Battle of Cambrils - Move 5

1200-1300 14 August 1813

  table at start of move 5

 Top – French are deployed to hold the Mora road

Bottom – British have halted to await reinforcements

  17^th French corps

General Halbert (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Engage British

Artillery fire on gunners (total 7 – no casualties)

Gunners manhandle guns 2” towards enemy

22^nd and 24^th brigades advance 6”

Commander moves to command range of 23^rd brigade

23^rd brigade advance 6” towards hill

  16^th Italian corps

General Severoli

6 Command Points

Orders – Avoid contact with the enemy

Arrive on table and move towards Cambrils.

All brigades have heavy casualties and must avoid the enemy until nightfall

  7^th French corps

General Munsier (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Move to right of hill

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

26^th brigade advanced 8” and form column of attack

25^th brigade retire 2” facing enemy (back from edge of hill)

Commander changes orders to “Halt”

  2^nd Spanish corps

General Elio (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Move to Cambrils

Commander changes orders to “Halt”

6^th brigade advance 6” and form square

5^th brigade retreat 3” facing enemy

Artillery limber and move 4” to right flank

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)

8 Command Points

Move to join 7^thcorps

Change corps orders to “Hold”

Move to join 17^thcorps

Change corps orders to “Withdraw to Cambrils

  5^th British corps

General Murray (Poor)

10 Command Points

Orders – Hold

Artillery fire on 22^nd French (total 5 – no casualties)

Spanish cavalry about turn to face enemy

British cavalry retreat 6” facing enemy

8^th brigade turn right and move towards hill

6^th brigade form column of attack and move towards hill

Game Notes

Both the Spanish and British corps have halted and taken up a defensive position to support each other and await reinforcements.

Suchet has decided that it would be too dangerous to advance further west to attack the British, and thus leave Cambrils undefended.

He has ordered 7^th corps to cover 16^th corps retreat to Cambrils, and 17^th corps to withdraw to Cambrils.

All three of his corps commanders are now at Cambrils, and he has called a meeting to decide whether to make a last stand at Cambrils or to abandon Tortosa and retreat to Reus

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

table at end of game

The British and Spanish corps have withdrawn to the left side of table

16th Italian corps approach Cambrils

7^th French corps hold Mora road

17^th French corps are about to retreat towards Cambrils

Game Result

Spanish and British halted as soon as they realised they were facing two French corps  to await reinforcements

French are expecting Spanish reinforcements from Mora and Tortosa and are not prepared to move any further west to attack British corps.

Only artillery fire exchanged and no casualties

Result – a  draw