Battle of Possneck – Move 3

1400-1500  14 August 1813

Table at the start of move 3

French cavalry have won melee in the centre, but are now isolated

Russians cavalry bottom right move against their flank

 French Centre – 4^th division

General Vial (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Hold Possneck

Artillery manhandle 2” towards the enemy

Infantry form column of attack behind the town

Vial moves forward to command the cavalry

16^th hussars retreat 7” facing the enemy

11^th hussars charge the Russian cuirassiers

The hussars win the melee (total 11 with 2D6)

The cuirassiers rout with 10% casualties

2^nd infantry and artillery are directly behind and routed through

2^nd infantry test morale (total 2 – fail and become shaken)

Gunners test morale (total 2 – fail and become shaken)

Marshal Victor (Average)

5 Command Points

Move to 14^th division (French Right)

Change their orders to “Engage Russian left”

Move towards Possneck

General Wintzingerode (Average)

6 Command Points

Move to 9^th division (Russian Left)

Change orders to “Engage French Right”

Move to join 7^th division (Russian Centre)

Russian Right – 8^th division

General Melnikow (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage French Left

Artillery advance 8” and unlimber

Infantry advance 8”

French Left – 3^rd division

General Dubreton (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders – Engage Russian Right

Artillery advance 8” and unlimber

Infantry advance 8”

Russian Left – 9^th division

General Rudzewitsch (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage French Right

Cavalry form line

Cuirassiers advance within charge move of French hussar’s flank

Hussars move to edge of hill to protect infantry deployment

Infantry and artillery move down hill to join 7^th division

Russian Centre – 7^th division

General Woroncow (Average)

9 Command Points

Orders - Hold

Shaken Cossacks move on to hill to make room for infantry

Infantry advance and form square

Cossacks test morale for 20% casualties and shaken (total 3 – pass become disordered)

2^nd infantry test morale for shaken (total 4 – pass become disordered)

Gunners test morale for shaken (total 2 – fail remain shaken)

Cuirassiers test morale for 10% and rout (total 3 – pass become shaken)

French Right – 14^th division

General Maison (Poor)

8 Command Points

Orders – Engage Russian Left

Infantry and artillery advance 8”

Maison moves to command range (8”) of cavalry

Cavalry advance 12”

Game Notes

The French cavalry have caused some damage to 7^th Russian corps.  But in doing so they now find themselves far from supports and being threatened by enemy cavalry on their flanks.

11^th hussrs charge the Russian cuirassiers to cover the withdrawal of 16^th hussars.  They win the melee, and disorder the nearby infantry and artillery.   But in doing so they find themselves even further from their supports.

If they about turn they will be even more exposed to attack, so they have to retire facing the enemy.    This withdrawal takes 2CP per regiment per turn, and they only move at half speed.  But they can counter charge if attacked.

The extra cavalry (two regiments per brigade) are making for more interesting cavalry melee.   For the first time supports can be used.  

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/