Monday, April 30, 2012

Campaign Move 24


1600 to 2000 14 August 1813

Marshal Suchet called a meeting of his three corps commanders to decide how to proceed with the campaign.
7th corps had now received their fourth brigade and are at full strength.    General Munsier recommends continue to attack

16th corps are starting to arrive at Cambrils.   They have suffered heavy casualties and will require some days rest and reinforcement to become operational   General Severoli recommends a retreat to Reus or even Tarragona.   He reports that 4th Spanish corps are in hot pursuit, but have battle casualties

17th corps are one brigade short.   General Halbert recommends continue to attack   He reports that he has lost contact with 1st Spanish corps


Suchet is aware that if he moves west to engage 2nd Spanish and 5th British corps he will have to leave Cambrils undefended and at the mercy of 4th Spanish corps.

He is confident that he can defeat two allied corps and probably hold Cambrils against 2nd and 4th Spanish corps plus 5th British corps.  But if 1st Spanish corps moves north from Tortosa he is likely to face destruction and the loss of northeast Spain to the allies.
Just before 2000 a report is received from 7th cavalry brigade to confirm that 1st Spanish corps has entered Tortosa and is moving north towards Cambrils.

Suchet orders an immediate retreat towards Reus.   16th corps will lead, followed by 7th corps.   17th corps will form the rearguard

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Campaign Move 23

1200 to 1600 14 August 1813


Marshal Suchet met with General Severoli as the Italian corps approached Cambrils.   It was all too apparent that the Italians would require two or three days rest and reinforcement before they could become operational again.
Worse still, Severoli confirmed that 4th Spanish corps was close behind in hot pursuit.
Suchet was aware that Cambrils was now in immediate danger.   7th corps could hold 2nd Spanish corps at bay, but only until 4th Spanish corps arrived on the Mora road.
In the circumstances it would be madness to press home his attack on 5th British corps well to the west of Cambrils.
He ordered 16th corps to continue their retreat through Cambrils and on to Reus through the night.
7th corps would hold their position until the Italians were clear of Cambrils.  They would then fall back on the town and hold it until nightfall.

17th corps would immediately break contact with 5th British corps and retreat to Cambrils.   They would send one of their cavalry brigades south to determine whether 1st Spanish corps were moving north from Tortosa.
He would hold Cambrils until nightfall and wait to receive his cavalry reports before deciding whether to abandon Cambrils and retreat to Reus.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Campaign Move 22


0800 to 1200 14 August 1813

When Captain-General Copons agreed with General Murray that 2nd Spanish corps would attack Cambrils with 5th British corps they both believed that they would be faced with only 7th French corps.
He had ordered 1st Spanish corps to pin 17th French corps at Tortosa, and if the French should move north they were to follow and attack them on the march.
He was not aware that 17th corps had broke contact with 1st corps and was already approaching Cambrils on the Tortosa road.
As 5th British corps approached Cambrils they were confronted by 7th corps in front of the town, and also by 17th corps approaching them from the south.   The latter was marching directly towards the British.
2nd Spanish corps were screened from view by the hills north of the hills north of the Miravat road.   It was last morning before the French brigade holding this high ground spotted them.
Marshal Suchet was now faced with a difficult decision.    16th Italian corps were approaching Cambrils on the Mora road.  They were in rout from the battle of the previous day, and if they were to be saved 7th corps would have to redeploy to halt 2nd Spanish corps and hold the road.
17th corps were well positioned to attack the British.   But to do so they would have to move further west, leaving Cambrils open to attack from the south.   Suchet had no intelligence to indicate what 1st Spanish corps were doing.   They might well be marching towards Cambrils from Tortosa.
If he ordered 17th corps to attack the British, and they failed, they would be in a very dangerous position.   If 1st Spanish then arrived at Cambrils at first light on 14 August 1813 it was likely that the entire French army would have to surrender of be destroyed.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

