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/