11th March 1814 - Battle of Le Boulou (3)

Perpignan Campaign Area

8th French has orders to attack Le Boulou

18^th Italian have orders to attack Le Boulou

20^th French have orders to resupply and reorganise

26^th French have orders to attack Le Boulou

1^st Spanish have orders to move west

2^nd Spanish have orders to move to Le Boulou

3^rd Spanish have orders to halt and resupply

4^th Spanish have orders to move west

As soon as the battle starts both commanders order all corps to concentrate

French                                     Spanish          

60000 infantry                         61600 infantry                       

4000 cavalry                           4000 cavalry              

120 guns                                 120 guns

Table at start of wargame 

8 French arrive move 1          full strength                move to Le Boulou

18 Italian arrive move 1         full strength                move to Le Boulou

20 French arrive move 5        4000 casualties          move to Le Boulou

26 French arrive move 1        full strength                move to Le Boulou

1 Spanish on table                 full strength                hold farm

2 Spanish on table                 2400 casualties           hold position

3 Spanish arrive move 3        full strength                move to Le Boulou

4 Spanish on table                 full strength                hold Le Boulou

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Spanish CinC-change 1^st corps orders move to right of farm

1^st Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive

2^nd Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive

4^th Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive

French CinC-change 8^th corps orders to engage between woods and hill

8^th French-advance behind cavalry screen

18^th Italian-advance behind cavalry screen

26^th French-advance behind cavalry screen

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Spanish CinC-change 3^rd corps orders to deploy to the left of the farm

1^st Spanish-start to deploy between farm and hill

2^nd Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive

4^th Spanish-waiting for orders to arrive

French CinC-change 18^th corps orders to engage Le Boulou

8^th French-advance and deploy artillery

18^th Italian-advance and deploy artillery

26^th French-advance in column of march

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Spanish CinC-change 4^th corps orders to support 2^nd corps and engage

1^st Spanish-artillery fire on enemy gunners

2^nd Spanish-artillery fire on enemy gunners

3^rd Spanish-advance to left of farm behind cavalry screen

4^th Spanish-orders arrived too late to move

French CinC-change 26^th corps orders to engage farm

8^th French-cavalry advance through hills in the centre

18^th Italian-deploy into column of attack

26^th French-advance in column of march

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Spanish CinC-move to 1^st corps change orders to move towards hill

1^st Spanish-move to right and vacate farm

2^nd Spanish-cavalry suffer casualties and retire out of artillery range

3^rd Spanish-cavalry and artillery move ahead of corps

4^th Spanish-corps advance, cavalry move towards hill

French CinC-move to 18^th corps change orders to hold

8^th French-artillery cause infantry casualties

18^th Italian-artillery cause cavalry casualties

26^th French-artillery unlimber, infantry move into woods 

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Spanish CinC-move to join 4^th corps

1^st Spanish-change orders to halt and retire shaken infantry square

2^nd Spanish-artillery cause gunner casualties, change orders to halt and retire  

3^rd Spanish-advance and unlimber artillery

4^th Spanish-cavalry move onto hill

French CinC-move to 20^th corps change orders to engage

8^th French-artillery cause infantry casualties

18^th Italian-artillery cause infantry casualties

20^th French-start to arrive, cavalry sent to hold hill

26^th French-artillery cause infantry casualties, infantry move into woods 

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Spanish CinC-change 4^th corps orders to hold, move to join 1^st corps

1^st Spanish-artillery miss gunners, infantry brigade rout

2^nd Spanish- artillery miss gunners, cavalry retire

3^rd Spanish-cavalry withdraw, infantry enter farm

4^th Spanish-change orders to halt, deploy

French CinC-move to join 26^th corps

8^th French- artillery rout infantry, cavalry on hill advance

18^th Italian- artillery miss gunners, waiting for orders to advance

20^th French-all advance

26^th French- artillery hit infantry, advance into woods

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Spanish CinC-change 1^st corps orders to retreat

1^st Spanish-artillery hit infantry, cavalry rejoin corps

2^nd Spanish- artillery miss gunners, infantry retire

3^rd Spanish-deploy corps, cavalry lose melee and are shaken

4^th Spanish-cavalry retire from hill

French CinC-change 26^th corps orders to engage

8^th French- all advance

18^th Italian- artillery miss infantry, limber and prepare to advance

20^th French-all advance

26^th French-cavalry win melee enemy shaken, infantry advance through woods 

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Spanish CinC-change 1^st corps orders to retreat

1^st Spanish-artillery miss infantry, gunners retreat into square, cavalry move to centre

2^nd Spanish- artillery miss gunners, infantry retreat

3^rd Spanish-artillery hit infantry, change orders to halt

4^th Spanish-artillery miss infantry

French CinC-move to 18^th corps change orders to engage

8^th French- artillery hit infantry, skirmishers hit infantry, corps advance

18^th Italian- artillery unlimber remainder advance

20^th French-artillery unlimber remainder advance

26^th French-artillery hit square, cavalry withdraw infantry advance

Move 9 – 1600 to 17000

Spanish CinC-change 3^rd corps orders to retreat

1^st Spanish-shaken infantry rout, cavalry cover retreat

2^nd Spanish- artillery hit infantry, infantry retreat

3^rd Spanish-artillery hit infantry, infantry retreat

4^th Spanish-artillery miss infantry

French CinC-move to 26^th corps change orders to hold woods

8^th French- artillery hit square, cavalry rout shaken infantry

18^th Italian- corps advance

20^th French-corps advance

26^th French-artillery unlimber, infantry return to woods

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

Spanish CinC-move to 4^th corps and change orders to retreat

1^st Spanish-retreat

2^nd Spanish- retreat

3^rd Spanish-retreat

4^th Spanish-retreat

French CinC-move to 26^th corps and change orders to engage

8^th French- cavalry rout Spanish dragoons

18^th Italian- advance

20^th French-artillery hit infantry and rout two brigades and gunners

26^th French-halt in woods waiting for orders

Move 11 – 1900 to 2000

Spanish CinC-retreat

1^st Spanish-surrender

2^nd Spanish- retreat

3^rd Spanish-retreat

4^th Spanish-retreat

French CinC-move to 20^th corps and change orders to attack

8^th French- surround 1^st Spanish and force them to surrender

18^th Italian- advance

20^th French-advance

26^th French-advance

Game Casualties

French suffer 5,600 infantry casualties

Spanish suffer 14,800 infantry, 200 cavalry and 500 gunner losses, including surrender

They also have four infantry and one cavalry brigades in rout

Game Summary

Both sides started with considerable battle casualties, 4000 French and 2400 Spanish

The French deployed out of artillery range of the Spanish 12 pounder guns

They waited until 20^th corps arrived, just before noon, before they started the attack

The Spanish put up a good fight, but they were no match for the French gunners. 

Two Spanish corps bore the brunt of the fighting.

On the right 2^nd corps started with battle casualties and were soon rout

On the left 1^st corps was surrounded and forced to surrender

Four Spanish infantry  and one cavalry brigades left the field in rout

The Spanish lost 15,500 casualties and 60 guns

The French lost 5,600 casualties

The battle was a great victory for the French and won them the Perpignan campaign