Battle of Torrente – Move 11

1800-1900 10 August 1813

Table at the start of move 11

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps advance in square towards Italian cavalry

Right – Italian corps have suffered casualties to garrison and right hand brigade

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps are winning skirmish for farm

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

9 Command Points

Orders – Hold Farm

Artillery retreat 8”

7^th brigade advance 2” and volley fire on 9^th and 10^th Spanish (total 8 - 7^th brigade win)

7^th brigade lose one casualty and are disordered

9^th Spanish lose one casualty, retire 4” and are shaken

10^th Spanish lose one casualty, retire 4” and are shaken

8^th brigade (in farm) skirmish 10^th Spanish (total 2 – no casualty)

 3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders– Engage Enemy

Change corps orders to “Hold”

Artillery are out of command range and unable to fire

General move to command range (8” of artillery)

Artillery limber and move 4” towards main corps

General return to centre of corps

10^th brigade skirmish with farm (total 2 – no casualty)

9^th brigade test morale for shaken (total 3 – rally to disordered)

11^th brigade test morale for shaken (total 1 – fail remain shaken

4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage Enemy

Artillery fire on enemy cavalry (total 12 – one casualty)

Italian cavalry test morale for casualty (total 4 – pass test)

13^th brigade turn left and advance 3”

14^th and 15^th brigade advance 2” in square

Artillery manhandle 2” towards enemy

Commander moves to command range of 16^th brigade

16^th brigade advance 4” on hill

Commander returns to centre of corps 

Game Notes

Rather than leave the advantage to the Spanish Severoli orders his battered 7^th brigade to advance to volley range (2”) and fire on the two Spanish brigades skirmishing with him.   He wins the volley exchange and the two enemy brigades retire 4” with two casualties and are shaken.   7^th brigade suffers a third casualty and are disordered.   The gamble has paid off.

Severoli is fortunate that there is only one more move to nightfall.   His cavalry have suffered casualties, as have the garrison of the farm.   His 7^th brigade has three casualties and are likely to rout if they have to test their morale.   If one of his brigades fail morale and rout it is very likely that his whole corps will fall apart.

He is retreating his artillery in preparation for a general retreat at nightfall.

Rule 12 covers infantry volley combat

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 10

1700-1800 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 10

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps advance in square towards Italian cavalry

Right – Italian corps have redeployed to meet 3^rd Spanish flank move

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps advance to attack farm

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage Enemy

Artillery fire on Italian cavalry (total 3 – no casualty)

14^th and 15^th brigades advance 2” in square

Artillery manhandle forward 2”

13^th brigade move out of town

O’Donnell moves to centre of corps

16^th brigade move 7” (double move) on hill

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Hold Farm

Artillery fire on 9^th Spanish (total 10 – one casualty)

9^th Spanish test morale for casualty (total 6 – pass test)

Artillery limber

Severoli moves to centre of corps

7^th brigade advance 4”

7^th brigade skirmish with 11^th Spanish (total 5 – no casualty)

3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

7 Command Points

Orders – Engage Enemy

Artillery fire at close range on farm (total 8 – one casualty)

Garrison of farm test morale for casualty (total 5 – pass test)

9^th brigade advance 4” (within 2” of farm)

10 brigade advance 6”

Rosche moves to command his right wing

10^th and 11^th brigades skirmish 7^th Italian (totals 7 and 6 – two casualties)

7^th Italian test morale for two casualties (total 4 – pass test)

9^th brigade skirmish with garrison (total 4 – no casualties)

 Game Notes
O’Donnell moves his corps forward in square because of the enemy cavalry.  He can only move his squares 2” each move, so is unlikely to close with the enemy before nightfall.

Volley fire is not allowed against hard cover, only skirmish fire

Infantry must be less than 4” to skirmish, and less than 2” to volley fire.

Skirmish fire requires a total of 6 to inflict a casualty

10^th and 11^th Spanish brigades are winning their skirmish fight with 7^th Italian brigade.   They rolled a 5 and 6 (plus 1 for C class skirmishers) to achieve two hits.   7^th brigade rolled a 3 (plus 2 for B class skirmishers) and failed to inflict any casualties.