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

  17th 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
22nd and 24th brigades advance 6”
Commander moves to command range of 23rd brigade
23rd brigade advance 6” towards hill

  16th 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

  7th French corps

General Munsier (Average)
9 Command Points
Orders – Move to right of hill
Artillery fire on 5th Spanish (total 6 – no casualties)
26th brigade advanced 8” and form column of attack
25th brigade retire 2” facing enemy (back from edge of hill)
Commander changes orders to “Halt”

  2nd Spanish corps

General Elio (Poor)
8 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
Commander changes orders to “Halt”
6th brigade advance 6” and form square
5th brigade retreat 3” facing enemy
Artillery limber and move 4” to right flank

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)
8 Command Points
Move to join 7thcorps
Change corps orders to “Hold”
Move to join 17thcorps
Change corps orders to “Withdraw to Cambrils
  5th British corps
General Murray (Poor)
10 Command Points
Orders – Hold
Artillery fire on 22nd French (total 5 – no casualties)
Spanish cavalry about turn to face enemy
British cavalry retreat 6” facing enemy
8th brigade turn right and move towards hill
6th 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 7th corps to cover 16th corps retreat to Cambrils, and 17th 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
table at end of game

The British and Spanish corps have withdrawn to the left side of table
16th Italian corps approach Cambrils
7th French corps hold Mora road
17th 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

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Battle of Cambrils – Move 4

1100-1200 14 August 1813

  table at start of move 4
 
Top – French move to right to stop Spanish and defend Mora road
Bottom – French move towards British behind reinforced cavalry screen

  2nd Spanish corps

General Elio (Poor)
6 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
Artillery advance 4” and unlimber
6th, 7th and 8th brigades advance 6”
Commander moves to centre of corps

  5th British corps
General Murray (Poor)
10 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
Change orders to “Hold”
Artillery advance 2”
Spanish lancers about turn and retire 14”
5th and 7th brigades form square
British dragoons retire 6” facing enemy

Captain-General Copons (Poor)
3 Command Points
Move to join 2nd corps
(not enough CP to change their orders)

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)
6 Command Points
Move to 17th corps
Change orders to “Engage British”
Move to join 7th corps

  17th French corps
General Halbert (Average)
10 Command Points
Orders – Engage British
Artillery advance 2”
12th chasseurs advance 14”
7th dragoons advance 12”
23rd and 24th brigades form column of attack and advance 3”
22nd brigade advance 6”
Commander moves to centre of corps

7th French corps

General Munsier (Average)
7 Command Points
Orders – Move to right of hill
Commander moves to centre of corps
Artillery advance 4” and unlimber
27th brigade advance 4” and form column of attack
26th brigade advance 6”
Commander moves to centre of corps

Game Notes
Suchet has decided to hold his right flank and attach with his left.
7th corps are taking position to stop the Spanish advance, hold the Mora road and cover the retreat of 16th Italian corps.
 
 
17th corps have been given orders to engage the British.  The combined cavalry brigades  have been moved to the right flank, to prevent the Spanish moving to assist the British.  The remainder of the corps are advancing on the British
 
 
The Spanish CinC has twice failed to gain sufficient CP to change the orders of 2nd Spanish corps to halt!   Meanwhile the Spanish continue to advance towards the Mora road, and the waiting French.
 
 
Murray has reacted to the advance of 17th French corps by halting his corps and withdrawing his cavalry behind the infantry squares.  He is not  prepared to risk his horsemen against equal numbers of French cavalry.
 
 
Suchet must now defeat the British before Spanish reinforcements can arrive.   As 17th corps moves west to do so they leave Cambrils undefended.
 
