14th April 1814 – Battle of Murguia

Murguia Campaign area

5^th French corps attack 1^st British corps

French have orders to attack

British have orders to hold

British             16,000 infantry           1,000 cavalry              30 guns

French             16,000 infantry           1,000 cavalry              30 guns

Wargame

British Brigades          4 infantry        1 cavalry         1 artillery

French Brigades          4 infantry        1 cavalry         1 artillery

4^th  British brigade starts the game as garrison of Murguia

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

French arrive on table and move behind farm to avoid marching towards British artillery and to threaten their flank.   British start to deploy to their left to meet the French attack

 

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

French artillery and cavalry deploy to right of farm to pin enemy.    Infantry advance to left of farm to threaten enemy right flank.   British  adjust deployment to cover road and right of farm

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

French  artillery unlimber.   Infantry advance through farm and along road to left of farm.

British cavalry withdraw out of artillery range.   General Stewart rides to Muguria and orders the  garrison to rejoin corps.

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

French artillery fire on gunners and miss.   Infantry continue to advance.   British artillery redeploy to fire on farm.   Infantry form line   Cavalry deploy opposite enemy cavalry.

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French artillery manhandle forward.   Infantry continue to advance advance.  British artillery fire on gunners and miss.   Infantry advance and skirmish with leading French brigade, no casualties.

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

British infantry have better skirmishers and more effective firepower when in line against French columns.   General Abbe orders his three infantry brigades to attack the British line.   The melee is a draw.   One British, and one French, brigade each suffer 30% casualties and both rout.   The remaining three brigades are all within supporting distance, and all must test their morale because of the rout.   All three fail, and all three join the rout.   Three French brigades rout from the melee and two British brigades.  

The British artillery fire on the French gunners, who suffer 10% casualties.   They make their morale, but still limber to retreat covered by the cavalry and the remaining infantry brigade.

The French attack is broken, and Abbe orders a general retreat.

The British are not much better, and Stewart orders them to withdraw to the town and rally there.

 

Infantry rout from melee

Both sides suffer 1600 casualties in melee

All five infantry brigades fail their morale and rout

French commander orders a withdrawal

British commander orders his corps to retire to Murguia

Game Casualties

British lose 1600 infantry   

French lose 1600 infantry and 100 gunners

Game Summary

1^st British corps are deployed in defence 5 miles each of Murguia

They are attacked by 5^th French corps

The Portuguese garrison of the town are ordered to join the corps

The French attempt to outflank the British

But the British quickly redeploy to counter this move

The artillery are ineffective

Three French brigades in column attack two British in line

One brigade on each side rout due to casualties

Remaining brigades have to test morale, and all three fail and join rout

With more than half their corps in rout both commanders withdraw

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

British 5000 casualties 2 brigades in rout

French 3700 casualties 3 brigades in rout