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/