Campaign Report - Move 10 - End of Campaign

Campaign map at start of move 11 - 1200 4 May 1813

CAMPAIGN DIARY

Move 1 – 0800-1200 1 May 1813
Prussian and French armies reach their concentration areas

Move 2 – 1200-1600 1 May 1813
The Prussian Army nears the river Saale, and 3 corps secure the bridge at Dessau.

The French Army have reached their concentration areas around Helmstedt.

Move 3 – 1600-2000 1 May 1813
3 Prussian corps crossed the river Saale and entered Dessau.

4 and 13 French corps both try to pass through Wolfsburg, causing a traffic jam and a delay of 24 hours to 13 corps.

Move 4 – 0800-1200 2 May 1813
The Prussians have now crossed the river Saale at Parey in the north and Dessau in the south.

The French traffic jam at Wolfsburg has been sorted out, 13 Polish corps have entered the town and are being sorted out ready to move tomorrow.

Move 5 – 1200-1600 2 May 1813
The Prussians have crossed the river Saale and 2 corps is approaching Magdeburg

The French continue their advance towards Magdeburg.

Move 6 – 1600-2000 2 May 1815
The Prussians have crossed the river Saale and are moving west when they sight the French army approaching them from Seehausen.

Move 7 – 1200-1400 3 May 6 May 1813
1 Prussian and 4 French corps fight the battle of Colbitz

2 Prussian and 5 French corps fight the battle of Seehausen

Move 8 – 1400 -1600 3 May 1813
The French win the battle of Colbitz. 4 French corps enters the town. 1 Prussian corps withdraws towards Parey

Battle of Seehausen continues. 2 Prussian and 5 French corps exchange fire. Marshal Davout and 6 French corps join the battle..

Move 9 – 1600-2000 3 May 1813
Battle of Seehausen continues. 3 Prussian corps joins the battle, just in time to add much needed support to the weary Prussian army

At midnight both commanders in chief give orders to continue the battle the next day.

Move 10 – 0800-1200 4 May 1813

The Battle of Seehausen continued with the arrival of 4 Prussian corps and 13 Polish corps, plus Marshal Blucher. However the tide quickly went against the Prussians and by 1100 two corps were in rout and a third desperately trying to hold the French advance

The approach of 4 French corps proved the final straw, and the Prussians withdrew towards Magdeburg and the solitary bridge over the river Saale.

CAMPAIGN NOTES

Battle of Seehausen - summary of Battle

For three hours the Prussian army held their own against the French attack.

On the left 5 French corps finally took possession of the village, and advanced against 2 Prussian corps. The two exchanged skirmish and later musket fire for two hours, both suffering heavy casualties.

In the centre both 13 Polish and 4 Prussian corps advanced towards the T junction in the centre of the battlefield. The Poles had further to march and made slow progress. The Prussian cavalry advanced to threaten 5 French corps, but received casualties from their artillery. This resulted in loss of morale and a subsequent rout, which took the gunners with them. The remainder of the corps made their morale, but were badly shaken.

On the right 6 French corps were inflicting heavy casualties on 3 Prussian corps. At 1100 the first Prussian brigade broke and ran, and within half an hour two more had joined them. The Prussian right wing was on the verge of collapse.

At 1200 4 French corps advanced against the Prussian right wing. Already badly shaken, the entire Prussian army broke and ran towards Magdeburg. The battle, and the campaign, was lost.

In the two day battle the French lost 13 infantry and 8 cavalry. The Prussians lost 16 infantry and 9 cavalry.

Campaign situation

The situation is now desperate for Marshal Blucher and the Prussian army. By midday his army have been forced back to the banks of the river Saale, and he is outnumbered by four French corps to his three. Faced with the destruction of his entire army he surrenders to Marshal Davout

Game mechanics

Both armies were badly shaken by battle casualties. Although the actual numbers may seem light, it should be remembered that each casualty in these rules results in a loss of morale and fighting ability with minus 1 for each casualty. One casualty per brigade is manageable, but anymore than that would reduce the fighting ability and morale so as to make the brigade unable to maintain a combat.

The arrival of 4 French corps made the odds too great in favour of the French. In addition there were no fresh Prussian troops available within three or four moves who could ease the pressure.

