End of Tarragona Campaign

Tactical map at end of campaign

Marshal Suchet has the satisfaction of knowing that he has defeated the Spanish field armies.

Captain-General Copons has the satisfaction of knowing that he has achieved Wellington’s objective of keeping Suchet occupied on the east coast of Spain, and preventing him from sending support to Soult in the west.

Line to main Tarragona campaign blog

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/

7 June 1813

Spanish settle down to blockade of French garrisons and the rest and recuperate from the campaign

French are secure in their garrisons, but have lost all control of the surrounding area.

6 June 1813

Spanish now control all of the roads between Lerida, Tarragona and Barcelona

French garrisons of Tarragona and Lerida are isolated, but have sufficient supplies to last for at least 21 days.

5 June 1813

Spanish tighten blockade of Lerida and Tarragona

French 15^th corps continues towards Barcellona

4 June 1813

Spanish approach Tarragona and Lerida

French 15th corps continues towards Barcelona

3 June 1813

Spanish cautiously cross the river Ebro and follow French retreat

French hold Lerida and Tarragona, 15^th corps continue towards Barcelona

2 June 1813

Spanish continue to hold their positions on west bank of Ebro

French 5^th corps enters Tarragona, 15^th corps starts back to Barcelona and 4^th corps holds line of the river Ebro

1 June 1813

Spanish hold their positions on the west bank of Ebro

Marshal Suchet receives news of guerrilla activity between Barcelona and the French border and issues orders to hold Lerida and Tarragona, but orders 15^th corps back to Barcelona

30 May 1813

Spanish complete their withdrawal behind the river Ebro and deploy to cover the bridges.

French recce the river but fail to find an undefended bridge or ford.

29 May 1813

Spanish withdraw over the river Ebro and take up defensive positions at Vandellos and Mora. 2^nd Army covers the retreat.French enter Cambrils and Prades and regroup.

French disappointment at Cambrils

28 May 1813

Second Battle of Cambrils

All four Spanish armies are concentrated at Cambrils and about to retire over the river Ebro, when they are attacked by the three French corps.

Table at start of battle

The first French attack is by 5^th corps on the left. They storm the village, but the Spanish hold their own, counter attack and rout the French. Suchet has no option but to halt the remaining two corps until he can rally 5^th corps. By then it is nightfall and too late to attack again. Under cover of darkness the Spanish slip away and cross the river Ebro at

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/search/label/10%20-%20Second%20Battle%20of%20Cambrils

27 May 1813

Copons reviews 1^st army on its march to Cambrills

Captain-General Copons sees a chance to destroy the isolated 4^th French corps. He orders 1^st and 3^rd armies to cross the river Ebro and close on Cambrils. When he arrives he finds that the French have retreated towards Reus. However he has rescued 2^nd and 4^th armies and prepares to retreat back across the river Ebro.

Marshal Suchet has concentrated his three corps at Reus and orders them to advance and engage the Spanish with their backs to the river Ebro. The critical battle of the campaign is about to be fought

French victory near Tarragona

26 May 1813

First Battle of Cambrils

4^th French corps are ordered to take Cambrils to prevent 2^nd and 4^th Spanish armies retreating to Vandellos Both armies reach the battlefield in column of march.

Spanish attempt to pass Cambrils before French arrive

As the French approach Cambrils the Spanish swing to the south in an attempt to get past the village and reach the safety of the river Ebro. However the French quickly deploy from column of march and attack the leading 4^th Spanish army, which is the leading column..

4^th Spanish try to deploy to engage the French flank, but are attacked and routed. 2^nd Spanish has more time and has started to deploy, but are quickly broken and join the rout..

At this stage Marshal Suchet arrives on the battlefield and orders 4^th corps to halt. He wants to lure the remaining two Spanish armies, safe behind the river Ebro, to move forward to the east bank so that he can destroy all of the Spanish armies, not just two of them.

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/search/label/09%20-%20Battle%20of%20Cambrils

25 May 1813

With the loss of Prades, Captain-General Copons decides he is no longer able to maintain the siege of Tarragona, and orders a retreat to the river Ebro. 2rd and 4th Armies will cover the retreat, 1st and 3rd will secure bridges at Mora and Vandellos.

Spanish defeat at Prades

24 May 1813

Battle of Prades

Prades is a small village in the mountains between Tortosa and Tarragona.

Munsier must take the village in order to reach Tarragona and raise the siege.

3^rd Spanish Army have fortified the village, and 1^st Spanish are marching to their assistance from Vals.

French take to the mountains

To avoid an attack in column down the narrow pass leading to Prades, the French take to the mountains to the west of the road. Due to the delay it is late afternoon when the French reach the crest of the hill and come in sight of the village. They are confronted by the arrival of 1^st Spanish along the Vals road. This is the first warning Munsier has of these reinforcements.

The Spanish cavalry move to attack the French before they can deploy out of their column of march. The French cavalry move forward and rout them. The Spanish cavalry flee through the supporting infantry, who promptly join them.

The Spanish held village delays the French pursuit, but under cover of darkness 3^rd Spanish abandon the village and fall back towards Reus.

The Spanish have failed in their best opportunity, which was to stop 4^th corps as it tried to exit from the mountains. However they could still fall back on Reus and again offer battle to maintain their siege of Tarragona

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/search/label/08%20-%20Battle%20of%20Prades

23 May 1813

3rd corps on the march south

Munsier moves south and finds a large Spanish force blocking his road south at Prades. Having no communications with 5^th corps at Tarragona he has no knowledge of other Spanish armies in the area. He orders an immediate attack on Prades.