 
Wargame rules can be found at

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Battle of Cambrils – Move 3

1000-1100 14 August 1813
 
  table at start of move 3

Top – Spanish corps advance screened from 7th French corps by the hills
Bottom – British surprised to find 17th Spanish corps approaching from Tortosa

  2nd Spanish corps
General Elio (Poor)
9 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
5th brigade advance 6”
Artillery advance 8”
6th and 8th brigades advance 8”
6th, 7th and 8th brigades form column of attack

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)
6 Command Points
Change 7th corps orders to “Move to right of hill”
Move to join and take command of 7th dragoons
Move with 7th dragoons to join 17th corps
Place 7th dragoons under command of 17th corps

  7th French corps
General Munsier (Average)
8 Command Points
Orders – Move to right of hill
25th brigade move to right edge of hill and spot 2nd Spanish corps
Artillery limber and move 16”
26th and 27th brigades turn right and advance 8”

  17th French corps
General Halbert (Average)
11 Command Points
Orders – Move towards British
Assume command of 7th dragoons
Artillery advance 7” and unlimber
24th brigade advance 12” and form square
22nd brigade advance 16” and form column of attack
23rd brigade (in square) advance 2”

5th British corps

General Murray (Poor)
9 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
5th brigade form column of attack and advance 6”
6th brigade advance 8” and form square
7th and 8th brigade advance 8” and form column of attack
Commander moves to centre of corps

Captain-General Copons (Poor)
3 Command Points
Move to join 2nd corps
(not enough CP to change their orders)

Game Notes
Both sides have again made use of multiple moves to deploy.
Multiple moves are allowed providing there is no enemy within 16”
Rule 5 covers movement

Marshal Suchet has moved 5th dragoons from 7th to 17th corps
This is so that 17th corps can match the combined Spanish and British cavalry brigades facing them

Suchet has also ordered 7th corps to move to the right of the hill.  
This is to protect the Mora road, as 16th corps are now approaching Cambrils

 Both the British and Spanish commanders thought that they would only have to face 7th French corps.   They were not expecting 17th French corps to arrive from Tortosa.

 17th French corps arrived with campaign orders to move towards the farm, which is directly towards the British.

Suchet is aware that 1st Spanish corps is somewhere in the area of Tortosa, but has no indication of whether they are following 17th corps towards Cambrils.  

He must now decide whether to fight a holding battle to allow 16th Italian corps to retreat through Cambrils, and then follow them north.  Or whether to attempt to defeat the allied army before reinforcements can arrive from Tortosa or Mora.  If he attacks the British, but fails to beat them, and Spanish reinforcements arrive his whole army could be destroyed.

Wargame rules can be found at

Friday, April 20, 2012

Battle of Cambrils – Move 2

0900-1000 14 August 1813

  17th French corps
General Halbert (Average)
8 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
Cavalry advance 14”
22nd, 23rd and 24th brigades advance 8”
Artillery advance 8”
Commander moves to centre of corps
23rd brigade advance 4” and form square

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)
6 Command Points
Move to join General Halbert
Change 17th corps orders to “move towards British”
Move to join General Munsier

5th British corps 

General Murray (Poor)
10 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
Artillery advance 28” and unlimber
5th brigade advance 16” and form square
6th and 8th brigades advance 8”

  7th French corps

General Munsier (Average)
8 Command Points
Orders – Hold Cambrils
Waiting for new orders

2nd Spanish corps

General Elio (Poor)
6 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
5th brigade advance 8” and change to column of attack
Artillery advance 8”
6th and 8th brigades advance 8”
Commander moves to centre of corps

Captain-General Copons (Poor)
4 Command Points
No orders issued

Game Notes
Both sides have again made use of multiple moves to deploy.
Multiple moves are allowed providing there is no enemy within 16”
Rule 5 covers movement

7th corps are on Hold orders. 
They are out of range of the enemy and  would like to advance into artillery range.
To do so the CinC must first change their orders to Move or Engage

2nd Spanish corps are still out of sight of the French commanders, so they are not allowed to react until  the Spanish move into sight.

