25th March 1814 – Battle of Tolosa

Tolosa Campaign Area

French attack with three corps

British defend with two corps

           

5 French          move to E09 on engage

11 French        move to F09 on engage        

23 French        move to F08 on engage

1 British          halt on hold and establish supply depot    

2 British          move to E07 on hold

6 guerrilla       move to G08

French                                     British            

Infantry - 44000                      infantry – 24000

cavalry - 3000                          cavalry - 2000 

guns - 90                                 guns -60

Notes

8000 British infantry are absent on garrison duty

Map at 0800

All three French corps have orders to attack Tolosa

At first light 5^th and 23^rd French corps advance

Map at 1200

1st British corps is heavily outnumbered in the initial fighting.

The lose 1200 casualties to 400 French casualties

General Stewart orders them to retreat towards Mondragon

2^nd corps moves to support  them, but is too far away to make a difference

The guerrilla band retreat as soon as the fighting starts

Map at 1600

1^st British continue to retreat towards Mondragon

2^nd British retreat to Issau

French occupy Tolosa 

Map at 2000

By nightfall the French have concentrated their three corps at Tolosa

The British have retreated and broken contact with them

Game Casualties

British lose 1200 infantry

French lose 400 infantry

Game Summary

Wellington was aware that the French were advancing to attack Tolosa

1^st corps was ordered to hold the town, and 2^nd corps to move to support them

Wellington did not realise that the attack was to be made by three French corps

Nor that 1^st corps would be over powered so quickly