Campaign Moves (Nov 1-21) Throughout the first weeks of November 1808, French armies probe at the Spanish positions across the Ebro River but are held off by determined Spanish resistance. A French Corps is able to push into southern Catalonia dispersing a band of enthusiastic but unorganized Spanish Volunteers. At the same time, the British Army moves closer to the Spanish border in response to an invitation to intervene in the conflict in Spain. The first real clash comes in the third week of November when the French Ist Corps moves into Biscay and attacks the Spanish Army of the Left in its defensive positions, resulting in the Battle of Tortugas on November 15 (see below). The siege of Barcelona also reaches its climax during this period as the French 20' Division assaults the city on November 201h, defeating the Spanish garrison that had been weakened after two weeks of siege. The entire Spanish garrison of 3,000 was killed or captured while the French lose over 1,000 men during the struggle.  Battle of Tortugas, November 15 1808 The French Ist Corps (10,000 men, 24 guns) under General Ardant has moved west from Navarre into the Spanish Province of Biscay. General del Rey's Spanish Army of the Left (16,000 men, 16 guns) has chosen a reasonably strong position based on the hamlet of Tortugas and anchored on the right flank by two small forests. Unfortunately, General del Rey has divided his forces, sending 7,000 men (three infantry brigades and one cavalry brigade) around the French left flank in an attempt to bag the entire French army. The battle opens at 10:00 AM and can be divided into 5 phases. (A) General Ardant begins the battle by sending a brigade of light cavalry on a wide sweeping move to threaten the Spanish left while he advances two infantry brigades and two batteries in the center to pin the Spanish forces holding Tortugas. The remainder of the French force, two brigades of line infantry and a battery of horse artillery, is in reserve behind the open French left flank. The Spanish advance two brigades of Conscript Infantry and a single battery south along the Post Road to secure the ford over the Samba River and to link up with their anticipated flank attack. (B) Responding to the threat by the French cavalry brigade the Spanish forces on the hill and in the town - two infantry brigades and an artillery battery - withdraw behind the hill, giving away a strong position without a shot being fired. The French light cavalry charge suddenly catching one Spanish brigade before it can form square. Incredibly, the disordered Spanish conscripts are able to repel the French cavalry, although at the cost of several hundred casualties. The French center now advances to occupy Tortugas and to attack the Spanish infantry in the woods south of the town. (C) At 12:30 PM the Spanish flanking force is spotted and the French reserve moves to intercept. In the ensuing struggle the French are driven back by superior Spanish numbers and withdraw to reorganize while the Spanish deploy to link-up with the rest of the Spanish right flank. (D) Having concentrated 10,000 infantry, 700 cavalry, and 8 guns on the French left flank the Spanish appear to be in position to overwhelm the handful of French units available. Unfortunately the Spanish move lethargically and fail to press their advantage. (E) By 2:30 PM the French reserve has reformed and deployed on the field to block the Spanish flanking force. Several Spanish brigades have broken due to bad morale or mounting casualties and General del Rey is just trying to hang on until nightfall. General Ardant, seeing the Spanish waver, throws his force forward, breaking the Spanish right flank and driving the Spanish from the field in disorder. By 4:00 PM it was all over, the Spanish suffering almost 6,000 casualties while the French lost less than 500 men. Having suffered a major defeat the remnants of the Spanish Army is driven over the border into Santander Province. Battle of Tortugas OOB Spanish Army of the Left (30 AP), 1 General (Average), 1 Lieutenant, 7 Brigades Conscript Infantry, 1 Brigade Conscript Cavalry, 2 Batteries Foot Artillery French Ist Corps (30 AP), 1 General (Average), 1 Lieutenant, 1 Brigade Light Infantry, 3 Brigades Line Infantry, 1 Brigade Light Cavalry, 1 Battery Horse Artillery, 2 Batteries Foot Artillery. Campaign Moves (Nov 22 - Dec 7) With the Spanish Army of the Left driven from Biscay Province the French Ist Corps prepares to move into Santander Province in pursuit. At the same time the French XVIIth Corps, operating in southern Catalonia, moves to threaten the key Spanish city of Saragosa which is defended by the Spanish Army of the Right and a garrison of unknown size. Command problems and supply difficulties caused by the approach of winter cause the XVIIth Corps to withdraw from Saragosa without offering battle. The French Ist Corps is unable to pin down the Spanish Army of the Left which manages to cross the Ebro River and effect a link-up with the Army of the Center northeast of the city of Burgos. The Ist Corps crosses the river in the first week of December, taking up a defensive position and inviting the combined Spanish army to attack. Emboldened by their increased numbers the Spanish take up the challenge and on December 5, 1808, the two-day Battle of Tres Puentes begins. Battle of Tres Puentes, Dec 5-6, 1808 Having pursued the retreating Spanish Army of the Left into Old Castille the French 1st Corps takes up defensive positions around the town of Tres Puentes and defending the ford over the Puentes River. Numbering just 7,500 men and 24 guns, General Ardant is unaware that the Army of the Left has been able to link up with the Spanish Army of the Center. General del Rey, still in command in spite of his defeat in the Battle of Tortugas, is able to field a combined army of more than 25,000 men with 24 guns. Even so, del Rey moves cautiously and it was not until 2PM on December 5th that the battle is joined. First Day - General Ardant has divided his force, placing two infantry brigades and two batteries in and around the Town of Tres Puentes while the remaining infantry and cavalry brigade, supported by a third artillery battery, cover the ford west of the town. General del Rey, chastened by his earlier defeat, has deployed two infantry brigades and a single battery to engage and pin the French forces in the town. The balance of his army, nine infantry and two cavalry brigades supported by two batteries, will attack the ford. At 2:00 PM the Spanish right-flank moved forward to engage the French in Tres Puentes. Although numbering just 4,000 men they are commanded by General del Rey in person whose threatening activity immobilizes the French commander. The only casualties suffered on this flank are the result of long range Spanish artillery fire. At the same time the main Spanish attack on the left gets underway. General Molina, commanding on this flank, moves two batteries of guns into position to bombard the French infantry brigade deployed on the hill to cover the ford. Moving boldly the Spanish thrust several infantry brigades across the ford to challenge for control. Charged by the French cavalry brigade on that flank the Spanish Guards brigade is able to form square and repel their attack. While the cavalry brigade falls back before the increasing pressure of the Spanish infantry, the French infantry, deployed on the forward slope of the hill, are taking increasing casualties. By 4:30 PM they can take the punishment no more and the remnants of the brigade stream toward the rear. The French army is saved by nightfall that prevents the Spanish from fully exploiting their advantage. As the first day of battle comes to a close the armies disengaged to await the dawn (see below for positions of units at the end of the first day). In a bizarre incident, one of the last casualties of the first day is General Ardant himself, who was wounded by a musket ball while rallying his right flank. Whether the shot came from the enemy or from a French soldier disgruntled by Ardant's decision to risk a second day of battle in the face of such heavy odds, is unclear. General Duquesne, Ardant's senior division commander, assumes control of the Ist Corps. Second Day The second day of battle opens at 10 on December 6 and can be divided into three phases. (A) General del Rey continues his push on his left flank bringing-up three additional infantry brigades to lend increased weight. The Spanish attacks, however, are delivered piecemeal with no more than one or two brigades sent forward at a time. General Duquesne's right flank, still shaken from the last day's fight, is able to slowly withdraw in front of the advancing Spaniards while pounding them with their artillery. On the Spanish right flank, the two infantry and single cavalry brigade facing the French in Tres Puentes were suffering substantial casualties as the French now have both artillery batteries on that flank in action. General del Rey rushes a battery from his center into position between the river and forest to add its fire against the town but leaves his infantry standing in its exposed position. As the casualties mount the Spanish right flank begins to waver. The cavalry brigade is driven from the field due to heavy casualties and the supporting artillery battery on the hill destroyed. Soon after these events the lead infantry brigade is also driven off, sweeping their supporting brigade away in the panic. (B) With the pressure off his left flank, General Duquesne is able to shift forces to support his right. A single brigade of French light infantry moves south of the Puentes River and through the woods to drive off the Spanish battery and threaten the rear of the Spanish forces at the ford. At the same time an infantry brigade of the Polish Vistula Legion and two French batteries move west. The Spanish left flank has been relatively quiet for a period of time as General del Rey pulls back to reorganize and the French right advances to coordinate with the oncoming reinforcements. (C) General del Rey now makes a last effort to break the French right. Massing six brigades of infantry, including the Spanish and Walloon Guards brigades, he again moves forward. Unfortunately for the Spanish, the attack is unsupported. Two Spanish batteries have been destroyed and the other is ineffective south of the river, while the single brigade of cavalry available is unable to keep pace with the infantry. The advancing Spanish infantry moves forward into a deadly crossfire from three French batteries and a brigade of infantry. With the news of the disaster on the Spanish right already weakening the resolve of the army the intense French fire proves too much. Despite of the attempts of General del Rey and his lieutenants to halt the flood the Spanish army breaks for the rear. The French pursuit is hampered by the exhaustion of the troops after two days of fighting but they were still able to account for 7,000 Spanish killed or captured. French losses total just over 600. The Spanish Army of the left, after lynching General del Rey for treason, withdraws into the mountains to the south. Battle of Tres Puentes OOB Spanish Army of the Left (54 AP), 1 General (Average), 2 Lieutenants, 1 Brigade Line Infantry, 9 Brigades Conscript Infantry, 2 Brigades Conscript Cavalry, 3 Batteries Foot Artillery French Ist Corps (25 AP), 1 General (Average), 1 Lieutenant, 1 Brigade Light Infantry, 2 Brigades Line Infantry, 1 Brigade Light Cavalry, 3 Batteries Foot Artillery. A Peninsula War Campaign Nov 1808-Jun 1809 Fought Using Le Petit Armee Rules and Campaign Rules Introduction Campaign Moves (Nov-Dec 1808) Campaign Moves (Dec 1808 - March 1809) Campaign Moves (April - June 1809) Back to MWAN # 124 Table of Contents Back to MWAN List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2003 Hal Thinglum This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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