Rule 11 covers infantry skirmish combat

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 9

1600-1700 10 August 1813

Table at the start of move 9

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps start to advance north of Torrente

Right – Italian corps have redeployed to meet 3^rd Spanish flank move

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps move to their right to attack farm from the south and east

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Deploy between farm and hill

Severoli changes corps orders to “Hold Farm”

Artillery fire on Spanish artillery (total 10 – 1 casualty)

Also overshoot on infantry directly behind artillery (total 6 – no casualty)

Spanish gunners test morale for casualty (total 3 – pass test)

7^th brigade form line

Garrison skirmish with nearest enemy (total 3 – no casualty)

3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage Enemy

Artillery fire at close range of farm (total 3 – no casualty)

10^th brigade move 6” to east of farm

9^th brigade move 4” towards farm and forum column of attack

Artillery manhandle 2” out of close range of enemy guns

11^th brigade move 6” towards farm

9^th brigade skirmish with garrison (total 5 – no casualty)

4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage Enemy

Artillery manhandle 2” towards enemy

13^th brigade move to edge of town

15^th brigade (square) advance 2” towards enemy

14^th brigade advance 2” and form square

16^th brigade form column of march and move 8”  (double move) on to hill

O’Donnell is moving his corps forwards in square because of enemy ca

He has sent his guerilla brigade onto the hill to outflank the cavalry

He is trying to force the cavalry to retire so that he can support 3^rd corps attack

Game Notes

3^rd Spanish corps artillery have received the first casualties of the game.   This is quite serious because it will reduce their fire effectiveness, their morale and their brigade command points.  

The Spanish have B class gunners, the same as the Italians.  But their 6 pounder guns have less effective range than the Italian 9 pounders.

Rosche has ordered his gunners to retire a short distance to take them out of close range of the enemy gunners, but they still remain within close range of the farm.

Rule 7 deals with artillery firing.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 8

1500-1600 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 8

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps prepares to advance north of Torrente

Right – Italian corps is changing their deployment to meet 3^rd Spanish flank move

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps move to their right to attack farm from the south

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Deploy between farm and hill

Artillery unlimber

Cavalry turn right and form line

6^th brigade turn right and form line

Severoli moves to centre of corps

7^th brigade forms column of attack

Severoli has completed his redeployment

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – move to north of Torrente

Change orders to “Engage Enemy”

16^th brigade advance 8”

15^th brigade (in square) advance 2”

Artillery manhandle forwards 2”

14^th brigade advance 4”

13^th brigade prepare to move out of town

O’Donnell advances with caution

3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Move to east of Farm

Change orders to “Engage Enemy”

Artillery fire on farm (total 4 – no casualties)

Artillery manhandle 2” towards farm

10^th brigade advance 6” towards farm

9^th brigade advance 8” towards farm

Rosche moves to centre of corps

11^th brigade advance 6” towards farm

10^th brigade skirmish with farm (total 1 – no casualties)

Game Notes

Both Spanish commanders have changed their orders to Engage, the attack has begun.   The choice of orders is shown in Wargame Rule 3

 Severoli is aware that if he waits for both Spanish corps to attack he will be strongly outnumbered.  He has decided to engage 3^rd corps and hope to defeat them before 4^th corps can attack him.    He has left his cavalry brigade on his right flank to slow 4^th corps advance

 Rosche is aware that he must attack in support of Rosche.  But faced with the Italian cavalry, and without any of his own to counter them, he must advance with great caution.   He is moving his artillery forward protected by an infantry square to take them within range of the cavalry.  He will then hope to inflict casualties or cause them to withdraw.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 7

1400-1500 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 7

 

 

The table has been changed again due to the Spanish flank move

Three squares have been taken from the left and three added to the right

Squares A1, B1 an C1 have been replaced by B4, B4 and C4

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps prepare to advance north of Torrente