The final straw was that the Prussians were unable to withdraw over the river Saale. The single bridge at Magdeburg was insufficient to allow three corps to cross in less than three moves. Two Prussian corps were in rout and the remaining corps insufficient to hold four French corps at bay to allow the remainder to cross the river.

Battle of Seehausen - Day Two - Move 3

Battle of Seehausen - move 3 - 1000 to 1100 4 May 1813

Prussian CinC move first

4 command points

Move to join 3 corps to help with routs

5 French continue skirmish

5 French move second

Orders – engage Prussians

4 command points

Gun fires on cavalry, total 9, hit

Prussian cavalry test moral, total 2, shaken

Infantry supporting guns form square

Skirmish fight

19 French, total 2, miss

5 Prussian, total 3, miss

18 French, total 6, hit

5 Prussian, total 3, miss

5 Prussian test morale, total 3, pass

2 Prussian continue firefight

2 Prussian move third

Orders – hold position

5 command points

Gun fire on village, total 10, hit

Garrison test morale, total 0, rout

French guns test morale, total 2, shaken

Move reserve forward to battle line

5 Prussian firefight, total 6

Both lose 1 and both disordered

8 Prussian skirmish, total 6, hit

18 French skirmish, total 1, miss

18 French test morale, total 3, pass

Test morale for shaken cavalry, total 1, remain shaken

3 Prussian infantry rout and guns shaken

3 Prussian move fourth

Orders – hold

4 command points

Gun fires canister on infantry, total 6, hit

12 French test morale, total 5, pass

Reposition commander

Skirmish fight

24 French, total 3, miss

11 Prussian, total 7, hit

24 French test morale, total 4, pass

Test morale for routs

12 Prussian, total 2, continue to rout

9 Prussian, total 1, shaken

10 Prussian, total 1, shaken

6 French win firefight and advance

6 French move fifth

Orders – engage Prussians

6 command points

Fire gun on shaken infantry, total 4, miss

Move 22 and 23 brigade to volley range

22 French fire, total 10

French 1 casualty, Prussian 3 casualty and rout

23 French fire on rout, 3 casualties and continue rout

Prussian test morale for routs

12 Prussian, total -2, continue to rout

Gunners, total 2, shaken

4 Prussian cavalry rout and take gunners with them

4 Prussian move sixth

Orders – move to T junction

6 command points

Reposition commander

Move four infantry and artillery

Test morale for shaken cavalry, total-1, rout

Test morale for rout

13 infantry, total 6, pass

14 infantry, total 5, pass

15 infantry, total 3, pass

16 infantry, total 5, pass

Gunners, total 0, rout

13 Polish continue to advance

13 Polish move seventh
Orders – move to T junction
3 command points
Move three infantry brigades

French CinC move eighth
6 command points
Remain with 13 Polish corps

Summary
5 French unable to break 2 Prussian , one brigade in rout
6 French advance to break 3 Prussian
13 Polish advance slowly due to poor command pips
2 Prussian heavy casualties but continue to hold
3 Prussian three brigades in rout, artillery shaken
4 Prussian cavalry and artillery in rout, remainder steady

