1813 Campaign – Part 4 - Passau Phase

  Southern Germany 12 June 1813

 

General
This phase covers the period 12 June to 22 June 1813 and the fighting in southern Germany between Third French army and the Austrian army

It was fought during the period March to July 2010

  Corps positions at start of campaign

Summary of the Campaign

Napoleon is not expecting any trouble with the Austrians.

He has sent Oudinot to Munich to take command of the Bavarian and Baden armies. The Austrian advance down the Danube valley comes as a complete surprise to Oudinot.

After an initial success the Austrians are defeated.

Location of campaign battles

Campaign History

12 June            Start of campaign

16 June            Battle of Mattsee                    Austrian victory

17 June            Battle of Altheim                     Austrian victory

19 June            Battle of Branau                     Austrian victory

20 June            Battle of Salzburg                   French victory

21 June            Battle of Reishach                   French victory

Link to Campaign Blog

http://1813danubecampaign.blogspot.com/

1813 Campaign - Part 3 - Halle Phase

  Central Germany 17 June 1813

General

This phase covers the period 17 June to 11 July 1813 and the fighting in central Germany between Fourth French army and the Russian army

It was fought during the period August to October 2009

  Corps positions at start of campaign

Summary of the Campaign

Kutuzov had played a major part in the 1812 campaign and his army had suffered heavy casualties.   After six months rest in Dresden his army was now ready to take the field again.

His objective was to take the town of Halle and secure the river Saale.

Napoleon had two corps west of the river Saale, and a third in reserve.  He had just arrived at Fulda to take command of the Imperial Garde

The Russian attack forced the French to abandon the east bank, and Kutuzov managed to cross the river.   But a determined counter attack made them retire to the east bank.

The campaign was a draw.   The French held the line of the river Saale, but they had to abandon their positions on the east bank.

Lolcation of campaign battles

Campaign History

17 June            Start of campaign

23 June            Battle of Neustadt                  Russian victory

25 June            Battle of Gera                         Russian victory

26 June            Battle of Weimar                    French victory

28 June            Battle of Lutzen                      Russian victory

1 July               Battle of Rohenburg                Russian victory

7 July               Battle of Halle                         French Victory                        

Link to Campaign Blog

http://1813hallecampaign.blogspot.com/

1813 Campaign – Part 2 – Tarragona Phase

  Eastern Spain 14 May 1813

General

This phase covers the period 14 May to 7 June 1813 and the fighting in eastern Spain between Fourth French army and the Spanish army

It was fought during the period July to August 2009

  Corps positions at start of campaign

Summary of the Campaign

Wellington has been appointed commander of all allied armies.  He had decided that the main campaign will be in western Spain, but he has ordered the Spanish army in eastern Spain to take the city of Tarragona in order to prevent Suchet from sending any reinforcements to Soult in western Spain

Suchet has three corps deployed along the coastal area from Gerona to Tarragona

Copons commands the four Spanish corps tasked to occupy Suchet.  He captures Tortosa to lure the French into the mountains inland.   He then attempts to take Tarragona, but fails to do so.  Suchet concentrates his three corps at Tarragona and they drive Copons south.

The Spanish achieve their objective of preventing Suchet from sending reinforcements to Soult

Location of campaign battles

Campaign History

14 May            Start of campaign

20 May            Battle of Reus                         Spanish victory

24 May            Battle of Prades                      French victory

26 May            First battle of Cambrils            French victory

28 May            Second battle of Cambrils            French victory

7 June              End of campaign                     

Link to Campaign Blog

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/

1813 Campaign - Part 1 - Magdeburg Phase

Northern Germany 1 May 1813

General

This phase covers the period 1 to 16 May 1813 and the fighting in northern Germany between Second French army and the Prussian army

It was played from April to July 2009

  Corps positions at start of campaign

Summary of the Campaign
Prussia had not taken part in the 1812 campaign, so it was the first of the allied armies to take the field against Napoleon.

Davout was tasked to hold the river Elbe from Hamburg to Magdeburg.   He had two corps immediately available, and two more on the way

Blucher’s objective was to capture Magdeburg and secure the west bank of the river Elbe.

After two weeks and four battles Blucher held Magdeburg and two other bridge heads over the river Elbe.  But his main army had been forced to withdraw to the west bank. 

The campaign was a draw

Location of  campaign battles

Campaign History

1 May              Start of campaign                     

5 May              Battle of Calbe (Gommern on new map)                     Prussian victory

7 May              Battle of Colbitz (Bismark on new map)                     Prussian victory

10 May            Battle of Halbeck (Kalbe on new map)                       Prussian victory

14 May            Battle of Magdeburg                                                    French victory

16 May            End of campaign

Link to Campaign Blog

http://1813northgermany.blogspot.com/

Introduction to the 1813 Campaign

In early 2009 I carried out a complete review of our wargaming activities.   My wife and I have been wargaming since 1970, and I wanted to create a campaign, which would provide us with enjoyable wargames making maximum use of our model soldier and scenery collection. 

I have always taken photographs of my wargames, and I decided to start a blog to keep a permanent record of the campaign.

I settled on the 1813 campaign because it involved all of the major military powers, and I had figures to represent all of them.   I would not attempt to copy that campaign, but to use it as a framework for my fictional one.

The campaign would start on 1 May 1813

I used a road atlas to produce hand drawn maps of central Europe and Spain.   In 2010 I treated myself to Profantasy CC3, a computer based map-making system, to produce more professional looking maps.

The strategic terrain is similar to the actual terrain, but the tactical maps represent the wargames table scenery   The nations involved are the same, but the orders of battle completely different.

The orders of battle are designed to make maximum use of the model soldiers in my collection

Each battlefield is designed to fit on my 6x6 foot wargames table making maximum use of the scenery in my collection.

There are five campaign areas, each with its own French and allied army

Map of Europe 1 May 1813

Northern Germany – Munster to Berlin – French v Prussian
Central Germany – Dusseldorf to Dresden – French v Russian
Southern Germany – Munich to Vienna – French v Austrian
Eastern Spain – Barcelona to Valencia – French v Spanish
Western Spain – Madrid to Bayonne – French v British

The campaign started in April 2009