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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

27th March 1814 – Battle of Mondragon


Mondragon Campaign area

Three French corps have orders to attack Mondragon
Wellington is not expecting an attack and has ordered his men to rest and resupply

British             34,800 infantry           3000 cavalry               90 guns
French             39,600 infantry           3000 cavalry               90 guns

British HQ       halt
1 corps             halt and resupply                              
2 corps             halt and resupply      
4 corps             halt  and resupply                             

French HQ       move to B08
5 corps            move to B08 on attack
11 corps          move to C08 on attack
23 corps          move to E09, E08

Table at start of wargame

British Brigades          9 infantry        3 cavalry         3 artillery
French Brigades          10 infantry      3 cavalry         3 artillery

British HQ                    arrive move 2
1 corps                          arrive move 2
2 corps                        arrive move 2
4 corps                         start on table

French HQ                     start on table
5 corps                          start on table
11 corps                        arrive move 1
23 corps                        start on table
Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
5 French about turn to face village
23 French turn south and are ordered to Engage village
11 French arrive on table
4 British react to French attack
Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
11 French ordered to deploy beside 5 French
5 French change own orders to Halt
Wellington and 1 corps arrive on table
Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
Change 5 French orders to Hold
Change 23 French orders to Engage
Both armies continue to advance and deploy 
Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
Change 11 French orders to Engage
Garrison ordered to rejoin 5 French corps
Both armies continue to advance and deploy
Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
5 French infantry receive 10% artillery casualties, pass morale test
1 British advance on Engage orders
All three French corps advance on Engage orders
Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
1 British cavalry receive 10% casualties from artillery fire
Despite this they charge French lancers and force them to retire shaken
5 French cavalry charge gunners, receive 10% casualties but force gunners to abandon guns
5 and 11 French advance and mask their own guns
2 British take advantage to advance to edge of hill in line
5 French infantry receive 10% artillery casualties, pass morale test

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
2 British dragoons charge French chasseurs, French lose melee and retire shaken
4 British hussars charge French cuirassiers, melee is a draw both disordered
1 British hussars receive 20% casualties from artillery fire, retire shaken
2 British infantry receive 10% casualties in skirmish combat, pass morale test
Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
4 British hussars win melee, French lancers retire shaken
1 British infantry lose firefight and rout with 30% casualties
2 British infantry also lose fire fight and rout with 30% casualties

With three brigades in rout, Wellington orders a general retreat


Game Casualties
French lose 1,600 infantry and 100 cavalry
British lose 4,000 infantry and 200 cavalry

Game Summary
Blinds were not used in this game, because both sides were too close
The French attack, and gain the centre ground
The British move to support 4 corps at the farm
The main French attack is against the British held hill
The cavalry melee were inconclusive
But the French won the initial fire fights
With three infantry brigades in rout Wellington ordered a general retreat
The British broke and fled before the French could close with them

Total casualties, including from earlier battles,  at the end of the battle
British 4,600 casualties and three brigades in rout
French 1,700 casualties and one brigade shaken

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