Battle of Seehausen - Day Two - Move 2

Battle of Seehausen, move 2- 0900 to 1000 4 May1813

6 French win skirmish fight

6 French move first

Orders – engage Prussians

5 command points

Gun fires on infantry, total 8, hit

10 Prussian test morale, total 4, pass

Infantry in woods advance

Gun manhandle forward

Skirmish fight

21 French, total 3, miss

12 Prussian, total 1, miss

23 French, total 6, hit

9 Prussian, total 3, miss

Morale test

French CinC move second

8 command points

Move to 13 Polish and change orders

Move to T junction

3 Prussian lose skirmish fight and rout

3 Prussian move third

Orders – hold position

7 command points

Move reserve forward and form line

Test morale

9 Prussian, total 2, rout

12 Prussian, total 0, rout

10 Prussian, total 3, pass

2 Prussian infantry advance and volley fire

2 Prussian move fourth

Orders – hold village

4 command points

Gun fires on village, total 10, hit

French garrison test morale, total 5, pass

Landwehr form column of attack

Infantry move forward and volley fire

Total 6, both lose 1 casualty, both disordered

5 French continue skirmish fire

5 French move fifth

Orders – engage Prussians

5 command points

Gun fires on infantry, total 7, miss

Reposition commander

Move column forward

Brigades in skirmish no space to form line

Continue skirmish

18 French, total 3, miss

19 French, total 2, miss

5 Prussian, total 0, miss

Prussian CinC move sixth

5 command points

Change orders for 4 corps to move to T junction

Move to join 2 corps

13 Polish advance towards centre

13 Polish move seventh

Orders – move to T junction

5 command points

Move cavalry, artillery and three infantry

4 Prussian move towards centre

4 Prussian move eighth
Orders – move to T junction
5 command points
Move cavalry, artillery and three infantry


Summary
2 Prussian on left hold their own
3 Prussian on right two infantry brigades rout
4 Prussian advance and threaten 5 French
5 French continue skirmish, too close to form line
6 French win skirmish fight
13 Polish advance, but have further to move than 4 Prussian

Battle of Seehausen - Day Two - Move 1

Battle of Seehausen - move 1 - 0800 to 0900 4 May1813

3 Prussians wait for 6 French to advance

3 Prussian move first

Orders – hold position

7 command points

Gun fires on infantry, total 7, Miss

Reserve infantry brought forward to battle line

No further movement required

Marshal Davout watches 13 Polish arrive

13 Polish move second

Orders – move to Seehausen

4 command points

Move cavalry, two infantry brigades and guns

2 Prussian wait for 5 French to advance

2 Prussian move third

Orders – hold villageg

3 command points

Gun fires on house, total 9, miss

Front infantry column forms line

Landwehr brigade joins battle line

6 French advance to skirmish Prussian battle line

6 French move fourth

Orders – engage Prussians

7 command points

Gun fires on infantry, total 7, miss

Move three infantry brigades forward

Reposition commander

Skirmish

21 French, total 8, hit

12 Prussian, total 6, hit

23 French, total 5, miss

9 Prussian, total 3, miss

Test morale

21 French, total 3, pass

12 Prussian, total 2, Shaken

5 French skirmish with Prussians

5 French move fifth

Orders – engage enemy in village

7 command points

Gun fire on infantry, total 7, hit

6 Prussian test morale, total 5, pass

Move two infantry brigades to skirmish

Manhandle gun forward

Skirmish

18 French, total 7, hit

19 French, total 6, hit

5 Prussian, total 5, miss

Test morale

5 Prussian, total 5, pass

4 Prussian arrive watched by Blucher

4 Prussian move sixth
Orders – move to Seehausen
4 command points
Move cavalry, artillery and two infantry brigades


Summary
2 Prussian hold their own in skirmish battle
3 Prussian lose skirmish battle but make morale
4 Prussian arrive on battlefield
5 French advance and skirmish
6 French advance and skirmish
13 Polish arrive on battlefield.

Battle of Seehausen - Day Two

CAMPAIGN MAP TO WARGAMES TABLE

Tactical map at start of battle

Campaign background

Battle commenced when 5 French corps were marching away from Seehausen, but spotted 2 Prussian corps approaching from Magdeburg. The French halted and turned to face the enemy.

During 3 May Marshal Davout and 6 French corps joined the battle, as did 3 Prussian corps.

As darkness fell both sides were holding their own, and both knew that more reinforcements were nearby. 13 Polish corps for the French, and Marshal Blucher plus 4 corps for the Prussians.

Both commanders decided to continue the fighting at daybreak. During the evening both sides made slight adjustments to their battle line, and rallied Shaken brigades. The routed cavalry and infantry could not be brought back into action.

table at start of wargame

Wargames Table

The photograph is taken from the south. Seehausen is the town on the left centre. The terrain is flat and open, with small hamlets and farms dotted around the area and a small woods.

Nearest to camera 6 French corps face 3 Prussian corps.

Furthest from camera 5 French corps face 2 Prussian corps. Commander 13 corps can be seen behind the French, and commander 4 corps behind the Prussians

Both sides have been allowed to redeploy on the position they held at nightfall. All casualties from the first day remain, routed brigades have been removed and shaken ones rallied.

Game Setup

Only slight adjustments were allowed during nightfall, so both armies start the second day very close to each other. Reinforcements are due to arrive, and again those who move first will have a big advantage.