15th April 1814 – Battle of Savaltiere

Savaltiere Campaign area

2^nd British corps has orders to attack Mondragon

One brigade is missing on garrison duty  at Vitoria

4^th British corps has orders to move to Savaltiere

One brigade is missing on garrison duty at Savaltiere

A second brigade has 800 casualties

11^th French corps has orders to hold

One brigade is missing on garrison duty at Mondragon

A second brigade has 1600 casualties

17^th French corps has orders to hold

One brigade is missing on garrison duty at Issau

British – 27200 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 60 guns

French – 20000 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 60 guns

Table at start of wargame

British Brigades          7 infantry         2 cavalry           2 artillery

French Brigades          5 infantry         2 cavalry           2 artillery

17^th French corps will arrive in F05 at the start of move 2

6th Spanish guerrilla will only fight if attacked

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

 2^nd British advance through Savaltiere on Mondragon road

4^th British advance towards Savaltiere on Vitoria road

French await developments

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

 British continue to advance and start to deploy

11 French cavalry move onto hill

French CinC arrives (right) with 17^th corps

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

 17^th French corps ordered to hold farm

British continue to deploy

2 dragoons move onto hill to counter French cavalry

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

 British continue to advance

11 French cavalry (top) withdrdaw from hill

17 French artillery hit infantry, who retire shaken with 10% casualties

17 French infantry garrison farm (bottom right)

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

 British continue top advance

French infantry (centre right) lose 10% casualties in skirmish with guerrillas in farm

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

British advance

Artillery fire, no casualties

French infantry skirmish guerrilla garrison of farm, no casualties

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

British continue to advance

2 dragoons charge French cavalry, lose melee and retire shaken

11 French artillery rout advancing infantry with 10% casualties

They rout into supporting brigade which is shaken

2 British corps attack has failed

4 British artillery hit farm garrison (bottom right)

Garrison pass morale test with 10% casualties

The British attack now depends on 4 corps, plus guerrillas in the farm.

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

11 French cavalry (top) charge and rout shaken dragoons with 20% casualties

17 French infantry (right) rout guerrillas from farm

Wellington orders 4 British to abandon attack and hold town

He orders 2^nd British to break contact and retreat

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

11 French artillery hit infantry, who pass morale with 10% casualties

Soult orders 11 corps to halt and abandon attack

Game Casualties

French lose 800 infantry

British lose 1200 infantry and 200 cavalry

Game Summary

The British attack starts well.

4 British secure the town and outnumber 17 French corps

2 British moves to attack 11 French corps

The battle is decided between 2 British and 17 French corps

The British heavy cavalry lose their melee with the French chasseurs

The French artillery break the infantry attack when they rout the leading brigade

Wellington orders 2^nd corps to abandon the attack and retreat

17 French corps manage to secure the farm and woods

It takes most of the day to force the Spanish guerrillas to abandon the northern farm

The result is a stalemate.   The British hold the town, the French hold the farms.

Although the British have suffered more casualties, they hold the town

Unable to unite his two corps, Soult orders them to retire and regroup

Total Army casualties at the end of the battle

British 5900 casualties 

French 3900 casualties