Battle of Possneck Day 2 – Move 9

1600-1700  15^th August 1813

 

 Table at start of Move 9

Left – 2^nd French corps are starting to give way

Right – 3^rd Russian corps press home the attack 

 

 Russian corps at the end of Move 9

3^rd Russian Corps

Russian left is in a shambles after French dragoons charge hill

Centre is secure, right is pushing ahead towards the bridge

Rudzewitsch (left) now on Attack orders

French dragoons charge shaken cavalry on the hill and rout them

11^th infantry join them and both are cut down by the dragoons

The remainder of 7^th division break the centre of 4^th French division

Woroncow (centre left) is still on Engage orders

His artillery have cause havoc in the close packed enemy ranks

2^nd infantry win their firefight with 5^th Westphalian, who lose 30% casualties and rout

14^th French  infantry and 11^th hussars fail their morale and join the rout

Melnikow (centre right) is now on attack orders

8^th infantry win skirmish fight with 10^th French, who lose 10% casualties and rout

4^th cuirassiers charge shaken 12^th French, who fail to form square in time and are cut down

Galitzin (right)  orders his infantry and artillery to concentrate on the woods

He sends his cavalry ahead to secure the bridge over the river Saale

French corps at end of Move 9

2^nd French Corps

Victor desperately tries to withdraw his divisions back to the river

Dubreton (left) has lost more than half of his division

Both cavalry regiments are in rout and making for the bridge and safety

One of his infantry regiments have been cut down, and a second is in rout

He remaining two regiments are fighting in and near the woods, and in danger of being cut off

His artillery has withdrawn towards the bridge, but has no infantry or cavalry support.

Vial (centre) has sent one cavalry regiment to hold the bridge

The remainder of his division is falling apart

Two of his infantry regiments are in rout and a third is shaken

Only 15^th regiment on the hill is retreating in good order

Maison (right) is holding his own, despite heavy casualties

7^th dragoons have rallied after cutting down the Russian gunners

They charge, and rout, the Russian hussars and break the supporting infantry

7^th infantry win their firefight and rout 9^th Russian

Despite this the remainder of the division has to fall back towards the river

Game Notes

Both sides are taking heavy casualties

When one regiment fails its morale and breaks, all friends within 4” also have to test their morale

Because most regiments already have casualties it is not unusual for the rout to spread

6^th Russian division had brushed aside the weak French cavalry and are pushing towards the bridge

Only the French held woods is holding them back.

The infantry and cavalry have been ordered to take the woods and fall on the French left flank

The cavalry have been ordered to bypass the woods and secure the bridge

A mass of broken French infantry and cavalry regiments are making for the bridge and the relative safety of the west bank.

Rule 18 covers morale

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/