17000
Spanish CinC-change 3rd corps orders to retreat
1st Spanish-shaken infantry rout, cavalry cover retreat
2nd Spanish- artillery hit infantry, infantry retreat
3rd Spanish-artillery hit infantry, infantry retreat
4th Spanish-artillery miss infantry
French CinC-move to 26th corps change orders to hold woods
8th French- artillery hit square, cavalry rout shaken infantry
18th Italian- corps advance
20th French-corps advance
26th French-artillery unlimber, infantry return to woods



Move 10 – 1700 to 1800
Spanish CinC-move to 4th corps and change orders to retreat
1st Spanish-retreat
2nd Spanish- retreat
3rd Spanish-retreat
4th Spanish-retreat
French CinC-move to 26th corps and change orders to engage
8th French- cavalry rout Spanish dragoons
18th Italian- advance
20th French-artillery hit infantry and rout two brigades and gunners
26th French-halt in woods waiting for orders




Move 11 – 1900 to 2000
Spanish CinC-retreat
1st Spanish-surrender
2nd Spanish- retreat
3rd Spanish-retreat
4th Spanish-retreat
French CinC-move to 20th corps and change orders to attack
8th French- surround 1st Spanish and force them to surrender
18th Italian- advance
20th French-advance
26th French-advance

Game Casualties
French suffer 5,600 infantry casualties
Spanish suffer 14,800 infantry, 200 cavalry and 500 gunner losses, including surrender
They also have four infantry and one cavalry brigades in rout

Game Summary

Both sides started with considerable battle casualties, 4000 French and 2400 Spanish

The French deployed out of artillery range of the Spanish 12 pounder guns
They waited until 20th corps arrived, just before noon, before they started the attack

The Spanish put up a good fight, but they were no match for the French gunners. 
Two Spanish corps bore the brunt of the fighting.
On the right 2nd corps started with battle casualties and were soon rout
On the left 1st corps was surrounded and forced to surrender

Four Spanish infantry  and one cavalry brigades left the field in rout

The Spanish lost 15,500 casualties and 60 guns
The French lost 5,600 casualties

The battle was a great victory for the French and won them the Perpignan campaign


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