“…the Russian and Prussian officers are humiliated and they say that it is dishonourable for them to be overpowered by children.” 

(Extract from a report to Marshal Berthier from Général de Division Jacques Lauriston, commanding the French V Corps, )

[This scenario has been sitting three-quarters finished in my draft-folder for the last three years, so it’s about time I finished and published it!]

A recent conversation on Facebook [three years ago!] about wargaming the 1813 ‘Spring’ Battles of Lützen (a.k.a. Gross-Görschen) and Bautzen prompted me to post [very slowly…] my scenarios for these battles, which remain two of my all-time favourite wargames.  However, they are BIG games, even when using a ruleset such as Napoleon’s Battles, which was designed specifically for the larger battles of the era.  They will therefore take at least two days to play, with Bautzen possibly even requiring three days.  However, they are truly great battles to wargame, so I make no apologies for that.

At W.A.S.P.  we actually wargamed Lützen and Bautzen back in the early-to-mid 1990s, as two of our very first demo-games around the UK shows.  Lützen became one of our favourites and we played the scenario three or four times at the time and have played it twice since (most recently at W.A.S.P. in 2013, shown below).  We played Bautzen twice in the 90s and it was also a fantastic game, but our dear friend Richard ‘Dusty’ Boulton passed away soon afterward (leukaemia got the poor bugger aged only 28) and without his large collection of 15mm troops we simply didn’t have sufficient numbers of Frenchmen to play it again.  However, I’ve now got enough troops of my own to cover Bautzen, so I’m feeling the urge once again…

Veteran players of Napoleon’s Battles will probably already know that there’s an ‘official’ Lützen scenario in the second (blue) Napoleon’s Battles supplement published in the early 90s, but I wrote this scenario before that one appeared and I also much prefer my version to theirs (I hope you agree).  I’ve since adapted this scenario with the revised generalship and unit stats from the 4th Edition.

The History Bit

[Warning:  May cause drowsiness.  Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while reading this article.]

The Retreat from Russia and Pursuit to Germany

At the end of December 1812, the shattered remnants of Napoleon’s Grande Armée were staggering out of Russia, with Kutuzov’s exhausted Russian army staggering after them.  Napoleon was already back in Paris and would hold an audience at Versailles on 1st January 1813, where he would try to calm the fears of the French citizenry and maintain an air of normality, while simultaneously supervising the creation of a brand-new Grand Armée, all while micro-managing the surviving elements of his previous Grand Armée from afar.

Aside from the remnants of the main army that had reached Moscow, Napoleon had flanking wings (MacDonald in the north and Reynier in the south), who had suffered nowhere near the same level of attrition as the main army.  Napoleon therefore placed great confidence in these formations to successfully hold back the Russians and to defend Poland.  However, as Marshal MacDonald’s X Corps withdrew from Riga toward Königsberg, he found that General von Yorck’s Prussian Auxiliary Corps (comprising the majority of MacDonald’s strength) were increasingly lagging behind until finally, they were cut off by General Wittgenstein’s pursuing Russian army.  This was all part of Yorck’s plan and on 30th December 1812 he and his corps defected to the Russians.

News of Yorck’s defection reached the Prussian King Frederick-William III at Berlin on 2nd January 1813.  Initially furious at Yorck’s act of treason, the King continued to reassure Napoleon that Prussia was a loyal ally.  However, throughout January he began responding favourably to secret entreaties from Tsar Alexander to join a new anti-Napoleonic coalition and he eventually fled to the Silesian fortress-city of Breslau, where he would be relatively free from French influence and spying.

Napoleon had originally handed over command of the Grande Armée to his brother-in-law Marshal Joachim Murat, the King of Naples.  However, in January Murat, physically and mentally broken by the exertions of the campaign and by the defection of the Prussian Auxiliary Corps, quit the army and departed for Naples, handing command to Napoleon’s stepson Prince Eugène de Beauharnais, the Viceroy of Italy.  Although not a professional soldier, the young Eugène had proven himself to be a capable and popular Viceroy and a surprisingly good army commander, defeating the Austrian invasion of Italy in 1809 and then bringing his army to reinforce Napoleon at the Battle of Wagram.  He had then distinguished himself as commander of the Army of Italy (IV Corps) during the Russian Campaign.

Despite being just as physically and mentally exhausted as Murat, Eugène somehow managed to hold a rearguard force together in the face of extreme military, climatic and logistical challenges, as well as having to deal with constant micro-management from his stepfather in Paris.  Napoleon demanded that Eugène defend the significant river-lines in eastern Poland, yet seemed to be completely unaware that these natural obstacles were useless, being completely frozen over and passable by all arms.

Napoleon also insisted on a large garrison of 30-36,000 men under General Rapp to be maintained at the fortress of Danzig, to serve as a threat to the Russian advance.  This garrison was actually larger that the force that Eugène was then left with to manoeuvre in the field, though in the event, this huge garrison would only serve to tie down a mere 13,000 Russians.  Additionally, Eugène had to protect the major depot at Kalisch and garrison several other fortresses, including Thorn and Posen; Napoleon optimistically intended this latter fortress to be the launch-pad for his SECOND invasion of Russia!

On 26th January 1813, Königsberg (and East Prussia generally) unilaterally declared war against France, defecting to the Russians and beginning a general mobilisation of volunteers, reservists and Landwehr.  This was followed a month later, on 28th February, by the signing of the Treaty of Kalisch, which formalised the alliance between Russia and Prussia.  This alliance would be kept secret until the arrival of Prussia’s declaration of war in Paris on 27th March.

In the meantime, cossacks supported by regular Russian cavalry had raided deep into Germany, reaching as far as Berlin and even Hamburg.  These raiders, although relatively small in number, caused havoc with what remained of Napoleon’s logistics and communications network in Germany, provided a morale boost to German nationalism and disrupted the annual Spring horse-fairs in northern Germany, which were critical for the reconstruction of France’s annihilated cavalry arm.

On Eugène’s southern flank, Reynier’s VII Corps and Schwarzenberg’s Austrian Auxiliary Corps were ordered to cover the approaches to Warsaw, where Prince Poniatowski was starting to rebuild the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw.  However, Schwarzenberg had already withdrawn his corps to Austrian Galicia, forcing Reynier and Poniatowski to abandon Warsaw.  Poniatowski retreated to the southern fortress of Krakow, where he would continue the reconstruction of his army and would eventually re-join Napoleon during the Summer Armistice.

Reynier meanwhile, withdrew to cover the army’s main supply depot at Kalisch.  However, his Franco-Saxon VII Corps was defeated there by Winzingerode’s Russians on 13th February.  The Saxons were particularly badly smashed and what was left of the Saxon contingent retreated into Austrian Galicia.  The remnants of Reynier’s VII Corps abandoned Kalisch and retreated to the Silesian fortress of Glogau, arriving there on 18th February.  Saxony would shortly afterwards gather what was left of its army in the fortress of Torgau on the River Elbe and would essentially declare neutrality, refusing passage to all sides.

A Phoenix With Birth-Defects…

Back in France, Napoleon was assembling a new Grande Armée with astonishing speed.  This process had actually begun before the previous Grande Armée had even arrived in Moscow.  For the infantry, a draft of 100,000 men from the ‘Class of 1813’ (i.e. those turning 18 during that year) had already been called up during 1812 and now a further 100,000 men were to be drafted from the Classes of 1809-1812, plus 150,000 17 year-olds from the Class of 1814 (in April 1813, a further 180,000 men were called up; this last draft would fight in 1814).

These conscripts were assigned to regiments, though when the ‘parent’ regiments were already deployed in the field, the new recruits would be initially grouped into march-battalions (usually numbered as the 4th, 5th & 6th battalions of the parent regiment), which were in turn grouped in a fairly random fashion into Provisional Regiments until such time as the battalions could be married up with their parent regiment (they could also be designated as ‘Demi-Brigades’ instead of Regiments).  In the event, these Provisional Regiments formed a very large part of Napoleon’s new army at Lützen and Bautzen and formed a large part of Ney’s III Corps, which would be the first to fight at Lützen.

Municipal Guard units were drawn from across France to form two new infantry regiments; the 134ème de Ligne and the excellent 37ème Légère.

Also in 1812, Napoleon had reorganised the ‘Cohorts’ of the National Guard.  These were intended to be local defence units of infantry and artillery, but 70,000 men from the Cohorts now formed the core of 22 new infantry regiments (the 135ème to 156ème de Ligne) and added 8,000 gunners to the artillery arm.  They were somewhat better trained and equipped than the Provisional Regiments and benefitted from having regional identities.  Being generally older than the new teenage conscripts, they were also generally able to cope better with the rigours of campaigning.  However, they still suffered a great deal from desertion.

The four pre-existing Régiments d’Artillerie de la Marine, who provided gunners to the Navy, were reorganised as four large infantry regiments and assigned to Marmont’s VI Corps.  These regiments comprised 9,640 veteran gunners and 4,000 conscripts and turned out to be among the very best of Napoleon’s infantry, often leading the Allies to believe that they were fighting the Imperial Guard.  Their blue greatcoats, red fringed epaulettes, widespread use of old-fashioned cocked hats and excellent military bearing certainly aided in that impression.

However, the situation for the French cavalry arm was absolutely dire.  There was no real shortage of men (though trained men were another matter entirely), but horseflesh was in extremely short supply and was also desperately needed by the artillery and logistical services.  With the exception of the cavalry of the Imperial Guard, the 10th Hussars in III Corps and some foreign-allied cavalry regiments (chiefly from Württemberg, Baden and Italy), most cavalry regiments were merely the strength of a single weak squadron and entire cavalry divisions were barely regimental strength.  Consequently, when Napoleon returned to Germany in the Spring of 1813, he had only 15,000 cavalry available to him, much of which was very poorly mounted and/or trained.

As the for the artillery, the situation here was much better and for the most part, managed to retain much of the strength and quality it had enjoyed in previous years.  This was due in no small part to the 8,000 trained gunners of the Cohorts and the prioritisation of horses for the artillery arm.  Prince Eugène managed to equip the formations under his command from the huge arsenal at Magdeburg and Marmont equipped his VI Corps from the arsenal of Mainz, though suitable equipment took longer to supply to other formations.  For example, at Lützen Ney’s III Corps reserve artillery was still en route from France and wouldn’t arrive until after the Battle of Bautzen.  Bertrand’s IV Corps meanwhile, suffered with artillery carriages and other vehicles manufactured in Italy from unseasoned wood, which frequently broke down and contributed to massive delays in their march from Italy to Saxony.  Nevertheless, the French artillery arm in 1813 was frequently able to partly compensate for the shortcomings of the infantry and cavalry.

