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