Battle of Tortosa – Move 8

1900-2000 10 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 8

Left – Spanish in position to hold the bridge

Right – French advancing but still out of musket range

  1st Spanish corps

General del Parque (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Hold bridge

Artillery fire on 22^nd French (total 3 – no casualties)

4^th infantry retreat 8” onto bridge

1^st infantry move 2” to left in square to protect cavalry

Artillery manhandle 2” back towards bridge

3^rd infantry test morale for shaken (total 3 – pass become disordered)

  17^th French corps

General Halbert (Average)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage enemy

Artillery fire on Spanish gunners (total 5 – no casualties)

22^nd 23^rd and 24^th infantry advance 6”

Halbert moves to centre of corps

Artillery manhandle 2” forward

24^th infantry skirmish with 1^st Spanish (total 6 – one casualty)

1^st Spanish test morale for first casualty (total 3 – pass remain formed)

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)

5 Command Points

Moves to join Halbert

Change corps orders to Hold

Game Notes

Del Parque has managed to withdraw his corps to the bridge

He has suffered light casualties, but all of his brigades have held their morale

Halbert has pushed the Spanish back to the bridge

Night has robbed him of the opportunity to press home his attack

He has inflicted light casualties on the enemy, and received none himself

He is well placed to attack again at first light

Suchet has ordered Halbert to halt and hold his position

He is not prepared to risk casualties so late in the day

He is confident of victory if the Spanish do not retreat over night.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Table at end of game

Left      –   Spanish infantry in position in front of bridge

                 Spanish cavalry in reserve protected by square

                 Shaken infantry on bridge have rallied

Right    –   French infantry brigade skirmish with Spanish square

                 French cavalry unable to advance due to enemy square

                 Remainder of French corps have halted out of musket range

Game Result

17^th French corps have not had sufficient time to close with the enemy

They have achieved a victory of sorts by driving the Spanish back to the bridge

They have not received any casualties during the battle.

1^st Spanish corps have managed to hold the bridge

By a timely retreat they have avoided a major battle and probable defeat

They have suffered 2 infantry and one cavalry casualty

At nightfall all of their brigades are formed

This was an indecisive French victory