Campaign Move 16

0800 to 1200 12 August 1813

The appearance of the British just south of the town has not caused Harispe to alter the deployment of 8^th French corps.   He has two infantry brigades facing 2^nd Spanish across the river Ebro.  The remaining two infantry brigades, plus the corps artillery, are deployed to the south of the town facing the British.   His cavalry brigade is on his left flank protecting the Cambrils road

Despite no reply from 2^nd Spanish corps Murray orders his corps to advance and engage Miravat.  

He orders his cavalry to engage the enemy cavalry.   This is a bold opening move.  If the British cavalry lose the melee it could halt the whole attack.   However they break the French lancers, who fall back in disorder.

The two French infantry brigades now form square, to prevent the British cavalry taking the Cambrils road.   Harispe orders a third brigade to move to his left flank to protect his line of retreat to Cambrils.   This leaves just one infantry brigade to prevent the Spanish crossing the river.

Murray orders two of his infantry brigades to support the cavalry, and the remainder to threaten the weak garrison of Miravat.

Throughout this period the Spanish stand and watch the proceedings.   He has suffered heavy casualties in the recent battle, and wants to rest his corps to recover before advancing to tackle the French again.

He is also aware that Copons, the Spanish CinC, is due to arrive shortly, and would prefer to let him take the decision whether to risk an attack or not.

Second Miravat – Move 8

1500-1600 12 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 8

Top Left – Spanish have received orders to advance and engage Miravat

Top Centre – French left have broken and routed, only two brigades remain on right flank

Bottom Centre – British cavalry start pursuit, infantry close on Miravat

Captain General Copons

4 Command Points

No orders

  8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

7 Command Points

Orders – Retreat

31^st brigade enter Miravat

29^th brigade retreat 2”

29^th brigade skirmish 6^th British (total 4 – no casualties)

Test morale for routed brigades

Cavalry (total minus 1 – fail and continue to rout)

32^nd brigade (total minus 4 – fail and continue to rout)

21^st brigade (total minus 2 – fail and continue to rout)

30^th brigade (total minus 2 – fail and continue to rout)

Gunners (total 0 – fail and continue to rout)

  2^nd Spanish corps

General Elio (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th brigades form column of march to cross bridge

Artillery limber guns

Cavalry advance 16” towards Miravat

7^th and 8^th brigade advance 8” towards Miravat

Artillery advance 4” towards bridge

  5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

10 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

Cavalry advance 12” after routed enemy

7^th brigade advance 6” in support of cavalry

5^th brigade advance 4” towards Miravat

Murray moves to centre of corps

Artillery advance 8”

6^th and 8^th brigades advance and exchange volley fire with 29^th French

British infantry test for result (total 9 – British win)

French infantry 3 casualties and rout

British infantry 1 casualty and halt

 31^st French (in Miravat) test morale for rout within 4” (total minus 2 – fail and rout)

 Game Notes

The game ends with the entire French corps in rout

There are no French cavalry to cover the retreat, and there are both British and Spanish cavalry in position to pursue.   So it was felt that each allied cavalry brigade would forces the nearest French brigade to surrender during the pursuit before nightfall

British dragoons capture the French gunners

Spanish lancers capture 29^th infantry brigade

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Table at end of game

Left – Spanish cavalry moving to cut off nearest French brigade

Top Centre – French left have broken and routed

Bottom Centre – British cavalry moving to cut off French gunners

Game Result

8^th French corps have suffered the most comprehensive defeat of the campaign.

