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

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/

Battle of Possneck Day 2 – Move 8

1500-1600  15^th August 1813

Table at start of Move 8

The battle is now entering the critical phase

Both corps are within close combat range 

 Russian corps at the end of Move 8

3^rd Russian Corps

Wintzingerode moves to change division orders from Engage to Attack

Rudzewitsch (left) now on Attack orders

His grenadier regiment charge home on the French gunners and cut them down

Major setback on the hills to his left

His artillery is charged by the French dragoons and cut down

Supporting infantry and cavalry both shaken

 

Woroncow (centre left) is still on Engage orders

His artillery have moved forward to close range, and cause damage to the French infantry

2^nd infantry exchange volley fire with 5^th Westphalians, both lose 10% but neither give way

Melnikow (centre right) orders changed from Engage to Attack

He orders his shaken infantry to withdraw to make room for the cavalry reserve

4^th cuirassiers move forward and prepare to charge French infantry

Galitzin (right)  still on Engage orders

His cavalry receive ineffective skirmish fire from the woods as they push towards the bridge

His two leading infantry regiments advance to woods and skirmish with French infantry

French receive 10% casualties and retire from edge of woods shaken

 French corps at end of Move 8

2^nd French Corps

Victor orders his divisions to attempt a fighting withdrawal to the river

 

Dubreton (left) orders his artillery, and his isolated infantry on the hill, to fall back to the bridge

The remainder of his infantry continue to skirmish, but are losing the combat

In desperation he orders 6^th chasseurs (with 20% casualties) to charge the Russian dragoons

The chasseurs fight well, but are forced to withdraw Shaken

There are now no formed cavalry to prevent the Russians taking the bridge

Vial (centre) has received orders to withdraw to the river and hold the bridge

He is under attack, and can only send 16^th hussars to hold the bridge

His artillery fire one last round on the Russians and then limber to retreat

The Russians receive casualties but continue to advance

One shaken infantry regiment, and the disordered 11^th hussars, are left to cover the retreat

Maison (right) is making a determined stand

7^th dragoons test for opportunity charge on Russian artillery as they attempt to deploy on opposite hill

Dragoons charge, Russians fail test to react, gunners are cut down

Supporting Russian infantry and cavalry both fail morale test and are Shaken

His gunners are overrun and cut down by Russian grenadier regiment

5^th infantry are within 4”, lose their morale test and are shaken

Despite his success with 7^th dragoons his position is now desperate

He has lost his artillery and one of his infantry regiments in rout, a second is shaken

Game Notes

Both corps are now losing serious casualties, resulting in loss of morale

Up to one third of each division is cut down, in rout, shaken or disordered

No CPs are allowed for these regiments

Divisional commanders must decide where best to use the reduced CPs

The combat options when on Engage or Attack are very different

Engage allows infantry to skirmish or volley, but not to melee

Attack orders allow infantry to charge and melee, both infantry and gunners

On Attack orders combat tends to be much more decisive

Rule 3 covers Command Points (CP)

Rule 4 covers divisional orders

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/