vitoria. the north flank (june 21,1813)
The scenario for napoleon's battles
INTRODUCTION
Wellington and his Allied armies (British, Portuguese and
Spanish) advanced from the Portuguese border into the North East of
Spain, forcing the forces of King Joseph towards the French border.
At 21st June 1813, the French Armies of Portugal, South and Centre
were concentrated around Vitoria. Wellington planned a three pincers
attack, and a column commanded by Graham was senT to turn the French
left and cut their main retreat line towards France. That zone was
under the responsibility of Reille and his under-strength Armée de
Portugal defending the line of River Zadorra and the bridges leading
to Vitoria.
The Order Of Battle is based on:
-
Sarramon, J. ‘La bataille de Vitoria. La fin de l’aventure
napoléonienne en Espagne’. J.C. Bailly Editeur, 1985
- Oman, ‘A History of the Peninsular
War. Vol. VI', Greenhill Books, 2005
- Gómez de Arteche y Moro, J. ”Guerra
de la Independencia. Tomo XIII Historia Militar de España de 1808 a
1814. Vitoria, San Sebastián, San Marcial “, Ed. José Luis Arcón
Domínguez 2001
- OOB's provided by George Nafziger
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
Vitoria. North pdf file and in the
House-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.
6) Some independent Brigade Generals were used to take into
account their semi-independent grand tactical role (See Scenario
file)
TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION
Vitoria North pdf file
Old map
Google Earth view
Heigths
map
Game map
The
battlefield
INITIAL DEPLOYMENT
The Graham column
The outflanking Spanish
Reille awating the Allied assault
Spanish 'Josefinos' defending Durana
SPECIFIC RULES OF THE SCENARIO
Historical deployment
The Scenario map shows the situation around noon (13.00 h) of June 21,
when Graham started his advance and Reille decided to retire from
Aranguiz. All forces, except the Spanish Royal Garde (see 3.3) are on
the table.
The Graham’s fears
Graham and Wellington believed that the Armée du Portugal had more than
2 divisions, but the night before the battle the Maucune’s 5me Division
of l’Armée du Portugal was sent towards Bayonne. In this variant that
Division is used and placed in reserve around Vitoria. It can be called
by sending a messenger (Reille must be in command). One turn later, the
Division can start to roll for arrival (OR 13.8.2.) and will enter
deployed at D4
In this variant the Spanish forces of Girón (Bárcena Division) can be
also used. They can start to roll for arrival (OR 13.8.2) from 18.00
onwards, and will enter deployed at A1.
The good option for french deployment
Reille can deploy his units in any way he prefer in order to
cover the main crossings. The Maucune, Royal Guard and Barcena can be
used as above.
The Joseph´s Garde Royal
The Garde Royal of King Jospeh was maintained as a last reserve
around Vitoria. In spite of Joseph’s reluctance to use it during the
battle, the Royal Guard units could be used by following this procedure:
(1) Reille must to pass a command control test to send a messenger.
(2) Two turns after leaving the table, the messenger finds Joseph
(3) Joseph must pass a ‘virtual’ command test (he is a P(4)+0 general)
(4) The following turn after Joseph pass the test, the Optional rule for
Varying Time Arrivals can be start to be separately applied to both
Garde brigades. They enter deployed at D4
British (and French) independent brigade commanders
The commanders of British cavalry and Portuguese independent
brigades were frequently used in a semi-independent tactical way so they
are taken into account and shown in the tabletop. The French also can
deploy four brigade generals to carry out semi-independent missions
beyond the control radius of their Division commanders.
All these Brigade generals must remain continuously attached to their
brigades, so their command radius is not printed in the labels (nor
counted in the points value of the Army). Their corresponding labels can
be glued on an individual General figure or on the command base of the
affected unit, as preferred.
VICTORY POINTS
The objectives are the five bridges spanning the Zadorra. Their
relative importance in percentage of victory points is: Durana (50%) –
Gamarra (20%) – Arriaga (15%) – Yurre (10%) – Gobeo (5%). The total
number of objective points is 150 (NB1) or 60 (NB2) and the multiplier
is 1 given the near equality in points of both sides. All Objectives are
French controlled at the start of game.
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES