10th March 1814 - Battle of St Jean (3)

 

Irun Campaign Area

7^th French have orders to attack St Jean

17^th Polish have orders to attack in support of 7^th corps

25^th French have orders to advance behind 17^th corps

4^th British have orders to rest and resupply

2^nd British have orders to move to St Jean

French                                     British

48000 infantry                         32000 infantry                       

3000 cavalry                           2000 cavalry              

90 guns                                   60 guns

Table at start of wargame

17^th Polish advancing top left

7^th French advancing top right

25^th French will arrive top left start of move 5

4^th British deployed bottom left

2^nd British will arrive centre bottom start of move 1

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Soult has ordered both of his corps to advance and pin the British

He wants to prevent them from retreating as soon as 25^th corps arrives

17^th Polish advance behind their cavalry screen

7^th corps advance through the pass protected by their cavalry screen

4^th British advance their cavalry to protect their right flank

2^nd British march to the right of the town behind their cavalry screen

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Soult issued orders to engage the enemy

17^th Polish unlimber their 12 pounder guns within range of the enemy

7^th French advance their cavalry to slow the enemy deployment

4^th British extend their line, keeping one brigade in reserve

2^nd British start to deploy along the road right of the town

The Portuguese brigade is ordered to occupy the town

 

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

17^th Polish fire on British cavalry, no casualties

7^th French fire on British cavalry, no casualties

4^th British fire on French gunners, no casualties

2^nd British continue to deploy to right of town

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Soult goes to meet 26^th French

17^th Polish fire on British cavalry, 10% casualties, pass morale test

7^th French fire on British cavalry, no casualties

4^th British withdraw cavalry out of artillery range

2^nd British garrison town

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Soult orders 25^th French to advance behind 17^th French

17^th Polish artillery fire on Portuguese brigade, 10% casualties, pass morale test

25^th French start to arrive beside woods

7^th French cavalry move onto hill to protect infantry advance

4^th British wait for French attack

2^nd British withdraw dragoons out of artillery range

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Soult orders 17^th Polish to advance

17^th Polish lancers charge hussars and drive them back shaken

25^th French start to deploy behind 17^th Polish

7^th French artillery continue to fire but without any effect

4^th British rifle brigade advance in square and drive off lancers shaken

2^nd British dragoons deploy on hill

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Soult orders 17^th Polish to move to the centre

He also orders 25^th to advance to the right of 17^th and engage

25^th French move to the left of the road

17^th lancers suffer another 10% casualties, break and run

7^th French advance towards town

4^th Portuguese brigade break and run

2^nd British suffer artillery casualties but hold their ground

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

25^th French move into position on right flank

17^th Polish start to redeploy to centre

7^th French continue to advance towards centre

4^th British order a retreat

2^nd British hold their ground to cover 4^th withdrawal

Move 9 – 1600 to 17000

25^th French continue to deploy

17^th Polish continue to redeploy

7^th French have halted until their artillery can cause damage

4^th British have managed to withdraw whilst French redeploy

2^nd British inflict as many casualties as they receive

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

25^th French now deployed and advance on engage orders

17^th Polish also deployed and advance on engage orders

7^th French artillery fail to cause casualties

4^th British have broken contact and withdraw

2^nd British confident that they can hold their position until nightfall

 

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

25^th French artillery miss again.

17^th Polish unlimber their artillery to fire on 4^th British as well

7^th French artillery miss again

4^th British retreat again, covered by their artillery and cavalry

2^nd British order a retreat as well

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

25^th French artillery hit infantry, who pass their morale test

17^th Polish artillery fire and miss

7^th French artillery fire and miss

4^th British retreat, still covered by their artillery and cavalry

2^nd British retreat, again covered by their artillery and cavalry

Game Casualties

French suffer 1,200 infantry and 200 cavalry and 100 gunner casualties 

They have one cavalry brigade in rout

British suffer 2,000 infantry and 100 cavalry casualties

They also have one infantry brigade in rout

Game Summary

The British fought a good battle.  

They were lucky to win an early cavalry battle.

This allowed them to delay the French attack.

When 25^th French corps arrived they withdrew skilfully

They were also lucky with the dice!

The French did not allow sufficient space for 25^th corps to deploy

As a result time was wasted whilst 17^th corps moved left to make space

7^th corps was faced with a strong defensive position.

Their superiority in artillery did not produce sufficient enemy casualties

They were very unlucky with the dice!

A French victory, but an indecisive one

Total casualties at the end of this battle

British 2,100 casualties and one infantry brigade in rout

French 1,500 casualties and one cavalry brigade in rout