Campaign Move 33

2000 29th August 1813

General Conroux has command 8^th French corps at Aranda

He had suffered a dramatic defeat at Castrillo on 23^rd August and had been forced to retreat to Aranda.   Fortunately the British had been slow to pursue, and this had allowed him to recover and replace his battle casualties.

He was well aware of the fighting to his north, and was particularly concerned when the fighting started at Burgos.   The loss of that city would leave him isolated from the main French army to the north, and open to attack from the north and west.

His orders were to hold Aranda which he did with his 7^th division.   He sent his 15^th division north to establish contact with 7^th corps at Burgos.   They would be available to support Villante if required.  They would also provide a pivot should he be forced to abandon Aranda and retreat north.

During the late afternoon he received a report from Chasse that 7^th corps had achieved a notable victory at Burgos.   His flank, and his communications with the main army, were both secure.

As night fell he received a despatch from Soult.   He was ordered to abandon Aranda and march north to join forces with 7^th corps at Burgos.  

Campaign Move 32

1600 29th August 1813

Soult’s plan to recapture Pancorbo left both 7^th and 8^th French corps exposed to an allied attack.

This was unlikely to happen to 7^th corps at Burgos, as 2^nd allied corps would take at least 24 hours to recover from their defeat.

However further south 8^th corps was in real danger at Aranda.  

General Cole’s 3^rd allied corps was the strongest of the three corps.  It contained two Anglo-Portuguese divisions, including  Alten’s light division.

From the start of the campaign, Wellington had earmarked Cole to deal the decisive blow of the campaign.   The loss of Aranda would sever French communications between Bayonne and Madrid.   At a stroke it would contain the French to a narrow strip of northern Spain.

It would also position Wellington’s strongest corps on the flank of the remaining two French corps.   He could then advance against each in turn with over whelming strength from both the west and south.

Throughout the campaign Cole had preserved his command carefully.  His steady progress allowed him to halt and resupply when it suited him.  It also allowed the two allied corps to the north to take the brunt of the fighting.

He was now ready to strike at Aranda and destroy  8^th corps.

Campaign Move 31

1200 29th August 1813

6^th French corps is in a critical position having been forced to abandon their supply depot at Pancorbo and retreat north in disorder.

The battle at Pancorbo on 27^th August had left both 6^th French and 1^st allied corps with heavy casualties, but the French were in a worse condition and had been forced to retreat to the north.

Most of the allied casualties had been in 1^st British division.   Hill ordered them to halt and recover, and 2^nd Spanish division to occupy Pancorbo.  

If 6^th French corps were unable to retake Pancorbo before their supplies ran out, they would suffer casualties to attrition to add to their battle casualties.

The French victory at Burgos presented Soult with a slim chance to retake Pancorbo, establish communication with 6^th corps and open the main supply route to France.

7^th corps had suffered medium casualties at Burgos, and most of them in 6^th division.   14^th Westphalian division had very light casualties, and all of them in one infantry brigade.

The earlier run of allied victories had allowed Wellington’s corps commanders to achieve their campaign objectives, except at Burgos.   Soult could expect a small delay whilst Wellington issued new orders and the allied commanders reacted.   Any delay on his part could only make matters worse for the French

Soult decided to take a calculated risk.  If it worked he could reverse his earlier defeats.  If not he would have to abandon his hold on Spain.

He ordered Villante to hold Burgos with his weak 7^th division.  

Soult would take command of 14^th division and march north to strike at Pancorbo before Hill could concentrate his two divisions there.   It would take him two days to reach Pancorbo, and if either Hill or Graham attacked before he took Pancorbo he risked the loss of the whole French army in Spain.

Battle of Burgos – 28th August 1813

Tactical Map at start of battle

1^st Spanish division have orders to advance and attack

2^nd British division have orders to advance and attack

6^th French division have orders to hold

14^th Westphalian division have orders to hold

8 infantry brigade have orders to rejoin division

Table at start of battle

Road top left leads to Castillo

Road on right leads to Burgos

Both buildings are farms

Road bottom left is a minor farm track

7^th French corps is deployed to hold the Burgos road

2^nd Allied corps has orders to attack

General Graham with 2^nd allied corps

1^st Spanish division, on the left, is full strength

2^nd British division, on the right, has 80 casualties

General Villante with 7^th French corps

6^th French division, on the right, has 120 casualties

14^th Westphalian division, on the left, has 80 casualties, and one brigade in Burgos

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900 

Allied corps advance towards the hills with cavalry on flanks

French corps hold their position

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Allied corps advance through the hills

General Graham (far hill) moves to take command of the isolated British cavalry

6^th French division (nearest camera) moves artillery to cover the nearest pass

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Allied corps continue to advance over the hills and through the passes

Spanish division move onto hills either side of the pass to avoid enemy artillery

French artillery is still out of range

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Graham moves to join British division and orders them to Engage

British advance into French artillery range.

French artillery fire on highland brigade and inflict 10% casualties

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

8^th Westphalian brigade arrives from Burgos and moves to join division

British artillery fire on nearest Westphalian brigade and inflict 10% casualties

Westphalian artillery fire on highland brigade and inflict 10% more casualties

Highlanders fail morale and rout

British gunners test morale for rout within 4”, fail and also rout

Portuguese brigade test morale for rout within 4”, fail and also rout

French chasseurs charge Spanish dragoons

Chasseurs lose melee and retire shaken with 20% casualties

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Villante orders the Westphalians to advance and engage the shaken British division

Westphalian lancers charge British dragoons who lose melee and retire shaken

Shaken French cavalry withdraw behind infantry square but fail to rally

French artillery inflict 20% casualties on nearest Spanish infantry who lose morale and rout

Spanish division continues to advance and engage French

British division have received orders to halt and hold their position

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

British division attempt to rally routed brigades

Westphalian division moves forward to engage remaining British infantry on hill

Westphalian lancers rout British heavy dragoons

Spanish artillery unlimber on hill and open fire on French infantry

Remainder of Spanish division move forward on Engage orders

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

British infantry on hill form line to meet Westphalian infantry

Westphalian infantry approach hill

Spanish infantry win initial skirmish fight with French infantry

French infantry advance, form line and volley fire Spanish infantry

Spanish infantry rout

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Graham orders his corps to break contact and retreat

Table at end of battle

Summary

The allies have lost 960 infantry casualties and 6 brigades in rout

The French have lost 80 cavalry and 480 infantry casualties and one brigade shaken

The first French victory of the campaign, and a most decisive one

Most casualties have been in 6^th French division

14^th Westphalian division has only suffered 80 casualties

Second Allied Corps have suffered a decisive defeat

Most casualties have been in 1^st Spanish division

2^nd British division has suffered light casualties

Four Spanish and two British brigades are in rout