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Monday, October 7, 2013

10th March 1814 - Battle of St Jean (3)


Irun Campaign Area
7th French have orders to attack St Jean
17th Polish have orders to attack in support of 7th corps
25th French have orders to advance behind 17th corps

4th British have orders to rest and resupply
2nd British have orders to move to St Jean

French                                     British
48000 infantry                         32000 infantry                       
3000 cavalry                           2000 cavalry              
90 guns                                   60 guns

Table at start of wargame
17th Polish advancing top left
7th French advancing top right
25th French will arrive top left start of move 5

4th British deployed bottom left
2nd British will arrive centre bottom start of move 1

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
Soult has ordered both of his corps to advance and pin the British
He wants to prevent them from retreating as soon as 25th corps arrives
17th Polish advance behind their cavalry screen
7th corps advance through the pass protected by their cavalry screen
4th British advance their cavalry to protect their right flank
2nd British march to the right of the town behind their cavalry screen

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
Soult issued orders to engage the enemy
17th Polish unlimber their 12 pounder guns within range of the enemy
7th French advance their cavalry to slow the enemy deployment
4th British extend their line, keeping one brigade in reserve
2nd British start to deploy along the road right of the town
The Portuguese brigade is ordered to occupy the town

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
17th Polish fire on British cavalry, no casualties
7th French fire on British cavalry, no casualties
4th British fire on French gunners, no casualties
2nd British continue to deploy to right of town



Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
Soult goes to meet 26th French
17th Polish fire on British cavalry, 10% casualties, pass morale test
7th French fire on British cavalry, no casualties
4th British withdraw cavalry out of artillery range
2nd British garrison town
Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
Soult orders 25th French to advance behind 17th French
17th Polish artillery fire on Portuguese brigade, 10% casualties, pass morale test
25th French start to arrive beside woods
7th French cavalry move onto hill to protect infantry advance
4th British wait for French attack
2nd British withdraw dragoons out of artillery range


Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
Soult orders 17th Polish to advance
17th Polish lancers charge hussars and drive them back shaken
25th French start to deploy behind 17th Polish
7th French artillery continue to fire but without any effect
4th British rifle brigade advance in square and drive off lancers shaken
2nd British dragoons deploy on hill


Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
Soult orders 17th Polish to move to the centre
He also orders 25th to advance to the right of 17th and engage
25th French move to the left of the road
17th lancers suffer another 10% casualties, break and run
7th French advance towards town
4th Portuguese brigade break and run
2nd British suffer artillery casualties but hold their ground

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
25th French move into position on right flank
17th Polish start to redeploy to centre
7th French continue to advance towards centre
4th British order a retreat
2nd British hold their ground to cover 4th withdrawal


Move 9 – 1600 to 17000
25th French continue to deploy
17th Polish continue to redeploy
7th French have halted until their artillery can cause damage
4th British have managed to withdraw whilst French redeploy
2nd British inflict as many casualties as they receive

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800
25th French now deployed and advance on engage orders
17th Polish also deployed and advance on engage orders
7th French artillery fail to cause casualties
4th British have broken contact and withdraw
2nd British confident that they can hold their position until nightfall
 
Move 11 – 1800 to 1900
25th French artillery miss again.
17th Polish unlimber their artillery to fire on 4th British as well
7th French artillery miss again
4th British retreat again, covered by their artillery and cavalry
2nd British order a retreat as well


Move 12 – 1900 to 2000
25th French artillery hit infantry, who pass their morale test
17th Polish artillery fire and miss
7th French artillery fire and miss
4th British retreat, still covered by their artillery and cavalry
2nd British retreat, again covered by their artillery and cavalry

Game Casualties
French suffer 1,200 infantry and 200 cavalry and 100 gunner casualties 
They have one cavalry brigade in rout
British suffer 2,000 infantry and 100 cavalry casualties
They also have one infantry brigade in rout

Game Summary

The British fought a good battle.  
They were lucky to win an early cavalry battle.
This allowed them to delay the French attack.
When 25th French corps arrived they withdrew skilfully
They were also lucky with the dice!
The French did not allow sufficient space for 25th corps to deploy
As a result time was wasted whilst 17th corps moved left to make space
7th corps was faced with a strong defensive position.
Their superiority in artillery did not produce sufficient enemy casualties
They were very unlucky with the dice!

A French victory, but an indecisive one

Total casualties at the end of this battle
British 2,100 casualties and one infantry brigade in rout
French 1,500 casualties and one cavalry brigade in rout

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