Right – Italian corps is changing their deployment to meet 3^rd Spanish flank move

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps move to their right to attack farm from the south

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – move to north of Torrente

Enemy are out of artillery range

Artillery manhandle 2” towards enemy

13^th brigade form garrison of town

14^th brigade advance 6”

15^th brigade advance 2” in square

16^th brigade advance 12” (double move) and form line

General moves to centre of corps

O’Donnell is ready to advance but wants to inflict casualties on enemy cavalry first

  3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Move to east of Farm

Artillery fire on farm (total 4 – no casualties)

9^th brigade turn right and advance 4”

10^th brigade advance 4” and form column of attack

General moves to centre of corps

11^th brigade advance 6”

Artillery manhandle 2” towards farm

Rosche has moved his artillery within close range of farm

He wants to inflict casualties on the garrison before he risks an attack

16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Deploy between farm and hill

Artillery limber and move 4” towards enemy

7^th brigade form column of march and retreat 4”

6^th brigade turn left and move 6” towards farm

General moves to command range of cavalry

Cavalry turn left ready to move towards farm

Severoli is redeploying his corps nearer to the farm

He is moving one brigade to the left to counter 3^rd Spanish corps

Game Notes

Severoli is redeploying his corps to defend south and west of the farm

This is to counter 3^rd Spanish corps attempt to move south of the farm

Time is running out for the Spanish as they try to find a weak spot to attack

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 6

1300-1400 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 6

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps move to the north of Torrente

Right – Italian corps in position between the farm and northern hill

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps Halt facing the farm

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – move to north of Torrente

15^th brigade advance 12” (double move) and form square to protect artillery

Artillery manhandle 2” towards enemy

14^th brigade advance 6”

16^th brigade advance 8”

Commandeer moves to centre of corps

O’Donnell has completed his redeployment north of Torrente

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Deploy between farm and hill

Artillery fire on enemy artillery (total 6 – no casualties)

8^th brigade occupy farm

6^th and 7^th brigades about turn and retire 2”

Severoli is moving his battle line back out of artillery range

Not sufficient CP to withdraw cavalry

3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

6 Command Points

Orders – Move to farm

Artillery fire on farm (total 7 – no casualties)

Rosche changes orders to “Move to east of Farm”

11^th brigade advance 6”

10^th brigade turn right and advance 4”

Rosche is moving his corps to the right to outflank farm

Game Notes

Neither Spanish commander is prepared to commit to a frontal attack, and with good reason.   The Spanish are mostly poor quality troops, and any casualties to enemy artillery might well cause the whole corps to rout before they could get within range.

By moving to his right Rosche hopes to be able to attack the farm with superior numbers, and without being exposed to the enemy artillery.   He also hopes to force Severoli to move some of his corps to counter the move, leaving less to face O’Donnell when he attacks.

Severoli is quite happy for the Spanish to waste time redeploying.   Each move is one closer to nightfall when he can retreat towards Lerida.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 5

1200-1300 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 5

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps move to the north of Torrente

Right – Italian corps take up position between the farm and northern hill

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps advancing towards the farm

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Deploy between farm and hill

Artillery fire on Spanish infantry (total 10 – 1 casualty - but out of range by 1”)

6^th brigade about turn and form line

Cavalry form line

Severoli moves within command range (8”) of farm

8^th brigade move into farm

Redeployment almost complete

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – move to north of Torrente

16^th brigade move 16” (double move)

14^th brigade form column of attack from square and advance 6”

Commander moves to centre of corps

13^th brigade move into town

O’Donnell has now concentrated his corps ready to advance north of the town

3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

7 Command Points

Orders – Move to farm

Artillery fire on Italian infantry (total 7 – no casualty)

Rosche changes corps orders to Halt

9^th brigade retire 3” facing enemy 

Game Notes

The rules do not allow us to measure ranges, so we have to fire and then measure to confirm if in range.   Italian artillery had scored a hit, but when measured were 17” from target – just 1” out of range.

