19 August to 1 September 1813
General
This phase covers the period 19 August to 1 September 1813 and the fighting in North West Spain between Fifth French Army and the British and Spanish.
It was fought during the period October 2012 to March 2013.
Divisional positions at start of campaign
Summary of the Campaign
Wellington ordered his three corps to take the city of Burgos
The French army was commanded by Marshal Soult, who had his headquarters at Burgos
His task was to hold the main road from Bayonne to Madrid.
Wellington won the first three battles of the campaign and drove the French back to the vital Bayonne to Madrid road.
He then took Pancorbo, which cut the vital road and isolated the northern French corps.
He occupied the town with a Spanish division and ordered his remaining corps to march on Burgos and Aranda.
Soult was aware that he was in a desperate situation, and that he would need to take drastic action. To concentrate his army at Burgos he issued orders to abandon Aranda and the Madrid road.
He also took one division from the corps holding Burgos and marched north to attack the Spanish division holding Pancorbo. This forced the allies to accept battle at odds of two to one. The result was the destruction of General Hills corps at the second battle of Pancorbo.
At a stroke Soult had destroyed one third of Wellingtons army, opened communications with Bayonne and concentrated his whole army between Burgos and Pancorbo. Once he had resupplied his army he could move against Wellington with three French corps to two allied.
Wellington received news of the disaster on 1st September 1813 and immediately ordered his army to retreat to Valladolid.
Location of campaign battles
Campaign History
19 August Start of campaign
22 August Battle of Aguillar Major allied victory
23 August Battle of Castrillo Minor allied victory
24 August Battle of Palencia Minor allied victory
27 August Battle of Pancorbo Minor allied victory
28 August Battle of Burgos Major French victory
31 August Second Battle of Pancorbo Major French victory
1 September Wellington orders general retreat
Link to Campaign Blog
http://1813campaigndiary.blogspot.com
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