Wargame rules can be found at

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Battle of Cambrils – Move 1

0800-0900 14 August 1813





  Table at the start of move 1
7th French corps deployed in front of Cambrils

  7th French corps
General Munsier (Average)
7 Command Points
Orders – Hold Cambrils
Cavalry about turn, retire to main battle line, about turn to face enemy

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)
4 Command Points
Move to meet 17th corps

  2nd Spanish corps

General Elio (Poor)
7 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
5th brigade advance 16”
Artillery advance 16”
6th brigade advance 8”
8th brigade advance 8”
Commander moves to centre of corps

  5th British corps

General Murray (Poor)
9 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
British cavalry advance 24” and form line
7th brigade advance 16”
Spanish cavalry advance 24” and form line
Commander moves to centre of corps

Captain-General Copons (Poor)
4 Command Points
Moves to join general Elio

17th French corps

General Halbert (Average)
9 Command Points
Orders – Move to Cambrils
23rd brigade advance 16”
Artillery advance 12”
24” brigade advance 8”
22nd brigade advance 8”
Cavalry advance 16” and form line
Commander moves to centre of corps

Game Notes
Both sides have made use of multiple moves to deploy.

Munsier has withdrawn his cavalry to join his main battle line, but left his infantry outpost on the hill

Halbert has moved to the west of the Cambrils road to threaten the British right flan

Murray has two brigades of cavalry, the Spanish cavalry of 2nd corps have been attached to him for the duration of this battle.  He has deployed both to protect his deployment

Elio is advancing to the north of the hills, and is out of sight of both French corps commanders.  He is hoping to cut the Miravat road to prevent the Italian corps escaping via Cambrils.

Multiple moves are allowed providing there is no enemy within 16”
Rule 5 covers movement

Wargame rules can be found at

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Battle of Cambrils – Set Up

strategic map at 0800 14 August 1813

Campaign Background
7th French corps hold the strategically important town of Cambrils, which commands the main road to Tarragona and is the cross roads for Mora and Tortosa.   It is also the concentration point for the remaining French corps.
17th French corps has been ordered to abandon Tortosa and march north to Cambrils.   16th Italian corps is approaching from the north having lost their battle at Mora the previous day.
2nd Spanish and 5th British corps have joined forces to take the town.   The previous afternoon the British cavalry had attempted to move closer to the town but were forced to retreat by a strong French skirmish line.

  tactical map at 0800 14 August 1813

The battle will take place in the nine squares outlined in white.  
General Munsier has deployed his corps at Cambrils, with a strong skirmish to the west of the town.
General Halbert is approaching the town on the Tortosa road.  He will arrive at the start of the battle.   Marshal Suchet is approaching from the north on the Mora road, and will also arrive at the start of the battle.
2nd Spanish and 5th British corps will arrive from Miravat at the start of the battle.
  Wargames Table at start of battle

Cambrils is centre right.
7th French corps is deployed in front of the town
17th French corps will arrive on the road bottom right at the start of the game
French CinC will arrive on the road top right at the start of the gam
5th British corps will arrive on the road centre left
2nd Spanish corps will arrive above the road centre left
Spanish CinC will arrive with 2nd Spanish corps

7th French corps

Cavalry and infantry on the hill are the skirmish line which repulsed the cavalry the previous afternoon.   The remainder of the corps are deployed in front of the town either side of the Miravat road

Special Rules
We are play testing new rules for command and control.
Each commander rolls an average dice and adds the number of formed brigades under command
The wargame rules can be found at

The latest entry is a draft of the new rules

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Campaign Move 21

1600 to 2000 13 August 1813

Marshal Suchet arrived on the battlefield just after 4pm.   He could see that it was too late to break contact and retreat in good order, but he did order a fighting withdrawal.  He then rode to the nearest shaken infantry brigade in an attempt to rally them.