Eugène Withdraws to the Elbe

Meanwhile in eastern Germany, Prince Eugène had been forced to abandon the line of the Oder River (much to Napoleon’s fury), leaving yet more garrisons in Stettin, Küstrin, Glogau and Spandau.  This decision led to the evacuation of Berlin on 4th March.  However, Eugène had been reinforced by 30,000 men and a new XI Corps had been raised under General Grenier, as well as a Corps of Observation of the Elbe under General Lauriston.  The Prussian General Bülow was raising troops in Pomerania and General Blücher was doing likewise in Silesia, but the Prussians had reassured Napoleon that these were being raised to support Napoleon’s defence against Russia…

Eugène finally withdrew his rearguard behind the line of the Elbe on 10th March and at last felt reasonably secure, with Marshal Davout’s 17,000 men (mainly the remnants of his own I Corps and Reynier’s VII Corps) holding Dresden on the right, Grenier’s XI Corps in the centre, covering the Elbe crossings at Wittenberg and Dessau and Lauriston’s Corps of Observation of the Elbe on the left, including the fortress of Magdeburg.  Lastly, Carra St Cyr’s division held Hamburg on the extreme left flank.  In addition, the Saxon Army under General Thielmann held the Elbe fortress of Torgau with 10,000 men, though his King had ordered him to adopt a position of neutrality, refusing passage to all belligerent parties.

 

Eugène’s sense of security was not to last, as on 12th March Carra St Cyr, having decided that his position on the east bank of the Elbe was untenable, decided to evacuate Hamburg.  Napoleon was utterly furious with Eugène for having given up the right bank of the Elbe, thereby handing the initiative to the Allies to strike across the river at a time and place of their choosing.  He overrode Eugène’s disposition of forces, ordering Marshal Davout’s I Corps to leave Dresden with 14,000 men and recapture Hamburg.  This left only the remaining 3,000 men of Reynier’s VII Corps to hold Dresden, so before departure on 17th March Davout shortened their perimeter by breaking the beautiful bridge connecting the two halves of the city (to howls of protest from both sides!) and marched out on 19th March.

The Allies meanwhile were at something of a crossroads following the Treaty of Kalisch and there was a strategic pause during early March.  Prince Kutuzov, as the senior military commander, was of the opinion that Russia’s objectives had been achieved with the expulsion of French forces from Russian territory and the subsequent degradation of France’s ability to mount a new offensive into Russia.  However, the Treaty of Kalisch now meant that they were now committed to additionally liberating Prussia, while the German nationalists in the Prussian camp were also pushing for this to include the liberation of all German peoples and the destruction of Napoleonic France.

The Allies by now knew that Napoleon was rebuilding his armies in France and that he would soon resume the offensive.  There was therefore a natural desire to drive west and take as much of Germany as they could before he returned.  However, everyone also still remembered 1806 when Napoleon, aided by Prussian hubris in pushing west beyond the Saale, crossed the Thuringian Mountains via Hof, debouched into south-western Saxony and cut the Prussian-Saxon army’s line of retreat to Dresden and Leipzig before then destroying them in detail at Jena and Auerstädt.  The fear was that by pushing beyond the Saale, they might leave themselves open to a repeat performance of 1806.

After much wrangling, Kutuzov relented and agreed to a limited advance beyond the Elbe as far as the Pleisse, establishing a new line along that river from Leipzig to Altenberg.  The Allied armies were therefore reorganised for the march to the west; Wittgenstein’s Russian army in north Germany would now include 27,000 Prussian troops under Yorck, Bülow and Borstell (bringing Wittgenstein’s total strength to around 50,000), while the Prussian General Blücher with another 27,000 Prussians, would take command of Winzingerode’s Russian Corps (13,000 men) in the southern sector of operations.  The two remaining Russian armies under Tormassov and Miloradovich, collectively with 33,000 men, would remain under Kutuzov’s command in the southern sector.  Other Russian and Prussian corps would operate as siege forces for the many isolated French garrisons and a Swedish corps had landed at Stralsund, though was content to remain where it was for the time being.

By early April French reinforcements had begun to pour into Germany.  Although Davout’s I Corps had been sent to the Lower Elbe, his remaining corps in Saxony (Grenier’s XI Corps and Lauriston’s Corps of Observation, which now became the new V Corps) had been steadily reinforced and had been strongly equipped with artillery from the Magdeburg Arsenal.  In addition, a new II Corps under Marshal Victor, a rebuilt VII Corps under Reynier, a new I Reserve Cavalry Corps under Latour-Maubourg and a new II Reserve Cavalry Corps under Sébastiani were being formed, though were still barely at divisional strength.  Eugène’s army was now re-titled as L’Armée de l’Elbe, but with the change of title came new orders from Napoleon; to re-establish a bridgehead on the right bank of the Elbe.

The Battle of Möckern (no, not that one!)

On 1st April, Eugène crossed the Elbe at Magdeburg with 50,000 men and 116 guns belonging to Lauriston’s V Corps, Grenier’s XI Corps, Roguet’s Old Guard Division and Latour-Maubourg’s I Reserve Cavalry Corps.  This large force quickly drove Borstell’s small Prussian division back to the town of Möckern (N.B. this is a different Möckern to the one that would be fought over during the Battle of Leipzig in October 1813).  However, instead of decisively crushing Borstell’s vastly-inferior force, Eugène halted his army, allowing Borstell to slip away.

Wittgenstein was then at Berlin, but was already starting to march his forces in the Magdeburg direction.  Kleist’s Prussian division was already facing off against the French garrison of Wittenberg, while Bülow’s Prussian corps was at the town of Brandenburg.  However, with most of the Prussians detached, this left Wittgenstein with only 23,000 troops at his immediate disposal to face Eugène’s 50,000 (Wittgenstein’s intelligence actually said 40,000).  Nevertheless, he ordered Borstell and Bülow to make demonstrations and keep Eugène’s attention fixed on them, while manoeuvring Berg’s Russians and Yorck’s Prussians against Eugène’s right flank.  Although outnumbering Wittgenstein, Eugène’s army was deployed over quite a wide area, so Wittgenstein hoped to isolate and destroy a small part of it.

Wittgenstein planned to attack on 6th April, but an erroneous report on the 5th suggested that Eugène was already retreating, so Wittgenstein ordered an immediate attack.  However, as this was a last-minute change of plan, the Allied formations took time to adapt to the new plan and to march to contact.  Hünerbein’s brigade of Yorck’s Prussian Corps was the first to go into action at around 1300hrs, at the villages of Dannigkow and Gommern, clashing with elements of Lagrange’s 18th Division and Chastel’s 3rd Light Cavalry Division.

The other Allied formations went into action much later.  At around 1600hrs the advance guard of Berg’s Russian I Corps under Generalmajor Roth attacked Gérard’s 35th Division at Vehlitz and was soon reinforced by Borstell’s Prussians.  Oppen’s cavalry brigade of Bülow’s Prussian Corps meanwhile drove Bruyère’s 1st Cavalry Division back from Möckern, enabling Bülow’s infantry and artillery to deploy and advance through Zeddenick, driving as far as Nedwitz.

Spread over a wide area, the Battle of Möckern was a muddled affair on both sides, with neither army commander having a full picture of what he faced.  If Wittgenstein knew the full strength of Eugène’s army, it is doubtful that he would have attacked at all!  The overall battle was really three small battles, almost completely separated from each other, with the fighting around Vehlitz being particularly bitter.  However, despite the lack of support from the rest of XI Corps, General Zucchi’s Italian brigade managed to hold until nightfall, despite having suffered heavy casualties.  However, General Grenier, commanding XI Corps was severely wounded during the battle for the village.

Yorck’s and Berg’s main bodies finally arrived at around 1800hrs, but by then night was starting to fall and the Allies were unable to press their advantage any further.  Despite having superior numbers and the advantage of interior lines, the despondent Eugène decided at last to withdraw to Magdeburg, screened by Latour-Maubourg’s cavalry.  Had he known how few Allied troops he faced, it’s entirely likely that he would have fought on.  Exhausted by the day’s march and battle and aside from some clashes of cavalry, the Allies decided not to pursue.

Eugène’s morale was not then helped by the news that General Joseph Morand’s division, operating near Hamburg, had been completely destroyed on 2nd April by an Allied force at Lüneburg, with Morand himself being killed.  His hopes of advancing on Berlin now dashed, Eugène destroyed the bridges and causeways leading to Magdeburg from the east, thus giving up the right bank of the Elbe to the Allies.

This almost-accidental victory at Möckern, in addition to the small victory at Lüneburg, gave the Allies and especially the Prussians and other assorted German nationalists a huge morale-boost, increasing their confidence that Napoleon could be beaten and undoubtedly aiding in the mobilisation of new recruits for the Befreiungskrieg.  Critically, it also convinced the British Government to increase the level of support it was already providing along the North German coast, in terms of raising new armies in Hanover and Mecklenburg and providing regular British Army troops (mostly from the King’s German Legion) to directly support them.

The Allies Cross the Elbe

In the south, the remaining French garrison of Dresden, commanded by General Durutte. withdrew from the city on 22nd March and marched to join Eugène’s main army.  The vacated city was then occupied by Winzingerode’s Russian Corps on 27th March and the Allies at last had a bridgehead on the Elbe.  Winzingerode quickly set to work in establishing a pontoon bridge to replace the one destroyed by Davout earlier in the month and Blücher’s Prussians crossed over a couple of days later.

By 3rd April, Winzingerode’s advance guard cavalry, commanded by General Lanskoi, had reached Leipzig and was already pushing patrols across the Saale.  Lanskoi then placed his main body at Merseburg on the Saale, in order to provide a firm base for these western patrols.  Blücher meanwhile, had established himself at Zwickau on the River Mulde.

However, was still a considerable degree of lethargy in Allied moves west of the Elbe, primarily due to Kutuzov’s reluctance and the higher-level indecision that flowed from this.  Kutuzov’s main body was still in Silesia; Tormassov’s Corps wouldn’t leave Kalisch until 6th April, while Miloradovich’s Corps would remain at Glogau until 9th April.  These main Russian formations wouldn’t arrive at Dresden until 22nd to 24th April.

With the right bank of the Elbe secure following his victory at Möckern, Wittgenstein now placed strong forces to besiege Wittenberg and the Magdeburg Bridghead fortifications.  This left him free to build a bridge at Rosslau, roughly mid-way between the two French-held fortresses.  However, once the siege-forces had been deducted, this left him with only 18,000 regulars, 700 cossacks and 92 guns with which to establish a bridgehead; far fewer than Eugène could potentially bring to bear against them.  By 25th April this force had grown to 22,000 regulars, 2,250 cossacks and 143 guns and he was also now supported by Lanskoi’s cavalry operating along the Saale, so Wittgenstein finally felt secure enough to order Bülow to establish a bridgehead at Rosslau and to expand out to include Aken and Köthen.

By the end of April, Wittgenstein had added another 3,000 men and had himself crossed over the Elbe and established his HQ at Leipzig, thereby linking up with Blücher’s outposts.  Berg’s Russian I Corps was with him at Leipzig, while Yorck’s Corps was now established at Schkeuditz, Kleist’s Corps was at Halle and Bülow’s Corps was at Köthen.

