27th March 1814 – Battle of Mondragon

Mondragon Campaign area

Three French corps have orders to attack Mondragon

Wellington is not expecting an attack and has ordered his men to rest and resupply

British             34,800 infantry           3000 cavalry               90 guns

French             39,600 infantry           3000 cavalry               90 guns

British HQ       halt

1 corps             halt and resupply                              

2 corps             halt and resupply      

4 corps             halt  and resupply                             

French HQ       move to B08

5 corps            move to B08 on attack

11 corps          move to C08 on attack

23 corps          move to E09, E08

Table at start of wargame

British Brigades          9 infantry        3 cavalry         3 artillery

French Brigades          10 infantry      3 cavalry         3 artillery

British HQ                    arrive move 2

1 corps                          arrive move 2

2 corps                        arrive move 2

4 corps                         start on table

French HQ                     start on table

5 corps                          start on table

11 corps                        arrive move 1

23 corps                        start on table

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

5 French about turn to face village

23 French turn south and are ordered to Engage village

11 French arrive on table

4 British react to French attack

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

11 French ordered to deploy beside 5 French

5 French change own orders to Halt

Wellington and 1 corps arrive on table

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Change 5 French orders to Hold

Change 23 French orders to Engage

Both armies continue to advance and deploy 

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Change 11 French orders to Engage

Garrison ordered to rejoin 5 French corps

Both armies continue to advance and deploy

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

5 French infantry receive 10% artillery casualties, pass morale test

1 British advance on Engage orders

All three French corps advance on Engage orders

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

1 British cavalry receive 10% casualties from artillery fire

Despite this they charge French lancers and force them to retire shaken

5 French cavalry charge gunners, receive 10% casualties but force gunners to abandon guns

5 and 11 French advance and mask their own guns

2 British take advantage to advance to edge of hill in line

5 French infantry receive 10% artillery casualties, pass morale test

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

2 British dragoons charge French chasseurs, French lose melee and retire shaken

4 British hussars charge French cuirassiers, melee is a draw both disordered

1 British hussars receive 20% casualties from artillery fire, retire shaken

2 British infantry receive 10% casualties in skirmish combat, pass morale test

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

4 British hussars win melee, French lancers retire shaken

1 British infantry lose firefight and rout with 30% casualties

2 British infantry also lose fire fight and rout with 30% casualties

With three brigades in rout, Wellington orders a general retreat

Game Casualties

French lose 1,600 infantry and 100 cavalry

British lose 4,000 infantry and 200 cavalry

Game Summary

Blinds were not used in this game, because both sides were too close

The French attack, and gain the centre ground

The British move to support 4 corps at the farm

The main French attack is against the British held hill

The cavalry melee were inconclusive

But the French won the initial fire fights

With three infantry brigades in rout Wellington ordered a general retreat

The British broke and fled before the French could close with them

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

British 4,600 casualties and three brigades in rout

French 1,700 casualties and one brigade shaken