The newly arrived Spanish reinforcements on which O’Donnell was pinning his hopes was not a regular infantry brigade.  It was, in fact, a guerrilla band recently organised as a militia brigade.  They had no training in skirmish or volley fire, so he ordered them to launch a “do or die” frontal attack.
The Italian infantry brigade had already suffered 20% casualties, but still put up a brave front and held the initial assault.   But they were in no state to hold off fresh troops in hand to hand fighting and soon broke and ran.

The rout quickly spread to the nearby town, which was held by a brigade with 50% casualties.   The nearby rout was sufficient to make they turn and flee.
This remaining Italian infantry brigade had 40% casualties.  Even the presence of Suchet could not prevent them from joining the rout, and taking him with them.

As the gunners limbered and started to withdraw they were overrun by the nearby guerrilla’s and forced to surrender.

The Italian cavalry brigade also had 20% casualties, and refused to charge to save the guns.   Rather than risk their complete destruction Severoli ordered them to withdraw and cover the retreat.

A second serious defeat for Suchet, and an end to his planned counter attack.   As night fell he rode south hoping to find that 17th corps had arrived to join 7th corps at Cambrils.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Campaign Move 20

1200 to 1600 13 August 1813

Whilst 8th corps were surrendering at Flix, 16th Italian corps were fighting a desperate battle just 15 miles to the west at Mora.

The last thing that Severoli wanted to do was fight a battle.   His battered corps had suffered heavy casualties at Torrente, and had been retreating ever since.   The previous evening his corps started to suffer further casualties due to lack of supplies, and he realised he would have to either stand and fight or see his corps destroyed due to attrition.

O’Donnell was confident of an easy victory and anxious to achieve it before Captain-General Copons could arrive and claim it for himself.   Although one of his infantry brigades was still  on the march from Lerida he ordered the remainder of his corps to attack at first light.

By mid afternoon O’Donnell was aware that it would not be the easy victory he had anticipated.   Despite heavy casualties Severoli put up a stubborn fight.   The Spanish advanced bravely and inflicted further casualties on the Italian infantry.    By mid afternoon half of the Spanish infantry were in rout, and the Italian’s still holding their position in front of Mora.   Fortunately his missing brigade had arrived and was available for a final attempt to break 16th corps.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Campaign Move 19

0800 to 1200 13 August 1813
8th French corps continued to retreat, pursued by 2nd Spanish corps.   The French were unable to stop and rally their broken brigades or attempt to organise a rear guard.

As they approached Flix there were confronted by 3rd Spanish corps.  They had also suffered heavy battle casualties, but unlike the French had started to regroup and reorganize.   They could field sufficient brigades to block the French.

Without a single operational brigade under his command General Harispe had no option but to surrender his corps to the Spanish CinC who accompanied 2nd Spanish corps.

Observing the surrender the garrison of Flix also laid down their arms and surrendered the town.   This brought the total of French brigades captured to six, more than one third of Suchet’s total infantry strength.

Immediately after the surrender Captain-General Copons called a face to face conference with General Elio and General Rosche to decide how to handle the prisoners and how best to exploit this magnificent victory.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Campaign Move 18

 
1600 to 2000 12 August 1813

Harispe continued to rout towards Flix, hotly pursued by British and Spanish cavalry.  
One of his infantry brigades were cut off and captured by the Spanish, and his corps artillery by the British.   All of his other brigades are in rout.  

Murray and Elio halt at Miravat to regroup.   Copons has called a meeting to decide what to do next.

In the north Severoli has decided to make a stand at Mora.  His rearguard have fought a skirmish with the advance guard of 4th Spanish corps.

To the south Halbert has been ordered to hold Tortosa.  Despite this he orders an attack on the bridge over the river Ebro.   Del Parque has deployed his corps to defend this river line, and his artillery are well sited to cover the bridge itself.   The leading French brigade suffers heavy casualties, and the remainder abandon the attack.