Suchet leaves Barceloa for Tarragona

22 May 1813

4th Spanish Army on the march

Musnier is aware that a battle has been fought near Tarragona, due to the sound of cannon fire on 20 May. He is also aware Roche is at Mora. He has received no orders since leaving Barcelona 8 days earlier. He decides that he should march to the sound of the guns, and moves to Mora.

Suchet leaves a small garrison at Barcelona, and marches towards Tarragona with 15^th Polish corps.

By late afternoon Captain-General Copons is aware of all of these movements at his headquarters at Vals. He orders 4^th corps to move to Vendrils and prevent Suchet from reaching Tarragona. He will concentrate 1^st and 3^rd Armies at Prades and prevent Musnier from reaching Tarragona.

21 May 1813

General Musnier has taken Lerida with 4th corps, but is disappointed to find no trace of General Roche. He rests his corps, but orders his cavalry to find where the Spanish have gone. At nightfall he receives confirmation that they have moved to Moira, on the mountain road to Tarragona.

General Habert is isolated in Tarragona. The city has sufficient rations for 10 days, but will have to surrender is not relieved or resupplied by then.

General Hairspe arrives at Barcelona, where he is allowed to rest his weary Poles for 24 hours, but must be ready to march at first light.

Captain-General is pleased that his army has performed so well at Reus. He orders 2nd Army to occupy the town and impose the siege on Tarragona. 1st Army is ordered north to Vals to prevent Musner from marching on Tarragona.

French victory at Reus

20 May 1813

The battle of Reus

Reus is a small town just north of Tarragona.

It commands both the main military road along the east coast, and also the approach to the city of Tarragona.

5^th French corps have occupied the town to keep open their lines of communications between Tarragona and Barcelona and also to defend Tarragona itself.

1^st and 2^nd Spanish armies are determined to destroy the French before they can be reinforced.

Table at start of game

The game objective is to destroy the enemy

5^th French corps (Paul) is deployed in and around Reus

1^st Spanish army (Jan) enters on blind west road (left side)

2^nd Spanish army (Jan) enters on blind on north road (top)

French infantry and cavalry move forward to meet the Spanish

1^st Spanish have a competent general and approach the town in good order

As they near the town, the French advance their cavalry and two infantry brigades to engage them.

2^nd Spanish is much slower to arrive, and the bulk of the fighting falls on 1^st Spanish.

It is a very uneven fight, which the Spanish never looked likely to win.

Spanish break and run

Predictably both Spanish armies withdrew, leaving the French in possession of Reus.

A victory for the French against greater odds, but both Spanish armies are still intact and capable of further operations.

Effect on Campaign

Although defeated, the Spanish are still an effective fighting force.

Only half of 1^st army broke and ran. The remainder, and nightfall, prevented a French pursuit.

2^nd army were not engaged at all.

The French had held Reus, but failed to break the Spanish army.

Tarragona was safe, but still under threat

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/search/label/07%20-%20Battle%20of%20Reus

19 May 1813

3^rd Spanish army vacate Lerida as 4^th corps approach, they move south to put themselves between Lerida and Tarragona.

15^th Polish approach Barcelona, still shadowed by 4^th army.

With only the weak garrison of Barcelona, Suchet must wait for the Poles to arrive before he can take any action to support 5^th corps at Reus.

5th French corps at Reus

Copons orders 1st and 2nd armies move to attack Reus.

Orders are sent to 3rd army to take up position at Mora and to delay any attempt by the French at Lerida to march towards Tarragona.

4th army is ordered not to make any move against Barcelona, but to be prepared to block any attempt by 15th corps to march towards Tarragona.

Spanish advance towards Tarragona

18 May 1813

4^th corps are now within a couple of days march of Lerida. They are unaware of any Spanish activity to the south. 15^th corps increase their rate of march, still unaware of the Spanish presence in the mountains to their north. 5^th corps move to Reus to make contact with the Spanish and open communications with Lerida.. They report to Suchet at Barcelona that they expect to engage at least one Spanish army.

2^nd Spanish halts at Prades to allow 1^st army to draw closer in preparation for their advance on Reus.

17 May 1813

Polish corps marching to Barcelona

4th corps continue their march towards Lerida.. 5th corps patrols report Spanish activity around Prades, and this news is forwarded to Marshal Suchet at Barcelona. He orders 15th corps to increase their efforts to reach the weakly held city.

1st and 2nd Spanish armies cross river Ebro and march towards Tarragona.

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/search/label/06%20-%20Campaign%20Diary

French abandon Girona

16 May 1813

As 4^th corps continue their march through the mountains towards Lerida, local guerrilla groups close the roads behind them and they lose communications with Barcelona. This was expected and is not a cause for concern. 15^th corps meet no opposition on their march to Barcelona., and are unaware that the 4^th army are moving parallel to them.5^th corps patrol north and west of Tarragona but find no trace of the enemy.

The Spanish CinC issues order to 1^st and 2^nd armies to move on Tarragona. 3^rd army will remain in Lerida until the French approach and 4^th army will continue to keep a close watch on 15^th corps. No move is to be made against Barcelona, as nothing must prompt 4^th corps to abandon their march on Lerida.

15 May 1813

4th French corps leave Barcelona

At first light 4th corps depart from Barcelona and enter the mountains on their way to Lerida. By midday 15th corps commence their move from Girona to Barcelona. 5th corps at Tarragona are ordered to increase their patrols both north and south of the city.

By nightfall Copons is aware of the French activity. Orders are issued for 4th army to shadow 15th corps as it moves west, but not to engage them. The remainder of the Spanish armies will wait until 4th corps is well into the mountains before they start their move on Tarragona.

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/search/label/06%20-%20Campaign%20Diary