They have lost 10 infantry and 2 cavalry and have abandoned their guns

Every single brigade is in rout

They have also routed north and away from their lines of supply

The British have lost 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualty

The Spanish have not lost any casualties during the battle

The allied cavalry will continue the pursuit until nightfall, and will take 8 more infantry and 4 gunners prisoner

Second Miravat – Move 7

1400-1500 12 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 7

Top Left – Spanish remain watching the battle from the left bank of the river Ebro

Top Centre – French cavalry routed again, infantry forced to form square

Bottom Centre – British infantry skirmish with French squares

  5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

9 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

Murray moves to left flank

6^th brigade advance 3” and form line

8^th brigade advance 6”

Artillery limber guns

Murray moves to right flank

7^th brigade advance 6”

Cavalry charge 32^nd French in shaken square (combat total 10)

French three casualties and rout

Cavalry test morale to pursue (total 6 – pursue)

Cavalry test who to charge (total 3 – charge nearest enemy)

Cavalry charge French gunners (total 1 – no casualties)

5^th brigade firefight with 30^th French (in square) (total 11)

British one casualty

French three casualties and rout

21^st French test morale for rout within 4” (total 0 – fail and rout)

  8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

5 Command Points

Orders – Hold Miravat

Harispe changes orders to “Retreat”

Harispe moves to left flank

31^st brigade about turn and move to enter Miravat

Test morale for routed brigades:

Cavalry (total minus 4 – fail and continue rout)

32^nd brigade (total minus 4 – fail and continue rout)

21^st brigade (total minus 2 – fail and continue rout)

30^th brigade (6 casualties is a permanent rout)

2^nd Spanish corps

General Elio (Poor)

10 Command Points

Orders – Hold bridge

Waiting for new orders from CinC

Captain General Copons

 5 Command Points

Arrives on the battlefield and joins 2^nd corps

Changes their orders to “Engage Miravat”

Game Notes

Copons arrived after 2^nd corps had moved, so his orders to Engage will not be effective until next move.

When cavalry rout enemy they test to see if they pursue. 

If they have to pursue, they again test to see which enemy they will charge/pursue.

Rule 12 covers infantry firefight

Rule 15 covers cavalry v infantry combat

Rule 17 covers reaction to rout

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Miravat – Move 6

1300-1400 12 August 1813

Table at the start of move 6

Top Left – Spanish remain watching the battle from the left bank of the river Ebro

Top Centre – French cavalry move forward to support left flank

Bottom Centre – British infantry skirmish with French left flank

8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

12 Command Points

Orders – Hold Miravat

21^st brigade move out of town on Cambrils road

30^th and 32^nd brigades retreat 2” in square

Cavalry advance 4” to protect Cambrils road

Harispe moves to right flank

29^th and 31^st brigades retreat 3” in line facing enemy

Harispe returns to left flank

30^th brigade test morale for being shaken (total 3 – pass test become disordered)

5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

6^th and 8^th brigades advance 6” towards town

Murray moves to centre of corps

5^th brigade advance 3” and form line

Dragoons charge lancers

Lancers test to counter charge (total 1 – fail and accept charge at halt)

Dragoons win combat test and roll for effect (total 12)

Lancers receive another casualty and rout

32^nd French test morale for rout within 4” (total 1 – fail become shaken)

Dragoons test to pursue (total 1 – fail remain stationary and disordered)

Game Notes

Harispe accepts that he has lost the battle and orders a withdrawal along the Cambrils road.    To do so he will have to hold the road, and he moves his lancers forward to do so.
 

British dragoons again charge the lancers, and again win the melee.   Lancers rout

British infantry advance to musket range of French square and deploy into line ready to fire a volley next turn

The table will have to be extended to the north next move to bring the centre of the battle into the middle of the table.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Miravat – Move 5

1200-1300 12 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 5

Top Left – 2^nd Spanish corps hold left of the river Ebro

Top Centre – 8^th French corps have rallied their cavalry behind infantry squares

Bottom Centre – British cavalry have moved within charge range of enemy artillery

  8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

12 Command Points

Orders – Hold Miravat

British cavalry declare opportunity charge on French gunners (total 4 – pass and charge)

Gunners test morale to evade to nearby square (total 6 – pass and evade)