7th corps have finally arrived at Cambrils, but too late to support 8th corps.   Suchet has met with Munsier to decide how to react to the crushing defeat of Harispe.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Battle of Mora – Move 11

1800-1900 13 August 1813
Table at the start of move 10

All of the Italian infantry are in rout, leaving the guns without protection
The Italian cavalry are on the far right, pinning the Spanish infantry and artillery
The Spanish guerrillas are well positioned to attack the French artillery

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)
5 Command Points
Leave routed infantry and moves to join Severoli
Change corps orders to Retreat

  Guerrillas charge guns

General Severoli (Poor)
8 Command Points
Orders – Retreat
Artillery fire on Spanish gunners (total 6 – no casualties)
Severoli moves to command range of cavalry brigade
Cavalry turn left and form line to threaten guerrilla’s
Artillery limber and move 4” towards cavalry
5th brigade test morale for being in rout (total -3, fail and continue to rout)
6th brigade test morale for being in rout (total -4. fail and continue to rout)
8th brigade test morale for being in rout (total -4, fail and continue to rout)


General O’Donnell (Poor)
9 Command Points
Orders – Attack
Artillery fire on cavalry (total 6 – no casualties)
Gunners manhandle guns 2” towards cavalry
O’Donnell moves to command range of 13th brigade
13th brigade advance 2” in square towards cavalry
O’Donnell moves to command range of guerrilla’s
Guerrilla’s charge limbered artillery
Gunners test morale to evade (total 1 – fail)
Gunners surrender to guerrilla’s

Game Notes
The game ends with all of the Italian corps, except for their cavalry brigade, in rout
The cavalry are too weak to attempt to save the guns, but do cover the retreat

There are no rules for infantry capturing limbered artillery, so we adopted Rule 8 which covers limbered artillery contacted by cavalry.  

Wargame rules can be found at

Table at end of game
The Italian gunners have surrendered and are being escorted away by the guerrillas

The Italian cavalry have too many casualties to be able to opportunity charge the guerrillas and save the gunners. 

They are also within range of the Spanish guns and retreat to cover the rout


Game Result

16th Italian corps started the battle with 8 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties
The now have 32 infantry and gunner plus 2 cavalry casualties, plus the loss of their guns

4th Spanish corps have lost 9 infantry and 1 artillery casualties

A very hard fought battle, and another convincing victory for the Spanish.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Battle of Mora – Move 10

1700-1800 13 August 18
 Table at the start of move 10
Top – Spanish guerrilla’s win infantry melee
Bottom – All Italian infantry brigades have heavy casualties and two are shaken
  16th Italian corps
General Severoli (Poor)
8 Command Points
Orders – Hold
Severoli changes orders to Halt
Artillery fire on Spanish gunners (total 7 – no casualties)
Gunners manhandle guns 2” back towards Mora
Test morale for shaken 6th brigade (total 2 – fail remain shaken)
Test morale for shaken 8th brigade (total 1 – fail remain shaken_

Marshal Suchet (Gifted)
3 Command Points
Too few CP left to change orders
Move to join shaken 6th brigade
4th Spanish corps
General O’Donnell (Poor0
6 Command Points
Orders – Attack
Artillery fire on 6th Italian (total 5 – no casualties)
O’Donnell moves to command range of guerrilla brigade
Guerrilla brigade charges shaken 8th Italian brigade (total 12 – Spanish win)
Italian’s suffer another two casualties and rout
Spanish suffer no casualties but are disordered
French gunners test morale for rout within 4” (total 3 – pass remain formed)
Garrison test morale for rout within 4” (total 0 – fail and join rout)
6th Italian test morale for rout within 4” (total 0 – fail and join rout)

Game Notes
Once one Italian brigade broke and ran the rout soon spread
All of their infantry brigades are running away
The gunners have no protection
The cavalry have two casualties, but must now try to save the guns
The battle would normally finish at this point
However we have to decide whether the guns can be saved
So there will be one more move to decide their fate

Wargame rules can be found at