Napoleon in the meantime, had left Paris on 15th April and his leading forces were already well inside Germany and were marching on the Saale; Ney’s III Corps was advancing from Erfurt accompanied by Bessières’ Imperial Guard Cavalry and followed by Marmont’s VI Corps and Mortier’s Imperial Guard Infantry & Artillery.  Bertrand’s IV Corps meanwhile, having crossed over the Alps from Italy, was advancing from the south, followed by Oudinot’s XII Corps.  These corps were grouped as The Army of the Main (i.e. the River Main, not ‘The Main Army’).  When combined with Eugène’s Army of the Elbe, the whole force would amount to 320,000 men, massively outnumbering the Allies in Saxony.

In a council-of-war, the Monarchs and their senior generals decided that to retreat in the face of this colossal army would invite demoralisation and considerable disruption to Prussia’s recruitment efforts.  They therefore decided to concentrate west of the Elbe and offer battle somewhere south of Leipzig, thereby covering their line of retreat to Dresden and remaining close to the Austrian border (thereby limiting Napoleon’s tactical options and retaining an Austrian alliance as a possibility).  Marshal Kutuzov however, played no part in the planning; the old hero had taken to his sick-bed on 18th April and would die on the 28th.

The Allies therefore needed a new commander-in-chief.  Russia was still very much the senior partner, so Peter Wittgenstein was the obvious choice.  He was the victor of Polotsk and had driven the French back from St Petersburg before capturing Berlin and winning the remarkable victory at Möckern.  As a native German he was also able to deal easily with the Prussians.  However, he did not apparently have a warm rapport with his Russian brother officers and the Russian soldiery.

The Empire Strikes Back!

Napoleon meanwhile, planned for a rapid junction of the Armies of the Main and of the Elbe in the lower Saale valley and a concentration centred on Halle and Merseburg, before defeating the still-separated Allied columns west of the Elbe, starting with Wittgenstein’s, which his intelligence led him to believe was still north of Leipzig, with Yorck’s Corps deployed forward at Halle and Blücher a long way south, at Altenburg.

However, Napoleon’s plans for a swift offensive were already unravelling thanks to Bertrand’s IV Corps, which was marching painfully slowly from Italy, only achieving ten miles per day thanks to poorly-conditioned conscripts, lack of horses and badly-manufactured artillery and vehicles.  Oudinot’s XII Corps, following on the same route, was then delayed in turn.

Nevertheless, by 18th April the first clashes between Allied patrols and the cavalry of Ney’s III Corps commanded by General Laboissière, were already occurring near Weimar.  While the dense forest of the region did help to mitigate some of the Allied cavalry advantage, the French, Badener and Württemberger cavalry simply couldn’t penetrate the dense swarms of Russian and Prussian horsemen, leaving Napoleon with a very incomplete picture of the overall military situation ahead of him.  This intelligence picture only g0t worse as the Army of the Main debouched into the more open terrain of central Saxony, where the Allied cavalry could easily get in behind and between his formations, block cavalry patrols and intercept couriers.  The Allied cavalry threat required the French to detach more of their precious cavalry to protect their convoys, depots and lines of communication, thus leaving even less with which to conduct reconnaissance and support the infantry on the battlefield.

Nevertheless, the French advance continued, aiming to concentrate around Halle and Merseburg as per the Emperor’s plan and then cross the Saale to attack the enemy somewhere near Leipzig.  However, the Allies were already concentrating at Borna, south of Leipzig and having identified Napoleon’s target, were aiming to attack his exposed right flank.  In the meantime and to keep the French guessing, Yorck, Bülow, Kleist, Lanskoi, Berg and Winzingerode skirmished with the French advance guard along the Saale valley.

On 29th April the French XI Corps of the Army of the Elbe, now commanded by Marshal MacDonald, re-captured Merseburg.  Laboissière’s cavalry, at the head of the Army of the Main in the meantime, were only a few miles away at Weissenfels; the two French armies were now very close to achieving their concentration.  However, Laboissière reported being opposed by an all-arms force of 7,500 men and was therefore forced to withdraw while the infantry of Souham’s 8th Division from III Corps came up to deal with the enemy.

In reality, the Allied rearguard consisted only of 1,200 to 1,500 of Lanskoi’s cavalry, backed up by a single Jäger battalion and battery.  Souham easily drove off the Russian rearguard, secured Weissenfels and linked up with the outposts of MacDonald’s XI Corps.

Marshal Ney heaped praise upon Souham’s infantry, but the reality was that the Russians had inflicted yet another delay upon the Army of the Main for no loss.  Not that it made all that much difference, as Bertrand’s IV Corps, Marmont’s VI Corps and Oudinot’s XII Corps were suffering considerable delays of their own, even without the added problem of enemy action.

Given that his army was marching blindly into the unknown, Napoleon needed his corps to remain within mutual support-distance (ideally no more than one day’s march) of each other and therefore ordered the advanced elements of III Corps and XI Corps to remain in place while the ‘tail’ caught up.  Lauriston’s V Corps was ordered to remain near Halle, watching Bülow’s Prussians, while Victor’s II Corps and Latour-Maubourg’s I Reserve Cavalry Corps were brought south from Magdeburg, into the Saale valley.  Sébastiani’s II Reserve Cavalry Corps would remain north of Magdeburg, to maintain contact with Davout’s I Corps and to watch for any unexpected surprises along the Lower Elbe.

The delay in the French advance on 30th April allowed Yorck, Kleist and Berg to disengage from the Halle-Leipzig front.  Yorck and Berg then marched to join Wittgenstein and Blücher at Borna, while Kleist occupied Leipzig.  Winzingerode and Lanskoi would continue to to delay the French, while Bülow covered the right flank between Halle and the Elbe.

At 2300hrs on the 30th, Bessières’ Guard cavalry, confused by these Allied withdrawals, erroneously reported that Kleist, Yorck, Winzingerode, Wittgenstein and Blücher were now concentrating at Leipzig and that a battle to the west of Leipzig was now ‘unlikely’.  This report further served to fixate Napoleon on Leipzig as being the likely scene of the battle.  Although the Allies were no longer separated, he judged that with Eugène’s support, he would still easily have the numbers with which to defeat them.

On 1st May, Lanskoi’s cavalry and Nikitin’s horse artillery continued to oppose Ney’s III Corps along the line of the Rippach stream near Weissenfels.  Undeterred, Ney’s infantry regiments, which included large numbers of raw conscripts as well as untested former National Guardsmen, advanced in squares until the Guard Lancers arrived to drive off the Russians.

Accompanying the Guard Lancers was Marshal Bessières himself, who rode forward with his staff to a low rise, from where to better observe the engagement.  The Marshal had told his staff of having had a premonition of his death and the night before had even burned some private papers in anticipation of this.  Now, as he rode forward, he and his staff were shocked when a Russian cannonball struck and instantly killed the Marshal’s Polish Lancer orderly.  The second cannonball then took Bessières himself.

Lanskoi’s cavalry meanwhile fell back on Winzingerode, who had established a 30-gun battery near the village of Starsiedel.  However, as Ney’s III Corps and the Imperial Guard appeared in greater numbers, Winzingerode was forced to fall back over the Flössgräben Canal.  As the evening drew on, III Corps settled into bivouacs around the villages of Gross-Görschen and Kaja.  Mortier’s Imperial Guard meanwhile, camped a couple of miles north, around the memorial to the Swedish ‘Warrior King’ Gustavus Adolphus’ great victory (and death) at Lützen in 1632.  Gustavus Adolphus was Napoleon’s hero and he wasted no time in leading his entourage on an impromptu battlefield tour, pointing out the various features and events of the battle from memory.

It has to be said that Napoleon had far greater knowledge of troop-positions in 1632 than he had of Allied troop-positions at this moment in time!  Still fixated on Leipzig and almost completely in the dark about Allied movements, Napoleon fully intended to continue his advance on 2nd May and to that end ordered Eugène to secure Halle, in order to secure an alternative route to Leipzig.  However, he was suspicious of what might be happening on his right flank and ordered ‘strong reconnaissances’ to be made to the White Elster.  However, all French attempts at piercing the Allied cavalry screen failed and Napoleon remained in the dark as to Allied movements.

Wittgenstein meanwhile, had a complete picture of French movements and had identified his target; Lützen.  Blücher’s army, with Yorck and Berg under command, would advance first and link up with Winzingerode before attacking the French right flank at Gross-Görschen.  Tormassov’s Reserve Army would then follow up, while Miloradovich’s Corps would cover the southern flank and disrupt Bertrand’s and Oudinot’s march to the battle.  However, this advance to contact required all formations except Winzingerode and Miloradovich to cross the White Elster via the single bridge Pegau.  This critical choke-point would soon cause considerable delay to the Allied march.  In addition and thanks to a misunderstanding of spelling and translating German to/from Cyrillic, Miloradovich had marched his corps to Altenburg, which was much further away from the battle than the intended destination of Waldenburg!

While the main Allied attack was on the march, Bülow and Kleist continued to run interference on the lower Saale.  On the morning of 2nd May, Lacroix’s Brigade of Rochambeau’s 19th Division (of Lauriston’s V Corps), which had occupied Halle during the pervious day, was thrown out of the city by a surprise attack launched by Bülow.  The brigade suffered heavy losses, losing a whole battalion of the 135e de Ligne before retreating to Merseburg.

Kleist meanwhile, crossed back over the White Elster and deployed his corps at Lindenau, which guards the western causeway into Leipzig.  This bait was deliberately dangled in front of the French, who greedily took it.  Maison’s 16th Division (of Lauriston’s V Corps) pounced on Kleist and drove the Prussians back into Leipzig as Lauriston followed up with the rest of his corps.  Napoleon rode forward with Marshal Ney and the Guard to investigate developments at Leipzig and had reached Markrandstädt, some five miles west of the city, where he inspected MacDonald’s XI Corps and at around 1100hrs held his first face-to-face meeting with Eugène since leaving him in Russia.

Suddenly, at around 1200-1230hrs, a heavy cannonade was heard from the south.  Blücher’s attack had begun (albeit several hours late)!  Ney immediately galloped off to investigate and take command of the situation and shortly after his departure, a courier arrived to inform Napoleon of the Allied attack that had suddenly fallen on Gross-Görschen.

Realising that he had been out-foxed, Napoleon immediately ordered Lauriston to cancel his attack and instead march to Kaja, where his V Corps would become the new left wing reserve.  Maison’s 16th Division would remain occupying Leipzig.  Eugène was ordered to envelop the Allied right flank with MacDonald’s XI Corps and Latour-Maubourg’s I Reserve Cavalry Corps.  Marmont’s VI Corps, already approaching the battlefield near Starsiedel, was ordered to become the new right wing reserve, while Bertrand’s IV Corps and Oudinot’s XII Corps were ordered to envelop the Allied left flank.  The Guard were ordered back to Lützen with the order “La Garde au feu!” (“The Guard into the fire!”).

