Battle of Possneck – Move 8

1900-2000  14 August 1813

Table at the start of move 8

Both corps are now in position to engage the enemy,  but night approaches and it is too late to attack.

7^th French dragoons, bottom right, are shaken and very close to 1^st Russian hussars.   If the hussars move first they can charge the dragoons.  If the dragoons move first the hussars can attempt an opportunity charge.  In either case the dragoons are too close to the hussars to counter charge. 

Russian Right – 8^th division

General Melnikow (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Engage French Left

Artillery fire on infantry square (total 3 – no casualties)

6^th infantry advance through woods to road and skirmish with 11^th French (total 4 – no casualties)

Commander changes divisional orders to Halt

Marshal Victor (Average)

4 Command Points

Corps commander already commands 7^th dragoons

7^th dragoons ordered to withdraw 8^th facing enemy

1^st Russian hussars test to Opportunity Charge (total 6 – pass and charge)

The hussars reach the dragoons before they can react and must accept the charge at the halt.

Melee total 7 is a draw, no casualties

7^th dragoons retire 8^” facing the enemy as ordered by corps commander

General Wintzingerode (Average)

7 Command Points

Move to join 9^th division (on left)

Change orders to Hold

Move to join 8^th division (on right)

Russian Centre – 7^th Division

General Woroncow (Average)

7 Command Points

Orders – Hold

Artillery fire on French gunners (total 10 – no casualties)

General moves to command range (8”) of Cossacks

Cossacks about turn and move to join Cuirassiers

Russian Left – 9^th division

General Rudzewitsch (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Hold

Artillery fire on French gunners (total 6 – no casualties)

Reorganise infantry

French Right – 14^th division

General Maison (Poor)

6 Command Points

Orders – Engage Russian Left

Artillery fire on 1^st hussars (total 8 – 10% casualties)

Hussars test morale for 10% casualties (total 0 – fail and rout)

Rout into gunners who test morale (total 3 – pass but are disordered)

Reorganise infantry

7^th dragoons test morale for 10% casualties and shaken (total 1 – fail remain shaken)

3^rd dragoons test morale for shaken (total 5 – pass become disordered)

French Left – 3^rd division

General Dubreton (Average)

8 Command Points

Orders – Hold road left of town

Artillery fire on Russian gunners (total 7 – no casualties)

Reorganise infantry and cavalry

General move to command range (8”) of infantry in woods

11^th infantry skirmish with 6^th Russian (total 2 – no casualties)

French Centre – 4^th division

General Vial (Poor)

7 Command Points

Orders – Hold Possneck

Artillery fire on routed 1^st hussars (total 10 – 10% casualties)

Artillery overshoot on disordered gunners (total 7 – no casualties)

1^st hussars test morale for 20% casualties and rout (total 1 – fail and continue to rout)

11^th hussars test morale for 10% casualties and rout (total 2 – fail and continue to rout)

Game Notes

Another move of cavalry engagements and artillery fire

Neither side have been able to bring their infantry into action, except for an ineffective skirmish in the woods.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Table at end of battle

Game Result

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

They lost 600 cavalry and 100 gunners.

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

They lost 1000 cavalry

The result is a draw

2^nd French corps hold Possneck and the road running north and south

3^rd Russian corps reform 12” east of Possneck

Both corps are capable of fighting again on 15^th August.

Both commanders will confirm whether they wish to hold, retire or attack next day