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Monday, December 15, 2014

15th April 1814 – Battle of Savaltiere



Savaltiere Campaign area
2nd British corps has orders to attack Mondragon
One brigade is missing on garrison duty  at Vitoria
4th British corps has orders to move to Savaltiere
One brigade is missing on garrison duty at Savaltiere
A second brigade has 800 casualties

11th French corps has orders to hold
One brigade is missing on garrison duty at Mondragon
A second brigade has 1600 casualties
17th French corps has orders to hold
One brigade is missing on garrison duty at Issau

British – 27200 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 60 guns
French – 20000 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 60 guns


Table at start of wargame
British Brigades          7 infantry         2 cavalry           2 artillery
French Brigades          5 infantry         2 cavalry           2 artillery

17th French corps will arrive in F05 at the start of move 2
6th Spanish guerrilla will only fight if attacked


Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
 2nd British advance through Savaltiere on Mondragon road
4th British advance towards Savaltiere on Vitoria road
French await developments


Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
 British continue to advance and start to deploy
11 French cavalry move onto hill
French CinC arrives (right) with 17th corps



Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
 17th French corps ordered to hold farm
British continue to deploy
2 dragoons move onto hill to counter French cavalry




Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
 British continue to advance
11 French cavalry (top) withdrdaw from hill
17 French artillery hit infantry, who retire shaken with 10% casualties
17 French infantry garrison farm (bottom right)

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
 British continue top advance
French infantry (centre right) lose 10% casualties in skirmish with guerrillas in farm


Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
British advance
Artillery fire, no casualties
French infantry skirmish guerrilla garrison of farm, no casualties

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
British continue to advance
2 dragoons charge French cavalry, lose melee and retire shaken
11 French artillery rout advancing infantry with 10% casualties
They rout into supporting brigade which is shaken
2 British corps attack has failed
4 British artillery hit farm garrison (bottom right)
Garrison pass morale test with 10% casualties
The British attack now depends on 4 corps, plus guerrillas in the farm.


Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
11 French cavalry (top) charge and rout shaken dragoons with 20% casualties
17 French infantry (right) rout guerrillas from farm
Wellington orders 4 British to abandon attack and hold town
He orders 2nd British to break contact and retreat


Move 9 – 1600 to 1700
11 French artillery hit infantry, who pass morale with 10% casualties
Soult orders 11 corps to halt and abandon attack

Game Casualties
French lose 800 infantry
British lose 1200 infantry and 200 cavalry

Game Summary
The British attack starts well.
4 British secure the town and outnumber 17 French corps
2 British moves to attack 11 French corps
The battle is decided between 2 British and 17 French corps
The British heavy cavalry lose their melee with the French chasseurs
The French artillery break the infantry attack when they rout the leading brigade
Wellington orders 2nd corps to abandon the attack and retreat
17 French corps manage to secure the farm and woods
It takes most of the day to force the Spanish guerrillas to abandon the northern farm
The result is a stalemate.   The British hold the town, the French hold the farms.
Although the British have suffered more casualties, they hold the town
Unable to unite his two corps, Soult orders them to retire and regroup


Total Army casualties at the end of the battle
British 5900 casualties 
French 3900 casualties


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