British cavalry quarter distance (4”) and halt

Lancers move around infantry to face British cavalry flank

21^st brigade move to edge of town

32^nd brigade retreat out of lancers line of charge

Harispe moves to centre of corps

30^th brigade move in square 2” towards British cavalry

30^th brigade fire on cavalry (total 4 – no casualties)

  5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

9 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

French lancers declare opportunity charge on British cavalry (total 2 – fail to charge)

Artillery fire on 30^th French (square with gunners inside) (total 9 – one casualty)

30^th French test morale for second casualty (total 2 – fail and shaken)

British cavalry turn to face French lancers

5^th and 7^th brigades advance 6”

Murray moves to centre of corps

6^th and 8^th brigades advance 6”

5^th brigade skirmish 30^th French (total 7 – one casualty)

30^th French test morale for third casualty (total 2 – fail and remain shaken)

French lancers fail to charge flank of British cavalry

In certain circumstances cavalry can declare an opportunity charge at the start of the enemy turn.  They do not need orders to do so, but they do need to pass a morale test.

During this game the British cavalry were able to charge the flank of the enemy gunners.   They passed their test and charged. 

The gunners passed their test to evade and ran to the nearby square.   The cavalry have to complete one third of their charge and then halt.

In doing so they exposed their right flank to the French lancers.

They declared an opportunity charge at the start of the British move

They failed their morale test and were unable to opportunity charge.

Rule 6 deals with opportunity charges

Game Notes

2^nd Spanish corps have received orders to hold west end of bridge and cannot join the attack on Miravat.

30^th French infantry brigade have survived two morale tests in one move

They received artillery casualties and passed their morale test

They then received infantry skirmish casualties and again passed their morale test.

Had they broken and routed, the gunners inside the square would also have routed.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Miravat – Move 4

1100-1200 12 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 4

Top Left – 2^nd Spanish corps hold left of the river Ebro

Top Centre – 8^th French corps have moved the squares nearer to the road

Bottom Centre – British cavalry pin the enemy left flank

  8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

12 Command Points

Orders – Hold Miravat

Artillery fire on 6^th British (total 7 – no casualties)

Artillery manhandle 2” back towards town

Harispe moves to centre of corps

21^st brigade prepare to vacate Miravat

29^th brigade move 2” closer to town

Harispe moves to join lancer brigade

Lancers test morale for shaken (total 6 – pass test become disordered)

5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

Artillery fire on French gunners (total 10 – one casualty)

French gunners test morale for first casualty (total 3 – pass test remain formed)

Artillery manhandle 2” towards Miravat

Murray moves to command range (8”) of cavalry brigade

Cavalry advance 6” towards enemy gunners

5^th and 7^th brigades both advance 6” towards road

Game Notes

Murray has decided to press his attack on the French left flank without waiting to see what the Spanish will do.

His cavalry have advanced within charge range of the enemy gunners.   The retreat of the two French squares out of range of the British artillery has left the French gunners exposed to the cavalry

If the Spanish join the attack victory seems certain.

Harispe is withdrawing the weak garrison from Miravat and is about to replace them with a strong brigade, in order to hold off any Spanish advance.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Miravat - Move 3

1000-1100 12 August 1813

Table at the start of move 3

Top Left – 2^nd Spanish corps hold left of the river Ebro

Top Centre – 8^th French corps have just one brigade facing the Spanish

Bottom Centre – British cavalry have withdrawn but still threaten French left

  5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

9 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

Artillery fire on 30^th French (total 4 – no casualties)

Artillery manhandle 2” towards Miravat

Remainder of corps advance 6” towards town

6^th brigade test morale for shaken (total 5 – pass morale become disordered)

8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

10 Command Points

Orders – Hold Miravat

Artillery fire on 6^th British (total 5 – no casualties)

30^th brigade retreat 2” in square

Lancers test morale for rout (total 5 – pass test become shaken)

Game Notes

Murray is nearing Miravat and enters the most critical part of the attack

Although his cavalry have forced the enemy infantry into square, he is still weaker than the French corps.  
l

There is no direct communication between the British and the Spanish, so he does not know whether they will move to support him or not.

