FLIGHT OF THE EAGLE



Battles - 1808
Date Name Attacker Defender Description Victor Casualties
January 1807 Algeciras
Moore
25,000

Costanos
25,000
An English force of 25,000 disembarks on Spainish shores south of Cadiz under the command of Lieutenant General John Moore. A short march brings the English with sight of the Spanish seige works at Gibraltar. A lack of intellignece hampers General Costanos who is slow to react to the threat to his rear. His 25,000 troops are beaten before an adequate defense can be mounted. The seige of Gibraltar is broken.
England
10,000 Spanish
5,000 English
May 1807 Lambrasas
Moore
35,000

La Romana
15,000
Sir John Moore at the head of 30,000 men strikes across the border at La Romana's 15,000 men. The majority of the Spainish force is hastily raised militia who prove no match against British regulars. Uxbridge covers Moore's southern flank in case Blake descends from the montains with his 45,000 men. Although Blake can hear the battle, he cannot react before La Romana's militia breaks and is routed by the fierce British cavalry pursuit.
England
10,000 Spanish
5,000 English
June 1807 Caceras
Blake
45,000

10,000
Blake move south with 45,000 men and surprises the Portuguese column heavily laden with the spoils from the sack of Badajoz. The Portuguese are routed and forced to abandon their loot.
Spain
10,000 Portuguese
June 1807 Plock
Kutusov
40,000

20,000
Kutusov slips out of Warsaw with a mixed infantry/cavalty force 40,000 strong. He falls on and destroys a french cavalry corps screening the southern flank of the Grande Armee.
Russia
5,000 Russian
15,000 French
June 1807 Guben
Barclay de Tolly
20,000

10,000
Barclay de Tolly breaks off the the main allied army with 20,000 men and is charged with the task of clearing the french cavalry screen north of the Grande Armee, which he does.
Russia
10,000 French
June 1807 Luckau
Bagration
150,000 Russian
80,000 Prussian

Massena
260,000
The allied council of war is split. Many wish to remain behind the Vistula in positions prepared over the winter and spring. Others view this strategy as allowing the initiative to pass to the french. They argue for an immediate attack across the Vistula to strike the Grande Amree before Napoleon arrives in person to take command. Despite King Wilhelm's reservations, the Tsar, as the senior partner in the alliance, decides that to wait passively is to invite disaster. The combined Russo-Prussian army of 230,000 men (150,000 Russian, 80,000 Prussian) under the overall command of Barclay de Tolly crosses the Vistula and marches to engage Massena and the 260,000 strong Grande Armee.

Although not expecting an attack, Massena reacts swiftly to the threat from the north and prepares strong defensive lines. The allies batter against the french positions for most of the first day of fighting. Alled attempts to dislodge the French right anchored on the village of Luckau on the Vistula gain nothing. Casualties are roughly even but the allied troops go to sleep tired and hungry.

On the second day, Massena takes the initiative and pins the allied center with strong frontal attacks. Marmont is entrusted with 40,000 men to turn the allied right, held now mostly by Prussian landwehr. The conscripts break and flee. Rather than risk being pinned to the river and destroyed, Barclay de Tolly orders a general withdrawal. With Marmont's corps closing in to seal the retreat route, only desperate rear-guard fighting averts total disaster.

France
75,000 Russian
45,000 Prussian
75,000 French
June 1807 Hoyas
Moore
35,000
(later 50,000)

Blake
45,000
Moore at the head of 35,000 British troops manuevers to dislodge Blake's 45,000 Spainards from his mountain perch overlooking the Portuguese border. Blake has chosen his ground well. The narrow mountain passes prevent Moore from deploying his troops and the English suffer badly. Uxbridge and 15,000 reinforcements appear in late afternoon but the troops become entangles with Moore's baggage train. Taking advantage of local knowledge of the terrain, the Spanish infiltrate the high ground above the English columns and take a fearful toll before Moore orders the withdawal.
Spain
35,000 English
15,000 Spainish
July 1807 Konigsberg
Napoleon
195,000

Blucher
5,000 Russian
5,000 Prussian
The Grande Armee, 195,000 stong, arrives outside the city. The mixed garrison of 10,000 Prussians and Russians is quickly oercome and forced to surrender.
France
10,000 Allied
July 1807 Danzig
Lannes
35,000

5,000 Prussian
Lannes storms the ancient city and routs the hastily conscripted defenders, thereby securing napoleon's supply lines.
France
5,000 Prussian
July 1807 Zamora
Moore
25,000

Soult
20,000
The appearance of a 20,000 man French force in the Duro River valley under Soult send the English command into a panic. Moore is ordered to march the 25,000 survivors of the Hoyas disaster to meet this new threat. The English fight with grim determination to avenge their fallen comrades. The ensuing two day battle of attrition grinds down the French and German allies until Soult is forced to order a withdrawal with only a handful of survivors. The cost to the English is also fearful with Moore's command reduced to a shadow of its former self. However, the immediate threat to Oporoto is eased.
England
20,000 English
20,000 French
August 1807 Pultusk
Napoleon
180,000

Barclay de Tolly
40,000
Napoleon receives reports that the Russians are withdrawing southward toward Warsaw. He immediately departs Konigsberg and pursues with the Grande Armee. The main Russian army, now reduced to 40,000 men, is commanded by Barclay de Tolly. The French catch up to the Russians at the town of Pultusk outside Warsaw. Napoleon immediately attacks despite the fact that Lannes and 25,000 men have been detached to clear the flank of cossacks and most of his army is strung out on the march. Napoleon feeds troops into the battle as they arrive on the field in a series of frontal assaults. The Russian defense absorbs the punishment with frightful losses but does not break. Barclay takes advantag eof nightfall to withdraw his army to the safety of Warsaw.
France
10,000 French
20,000 Russian
September 1807 Slonin
Napoleon
155,000

Kutusov
130,000
Hard marching brings Napoleon within striking distance of the Russians just before they can cross over into Russia. Napoleon immediately attacks with his 155,000 men. Kutusov, with 130,000 men, is outnumbered but has a superiority in cavalry. This edge prevents Napoleon from executing his planned double envlopement. Frustrated, Napoleon commits his Guard. The Russians weather the storm and refuse to break. That night, Kutusov slips away into the Pripet Marshes.
France
15,000 French
15,000 Russian
November 1807 Bayonne
Moore
10,000

5,000
Sir John Moore departs from Oporto with 10,000 men on Royal navy transports. One week later, the fotilla appears of the Frecnh coast at Bayonne. The local French commander withdraws the 5,000 man defenders within the town walls but the defenders are too few. With the help of naval bombardment, the city is battered into submission.
England
5,000 English
5,000 French