22nd March 1814 - Battle of Gerona

Gerona Campaign area

Five Spanish corps launch a surprise attack on four French corps

24^th French corps is only a cavalry brigade and will join 6^th French corps

9^th guerrillas will fight as part of 2^nd Spanish corps

Spanish           60,000 infantry           3,000 cavalry              120 guns

French             48,000 infantry           4,000 cavalry              90 guns

Spanish HQ     move F05, G05                                  

1 corps            move F02, F03 on engage                 

2 corps            move F05, G05 on engage                

3 corps            move E05, F05 on engage                 

5 corps            move F04, G04 on engage    

9 guerrilla       move to E08                          

French HQ       halt with 6 corps                               

6 corps            halt on hold                                      

12 corps          halt on hold                                      

18 corps          halt on hold                                     

24 corps          move to G03 on engage         

   

Table at start of wargame

Spanish Brigades        15 infantry      3 cavalry         4 artillery

French Brigades          12 infantry      4 cavalry         3 artillery

Spanish HQ     on table at start

1 corps            arrive E03 move 2

2 corps            on table at start

3 corps            arrive E05 move 1     

5 corps            on table at stat

9 guerrilla       on table at start as part of 2 corps

French HQ       arrive G03 move 3

6 corps            arrive G03 move 5

12 corps          start on table

18 corps          start on table

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Both armies advance and start to deploy

 

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Both armies continue to advance and deploy

French artillery unlimber

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

French complete deployment, artillery fire on gunners

Marshal Suchet arrives and orders French to hold their position

2^nd Spanish ordered to hold their position

Remainder of Spanish continue to advance

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Guerrillas enter farm

French artillery continue to fire on Spanish gunners

Spanish continue to advance

5^th British ordered to engage enemy

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

6^th French corps arrives on table

Spanish continue to advance and deploy

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

6th French corps send out  cavalry screen and start to deploy

French artillery continue to fire, but no casualties

1^st Spanish and 5^th British corps advance on Engage orders

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

6^th French lancers charge 1^st Spanish dragoons, draw both disorganised

6^th and 12^th French corps advance on Engage orders

British artillery fire on French infantry, 10% casualties and rout

5^th British dragoons charge 6^th French dragoons, lose and retire Shaken with 10% casualties

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

6^th French dragoons charge and rout shaken British dragoons

12^th Polish lancers charge and rout British infantry with 30% casualties

Rout spreads to rest of British corps

British corps routs

Three British infantry brigades rout

British and Spanish cavalry brigade rout

British and Spanish gunners rout

Giron orders Spanish Army to retreat

Game Casualties

French lose 400 infantry

Spanish lose  1,200 infantry, 300 cavalry and 60 guns

Game Summary

At the start of the battle the Spanish Army outnumbers the French two to one

They advance to attack the French open left flank, unaware that 6^th corps is moving to fill it

The arrival of 6^th French corps creates some confusion amongst the Spanish troops

Just after midday Suchet orders his Army to move forward and engage the Spanish

The French cavalry advance and break the weak British and Spanish cavalry

The French cavalry follow up and charge the British infantry, who also rout

The panic quickly spreads and soon the whole of the British corps is in rout

The Spanish CinC accepts defeat and orders his Army to break contact and retreat

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

Allied  1,500 casualties and five brigades in rout

French 400 casualties and one brigade shaken