The Battle of Lützen (or Gross-Görschen)

As Blücher’s divisions deployed across what would later become known as the Monarchenhügel or ‘Monarchs’ Hill’, a colossal massed battery of Russian and Prussian guns deployed and began to take the French III Corps under fire, paying particular attention to Souham’s 8th Division deployed in and around Gross-Görschen.

After a devastating thirty-minute bombardment, Klüx’s Lower Silesian Brigade assaulted Gross-Görschen in perfect battle-array as stipulated by the new regulations for the Prussian Army.  The 1st and 2nd West Prussian Infantry Regiments quickly stormed through the village, driving out Souham’s infantry.  Impressed at the ease of this small victory, Tsar Alexander wrote to General Konovnizin, the commander of the Russian III (Grenadier) Corps, advising him that the battle would soon be won and that there was therefore no need to march his grenadiers too hard to reach the battle…

However, the Tsar’s confidence was somewhat misplaced, as Winzingerode’s wing (consisting of Duke Eugen of Württemberg’s Russian II Corps, Trubetzkoi’s Russian Cavalry Reserve and Dolffs’ Prussian Cavalry Reserve) was struggling to make headway against Starsiedel, being blunted by the infantry and artillery of Girard’s 10th Division and hamstrung by their own inflexible, initiative-stifling orders.

Souham launched an immediate counter-attack with Lamoux’s Brigade, successfully driving Klüx’s West Prussians from almost all of Gross-Görschen.  However, Zieten’s Upper Silesian Brigade had launched a fresh assault, this time on the neighbouring village of Klein-Görschen.  Laboissière’s cavalry could not stand in the face of such a powerful mass, so fell back as the 1st & 2nd Silesian Regiments stormed through the village, successfully ejecting Souham’s flank-guard infantry.  Only a small schloss at the far end of the village managed to hold out, though this was soon stormed by the Silesian Schützen Battalion and the Silesian Freiwillige-Jäger companies.

The fall of Klein-Görschen now left Lamoux outflanked at Gross-Görschen and a renewed assault by Klüx’s West Prussians drove them out, securing the whole village for a second time.  With Souham’s 8th Division now thoroughly disordered, Klüx urged his men onward, taking advantage of the confusion to capture the next village, Rahna.  Beyond Rahna lay a fourth village, Kaja, though this was strongly held by Brenier’s fresh 9th Division and was well-supported by artillery firing from a low ridge to the west.

With the battle only around one hour old, at around 1300hrs, Marshal Marmont’s VI Corps appeared in the fields beyond Starsiedel.  However, they were advancing into the face of Winzingerode’s wing and Compans’ 20th Division was hammered by Nikitin’s Russian horse artillery reserve before being badly cut up by Dolffs’ Prussian cuirassiers.  The only French cavalry on that flank were Beaumont’s tiny brigade, who could do little against the great mass of Russian and Prussian horse.  Nevertheless, Marmont’s infantry kept advancing until they reached Starsiedel, where Marmont deployed his powerful artillery reserve.  Marmont heaped praise upon them, especially the naval gunners-turned-infantrymen of the Artillerie de la Marine.

“So he brought his great strength against me, directing the fire of a hundred and fifty pieces of cannon entirely against my forces.  My troops endured this terrible fire with great calm and with a remarkable courage.  The soldiers of Compans’ division, especially more exposed than others, were worthy of admiration.  The ranks thinned at every moment but re-formed again without uncertainty, and no one thought of running away.

The brave Navy gunners, accustomed especially to fights at sea where artillery plays the main and almost the only role, appeared to be in their element.  Immediately after this terrible fire, the enemy cavalry began a move, and made a great and vigorous charge, directed mainly against the 1st Marine Artillery regiment.  This regiment, commanded by Colonel Esmond, showed that it could be as good as infantry, and the enemy ran aground against its bayonets.  Other charges were renewed, but in vain and all unsuccessful.”

At around 1330hrs Ney finally arrived and immediately ordered Marchand’s German 39th Division forward to relieve the isolated Baden Light Dragoons (of Laboissière’s brigade) near Eisdorf.  He then personally led forward a counter-attack with Girard’s 10th and Ricard’s 11th Divisions.  This counter-attack was extremely costly and Ney even lost his horse, yet the villages of Rahna and Klein-Görschen were re-taken.

The battle for the ‘Quadrangle’ of villages; Gross-Görschen, Klein-Görschen, Rahna and Kaja was already becoming a bloodbath, yet these villages (and the ridge of high ground west of Kaja) were viewed by both sides as the key to the battle.  Blücher therefore ordered another attack, this time committing his reserve; Röder’s Brandenburg Brigade, consisting chiefly of the Prussian Garde-Regiment and associated hangers-on.  Supported by Klüx and Zieten on the flanks, Röder’s Guards and grenadiers swept forward, once again driving the French infantry out of Rahna and Klein-Görschen.  However, their attack, like Zieten’s before them, stalled in front of Kaja, badly mauled by artillery and by Laboissière’s cavalry.

However, the Garde-Jäger Battalion and the Freiwillige-Jäger companies of the Brandenburg Brigade swarmed forward in skirmish order and concentrated their accurate rifle-fire on the gunners.  This soon proved effective and the surviving gunners either hitched up their guns and withdrew, or simply ran to find cover as best they could.  With the weight of French artillery fire considerably reduced, the Prussian Guards pushed forward once again and stormed Kaja!

It was at around this time that Napoleon arrived, to find Ney’s III Corps seemingly in complete disorder and streaming to the rear!  However, the Emperor’s appearance in their midst galvanised the young conscripts and they soon began to rally and reform in their units.  The subsequent arrival of the Old Guard only served to stiffen spines further.

Assessing the situation at Starsiedel, Napoleon could see that the village was not under serious threat and urged Marmont to press on with his corps toward the main battle in the ‘Quadrangle’ and to regain the initiative, saying “The battle is at Kaja, not Starsiedel!”  However, the battle remained fairly static and attritional for another hour until at around 1500hrs, Ney was ready to launch another counter-attack.

Ney’s second major counter-attack, this time led by Ricard’s 11th Division, drove the Prussians back once again from Kaja, Rahna and Klein-Görschen.  Prussian cavalry attempted to intervene, but were repulsed by French squares and through the efforts of Laboissière’s Baden Light Dragoons.  Klüx was at last forced to withdraw his shattered brigade from the front line.

But now it was Yorck’s turn to attack; Hünerbein’s Brigade was directed against Klein-Görschen, while Horn’s Brigade assaulted Rahna.  Steinmetz’s Brigade would remain in reserve.  Hünerbein successfully recaptured Klein-Görschen, though at great cost, including to Hünerbein himself, who first lost his horse and then was himself wounded.  Horn meanwhile, made short work of Rahna and quickly exploited his success to again capture Kaja.  However, Ney once again rallied his men and almost immediately re-captured Klein-Görschen and Kaja!

With the time now at around 1630hrs, almost all Prussian units on the field were completely spent and it was now time for Berg’s Russian I Corps (Lukov’s 5th Division, Lalin’s 14th Division and Kasatschosky’s Reserve Division) to have a go at the villages.

A Russian staff officer ordered Dolffs, commanding the Prussian Cavalry Reserve, to mount a supporting charge into the ‘Quadrangle’, but Dolffs immediately refused to conduct such a suicidal and ill-defined mission.  However, Dolffs was eventually brow-beaten into it and just as he predicted, the charge was a complete disaster, being beaten off with heavy loss.  Berg’s infantry assault also made little headway.

Elements of Tormassov’s Russian Reserve Army had now finally arrived and their artillery attempted to move forward to support the Russian infantry assault through the ‘Quadrangle’, but as they attempted to deploy, the Russian batteries were crushed by the sheer weight of French fire.

Nevertheless, Duke of Eugen of Württemberg’s Russian II Corps (Schakhoffskoi’s 3rd Division and Saint-Priest’s 4th Division) also now joined the battle for the ‘Quadrangle’ and as yet more Russian artillery deployed to support the attack, Eugen’s infantry somehow managed to re-capture Rahna, Klein-Görschen and Kaja, as well as Eisdorf!

In the west meanwhile, Bertrand’s IV Corps continued to march at a snail’s pace and Peyri’s 15th (Italian) Division finally appeared at Kölzen at around 1730hrs, some two hours behind Morand’s 12th Division.  It was clearly too little, too late and Napoleon’s hoped-for double-envelopment of the Allied army was simply never now going to happen.

Shortly before 1800hrs, General Alexeyev’s cavalry, covering the Allied right flank, encountered the advance guard of MacDonald’s XI Corps.  The Russian cavalry were immediately brushed aside and MacDonald ordered Charpentier’s 36th Division forward, which quickly recaptured Eisdorf from Saint-Priest’s Russian 4th Division.

Duke Eugen immediately launched a counter-attack and drove the French out of the village, but Charpentier rallied and drove the Russians back out of Eisdorf for a second time.  Berg’s I Corps and Duke Eugen’s II Corps were now largely spent and Miloradovich’s Corps was still nowhere to be seen.  Having mistakenly marched to Altenberg, Miloradovich was now marching to Zeitz, but would never arrive in time to play any part in the battle.  However, given Bertrand’s woefully slow rate of march, it can be argued that Miloradovich’s failure to intercept him made absolutely no difference whatsoever to the outcome of the battle.

Having earlier been delayed by the Tsar’s over-confidence, Konovnizin’s III (Grenadier) Corps was now ordered into the battle for the villages.  Konovnizin selected Zweileniev’s 2nd Grenadier Division for the task and the grenadiers did briefly throw Charpentier’s infantry out of the village, but Charpentier rallied and charge once again, capturing the village for a third time!

Gérard’s 35th Division meanwhile, had arrived on the Allied right flank and quickly seized the crossings over the Flössgräben at Kitzen and Hohenlohe without opposition.  Crossing over the canal, Gérard encountered Duke Eugen of Württemberg’s Russian II Corps and drove them back.  However, he was soon faced with the great mass of Raevsky’s Russian V (Guard) Corps and could advance no further.

Back at the ‘Quadrangle’, Ney had thrown in his last fresh division; Marchand’s 39th (German) Division.  However, the Hessians and Badeners had no more success in their attack than the earlier attempts and III Corps was finally spent.

Nevertheless, the Allied centre was clearly weakened and Napoleon decided to commit his reserves.  General Drouot was ordered to assemble a battery of 60 guns to support the attack and under cover of this bombardment, Dumoustier’s Young Guard Division commenced its advance.

Kaja was captured almost immediately by the Young Guard, but just as quickly was lost again to a Prussian counter-attack.  Nevertheless, the Young Guardsmen rallied and attacked again, re-capturing Kaja, this time for good!

Roguet’s Old Guard Division meanwhile, started edging forward, eager to join the attack!  However, Napoleon halted them, reminding them that it was their duty to protect the guns from the still very strong Allied cavalry threat.