Although the Spanish guns are only 6 pounders, they are just within range of the nearest Italian brigade.   Severoli will have to consider withdrawing this brigade out of range.

Rosche has halted his 3^rd corps out of artillery range to wait for 4^th corps to begin their advance.   This will also give him the opportunity to move around the left flank of the Italians rather than attack into the enemy artillery.   There are seven more moves, so plenty of time to launch the final attack.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 4

1100-1200 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 4

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps move to the north of Torrente

Right – Italian corps take up position between the farm and northern hill

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps advancing towards the farm

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – move to north of Torrente

13^th brigade enter the town

Artillery move 16” (double move) and unlimber

15^th brigade move 12” (double move) to support the artillery

16^th guerrilla move 8” towards the town

O’Donnell concentrates on moving his artillery into position

He takes advantage of being more than 16” from the enemy to take multiple moves

He does not have sufficient CP to move all of his infantry

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

6 Command Points
Orders – Deploy between farm and hill

8^th brigade moves into farm
Artillery unlimber facing 3^rd Spanish corps

7^th brigade form line between farm and artillery
Severoli moves to centre of corps
Cavalry about turn to face 4^th Spanish corps
Severoli had a poor dice throw for his CP
He concentrates on his left flank as 3^rd Spanish are nearer
His artillery and the farm should hold his left flank
His cavalry are moving into position to hold his right flank
Then he has to hold this position until nightfall

3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Move to farm

Artillery move 4” and unlimber
9^th, 10^th and 11^th  brigades all advance 6” towards farm

Commander moves to centre of corps
Rosche has rolled well for his CP
But he is unable to use them all because he is too close to the enemy for multiple moves

Game Notes

The new rules are working well so far.

The two poor corps commanders have had low dice for their CP, and have had to decide which brigades they want to move most

The CP for brigade movement is also working well.   So far all brigades have had sufficient to do everything they want to.  But this will change when the two armies are in combat, and brigades are required to move and skirmish or fire.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 3

1000-1100 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 3

The Italian retreat has moved the centre of the battle to the north

Three squares have been removed at the bottom, and three added to the top

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps enter Torrente and deploy to the south

Centre – Italian corps are deploying between the farm and the northern hill

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps advancing towards the farm

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points
Orders – move to Lerida road

Severoli has chosen to defend between the farm and the northern hill

He changes his orders to “deploy between the farm and the hill”

7^th brigade move 8” to form left of line

8^th brigade move 8” to occupy farm

6^th brigade move8” to form right of line

Artillery move 8” to form centre of line

Cavalry brigade move 16”to form extreme left flank

By moving first Severoli signals his new defence line to the Spanish

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – move to Torrente

The Italian redeployment is obvious to O’Donnell
He issues new orders “move to north of Torrente”
16^th guerrilla brigade move 8” (double move) off hill towards main corps
Artillery limber and move 8” towards north of town
Commander moves to centre of corps
It will take a little time for O’Donnell to redeploy north of town

3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

6 Command Points
Orders – Move to farm

The Italian redeployment does not make any difference to Rosche

His corps is already under orders to move towards the farm

Artillery advance 8"

11^th brigade form column of attack from square and advance 8”

10^th brigade advance 8”

9^th brigade advance 16” (two CP)

Rosche moves to centre of corps

Game Notes

The guerrillas require two moves to move off the hill into the valley. 

This is because movement on hills is at half normal rate

Rule 5 covers movement in difficult terrain

It takes 3 CP for a Poor commander to change his corps orders, but only 2CP for an Average commander.
Rule 2 covers change of corps orders

The Spanish can have multiple moves because the Italian’s are now more than 16” away.
Rule 3 covers multiple moves

The Italian retreat has taken them to the northern edge of the table. 

