Battle of Jena - Day One

Campaign Map at start of battle

2^nd Russian corps is attacking Jena in support of 1^st Russian corps attack on Bad Kosen

4^th division have orders to attack across the ford

5^th division have orders to hold the bridge and east bank

6^th division have orders to support 1^st corps attack on Bad Kosen

5^th French corps have orders to hold the west bank of the river

1^st division have orders to support 13^th if Jena is attacked

13^th division have orders to hold Jena and recce the river in CO4

 

Table at start of battle

Jena is the town centre left

Road north to Bad Kosen and south to Saalfeld

Road east to Domburg and west to Erfurt

Top left - 1^st French division is full strength

Centre left - 13^th Polish division (cavalry brigade bottom left) is full strength

Top right - 4^th Russian division has 100 casualties

Centre right - 5^th Russian division has 100 casualties

5^th French corps

Corps commander is General Friant (Gifted)

Commander 1^st  Guard division (left)  is General Michael (Average)

Commander 13^th Polish division (right) is General Kaminiecki (Average

 2^nd Russian corps

Corps commander is General Sacken (Poor)

Commander 5^th Russian division (right) is General Bistrom (Average)

Commander 4^th Russian division (left)  is General Potemnkin (Average)

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Both French corps are on Hold orders

4^th Russian division (top right) must move towards river in accordance with campaign orders

It is clear to General Sacken that he can not attack in the north or centre, but that the south is only lightly held by cavalry.   He knows that there is a ford in the north and the bridge in the centre.  But he does not know whether there is a ford in the south.  

He orders both divisions to move south and 5^th division to recce the river for a ford

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Only artillery are in range and both sides exchange fire. 

The Russians gunners near the bridge receive casualties and become less effective

Russian cavalry in the south move towards the river to recce for a ford

 

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

In the south Russian artillery open fire on Polish lancers but do not cause any casualties

Cossacks start to recce the river

Infantry move south in anticipation of a ford

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

In the north the guard move forward level with the Poles

This causes 4^th division to abandon their move south in order to defend the ford

Russian gunners north of the bridge receive more casualties and rout

4^th Russian division now has to hold the area from the northern ford to the bridge without artillery support.

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Russian CinC arrives with 6^th division on the hills top right

He takes command of 2^nd Russian corps as soon as he arrives

He sends orders to 4^th division to hold the river from the northern ford to the bridge

He sends orders for 5^th division to cross the river if there is a ford

The Cossacks continue to search for a ford

Friant has joined the Polish lancers, who confirm that there is a ford

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Friant takes personal command of the lancer brigade

He orders them to retire out of artillery range.

Sacken moves south to join 5^th division and find out whether there is a ford or not

6^th division continue through the hills towards the river

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Friant orders 13^th division to extend their left to cover both the bridge and the southern ford

Cossacks continue to recce ford

French artillery open fire on Russian gunners but fail to cause any casualties

With the arrival of 6^th division, 4^th division are able to move south to bridge

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Cossacks confirm that there is a ford

Cuirassiers cross ford and deploy into line

Polish gunners open fire on cuirassiers but miss

French guard extend their right towards bridge

Guard gunners move south to cover bridge

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Polish lancers charge cuirassiers, melee is a draw

Cossacks cross river and deploy to support cuirassiers

Infantry start to cross the southern ford

Artillery prevent Polish infantry moving forward to support lancers

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

6^th division deploy cavalry and artillery by the ford

French guard cavalry retire west out of artillery range

4^th division is in position to attack across the bridge

5^th division are crossing the southern ford

The Polish lancers have fallen back to join the rest of the division

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

In the south Russian cavalry charge Polish lancers

The Russians win the melee and the Poles fall back

This allows the rest of 5^th division to cross the river 

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

Russian cuirassiers again charge Polish lancers and rout them

5^th division has now secured their bridge head on the west bank

The French have retired west to the road

As night falls 6^th division moves up to the northern ford.

Summary

2^nd Russian corps was only able to cross the river Saale because of the arrival of 6^th division.   It took most of the day for them to move south and cross the undefended southern ford.   The French cavalry put up a spirited defence but had to withdraw and were finally routed.

5^th French corps have abandoned the river and withdrawn to the road.

French casualties: 300 cavalry and 300 infantry

Russian casualties: 100 cavalry, 100 infantry and 200 gunners

We used our own wargame rules to fight the battle

They can be found here

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/