22nd March 1814 – Campaign Diary

Campaign Map
Despite the element of surprise Giron is defeated by Suchet at the battle of Girona 
Wellington is also surprised by Soult at San Sebastian and suffers a heavy defeat

First French and Prussian Army

Prussians halt and resupply

French abandon Geilenkirchen and concentrate between Hechtel and Maastricht

French establish a new supply depot at Hechtel

Second French and Russian Army

Russians redeploy in and east of Bad Kreuznach

French send 14 and 20 corps north towards Bingen

Third French and Austrian Army

French are resting, resupplying and waiting for reinforcements

Austrians are running low on supplies

They have established a new depot at Cirey, but that can only supply two corps

Fourth French and Bavarian Army

2 and 4 Bavarian corps occupy Ronchamp

16 French corps retreats into mountains

French cavalry recce Clerval, come under fire but complete recce

Fifth French and British Army

Wellington is not prepared for this battle

He is redeploying and resupplying  his army when the French attack

They outnumber him by 56,000 to 31,000 and inflict a decisive defeat on him.

He  accepts defeat and orders his Army to retreat to Tolosa 

Sixth French and Spanish Army

The French were not expecting an attack today

They had orders to rest and resupply

Instead they were forced to fight when attacked by five Spanish corps

The French lost 400 and the Spanish 1,500

Despite the light casualties the Spanish broke and ran