Battle of Baltanas - Move 3

1000 to 1100

22 July 1813

Situation at the end of Move 3

British move closer to Baltanas

With poor quality cavalry the British post a brigade in square to support the artillery. The remainder of 3 corps prepare to advance on the town.

Hill directs his advance to his left to avoid the French artillery. The 12 pounders are playing havoc with the approaching infantry.

Rule Note

The British artillery have 6 pounder guns, the French 12 pounder. So the British have to move closer to the enemy to get in range. This leaves both them, and their infantry support, vunerable in the early stages of a battle.

Battle of Baltanas - Move 2

0900 to 1000

22 July 1813

Situation at the end of Move 2

British move closer to Baltanas

Marshal Soult has arrived to take command

Villate spreads his corps out either side of the village

British artillery unlimber to support their cavalry against the enemy threat


Hill has turned his corps to their right and they are ready to advance against Baltanas.

Rule Note

British cavalry are always C class troops, French always B class. So care has to be taken to avoid a cavalry melee unless absolutely necessary, or French casualties has redressed the balance.

Battle of Baltanas - Move 1

0800 to 0900

22 July 1813

Situation at the end of Move 1

Picton is deploying his corps in front of Baltanas

Hill is moving in column of march beyond the trees

Villate is deploying part of his corps to his right to meet Hill

Pictons corps fan out as they approach Baltanas

With no enemy cavalry on this flank, Hill moves his corps in column of march for maximum speed.

Rule Note

Troops in column of march can not fight or defend themselves, so it is a dangerous formation to use if there is enemy cavalry nearby

Battle of Baltanas - Set Up

Start 0800

22 July 1813

Battle of Baltanas

Campaign Background

Both armies have now moved to the north bank of the river Duero.

Wellington is determined to strike at Soult and force him back towards Burgos before he can concentrate his army at Baltanas

The battle starts at 0800 22 July 1813.

Table at start of battle

Wargames Table

Baltanas is the village in the centre of the photograph

The top road leads to the north coast

The bottom road leads to Madrid

The right hand road leads to Burgos

The left hand road leads to Valladolis

Villates 7^th corps are deployed in and around Baltanas

They have orders to hold the village

Sarruts 8^th corps will arrive top right at the start of move 4

Hills 1^st corps will arrive to the right of the woods on move 1

Pictons 3^rd corps will arrive on the left hand road on move 1

Villates corps at Baltanas

Game Notes

1st British corps start the game with cavalry campaign casualties

Battle of Valladolid - Move 9

1600 to 1700

19 July 1813

Situation at the end of Move 9

Soult has ordered Leval to withdraw towards Valladolid. As they do so the square on their right finally break, but the remainder of the corps is in square and able to withdraw without further loss.

Villate’s corps are in firm control of Valladolid, and the British have withdrawn out of artillery range.

The British hussars had tried to Opportunity Charge the French artillery as they withdrew from the broken square, but failed their morale test. The whole French corps is now ready to withdraw towards Valladolid

Rule Note

A cavalry brigade wishing to make an Opportunity Charge must make at least 4 with 1D6. In this case the British hussars were C class, which is a minus one. If they fail to pass the test they are unable to charge.

Effect on Campaign

The failure to take Valladolid is a serious set back to Wellington.

The casualties on both sides have been light so far in the campaign, and Wellington has managed to cross the river Douro. But he has been unable to force the French to withdraw to the east and allow him to consolidate his hold on the river crossing. He will have to bring his army over the river Douro further west than he wanted.

Soult must now decide whether he is strong enough to go on to the offensive and drive Wellington back across the river, or whether to retreat to Plaencia and concentrate his army there.

Battle of Valladolid - Move 8

1500 to 1600

19 July 1813

Situation at the end of Move 8

4^th corps continue to attack the French. Their artillery failed, yet again, to hit the square. But the rifle brigade moved into skirmish range and did score one hit. However the square once more made their morale, though they are now Shaken. The remainder of the French corps is trying to redeploy in case the square finally breaks.

Wellington has joined 4^th corps, and is bringing up the reserve brigade in person.

Rule Note

CinC can take command of one brigade each turn and order them to do anything he wishes. However that takes his whole turn and he can not move elsewhere or issue any orders to his corps commanders.

Battle of Valladolid - Move 7

1400 to 1500

19 July 1813

Situation at the end of Move 7

1^st British corps have retreated out of range of the French guns, so the attack has failed.

On the opposite flank both sides have casualties and either side could break.

1^st British corps have retreated out of range, and the French corps are on Hold orders.

Wellington’s attack on Valladolid has failed.

The British artillery have fired on the French square, and missed again (third time). The Rifles have rallied, but are unable to skirmish this move. One good, or bad, dice could make all the difference on this flank

Rule Note

The British have been particularly unlucky with their dice in this game.

First the 4^th corps have consistently rolled low for their Command Points, so the whole advance has been slow.

Then their artillery have only hit the square once, and despite three casualties the infantry made their morale.

Finally the elite rifle brigade have failed their morale due to a roll of one on D6.

It all makes for an interesting game!