Shako: Battle of Castalla 

Historical Situation 

Terrain 

Key features are: 

Anglo-Sicilian Player  

Objective

Forces Available 

General Sir John Murray 

Notes: 

(1)  The unit list is largely taken from the British Forces employed in Murray's Tarragona Campaign, June 1813 (Gates, 1986), however, it is likely the are very similar to those employed at Castalla as the Division commanders and Division sizes are similar.  

(2) Given Gates (1986) says there were 9 squadrons, I assume that some of the 1st Sicilian Light Dragoons were also present at Castalla, although not with Murray in the Tarragona Campaign hence not appearing in the Units column of the table above.   

(3) Sapherson (1991) states that the Eastern army had 5 companies of artillery, making 30 guns total, and typically only 3 companies served in the field at any one time.   Wise's (1974) figure of 14 guns suggests 3 companies, but Gates (1986) figure of 30 guns suggests all 5 companies were present at Castalla.  This seems unlikely to me, and would probably unbalance a Shako game anyway, so I've opted for the lower figure of 3 batteries.  

De Roll's Regiment 

De Roll's Regiment was predominantly Swiss in origin and were considered superior to the KGL.  At times 3 companies of de Roll's regiment and 5 of Dillon's were combined into a provisional battalion called "Roll Dillon's".   At other times De Roll's rifles formed part of a combined light infantry battalion.  

Calabrian Free Corps

The Calabrian Free Corps was a two battalion unit (shrinking to one) raised by Sir John Stuart in Sicily.  It had British officers and Calabrians in all other ranks.  It was also known as the Calabrian Light Infantry and Rifles, reflecting its split between these two types of troops.  

Anglo-Italian Levy / Italian Legion

I assume what Gates (1986) calls the "Anglo-Italian Levy" is what Haythornthwaite (1995) call the "Italian Legion" as both are Italian and both served in the Eastern army, and there is nobody else in that force with a similar description.  The Italian Legion was a 2 battalion unit formed form Italian prisoners in England.  Austrians commanded the first regiment and other foreigners in Sicilian service the 2nd.  

Kings German Legion 

The Kings German Legion (KGL) was amongst the finest in the British Army.  They were recruited from Hanoverians. 

Dillon's Regiment 

Haythornthwaite (1995) suggest Dillon's Regiment was another Swiss unit - certainly it operated with the Swiss De Roll Regiment - however, Sapherson (1991) says it was French Royalist.  None-the-less, like De Roll's, Dillon's was considered superior to the KGL.  At times 3 companies of de Roll's regiment and 5 of Dillon's were combined into a provisional battalion called "Roll Dillon's".  

3rd 'Estero' Sicilian Infantry Regiment 

The 3rd 'Estero' Sicilian Infantry Regiment was a two battalion unit (Sapherson, 1991).  

Brunswick-Oels Hussars 

The Brunswick-Oels Hussars had 200-250 men formed into 2 squadrons (Sapherson, 1991).  They, along with 12 companies of infantry, were raised in 1809 for Austrian service from German, Croat, Danish, Dutch, Italian and Polish prisoners of war.  The Brunswickers almost immediately transferred to British service.  Only the Hussars served in the Eastern army in Spain.  

1st Sicilian Light Dragoons

The Sicilian Light Dragoons wore a pre-1812 British Light Dragoon uniform with dark blue coat with yellow facings and white lace; yellow metal buttons and badges; dark blue breeches; red sash; blue saddlecloth with white or yellow trim; Tarleton helmet with red side plume and black caterpillar plume (Sapherson, 1991).  It is unclear if the helmet had a black turban or alternatively a metal base and crest.  

1st Spanish Division "Mallorquina" (Whittingham)

Haythornthwaite (1995) mention the following units were part of Whittingham's Spanish Divsion when it joined the Eastern army: 

• two companies of Cordova Regt
• Majorca Cazadores 
• Battalion of Light Companies 
• 2nd Mallorca Regt.  Haythornthwaite (1995) mention that the 2nd Mallorca Regt were with Whittingham's Spanish Divsion when it joined the Eastern army, whereas Gates (1986) only mentions the Mallorca Regt in Murray's Tarragona Campaign, June 1813.  
• 5th Grenadiers.  ?? Possibly an alternative name for either the Mallorca Grenadiers or the Murcia Grenadiers.
• (Grenadiers) Guadalajara Regt.  The Grenadier companies were with Whittingham's Spanish Divsion when it joined the Eastern army. 
• Mallorca Grenadiers 
• 2nd Murcia Regt.  Might have just been the Grenadiers.  
• Murcia Grenadiers 
• Almansa Hussars  
• Olivenza Dragoons 

Deployment

Reserves Off-table  

French Player  

Objective

Forces Available 

Marshal Suchet 

(1) In mid-Autumn 1812 Boussard's Division in Suchet's Army of Aragon and Valencia had 1,922 men in 5 Regiments (1 Cuirassier, 2 Dragoon, 2 Lt) (Gates, 1986).  The number of men accords with Wise's (1974) figure of 2,000 men at Castalla in April 1813 but is considerably higher than Gates' figure of 1,424 men.  I've opted to give the French only 3 regiments to match the number of men mentioned by Gates.  I've arbitrarily included the Cuirassiers and dropped two lighter units. 

If present the heavies would have been the 13th Cuirassiers as they were the only Cuirassiers to serve in Spain, and further more they served in the east of the country for the whole war.  

Deployment 

Reserves Off-table  

Victory Conditions

Game Length 

12 turns or use the variable game length rules.  

Scenario Special Rules

• See my Shako House Rules for the First Carlist War  

Notes

[ Work ] [ War ] [ Food ] [ Balagan? ] [ Contact ] [ Search ]
Copyright 2001-2008 Steven Thomas