It was now around 1830s and at last, Marmont struck from Starsiedel, sending Bonet’s 21st Division to attack Rahna in concert with the Young Guard.  Rahna was soon re-captured and the improving situation persuaded the last formed remnants of III Corps to join the Young Guard’s attack on Klein-Görschen, which was also re-taken!

However, the Young Guard stalled before the last Prussian defenders of Gross-Görschen and as the Russians of Duke Eugen’s II Corps and Pisarev’s grenadier brigade were pushed into the fight, the Young Guard fell back.  The time was now around 1930hrs.

The final significant act of the battle was a desperate assault by the East Prussian Grenadier Battalion.  This brave battalion threw itself fruitlessly at Klein-Görschen, but to no avail as they were forced back by fire.

As night started to fall, the battle petered out.  The Prussians still held Gross-Görschen, but only Gallizin’s Russian V (Guard) Corps and Sulima’s 1st Grenadier Division were realistically still capable of sustained combat.  Napoleon on the other hand, still had the bulk of the Guard, Bertrand’s IV Corps, Lauriston’s V Corps, Oudinot’s XII Corps, Latour-Maubourg’s I Reserve Cavalry Corps and much of Marmont’s VI Corps and MacDonald’s XI Corps still unengaged and capable of fighting if the battle went to a second day.  The news that Leipzig had fallen also came as unwelcome news for the Allies, as it meant that the French could easily now cut their line of retreat to Dresden.

To the fury of the Prussians (especially Blücher), Wittgenstein and the Tsar conceded defeat and ordered the retreat under cover of darkness and behind the Allies still-impenetrable cavalry screen.  The single bridge over the White Elster at Pegau soon became a traffic-jam nightmarish proportions and could have spelled disaster had the French pursued, but the exhausted French were content to pitch camp where they were and allowed the Allies to slip away into the darkness.  Although the Prussians were angry, this was undoubtedly the correct decision, as the Allies simply could not win a battle of attrition against Napoleon’s far superior numbers.

The first major battle of 1813 had therefore ended in bloody disappointment for both sides.  For the Allies, their attempt to ambush Napoleon’s army and break it into smaller, easily-digestible chunks had failed largely thanks to Napoleon’s earlier delay, which kept his corps within supporting-distance of each other, and also due to the remarkable and perhaps surprising tenacity of the young conscripts, particularly after Napoleon arrived to lead them in person.  Nevertheless, the reformed Prussian army had demonstrated clearly to the French that this was not the same old Prussian Army that had been beaten so easily in 1806.  They were once again a very dangerous enemy.

For Napoleon, his swift formulation of a plan to doubly-envelop the surprise Allied attack came to naught for much the same reason; this was not the Grande Armée of old and they simply could not manoeuvre as boldly or as swiftly as they had in earlier campaigns.

The butcher’s bill for Lützen was appalling.  The French had suffered some 19,000 to 22,000 casualties, including the painful loss for the Emperor of Marshal Bessières on the eve of the battle and his dear friend, the Marshal of the Palace Duroc during the battle itself.  The Allied numbers are vague and range from 11,500 to 30,000 casualties, including the loss of Prince Leopold of Hesse-Homburg.  Most notably, the architect of the resurrected Prussian Army, Generalmajor Gerhard von Scharnhorst had suffered a wound to the foot that would become infected and would lead to his untimely death on 28th June 1813.

Scenario Outline

This is very much a large scenario, requiring ideally 2-4 players per side and a couple of days to play.  The table however, is relatively compact compared to other battles of similar size, being 8′ x 6′.

The short version of the scenario (which deletes the French V Corps, French XII Corps and the two Russian Guard Infantry Divisions) runs for 15 turns and the long scenario lasts 22 turns.

The objective for both sides is very simply to break the enemy army’s morale before the end of the scenario.

Orders of Battle

Napoleon’s Battles is a ‘grand tactical’ set, where each unit represents a brigade or large regiment and the man-to-figure ratio is roughly 1:100 (to be exact, it’s 1:120 for infantry and 1:80 for cavalry).  It would however, be relatively easy to convert to similarly-scaled systems such as Age of Eagles or Général d’Armée.

The ‘hieroglyphs’ on the orders of battle show the strength of a unit in figures, their nationality, the troop type and the point at which the unit will ‘disperse’ (i.e. become combat-ineffective).  For example, the code ’16 FrLN [10D]’ means a 16-figure unit of French Line Infantry, which will likely disperse when it reaches a strength of 10 figures.  The stats for French Line Infantry can then be found on the Unit Information Card at the bottom of this article.  I’m sure you can work out the rest.

Generals have a rating (e.g. General von Zieten with ‘4″G(8)+1’) which shows their command-span expressed in inches, a quality-rating (Poor, Average, Good or Excellent), an initiative rating between 4 and 8 (10 for C-in-Cs) and a combat modifier ranging from -1 to +3, which is added if they are attached to the unit in combat (a ‘D’ indicates that the modifier is only applied in defence).  Some also have a number with ‘F’ in square brackets, which is the formation’s fatigue rating if applicable (only corps headquarters and independent divisions have a Fatigue rating).  The C-in-C also usually has a number with ‘M’; this is the army’s morale rating (though in this instance the morale rating is indicated in the Reinforcement Schedule, as it increases as reinforcements arrive.

Note that where a brigade is very large and/or comprising different troop-types, I will usually split it into two or more regimental sub-units.  E.g. ‘Karpov’s Brigade #1’ and ‘Karpov’s Brigade #2’.  The upper-limit of unit size in Napoleon’s Battles is 28 figures for infantry and 20 figures for cavalry.

As for artillery; Napoleon’s Battles normally only includes horse batteries, heavy foot batteries and other specialist artillery such as all-howitzer batteries, while light foot artillery are ‘factored in’ to the infantry brigades.  However, I usually reflect this added combat-power by adding a base of 4x infantry infantry to units which include a light foot battery.

THE ALLIED ARMIES

The Monarchs
Tsar Alexander I of Russia
King Frederick-William III of Brandenburg-Prussia

Allied Military Commander-in-Chief
General of Cavalry, Count Wittgenstein

17”E(10)+0 (Monarchs)
21”G(10)+1D (Wittgenstein)
[6 Free Rolls]

1st Line – General der Kavallerie von Blücher   10”E(6)+3 [6F]

Right Wing (Upper Silesian Brigade) – Generalmajor von Zieten   4”G(8)+1
Von Starkenfeld’s Silesian Cavalry Brigade                                                             12 PrLC [6D]
11th (1st Silesian) Infantry Regiment                                                                       20 PrLN [10D]
12th (2nd Silesian) Infantry Regiment                                                                     20 PrLN [10D]
Silesian Schützen & Freiwillige Jäger                                                                       16 PrJG [8D]
Prussian 9th 6pdr Horse Battery                                                                               Pr6#
Russian 1st Position Battery                                                                                       2x Rs12#
Russian 33rd Position Battery                                                                                   2x Rs12#

Left Wing (Lower Silesian Brigade) – Oberst von Klüx                         3”A(5)+0
Von Mutius’ Dragoon Brigade                                                                                   16 PrLC [8D]
6th (1st West Prussian) Infantry Regiment                                                            20 PrLN [10D]
7th (2nd West Prussian) Infantry Regiment                                                          20 PrLN [10D]
Prussian 7th 6pdr Horse Battery                                                                              Pr6#
Russian 14th Position Battery                                                                                   2x Rs12#

Reserve of the 1st Line (Brandenburg Brigade) – Oberst von Röder 4”G(6)+2
Katzler’s Cavalry Brigade                                                                                           16 PrLC [8D]
8th (Garde) Infantry Regiment & Normal Infantry Battalion                           28 PrGD [11D]
Garde Jäger & Freiwillige Jäger                                                                                16 PrJG [8D]
Von Natzmer’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                           24 PrGN [10D]
Prussian 8th 6pdr Horse Battery                                                                             Pr6#

2nd Line – Generallieutenant von Yorck              10”E(7)+2D

Right Wing (Russian I Corps) – Generalmajor Berg                     7”G(5)+1 [3F]

5th Division – Generalmajor Lukov                                                              3”A(5)+0
The Prince of Siberia’s Brigade                                                                               16 RsLN [8D]
Mesenzov’s Brigade                                                                                                   16 RsLN [8D]

14th Division – Generalmajor Lalin                                                              3”A(4)+0
Helfreich’s Brigade                                                                                                    20 RsLN [10D]

I Corps Artillery Reserve
5th Position Battery                                                                                                  2x Rs12#

Reserve of Right Wing – Generalmajor Kasatschkovsky                 3”A(7)+0
Brischinsky’s Converged Grenadier Brigade (from 5th & 14th Divisions)   16 RsCGN [6D]
Converged Grenadier Brigade (from 1st Division)                                            16 RsCGN [6D]
Ataman Cossack Regiment                                                                                     12 RsCLC [8D]
1st Don Cossack Horse Battery                                                                              2x Rs6#

Left (Prussian) Wing – Generalmajor von Hünerbein             6”A(4)+0 [4F]

Brigade (Hünerbein #2)                                                                                  4”A(4)+0
1st Combined Infantry Regiment                                                                         28 PrLN [14D]
3rd (Lithuanian) Dragoon Regiment                                                                   12 PrLC [6D]

Brigade – Oberst von Horn                                                                            4”A(6)+1D
5th Combined Infantry Regiment                                                                         20 PrLN [10D]
6th Combined Infantry Regiment                                                                         20 PrLN [10D]
2nd Combined Dragoon Regiment                                                                       12 PrLC [6D]

Reserve of Left Wing – Oberstlieutenant von Steinmetz                 4”A(7)+0
7th (2nd Leib) Hussar Regiment                                                                           12 PrLC [6D]
10th (Colberg) Infantry Regiment                                                                        20 PrLN [10D]
Prussian 2nd Horse Battery                                                                                   Pr6#

Artillery Reserve 
Prussian 3rd 12pdr Foot Battery                                                                            Pr12#

1st Reserve Line – Generallieutenant Baron von Winzingerode   8”A(4)+0

Prussian Reserve Cavalry Brigade – Oberst von Dolffs                     5”A(5)+1 [4F]
Garde du Korps Regiment                                                                                       12 PrHC [5D]
Guard Light Cavalry Regiment                                                                               12 PrLC [6D]
1st (Silesian) Kürassier Regiment                                                                          12 PrHC [5D]
2nd (East Prussian) Kürassier Regiment                                                             12 PrHC [5D]
3rd (Brandenburg) Kürassier Regiment                                                              12 PrHC [5D]
Prussian 4th Guard Horse Battery                                                                        Pr6#
Prussian 10th Horse Battery                                                                                   Pr6#

Russian Cavalry Reserve – Generalmajor Count Trubetzskoi   5”G(4)+0 [2F]