If they do, they are faced with a singe French brigade, and a convincing victory seems certain. 

If not the French may well hold and inflict a serious defeat on the British

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Miravat – Move 2

0900-1000 12 August 1813

Table at the start of move 2

Top Left – 2^nd Spanish corps hold left of the river Ebro

Top Centre – 8^th French corps strengthen their left flank

Bottom Centre – British cavalry threaten Cambrils road

5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage Miravat

Infantry advance and angle towards Cambrils road

Artillery advance and unlimber

Murray moves within command range of cavalry

British dragoons charge French lancers

Lancers test to counter charge (total 2 – pass and counter charge)

Dragoons have more combat factors, melee total 10

Dragoons disordered but no casualties

Lancers rout with one casualty

30^th French test morale for rout within 2” (total 2 – fail and are shaken)

Dragoons test morale to pursue (total 4 – pursue)

Dragoons test for effect of pursuit (total 4 – charge nearest enemy)

Dragoons charge shaken infantry square

Infantry have more combat factors, melee total 6

Infantry have one casualty and are already shaken

Dragoons have one casualty, are disordered and retire 8”

8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Hold Miravat

Artillery fire on 6^th British (total 10 one hit)

6^th British test morale for first casualty (total 2, fail and are shaken)

32^nd brigade advance and form square

Harispe moves within command range of cavalry

Cavalry retire behind 32^nd brigade square

Harispe moves to join shaken 30^th brigade

30^th brigade test morale for shaken (total 7 – pass and become disordered)

Cavalry test morale for rout (total 2 – fail and remain in rout)

Game Notes

Murray has taken a chance in ordering his dragoons to charge the lancers

Despite winning the melee, he then lost morale and had to pursue

The next dice throw decided that he must charge the nearest enemy

Fortunately this was a shaken square

The infantry won the melee and the dragoons were forced to withdraw

Harispe has not been so lucky

He has lost the cavalry melee and failed to rally his lancers

He has however rallied his shaken infantry square

He has also caused one casualty on the British infantry

Rule 7 covers artillery fire

Rule 14 covers cavalry v cavalry combat

Rule 17 covers reaction to rout

Rule 18 covers morale test

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/ 

Second Miravat – Move 1

0800-0900 12 August 1813

  Table at the start of move 1

 Top Left – 2^nd Spanish corps hold left of the river Ebro

Top Centre – 8^th French corps hold Miravat

Bottom Centre – 5^th British corps approach Miravat

  5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

9 Command Points

Orders – Move to Miravat

Cavalry advance 12” towards French left

Remainder of corps advance 6” towards Miravat

Murray changes orders to “Engage”

 

8^th French corps

General Harispe (Average)

11 Command Points

Orders – Hold Miravat

Artillery fire on 6^th British brigade – out of range

30^th brigade form square

32^nd brigade about turn and move behind town to left flank

30^th brigade retire 2” facing Spanish

Game Notes

Murray is aware that the French will want to protect their left flank, the road to Cambrils.   He sends his cavalry forward to threaten the road

The remainder of his corps advance towards Miravat

Harispe has placed his cavalry on his left to protect his line of retreat to Cambrils

As the British cavalry move to threaten the road, he orders his infantry to form square

He also moves one of his brigades from his right to his left flank

Artillery are not allowed to measure the distance to the target

If there are sufficient CP it is normal to fire once to establish the range

The artillery also have an angle of fire.

The British cavalry have advanced and are outside of that angle.

The French infantry are more than 16” from the nearest enemy, so they can have multiple moves.  This has allowed one brigade to take four moves to change from the right to the left flank.

