Battle of Possneck Day 2 – Move 1

0800-0900  15^th August 1813

Table at start of Move 1

Possneck is the town in the centre of the table

The river Saale is off table to the left

2^nd French corps is on the left

3^rd Russian corps is on the right

 French corps at end of Move 1

2^nd French Corps

As soon as Victor sees the Russian advance he appreciates the danger to his corps

He decides he will halt the retreat and hold his present position until nightfall

He will have to visit each division to issue Hold orders

This will take two or three moves depending on his dice roll for CPs

Dubreton (left) changed his orders from Retreat to Halt

This allowed him to about turn his rear infantry brigade and form column of attack

He then deployed his artillery between the two infantry regiments

He did not have sufficient CPs to redeploy all of his division.

His leading infantry brigade and cavalry brigade are still facing west

Vial (centre) also changed his orders from Retreat to Halt

He also redeployed his rear infantry brigade and artillery

He sent one infantry regiment to hold the hill between him and Dubreton

Again he did not have sufficient CPs to redeploy all of his division

The remainder of his division still faces west

Maison (right) changed his orders from Advance to Halt

His leading infantry brigade and artillery deploy

One infantry regiment is sent to hold the high ground on the right

The dragoon brigade are ordered forward

   Russian corps at the end of Move 1

3^rd Russian Corps

Wintzingerode is delighted to find the French in retreat

He is confident he can beat them with their backs to the river

His divisions have orders to advance and engage the French

No new orders are necessary at this stage

Rudzewitsch (left) sends his weak dragoon regiment to the rear

His hussar regiment is sent to secure the high ground on his left

The remainder of the division advance in column of march

Woroncow (centre) sends his cavalry forward to the left of the town

This is to pin the enemy and prevent their retreat

The remainder of his division advance in column of march

Melnikow (right) orders his leading infantry brigade to occupy the woods to his front

The cavalry advance to the left of the woods

They are also ordered to pin the enemy until the division can close with them

The remainder of the division advance in column of march

Game Notes

3^rd and 4^th French divisions move before the corps commander

They have to use their own CPs (command points) to change their orders to Halt

Otherwise they would have to retreat

During his move Victor changes 14^th and 4^th division’s orders to Hold

All three Russian divisions are already on engage orders

There is no need for Wintzingerode to change any orders

Rule 3 deals with command points

Rule 4 deals with orders

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/