Hussar Division – Generalmajor Lanskoi                                                3”P(5)+0
Paradovsky’s Hussar Brigade                                                                                  16 RsLC [8D]
Knorring’s Uhlan Brigade                                                                                        12 RsLC [6D]
Illowaiski XII’s Cossack Brigade                                                                            20 RsCLC [14D]

Russian Horse Artillery Reserve – Generalmajor Nikitin                 3”A(4)+0
Russian 3rd Horse Battery                                                                                        2x Rs6#
Russian 7th Horse Battery                                                                                        2x Rs6#
Russian 8th Horse Battery                                                                                       2x Rs6#

Russian II Corps – Duke Eugen of Württemberg                            8”G(7)+1 [2F]

3rd Division – Generalmajor Schakhoffskoi                                            3”A(5)+0
Schilvinsky’s Brigade                                                                                                  16 RsLN [8D]
Kapustin’s Jäger Brigade                                                                                           16 RsJG [8D]

4th Division – Generalmajor St Priest                                                         4”A(6)+1
Treffurt’s Brigade                                                                                                        16 RsLN [8D]
Ivanov’s Jäger Brigade                                                                                               16 RsJG [8D]

Russian Reserve Army – General of Cavalry Tormassov   10”G(5)+1D

Russian 1st Reserve Line (III Corps) – Generallieutenant Konovnizin   8”E(5)+2 [5F]

Guard Light Cavalry Division – Generalmajor Schaevich                  3”A(5)+1
Tschailkov’s Guard Light Cavalry Brigade                                                             16 RsGLC [6D]
Tichischerin’s Guard Light Cavalry Brigade                                                          16 RsGLC [6D]
Russian 4th Horse Battery                                                                                        2x Rs6#

1st Grenadier Division – Generalmajor Sulima                                      4”G(6)+1
Kniaschnin II’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                          24 RsGN [10D]
Acht’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                                          24 RsGN [10D]
Russian 30th Position Battery                                                                                 2x Rs12#

2nd Grenadier Division – Generalmajor Zweileniev                           3”G(5)+1
Pissareff’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                                  24 RsGN [10D]
Golowin’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                                  24 RsGN [10D]
Hesse’s Grenadier Brigade                                                                                       24 RsGN [10D]
Russian 32nd Position Battery                                                                                2xRs12#

Russian 2nd Reserve Line (V Corps) – Generallieutenant Gallizin V   8”E(6)+2 [6F]

1st Cuirassier Division – Generalmajor Depreradovich                     4”G(6)+1
Areniev’s Guard Cuirassier Brigade                                                                        12 RsGHC [5D]
Rosen’s Cuirassier Brigade                                                                                       12 RsHC [6D]
Kretov’s Cuirassier Brigade                                                                                      12 RsHC [6D]
Russian 1st Guard Horse Battery                                                                            2x RsG6#

2nd Cuirassier Division – Generalmajor Duka                                      4”G(7)+1
Leontiev’s Cuirassier Brigade                                                                                  12 RsHC [6D]
Gudowich’s Cuirassier Brigade                                                                               12 RsHC [6D]
Massalov’s Cuirassier Brigade                                                                                 12 RsHC [6D]
Russian 2nd Guard Horse Battery                                                                         2x RsG6#

1st Guard Division – Generalmajor Baron Rosen                                 3”G(6)+1
Potemkin’s Guard Brigade                                                                                       24 RsGD [7D]
Krapovitsky’s Guard Jäger Brigade                                                                       24 RsGJG [10D]
Russian 1st Guard Position Battery                                                                       2x RsG12#

2nd Guard Division – Generalmajor Udom II                                        3”A(6)+0
Krischanovsky’s Guard Brigade                                                                              24 RsGD [7D]
Scheltuchin II’s Guard Brigade                                                                               24 RsGD [7D]
Russian 2nd Guard Position Battery                                                                     2x RsG12#

Artillery Reserve – Generalmajor Euler                                                   3”A(5)+0
Russian 7th Position Battery                                                                                   2x Rs12#
Russian 31st Position Battery                                                                                  2x Rs12#

Allied Order of Battle Notes

1.  Wittgenstein is saddled with the Czar and the King of Prussia accompanying his headquarters, both of whom are prone to interfering in military decisions.  Therefore, at the start of each Allied turn, roll a D10: on a roll of 5-10, Wittgenstein is in command and uses the rating 21”G(10)+1D.  On a roll of 1-4, the Monarchs interfere and the rating changes to 17”E(10)+0.

2.  Blücher, Yorck, Winzingerode and Tormassov are Wing Commanders for the formations listed under their command.  Blücher may additionally act as a General Wing Commander for Yorck’s and Winzingerode’s commands.

3.  The optional ‘Blücher Rule’ does not apply for this scenario.

4.  Unassigned corps artillery must be attached to divisions before the start of the game.  Artillery already assigned to artillery generals such as Nikitin and Euler may be directly attached to divisions at the player’s discretion.  Euler may additionally command any of the batteries in Tormassov’s Russian Reserve Army.

5.  It’s not clear as to who was appointed to command Hünerbein’s Brigade when he was elevated to command the Prussian Left Wing.  I’ve therefore left Hünerbein’s Brigade with his divisional command stats and marked the label as ‘Hünerbein #2’ (use a separate general figure for game purposes, representing his 2ic, who is now in command of the brigade).  Hünerbein himself, as the commander of a temporary corps, has his command-span increased slightly.

6.  As reinforcements arrive, the Army Morale Rating will steadily increase as per the reinforcement schedule below.  However, if you’re using the Variable Arrival Time rule, formations might arrive in a different order, so you’ll need to calculate the Army Morale as they arrive.

7.  The two Russian Guard Infantry Divisions are only included in the long scenario.

8.  Scheltuchin II’s Guard Brigade comprised the Pavlovski and Leib Guard Regiments, who had been elevated to Guard status only two weeks earlier (I mention this, as every self-respecting Russian player will want to know where to stick the pointy-heads).

Allied Command Structure

As the command structure listed above is rather complicated, here’s a simplified list, including the abbreviations used on the unit labels:

Wittgenstein & The Monarchs

1st Line – Blücher                    (1L)

(may also act as wing commander for Yorck and Winzingerode)

Right Wing of 1st Line (Upper Silesian Brigade) – Zeithen                     (R/1L)
Left Wing of 1st Line (Lower Silesian Brigade) – Klüx                             (L/1L)
Reserve of 1st Line (Brandenburg Brigade) – Röder                                 (B/1L)

2nd Line – Yorck                    (2L)

Right Wing of 2nd Line (Russian I Corps) – Berg                          (I)
5th Division – Lukov                                                                                        (5/I)
14th Division – Lalin                                                                                        (14/I)
Reserve – Kasatschosky                                                                                    (R/I)
I Corps Artillery Reserve                                                                                  (A/I)

Left Wing of 2nd Line (Prussian Corps) – Hünerbein                   (P)
1st Brigade – Hünerbein                                                                                  (1/P)
2nd Brigade – Horn                                                                                          (2/P)
Reserve – Steinmetz                                                                                         (R/P)
Artillery Reserve                                                                                                (A/P)

1st Reserve Line – Winzingerode                       (1RL)

Prussian Reserve Cavalry Brigade – Dolffs                                                  (PRC/1RL)

Russian Cavalry Reserve Corps – Trubetzskoi                                   (RC)
Hussar Division – Lanskoi                                                                               (H/RC)
Horse Artillery Reserve – Nikitin                                                                   (A/RC)

Russian II Corps – Württemberg                                                              (II)
3rd Division – Schakhoffskoi                                                                          (3/II)
4th Division – St Priest                                                                                     (4/II)

Russian Reserve Army – Tormassov

1st Reserve Line (Russian III Corps) – Konovnizin                         (III)
Guard Light Cavalry Division – Schaevich                                                   (C/III)
1st Grenadier Division – Sulima                                                                     (1/III)
2nd Grenadier Division – Zweileniev                                                            (2/III)

2nd Reserve Line (Russian V Corps) – Gallizin                                (V)
1st Cuirassier Division – Depreradovich                                                       (1C/V)
2nd Cuirassier Division – Duka                                                                      (2C/V)
1st Guard Division – Rosen (only in long scenario)                                   (1/V)
2nd Guard Division – Udom (only in long scenario)                                 (2/V)
Artillery Reserve – Euler                                                                                   (A/V)

L’ARMÉE DU MAIN

Commander-in-Chief
The Emperor, Napoléon

28”E(10)+3D
[7 Free Rolls]

General Wing Commander
Maréchal Soult

11”G(6)+1

Imperial Guard Corps – Maréchal Mortier         9”G(6)+1 [7F]

Old Guard Division – Général de Division Roguet                               4”G(7)+1
Grenadiers à Pied & Chasseurs à Pied de la Garde                                            28 FrOGD [8D]

1st Young Guard Division – Général de Division Dumoustier        4”G(6)+1
Middle Guard (Fusiliers-Grenadiers & Fusiliers-Chasseurs)                           16 FrMGD [5D]
Berthezène’s Brigade (6e & 7e Tirailleurs)                                                            16 FrYGD [6D]
Lanusse’s Brigade (1er & 2e Tirailleurs)                                                               24 FrYGD [10D]
Tindal’s Brigade (1er, 6e & 7e Voltigeurs)                                                             28 FrYGD [11D]
2ème Artillerie à Pied de la Garde                                                                          FrG12#

1st Guard Cavalry Division – Général de Division Walther             4”G(7)+1
1er Chevauxlégers-Lanciers de la Garde & Lanciers de Berg                           12 FrGLC [4D]
2ème Chevauxlégers-Lanciers de la Garde                                                          12 FrGLC [4D]

2nd Guard Cavalry Division – Général de Division d’Ornano       4”G(6)+1
Chasseurs à Cheval de la Garde                                                                             12 FrGLC [4D]
Grenadiers à Cheval de la Garde                                                                           12 FrGHC [4D]
Dragons de l’Impératrice & Gendarmes d’Élite                                                 12 FrGHC [4D]

Guard Artillery – Général de Brigade Drouot (vice Dulauloy)     4″G(7)+1
1er Artillerie à Pied de la Garde                                                                             FrG12#
4ème Artillerie à Pied de la Garde                                                                         FrG12#
5ème Artillerie à Pied de la Garde                                                                         FrG12#
1er Artillerie-Volante de la Garde                                                                          FrG6#
2ème Artillerie-Volante de la Garde                                                                      FrG6#

III Corps d’Armée – Maréchal Ney         8”E(6)+3 [11F/12F]

8th Division – Général de Division Souham                                    3”G(8)+0
Chasseraux’s Bde #1 (6ème & 10ème Légère Provisoire)                        24 FrPLT [14D/12D]
Chasseraux’s Bde #2 (14ème & 19ème de Ligne Provisoire)                   20 FrPLN [12D/10D]
Chemineau’s Bde (21ème & 24ème de Ligne Provisoire)                         24 FrPLN [14D/12D]
22ème de Ligne                                                                                                  24 FrLN [14D/12D]

