talavera (july 28, 1809)
the scenario for napoleon's battles
INTRODUCTION
The battle was fought at 27th-28th July 1809 between an
Anglo-Spanish force under Wellesley and Cuesta and a French Army
under Joseph I the intruder King of Spain. This was the first battle
of Wellesley after Vimeiro as well as the first time that he tried
co-operate with the Spanish armies. The Spanish General Cuesta has
been usually demonized and ridiculed by English-speaking authors,
which do no take into account the intricacies of the Spanish high
politics of the era, neither the centuries-old feud between Spain
and England.
The battle started at nigh of 27th July with a failed attack of Victor
against the Cerro Medellin (the key of the Allied position). The
main battle was fought the next day and resulted in a bloody repulse
of the French army by the English units. The Spanish army played a
very small role in the affair. However his tactical success,
Wellesley (named Wellington after the battle) was forced to retreat
into Portugal because of the threat of Soult Army at this
communication lines.
The Order Of Battle used is mainly based on the book:
"History of the Peninsular War. Vol. II: January-September 1809", C.
Oman, Greenhills Books
"Talavera 1809". Primera victoria aliada", J.M Rodríguez y D.A. Cueto,
Almena Ediciones
For the sequence of events I have used:
"La crisis de una Alianza. La capaña del Tajo de 1809", J.J. Sañudo and
L. Stampa, Ministerio de Defensa
"Talavera. Wellington's early Peninsula victories 1808-9". P. Edwards,
The Crowood Press
HOUSE RULES
The second edition of
Napoleon's Battles edited by Five Forks has been used (including
all the optional rules) with some slight modifications fully
explained in the
Albuera pdf file and in the
Home-Rules
section:
1) The cavalry scale is also 1/120. To avoid
distortions, 2 figures were removed for each 3 casualties.
2) Units of cavalry from 480 men upwards are allowed
and units of infantry with less than four elements are also
allowed to display under-strength infantry units.
3)
Routed units can try to rally without an attached general
with an additional '-3' modifier.
4) Divisional batteries
are used (with a -1 modifier). The infantry fire is carried out as
usual, but the resulting losses are not marked on the target unit,
but are only used to cause disorder.
5) C-i-C ratings. Do
not use “10” as Response number of the C-i-C’s but use the
values assigned to them as Corps Commanders.
TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION
Talavera pdf file
Old map
Game table (1)
Game table (2)
The battlefield
SPECIFIC RULES OF THE SCENARIO
Dawn attack
The tabletop shows the situation at dawn when Victor’s I Corps
assaulted by second time the Cerro Medellín (after a nocturnal repulse).
Only units of the I Corps are used and Victor starts as C-i-C and an
ad-hoc label is included. If the Cerro Medellín is finally occupied by
the French, Joseph/Jourdan will become the French C-i-C thus allowing
the use of the rest of the French units.
Afternoon attack
This variant assumes the historical failure of the Victor’s dawn attack
to the Cerro Medellín so, before the game starts, mark 3 hits each on
the French 1B/I/1 y 2B/I/1, 2 hits each on the French 3B/I/1 and British
1B/2 and 1 hit on the British 2B/2. Joseph/Jourdan is the French C-i-C
(see 4.4.1 below) and all the French units can be used. Spanish units
5S, 2SC and S (Sp 12#) are transferred to Wellington direct command for
the rest of the battle.
King Joseph I
King Joseph I always tended to interfere with Jourdan´his Chief
of Staff. At the start of every French Command step (if Joseph/Jourdan
is the C-i-C) roll one die. If “5-10” is rolled Jourdan is in command
(18”A(6/10)+0). If “1-4” is rolled, Joseph is in the middle
(9”A(5/10)+0).
Use of the French Cavalry
Joseph insisted on holding back most of the French cavalry for a
later pursuit. When it is desired to move French cavalry into combat
roll a die against the Cavalry unit’s response number. If lesser or
equal, the cavalry unit can be moved into combat. This rule is not
applicable to Victor’s I Corps cavalry or when Victor is the C-i-C
The French Reserves
The French Reserves (MR and RG) are around two full march column
infantry moves from table area. To call in the Reserves (1) Joseph must
be the French C-i-C and (2) a die must be rolled against his Response
number (5): if lesser the Reserves can be called and could appear during
or after the following French turn (Use the OR 13.8.2 rule for Varying
Time Arrivals).
The dried ditch
Any Cavalry unit passing through the dried ditch at C2 must make
a Cavalry recall test. If the test is unsuccessful the unit is
immediately disordered. Anyway, the intended movement must be finished..
VICTORY POINTS
Talavera is a standard defensive scenario. The town of Talavera is worth
7.5%, the Pajar de Vergara Redoubt 18%, the Cerro Medellín 40%, the
Cerro Cascajal 26% and the A5 road end (leading to Madrid) 7.5%.
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES