Battle of Domburg – Move 8

1900-2000 14 August 1813

Table at the start of move 8

The three Russian divisions move forward to attack the two French divisions

The third French division deploys to hold the bridge

Russian Right - 4^th division

General Potemkin (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Engage French left

Artillery fire on French infantry (total 8 – 10% casualties)

7^th infantry test morale for 20% casualties (total 2 – fail become shaken)

Infantry advance 6” in column of attack

1^st and 3^rd infantry skirmish with French infantry (total 6 and 4 – 10% casualty)

6^th French test morale for 10% casualty (total 2 – fail become shaken)

French Left - 16^th division

General Fontanelli (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – hold left of town

Artillery fire canister on Russian infantry (total 6 – 10% casualties)

3^rd infantry test morale for 10% casualties (total 3 – pass test)

General moves to centre of division

5^th infantry forms square

6^th infantry fire fight with 1^st and 3^rd Russian

Russians win – Russians 10% casualties French 20% casualties and rout

Gunners test morale for rout within 4” (total 0 – fail and join rout)

7^th infantry test morale for rout within 4” (total 0 – fail and join rout)

Marshal MacDonald (Poor)

3 Command Points

Move to join French Reserve

Change orders to “Hold bridge”

French Reserve – 8^th division

General Gerard (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Hold bridge

Move artillery to centre and unlimber

Infantry form line in column of attack

14^th lancer regiment turn to support infantry

Russian Centre - 5^th division

General Bistrom (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Engage French

Artillery fired on French infantry (total 8 – 10% casualties)

26^th infantry test morale for 10% casualties (total 4 – pass test)

Infantry advance 6” in column of attack

6^th and 7^th infantry skirmish with French infantry (total 2 and 6 – 10% casualties)

27^th infantry test morale for 10% casualties (total 4 – pass test)

3^rd Cossacks charge 26^th infantry in line

Cossacks win – infantry 30% casualties and rout

Nearby French infantry test morale for rout within 4” (total 4 – pass test)

Nearby French gunners test morale for rout within 4” (total 5 – pass test)

Cossacks test to pursue (total 3 – halt disordered)

French infantry (in square) retreat to create 4” gap from Cossacks

General Sacken (Poor)

5 Command Points

Move to left flank to join 6^th division

Change orders to “Attack French”

French Right - 7^th division

General Morand (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Hold right of town

Russian cuirassiers Opportunity Charge  on flank of gunners (total 5 – pass and charge)

French gunners unable to react, cut down with 50%  casualties (Quick Result rule 08)

Russian cuirassiers test to pursue (total 3 – halt disordered)

27^th and 28^th infantry form square and retreat 1”

General moves command range (8”) of hussar brigade

Hussars charge Russian cavalry

Russian cavalry test morale to counter charge (total 5 – pass and counter charge)

11^th French hussar’s melee 2^nd Russian dragoons

Russians win (total 5) halt disordered.   French hussars retire shaken but no casualties

16^th French hussar’s melee 1^st russian hussars

Draw (total 7) both halt disordered but no casualties

Russian Left - 6^th division 

General Gailitzin (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Attack French

Artillery fire on French cavalry (total 7 – no casualties)

Infantry advance 6” in column of attack

Cavalry all disordered and unable to charge enemy

1^st Russian hussars continue melee with 16^th French hussars (both disordered)

Russians win.

French lose 20% casualties and retire shaken.  

Russians lose 10% casualties and halt disordered

Game Notes

In the last move before nightfall the Russians have closed with the French.

The result is a decisive victory for the Russians, and the French are fortunate that night stops the battle.

8^th French division has not taken part in the battle, and is well placed to cover the withdrawal of the other two battered divisions.

On engage orders infantry can opt to skirmish or fire fight.

Skirmish require total of 6 to inflict casualties (rule 11 refers)

Fire fight tends to be more decisive (rule 12 refers)

Cavalry v cavalry melee are often ineffective (rule 14 refers)

Cavalry usually win melee with infantry (rule 15)

Rule 08 covers Quick Results, where the outcome is not decided by dice

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Table at end of battle

Game Result

The French started the battle with 6400 infantry, 1600 cavalry and 800 gunners

They lost 1100 infantry, 400 cavalry, 400 gunners and two batteries of guns

The Russians started the battle with 9600 infantry, 2400 cavalry and 1200 gunners

They lost 400 infantry and 100 cavalry

The result is a decisive victory for 2^nd Russian corps

4^th French corps will flee the battle in disorder and avoid the enemy for 24 hours

8^th French division did not fight and will cover the retreat