Battle of Bad Kosen – Move 1

1200-1300  14 August 1813

Table at the start of move 1

Bad Kosen is the town centre left

The river is the Saale

1^st Russian corps right of river

3^rd French corps left of river

French Centre – 5^th division

General Delmas (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Hold river line

Artillery fire on leading infantry (total 7 – no casualties)

20^th infantry ordered to recce river for ford

Russian Right – 2^nd division

General Lukow (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Move to river and skirmish

Cossacks ordered to recce river for ford

Artillery move to left flank to support 3^rd division and unlimber

5^th and 8^th infantry move to river and form line

Russian Centre – 1^st division

General Mesenzow (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Move to bridge and engage

Artillery advance to river

1^st infantry advance to river and form column of march

Cossacks advance to bridge (to deter enemy moving too close to river)

3^rd infantry advance to river and form line

General  Langeron (Average)

Commander 1^st Russian Corps

6 Command Points

Moving with 3^rd division

Change 3^rd division orders to Attack

Move to join 2^nd division (on right)

French Left -  6^th division

General Ricard (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Hold Bad Kosen

Unlimber artillery and manhandle 2” towards bridge

Cavalry move to left flank to cover possible ford

General moves to centre of division

Infantry advance 6” towards river

French Right -  15^th division

General Dambrowski (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Hold southern end of bridge

Division must hold its position until new orders received from corps commander

Artillery fire on cavalry (total 5 – no casualties)

Marshal Ney (Average)

Commander 3^rd French Corps

5 Command Points

Move to join 15^th division

Change orders to “Retire to north bank of river”

Move towards 6^th division

Russian Left – 3^rd division

General Wustow (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Attack French south of the river

Artillery move to river and unlimber

Cavalry advance into charge range of bridge

Infantry advance 8”

General moves to centre of division

Game Notes

5^th Russian division is in such an exposed position that their only chance of survival is an all out attack on 15^th Vistula division.  Because of their order of march this must be carried out by the cavalry brigade, who is at the front of the division.  However if the Polish infantry form square the cavalry could be destroyed.

It is also important to charge the cavalry in two lines, so that there is room for the supporting infantry to advance towards the bridge.

Meanwhile Langeron hopes to find a ford north of the bridge, so that he can attack the exposed French left flank.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/