21st April 1814 – Battle of Kurutze

Kurutze Campaign area

Wellington has ordered all four corps to attack the French

The main attack is against Savaltiere

This secondary attack at Kurutze is to pin 23^rd corps

The garrison of Zambrana has been ordered to rejoin 3^rd corps for the battle

8 French brigade is at Estella as garrison

British - 12000 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 30 guns

French - 11600 infantry, 1000 cavalry and 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

British Brigades       3 infantry      1 cavalry       1 artillery

French Brigades      3 infantry      1 cavalry       1 artillery

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

British cavalry deploy to cover the advancing columns

French cavalry and artillery deploy north of Kurutze

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

British cavalry move north to counter flank attack

Remainder of British corps advance between farm and woods

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

British start to deploy, well out of artillery range

Move 4 -1100 to 1200

British continue to deploy

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

British artillery move into artillery range

French artillery hit gunners, who fail morale and are shaken

This is a serious setback.

Without effective artillery support the British can not hope to win

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

French artillery continue to fire on gunners, no casualties

British gunners rally, but have lost 10% casualties

British cavalry advance to tempt lancers to engage them

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

French and British cavalry halt out of charge range

British artillery unlimber to engage enemy gunners

British infantry halt out of artillery range

French artillery fire on gunners, no casualties

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

British cavalry advance towards lancers

Lancers charge, lose melee and retire shaken with 10% casualties

 

 

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Lancers retire behind infantry and rally

British dragoons rejoin corps and rally 

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

British infantry advance to attack town

British cavalry advance to support infantry

French artillery redeploy to fire on infantry

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

British infantry come under fire as they approach town, no casualties

British artillery fire on lancers, no casualties

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

British cavalry charge artillery

Gunners pass morale and evade to town

French lancers charge dragoons, who retire shaken

British infantry and garrison exchange fire, no casualties

Move 13 – 2000 to 2100

French infantry outside town receive 10% casualties and are shaken

British infantry attacking town are shaken with 10% casualties

British cavalry fail morale and rout

British order general retreat

Game Casualties

French lose 400 infantry and 100 cavalry

British lose 400 infantry and 100 gunners

Game Summary

The French occupied a very strong position

The British gunners lost 100 casualties during first exchange of fire

This reduced their ability to weaken the defenders

British dragoons were ordered to engage French lancers

They won the initial melee, but the French rallied

The cavalry then charged the gunners, but they managed to evade to the town

The lancers charged again and the dragoons retired shaken

Two infantry brigades attacked the town, but lost and retired shaken

The battle continued beyond last light, but the French held the town