9th Division – Général de Division Brenier                                     4”E(8)+1
Anthing’s Brigade #1 (29ème Légère)                                                           20 FrLT [12D/10D]
Anthing’s Brigade #2 (136ème de Ligne)                                                      20 FrLN [12D/10D]
Grillot’s Brigade #1 (138ème de Ligne)                                                         16 FrLN [10D/8D]
Grillot’s Brigade #2 (145ème de Ligne)                                                         16 FrLN [10D/8D]

10th Division – Général de Division Girard                                     3”G(7)+1
Goris’ Brigade (139ème de Ligne)                                                                  20 FrLN [12D/10D]
Van Dedem’s Brigade #1 (140ème de Ligne)                                               16 FrLN [10D/8D]
Van Dedem’s Brigade #2 (141ème de Ligne)                                               16 FrLN [10D/8D]

11th Division – Général de Division Ricard                                      3”G(7)+1
Tarayre’s Brigade #1 (9ème Légère)                                                              16 FrVLT [8D/6D]
Tarayre’s Brigade #2 (17ème & 18ème de Ligne Provisoire)                    16 FrPLN [10D/8D]
Dumoulin’s Brigade #1 (142ème de Ligne)                                                  16 FrLN [10D/8D]
Dumoulin’s Brigade #2 (144ème de Ligne)                                                 16 FrLN [10D/8D]

39th Division – Général de Division Marchand                             4”A(7)+1
Stockhorn’s Baden Brigade                                                                            20 BdLN [12D/10D]
Prinz Emil von Hessen’s Hessen-Darmstädt & Frankfurt Brigade        24 HsLN [12D/10D]
Hessen-Darmstädt Leib-Garde Regiment                                                   16 HsGD [6D/5D]

III Corps Cavalry Brigade – Général de Brigade Laboissière 4”A(6)+0
10ème Hussards                                                                                                 12 FrLC [7D/6D]
Baden Light Dragoons                                                                                      12 BdLC [6D/5D]

24th Light Cavalry Brigade – Generalmajor Jett                           4”A(6)+1
Württemberg & Hessian Chevauxleger Regiments                                     16 WtLC [8D/6D]
2nd Württemberg Horse Battery                                                                    Wt6#

IV Corps d’Armée – Général de Division Bertrand       8”G(5)+1 [7F]

12th Division – Général de Division Morand                                     5”E(8)+2
Bellair’s Brigade #1 (13ème de Ligne)                                                             28 FrLN [14D]
Bellair’s Brigade #2 (3ème Légère Provisoire)                                              16 FrPLT [8D]
Nagel’s Brigade #1 (23ème de Ligne)                                                              24 FrLN [12D]
Nagel’s Brigade #2 (2ème Régiment Croatien)                                             16 ItLT [8D]

15th Division – Général de Division Peyri                                          3”A(5)+0
Martel’s Brigade (1st Italian Line)                                                                   20 ItLN [10D]
St Andrea’s Brigade #1 (4th Italian Line)                                                      20 ItLN [10D]
St Andrea’s Brigade #2 (6th Italian Line)                                                      16 ItLN [8D]
Moroni’s Brigade (7th Italian Line & Milan Guard)                                     24 ItLN [12D]

38th Division – Generallieutenant Franquemont                          3”G(5)+1
Stockmayer’s Württemberg Brigade                                                                16 WtVLT [6D]
Neuffer’s Württemberg Brigade                                                                       20 WtVLN [8D]
1st Württemberg Horse Battery                                                                        Wt6#

IV Corps Cavalry – Général de Division Fresia                               3”A(5)+0
Briche’s Neapolitan Cavalry Brigade                                                              8 NpLC [4D]
8/4ème Artillerie à Cheval                                                                               Fr6#

VI Corps d’Armée – Maréchal Marmont         10”G(7)+1 [6F/7F]

20th Division – Général de Division Compans                            3”G(6)+1
Calcault’s Brigade #1 (1er Régiment d’Artillerie de la Marine)             24 FrMLN [12D/10D]
Calcault’s Brigade #2 (3ème Régiment d’Artillerie de la Marine)        24 FrMLN [12D/10D]
Joubert’s Brigade (25ème & 26ème de Ligne Provisoire)                       20 FrPLN [12D/10D]

21st Division – Général de Division Bonet                                     4”G(7)+1
Buquet’s Brigade #1 (2ème Régiment d’Artillerie de la Marine)          24 FrMLN [12D/10D]
Buquet’s Brigade #2 (4ème Régiment d’Artillerie de la Marine)         20 FrMLN [10D/8D]
Jamin’s Brigade (37ème Légère)                                                                 28 FrVLT [14D/11D]

22nd Division – Général de Division Friedrichs                         3”A(5)+0
Ficatier’s Brigade (23ème Légère)                                                               16 FrLT [10D/8D]
11ème de Ligne Provisoire                                                                             20 FrPLN [12D/10D]
13ème de Ligne Provisoire                                                                             20 FrPLN [12D/10D]
16ème de Ligne Provisoire                                                                             20 FrPLN [12D/10D]

VI Corps Cavalry Brigade – Général de Brigade Beaumont   4”G(6)+1
7ème Chevauxléger-Lanciers (ex 1st Vistula Legion Lancers)                 8 FrLC [5D/4D]

VI Corps Artillery
5/2ème Artillerie à Pied                                                                                    Fr12#
21/2ème Artillerie à Pied                                                                                  Fr12#
18/5ème Artillerie à Pied                                                                                  Fr12#
25/5ème Artillerie à Pied                                                                                 Fr12#
1/1er Artillerie à Cheval                                                                                    Fr6#
5/1er Artillerie à Cheval                                                                                    Fr6#

XII Corps d’Armée – Maréchal Oudinot         9”E(5)+2 [4F]

13th Division – Général de Division Pacthod                                  3”G(5)+1
Pourailly’s Brigade (12ème & 23ème de Ligne Provisoire)                       28 FrPLN [14D]
Gruyer’s Brigade #1 (101ème de Ligne)                                                        16 FrLN [8D]
Gruyer’s Brigade #2 (1st Neapolitan Light Infantry)                                 20 NpLT [12D]

14th Division – Général de Division Lorencez                               3”A(4)+0
3ème Légère Provisoire & Régiment Illyrien                                               24 FrPLT [12D]
Leclerc’s Brigade (137ème de Ligne)                                                             28 FrLN [14D]
D’Henin’s Brigade (156ème de Ligne)                                                           28 FrLN [14D]

XII Corps Artillery Reserve
24/2ème Artillerie à Pied                                                                                 Fr12#

L’Armée de l’Elbe
Prince Eugène, Viceroi d’Italie

11”G(7)+1D

V Corps d’Armée – Général de Division Lauriston      9”G(5)+1 [7F]

16th Division – Général de Division Maison (absent)

17th Division – Général de Division Puthod                                         3”A(6)+0
Gachod’s Brigade #1 (146ème de Ligne)                                                           16 FrLN [8D]
Gachod’s Brigade #2 (147ème de Ligne)                                                           20 FrLN [10D]
Pastol’s Brigade (148ème de Ligne)                                                                   20 FrLN [10D]

18th Division – Général de Division Lagrange                                    3”A(5)+0
Charrière’s Brigade (154ème de Ligne)                                                              20 FrLN [10D]
Suden’s Brigade (155ème de Ligne)                                                                    16 FrLN [8D]
3ème Régiment-Étrangère (Régiment Irlandais)                                            16 FrPLT [8D]

19th Division – Général de Division Rochambeau                            4”A(6)+1
Lacroix’s Brigade (135ème de Ligne)                                                                 (absent)
Lafitte’s Brigade (149ème de Ligne)                                                                   20 FrLN [10D]
Harlet’s Brigade (150ème de Ligne)                                                                   24 FrLN [12D]

V Corps Artillery Reserve
15/1er Artillerie à Pied                                                                                            Fr12#
16/1er Artillerie à Pied                                                                                            Fr12#
2/5ème Artillerie à Cheval                                                                                     Fr6#
7/6ème Artillerie à Cheval                                                                                     Fr6#

XI Corps d’Armée – Maréchal MacDonald      9”G(5)+1 [5F]

31st Division – Général de Division Fressinet                                      3”A(5)+0
11ème & 13ème Demi-Brigades Provisoire & Neapolitans                              24 FrPLN [12D]
Neapolitan Guard Horse Battery                                                                          Np6#

35th Division – Général de Division Gérard                                         4”G(6)+1
Senecal’s Brigade (112ème de Ligne)                                                                  20 FrLN [10D]
Zucchi’s Brigade #1 (2nd Italian Light)                                                              16 ItLT [8D]
Zucchi’s Brigade #2 (5th Italian Line)                                                                20 ItLN [10D]
4th Italian & Würzburg Chasseurs à Cheval                                                      8 ItLC [3D]
3rd Italian Horse Battery                                                                                       It6#

36th Division – Général de Division Charpentier                              4”G(5)+0
Simmer’s Brigade (14ème & 22ème Légère)                                                      28 FrLT [14D]
Meunier’s Brigade (14ème & 15ème Demi-Brigades Provisoire)                   28 FrPLN [14D]

I Corps de Cavallerie – Général de Division Latour-Maubourg 9”G(7)+1 [3F]

1st Light Cavalry Division – Général de Division Bruyère              4”G(7)+0
Bessières’ & Cambraceres’ Brigades                                                                     12 FrLC [6D]

3rd Light Cavalry Division – Général de Division Chastel              4”G(5)+1
Van Merlen’s & Richter’s Brigades                                                                       12 FrLC [6D]

1st Cuirassier Division – Général de Division Bourdesoulle         4”A(6)+0
Berkheim’s & Quinette’s Brigades                                                                        12 FrHC [6D]

3rd Cuirassier Division – Général de Division Doumerc                4”G(7)+1
D’Oudenarde’s and Reizet’s Brigades                                                                  12 FrHC [6D]

I Cavalry Corps Artillery Reserve
3/1er Artillerie à Cheval                                                                                          Fr6#
1/6ème Artillerie à Cheval                                                                                      Fr6#

French Order of Battle Notes

1.  The optional ‘Napoleon Rule’ is used for this scenario, whereby all formations have their Fatigue Ratings improved by one and all units have their Dispersal Letter improved by one grade when Napoleon is present on the table (many unit labels show two dispersal numbers – the higher number is used when Napoleon is absent).  However, the French will automatically lose the game if Napoleon is killed or captured.

2.  There is initially no C-in-C for the French until Ney arrives.  Ney is then the C-in-C, with an activation number of 10.  He reverts to being a Corps/Wing Commander after Napoleon arrives.

