Battle of Possneck Day 2 – Move 10

1700-1800  15^th August 1813

Table at start of Move 10

Time is running out for the French

More than half of their regiments have been cut down, are in rout or shaken

Because the Russians are so close they have to sacrifice formed infantry to cover the retreat/rout

16^th hussars alone are in position to hold the bridge, and they have 10% casualties

Russian corps at the end of Move 10

3^rd Russian Corps

Russian infantry and cavalry surge ahead and mask their artillery

It is now just a race for the bridge

Rudzewitsch (left) advance and bypass French rearguard regiment who surrender

The remainder of the enemy have retreated

French right wing has collapsed

Woroncow (centre left) advance towards bridge

The French centre has collapsed

There is no formed enemy to attack

Melnikow (centre right) has bypassed the woods and is nearing the bridge

4^th cuirassiers charge 16^th hussars in the flank and cut them down

4^th cuirassiers join 4^th dragoons at the bridge

Galitzin (right) has surrounded 9^th French in the woods and they surrender

Remainder of division advance towards bridge

French left wing has collapsed and there are no formed enemy to fight

French corps at end of Move 10

2^nd French Corps

Victor has failed to reach the bridge before the Russians

More than half of his corps are cut down, in rout or shaken

Dubreton (left) starts the round with just 3CP

His last formed regiment is surrounded in the woods and surrender

The remainder of his division have been cut down, are in rout or are shaken

Vial (centre) has 4 CP for this move

Artillery and 15^th infantry both retire

Vial moves to command range of 16^th hussars and orders them to charge 4^th dragoons

The result is a draw, with both regiments disordered

4^th Russian cuirassiers then charge 16^th hussars and cut them down

Maison (right) orders 3^rd dragoons and 8^th infantry to about turn and march for the bridge

7^th infantry are left to form the rearguard, but are soon surrounded and forced to surrender

7^th dragoons (on the hill) are out of command range and make their own way back to the bridge

Russian cavalry reach the bridge

Russian cuirassiers and dragoons on the left have reached the bridge

The mass of French cavalry and infantry are all in rout and must avoid the enemy

The limbered artillery will be cut down if they do not surrender

There is now no possibility of a French retreat

Marshal Victor orders 2^nd French corps to surrender to avoid their complete destruction

Game Notes

2^nd French corps has ceased to exist as a fighting force

There are still a few formed infantry and cavalry regiments, but they are vastly outnumbered

If they attempt to stand and fight they will be destroyed

The only bridge has been captured by the Russians, so retreat is now impossible

If this were not a campaign game we would have finished it on move 8, and agreed that the French had lost and must surrender.

Because it is a campaign game we have carried on, but with each move more and more French regiments are routed or cut down.  

The French made a good recovery in the opening moves to react to the surprise Russian attack.

But the arrival of 6^th division on the open French left flank was decisive.

The French had no reserves to counter 6^th division, and were now outnumbered four to three

Worse still there was nothing to stop 6^th division from reaching the river and taking the bridge

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, 1800 cavalry and 1100 gunners

They lost to battle casualties             :           4700 infantry,  700 cavalry and 800 gunners

The remainder surrendered                :           4900 infantry, 1100 cavalry and 300 gunners           

The Russians started the battle with  :           9600 infantry, 1400 cavalry and 1200 gunners

They were reinforced with                 :           2900 infantry, 700 cavalry and 400 gunners          

They lost to battle casualties                        1900 infantry, 1100 cavalry and 400 gunners

The result is a major Russian victory

The loss of 2^nd corps is a disaster from the French

The Russian commander will have to nominate one of his three divisions to handle the large number of prisoners

6^th Russian division will cease to be under command of 3^rd corps and will await orders from their own corps commander