Rule 7 covers artillery fire

Rule 5 covers multiple and normal movement

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Miravat – Set Up

Strategic Map at 0800 12 August 1813

 

Campaign Background

8^th French corps have forced 2^nd Spanish corps to retreat west of the river Ebro, and have raised the siege of Miravat.   In doing so they suffered light casualties and halt at Miravat to recover and ensure that the Spanish do not move east of the river.

5^th British corps have advanced north from Amposta and deployed on the north bank of the river Ebro, within strike distance of Miravat.  The French decline the opportunity to retreat to Cambrils, and after a short delay the British attack them.

2^nd Spanish corps have orders to hold the west bank of the river Ebro, and to retreat if the French advance.  Therefore they are not part of the battle, and will only advance if they receive orders to do so from the campaign corps commander

 Tactical Map at 0800 12 August 1813

The battle will take place in the nine squares outlined in white.  

On the left general Elio has orders to hold the left bank of the river.

On the right general Harispe is deployed in and around Miravat. 

21^st brigade of 17^th corps, the garrison of Miravat, is under command

5^th British corps are deployed north of the river, with their cavalry brigade in advance

Wargames table at start of battle

Miravat is the town in top centre

2^nd Spanish corps is left of the river top left

5^th British corps is advancing bottom centre

8th French corps

 8^th corps is deployed above and to the right of the town and are on Hold orders

Miravat is held by 21^st brigade, who have three casualties

5^th British corps 

Deployed north of the river Ebro and  on Move orders

Corps advance in column of attack behind their cavalry screen

 

2^nd Spanish corps

Deployed behind the river Ebro and on Hold orders

They have five battle casualties and are on Hold orders

 

Special Rules

2^nd Spanish corps will not take part in the battle unless they receive campaign orders to do so.   The earliest this could happen would be at the start of move 5.

We are play testing new rules for command and control.

Each commander rolls an average dice and adds the number of brigades under command

The wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleoniccampaignrules.blogspot.com/

The latest entry is a draft of the new rules

Campaign Move 15

 

 1600 to 2000 11 August 1813

General Murray orders his 5^th British corps to cross the river Ebro just north of Amposta.  

Although 8^th French corps are in nearby Miravat, general Harispe makes no attempt to prevent this advance. 

General Elio is just west of Miravat, holding the approach to Gandesa.   His 2^nd Spanish corps have suffered heavy casualties in the recent battle, and he is not anxious to try his luck again against the French.

Elio and Murray have exchanged much correspondence in an attempt to coordinate an attack on Miravat.   First light will determine how effective there plans are.  

Much depends on the assistance 5^th British corps can give to the Spanish effort.   Murray’s bold move has placed him in a dangerous position should Elio fail to support him.

On the other hand Harispe is also in an exposed position, and a very vulnerable one should the two allied corps coordinate an attack on Miravat.

Campaign Move 14

 1200-1600 11 August 1813

There has been a distinct lull in the campaign as both sides attempt to recover from the recent fighting.

Those corps who lost their battle have had to avoid any contact with the enemy throughout the day. 

Those corps who won, but have suffered casualties, also have to avoid the enemy and remain stationary in order to start to replace those casualties

Only in the north has there been any offensive movement.   4^th Spanish corps, who did not play any active part in the battle of Torrente, had pursued 16^th Italian corps, who lost heavy casualties in the battle.

Campaign Move 13

0800-1200 11 August 1813

The three battles fought yesterday have had a striking effect on all seven corps involved.

In the north 16^th Italian corps has managed to withdraw from Torrente, but have left one of their brigades surrounded at Mora.  

3^rd and 4^th Spanish corps must now decide how best to take advantage of this withdrawal.  

In the centre 8^th French corps has forced 2^nd Spanish corps to abandon their siege of Miravat and rescued 21^st infantry brigade.  

In the south 17^th French corps have reached Tortosa just in time to prevent its capture by 1^st Spanish corps.  The Spanish have retreated west of the river to Amposta.   5^th British corps is approaching Amposta and will soon be available to support the Spanish.

7^th French corps is on the march from Barcelona to join the main French army.