The subsequent advance of 3^rd Spanish corps has taken them into the centre squares
As a result the top bottom three squares have been removed
The remainder have been moved down
Three new squares have been added to the top

The new squares are A1, A2 and A3 on the tactical map

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 2

0900-1000 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 2

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps approach Torrente

Centre – Italian cavalry cover corps withdrawal

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps follow Italian retreat

  4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – move to Torrente

O’Donnell orders his 13^th brigade to enter the town

His artillery are out of range and man handle the guns towards the enemy

14^th brigade form square to protect the gunners

15^th brigade advance towards the town

O’Donnell then moves to command range of the guerrilla brigade and orders them to abandon their ambush position and rejoin the main corps

He is delighted to find that the Italians have abandoned their supply depot in Torrente

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – move to Lerida road

Severoli has managed to break contact with both Spanish corps.

However he must now establish a defence position until nightfall

He orders 7^th brigade to move to the farm and occupy it

The other two brigades, and the corps artillery, will deploy to the right of the farm

His cavalry have completed their task of covering the withdrawal

He orders them to take position on the right of the new line

He is pleased that the withdrawal has been completed without any casualties

3^rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

7 Command Points

Orders – Move to farm

Rosche must follow the Italian’s as quickly as possible

He is also aware of the threat from the enemy cavalry

He orders his artillery to take post on the right, opposite the farm

11^th brigade form square to the right of the gunners to protect them

9^th and 10^th brigade advance to the left of the artillery
Rosche is pleased to see the enemy cavalry withdraw
It is difficult to advance against cavalry with poor quality infantry.

Game Notes

The new Command Points are working well

All three commanders have sufficient CP to move their corps as required.

All brigades have sufficient CP to carry out their orders, at least until they start to receive casualties.

Being a wargame the Italian corps could easily continue to retreat and avoid battle.   However this would be unfair to the Spanish.  To give the Spanish a chance to bring their superior numbers to bear the Italian’s will have to hold the farm until nightfall (10 more game moves

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Torrente – Move 1

0800-0900 10 August 1813

   Table at the start of move 1

Top left – 4^th Spanish corps move towards Torrente

Centre – 16^th Italian corps withdraw to concentrate top right

Bottom – 3^rd Spanish corps deployed to cover Flix (off table)

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli (Poor)

9 Command Points

Orders – move to Lerida road

Severoli is fortunate that he moves first.  
He has sufficient command points to move all of his widely spread brigades

First he orders his main body to move towards the main road

He then moves within command range (8”) of the brigades at Torrente

He orders the infantry to retire east and the cavalry to delay 3^rd Spanish corps

The cavalry move south of the town and deploy in line facing 3^rd Spanish corps

Severoli has done well to move his corps out of danger

 4^th Spanish corps

General O’Donnell (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders– move to Torrente

O’Donnell expected to have to fight to take Torrente

He is advancing in column of attack, which is slower than column of march

He is also concerned that the Italian cavalry might turn on his infantry

He orders one brigade to occupy the town

His artillery move to the south and unlimber to engage the enemy cavalry

His second brigade moves to support the guns

He has too few CP to move within command range of his guerrilla brigade

O’Donnell has failed to prevent the enemy withdrawing safely

3rd Spanish corps

General Rosche (Average)

7 Command Points

Orders – Hold Flix road

Rosche is one of the best Spanish commanders

But he was not very lucky with his CP roll

He was not expecting the Italians to retreat and is badly deployed

Because the enemy moved first his artillery are out of range

First he must order his corps to advance in pursuit

He changes his orders to Move (towards retreating enemy)

First he orders his two brigades in line to form column of attack

His artillery limber and advance

His three infantry brigades advance with the artillery

Rosche is disappointed that he has been unable to fire on the enemy

Game Notes

All three corps have been able to take multiple moves because they are more than 16” from the enemy

 Rule 7 refers

16^th Italian corps has two widely spread sections, and the commander has had to move to be within command range (8”) to issue orders to both sections.   Rule 3 refers

All three corps have had sufficient CP for both the commander and each brigade, because none have yet suffered any casualties   New Rule refers

They have also taken advantage of corps moves to make maximum use of available CP to move closer to the enemy.   Rule 3 refers

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/