3.  The Guard Artillery Division may alternatively be split up, with batteries directly attached to Guard divisions.

4.  The Guard Artillery was actually commanded by GD Dulauloy (rated 3″P(5)+0).  However, on the day of the battle it seems to have been GB Drouot (4″G(7)+1) who was chiefly responsible for taking them forward and commanding the grand battery that supported the Guard’s attack and I’ve therefore included him as the named commander of the Guard Artillery.  Feel free to use Dulauloy if you prefer

5.  The commander of the Guard Artillery (Dulauloy or Drouot) may take command of any artillery within his command span.

6.  Corps Artillery must be attached to divisions before the start of the game (the Guard Artillery may be retained under their divisional commander).

7.  Marshal Soult and Marshal Ney may act as General Wing Commanders.  Prince Eugène is a wing commander for the formations and units of the Army of the Elbe.

8.  Nafziger strangely lists the 1st, 2nd, 4th & 5th Foot Batteries of the Old Guard as having 12-pounders, yet at Bautzen (three weeks later) he lists the 2nd & 3rd Batteries as having 12-pounders.  I strongly suspect that only one of these statements can be true and I’ve gone with the first option.

9.  Although Nafziger (and others) show the powerful III Corps Artillery Reserve to be present at Lützen and Bautzen, it actually didn’t reach III Corps until some time after Bautzen.

10.  As reinforcements arrive, the Army Morale Rating will steadily increase as per the reinforcement schedule below.  However, if you’re using the Variable Arrival Time rule, formations might arrive in a different order, so you’ll need to calculate the Army Morale as they arrive.

11.  Marshals Ney (III Corps) and Marmont (VI Corps) each have two Fatigue Ratings marked on their labels, while their subordinate units have two Dispersal Levels marked.  Use the worse rating until Napoleon arrives on-table.

12.  Maison’s 16th Division of Lauriston’s V Corps was absent, having been tasked with holding the newly-captured city of Leipzig.  Lacroix’s brigade (135e de Ligne) of Rochambeau’s 19th Division was also absent, having been roundly beaten at Halle during the morning by Bülow’s Prussians.

13.  Beaumont’s cavalry brigade is the only part of VI Corps deployed on table at the start.  This formation may include one of the two VI Corps reserve horse batteries.  All other VI Corps reserve artillery must be assigned to the infantry divisions and arrive as reinforcements.

14.  The V Corps and XII Corps are only included in the long scenario.

French Command Structure

As the order of battle is slightly complicated, here’s a simplified list showing the main formations and the abbreviations used on the unit labels.

Napoleon

Soult (General Wing Commander)

Imperial Guard Corps – Mortier                                                            (G)
Old Guard Division – Roguet                                                                         (O/G)
1st Young Guard Division – Dumoustier                                                     (Y/G)
1st Guard Cavalry Division – Walther                                                          (1C/G)
2nd Guard Cavalry Division – d’Ornano                                                     (2C/G)
Guard Artillery – Dulauloy/Drouot                                                              (A/G)

III Corps – Ney (C-in-C until Napoleon’s arrival, then Wing Cdr)      (III)
8th Division – Souham                                                                                    (8/III)
9th Division – Brennier                                                                                   (9/III)
10th Division – Girard                                                                                     (10/III)
11th Division – Ricard                                                                                      (11/III)
39th Division – Marchand                                                                              (39/III)
III Corps Cavalry – Laboissière                                                                      (C/III)
24th Light Cavalry Brigade – Jett                                                                  (24C/III)

IV Corps – Bertrand                                                                                       (IV)
12th Division – Morand                                                                                   (12/IV)
15th Division – Peyri                                                                                        (15/IV)
38th Division – Franquemont                                                                        (38/IV)
IV Corps Cavalry – Fresia                                                                                (C/IV)

VI Corps – Marmont                                                                                      (VI)
20th Division – Compans                                                                                (20/VI)
21st Division – Bonet                                                                                        (21/VI)
22nd Division – Friedrichs                                                                              (22/VI)
VI Corps Cavalry – Beaumont                                                                         (C/VI)
VI Corps Artillery Reserve                                                                                (A/VI)

XII Corps – Oudinot (only in long scenario)                                             (XII)
13th Division – Pacthod                                                                                    (13/XII)
14th Division – Lorencez                                                                                  (14/XII)
XII Corps Artillery Reserve                                                                              (A/XII)

L’Armée de l’Elbe – Prince Eugène

V Corps – Lauriston (only in long scenario)                                               (V)
16th Division – Maison (absent)
17th Division – Puthod                                                                                       (17/V)
18th Division – Lagrange                                                                                   (18/V)
19th Division – Rochambeau (Lacroix’s brigade absent)                            (19/V)
V Corps Artillery Reserve                                                                                   (A/V)

XI Corps – MacDonald                                                                                    (XI)
31st Division – Fressinet                                                                                    (31/XI)
35th Division – Gérard                                                                                       (35/XI)
36th Division – Charpentier                                                                              (36/XI)

I Cavalry Corps – Latour-Maubourg                                                            (IC)
1st Light Cavalry Division – Bruyère                                                                (1L/IC)
3rd Light Cavalry Division – Chastel                                                                (3L/IC)
1st Cuirassier Division – Bordesoulle                                                               (1C/IC)
3rd Cuirassier Division – Doumerc                                                                  (3C/IC)
I Cavalry Corps Artillery Reserve                                                                      (A/IC)

Deployment

Both sides deploy their initial starting forces as per the map below:

Scenario Schedule

The scenario starts at 1100hrs.

The Allies have the first turn and the Initiative Marker.

Reinforcement arrival-points are marked A, B, C, D, Y & Z on the deployment map above.

Deployment               – III Corps (minus Ney) is deployed as map.
                                         – Beaumont’s Cavalry (VI Corps) is deployed as map.                                                                     – Wittgenstein & Monarchs deployed on the Monarchenhügel.
                                         – Blücher’s 1st Line is deployed as map.
                                         – Yorck’s 2nd Line is deployed as map.
                                         – Winzingerode’s 1st Reserve Line is deployed as map.
                                          – Starting French Morale Level: 18.
                                          – Starting Allied Morale Level: 22.

1100hrs (Turn 1)     – VI Corps (minus Friedrichs) arrives at C (marching).   
                                         – French Morale Level increases to 21.

1200hrs (Turn 3)     – Tormassov & III (Grenadier) Corps arrives at Z or Y (deployed).
                                          – Allied Morale Level increases to 27.
                                        – Ney arrives at B.  Becomes C-in-C at the end of the turn.
– Friedrichs’ Division (VI Corps) arrives at C (marching).

1300hrs (Turn 5)     – Napoleon arrives at B.  Relieves Ney as C-in-C at end of turn.
                                         – Soult & Mortier arrive at B.
                                        – The Young Guard & Guard Arty arrive at B (deployed).
– French Morale Level increases to 23.

1330hrs (Turn 6)    – Morand’s Division (IV Corps) arrives at D (deployed).
                                         – French Morale Level increases to 26.

1400hrs (Turn 7)    – The Guard Cavalry arrives at B (deployed).
                                         – French Morale Level increases to 28.

1430hrs (Turn 8)    – The Old Guard arrives at B (deployed).
                                         – French Morale Level increases to 29.
                                          – V (Guard) Corps arrives at Y or Z (deployed).
– (Guard infantry divisions in long scenario only)
                                         – Allied Morale Level increases to 29.

1500hrs (Turn 9)     – IV Corps Remainder arrives at D (marching).

1530hrs (Turn 10)   – Eugène & XI Corps arrive at A (deployed).

1600hrs (Turn 11)   – I Cavalry Corps arrives at A (deployed).

1730hrs (Turn 14)   – XII Corps arrives at B (marching) – long scenario only.

1800hrs (Turn 15)  – Short scenario ends following the French turn.

1830hrs (Turn 16)   – V Corps arrives at A (marching) – long scenario only.

2130hrs (Turn 22)  – Scenario ends following the French turn.

Reinforcement formations listed as ‘deployed’ on arrival may arrive in any formation, up to 12 inches on either side of their arrival road.

Reinforcement formations listed as ‘marching’ must arrive in March Column formation, one behind the other, on their arrival road.  These formations may delay their arrival by 2 turns in order to arrive ‘deployed’.  This will also delay any formations following immediately behind them.

All reinforcement units class as activated and may move a full move onto table during the turn in which they arrive.  Normal activation rules apply after that.  Remember that units in March Column formation AND on a road do not have to be activated in subsequent turns, while only part of a continuous march column needs to be activated when off-road.

Unless they have their own named artillery commander, corps reserve artillery batteries must be placed under the command of a division of that corps.  This must be specified by the player before the start of the game and before any roll is made for the arrival of reinforcements (see below).  Foot artillery may not be assigned to a ‘pure’ cavalry formation.

I recommend using the Variable Entry Times rule for the arrival of reinforcements:  Starting two turns (1 hour) before the schedules arrival time, roll a D10 for each general; the general will arrive early on a roll of 1.  One turn before the scheduled arrival time, the formation will arrive on a roll of 1-3.  On its scheduled arrival time, they will arrive on a roll of 1-6.  On later turns, the formation will arrive on a roll of 1-8.  This adds a little bit of unpredictability, as well as a lot of fun and not a little frustration!  Of course the opposing player can try to prevent arrivals through the use of Re-Roll Markers.  In the case of C-in-Cs, Wing Commanders and Corps Commanders, it is just the general and his staff that you are rolling for.  In the case of Divisional Commanders, it is the general plus the troops under his command.

In some scenarios, I might allow ‘pre-rolls’ to see if early arrivals (e.g. Ney in this scenario) might be on table at the start.  However, in this instance I would not allow this, as Ney and the early French reinforcements should definitely be off-table at the start.

Optional Smaller Scenario

If you want to limit the size of the scenario, you can always delete the French V Corps and XII Corps, as well as the two Russian Guard Infantry Divisions, as these formations either arrived too late (in the case of the French) or were simply not committed (in the case of the Russians).  Then end the scenario at the end of the French 1800hrs turn (Turn 15).

Terrain Notes

Hills – The hills are very gently rolling and serve only to allow elevated lines of sight.  They do not provide any melee modifier.

Streams – These count as 1″ of Rough Terrain and give a +1 melee modifier to the defender.

The Flössgräben – This is a relatively narrow, though deep and steeply-banked logging canal.  It is impassable to artillery.  All other troops may pass over it as 2″ of rough terrain and are Disordered in so doing.  All troop-types may pass over at a bridge if in Column, March Column or Limbered formation.

Marsh – These areas count as Rough Terrain to infantry and are impassable to cavalry and artillery.

Woods – These areas count as rough terrain to all troop-types and give a -1 cover modifier.

Villages – Each orange box shown on the map is a Built-Up-Sector and may accommodate one formed infantry unit.  These provide a -2 cover modifier and a +2 melee modifier to the defender.

Modelling Note – The Flössgräben and the villages were described as being lined with cherry trees, which on the day of the battle were filled with pink cherry-blossom (as shown in some paintings of the battle).

Unit Information Cards

French Unit Labels

Allied Unit Labels

That’s all for now!  The Battle of Bautzen will be coming soon…