17th April 1814 – Battle of Kurutze

Kurutze Campaign area

3^rd British have orders to attack E02

5^th  Guerrilla have orders to recce E03

23^rd French have orders to hold and resupply

4^th British should also attack E02 from Savaltiere

But they are pinned by French attack on Savaltiere

British - 8000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 30 guns

Spanish – 1000 infantry

French - 12000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

British Brigades          2 infantry         1 cavalry           1 artillery

French Brigades          3 infantry         1 cavalry           1 artillery

All corps start battle on table

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

 British cavalry advance to cover approach march

French start to deploy

 

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

British commander become aware that he is outnumbered

Orders deployment out of artillery range

He will see if his artillery can even the odds

French cavalry advance to counter British dragoons

French infantry advance south of town

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

French commander decides to wait for the British to attack

British continue to deploy

Move 4 -1100 to 1200

Cavalry retreat out of artillery range

French artillery opens fire on farm, no casualties

British artillery unlimber out of artillery range

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French artillery continue to fire on farm, no casualties

British artillery manhandle into long range

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

British artillery hit town, garrison pass morale with 10% casualties

French artillery fire on gunners, no casualties

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

British artillery hit garrison, who pass morale with 20% casualties

French artillery hit guerrillas, who rout from farm with 10% casualties

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

British artillery fire on garrison, no casualties

French change orders to Engage

Artillery manhandle within range of enemy infantry

Infantry advance towards woods

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

British change orders to Engage

Infantry advance towards woods

Artillery fire on gunners, no casualties

French artillery hit highlanders, who are shaken with 10% casualties

Infantry advance towards woods, supported by southern garrison

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

British artillery fire on gunners, no casualties

Infantry advance into woods

Highlanders fail their morale and rout

Nearby dragoons fail their morale and are shaken

French infantry and artillery fire on woods

With one brigade in rout and his cavalry shaken Picton orders a general retreat

Game Casualties

French lose 800 infantry

British lose 800 infantry

Game Summary

The British attack should have been supported by a second corps

But they were pinned at the battle of Savaltiere

As a result they attacked a stronger enemy at Kurutze

Picton halted his corps out of artillery range

If his artillery could even the odds he would attack

He caused damage to the garrison, but they held

The French routed the guerrilla from the farm

They then routed the highland brigade

The dragoons were shaken as a result

Picton ordered a general retreat to avoid further casualties

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

British 6,200 casualties, 1 brigade in rout and four shaken

French 4,000 casualties