‘The Leipzig Overture’: The Cavalry Battle of Liebertwolkwitz, 14th October 1813 (A Scenario for ‘Napoleon’s Battles’)

The continuing ramblings of the Butterfly Wargamer…

My surviving reader might remember back to the alcohol-fueled Lockdown Days of 2000, when I was last burning through Wellingtonics like a man possessed.  Back then I was looking forward to the wargames I was going to have when the various UK Lockdowns (and a slack handful added by the Cardiff Parish Council to keep us out of the pubs and make Wales feel extra miserable for tradition’s sake) finally ended.  At the time I blitzed my way through the Army of the Duchy of Warsaw, I finally finished a pile of units that had been languishing in the Russian Wing of the Lead Dungeon for twenty years and I expanded my Austrian army fivefold.

My plan at the time was to play the 1809 Battle of Aspern-Essling and the 1813 Battle of Liebertwolkwitz.  However, as you may have noticed, I haven’t yet done either game (though in my defence, Liebertwolkwitz was actually our very first game (about 35 years ago) using the Napoleon’s Battles system and my dearly-departed hordes of Minfigs, Heritage, TTG, Chariot and Battle Honours figures).

Nevertheless, these games are most definitely afoot!  I have now almost completed the order of battle for Aspern-Essling and I’ve already got everything we need for Liebertwolkwitz, so I’m hoping that we can play both this year if I can find a spare weekend for each game (these will definitely be two-day affairs!).

In the meantime, I may as well post the scenarios, starting with this’un.  This is the massive cavalry-battle of Liebertwolkwitz, which was fought on 14th October 1813, two days before the start of the ‘Battle of Nations’, the titanic Battle of Leipzig (16th to 19th October 1813).  Part of the Battle of Leipzig was then fought over the exact-same ground.

I’d like to apologise for this being a bit of a long’un… Well, I’d like to, but I won’t… 😉

The Autumn Campaign of 1813

Despite Napoleon’s catastrophic defeat in Russia, in the Spring of 1813 he nevertheless managed to pull off arguably one of the greatest organisational feats of the entire era; the recreation of the Grande Armée from practically nothing.  This brand-new army, woefully inexperienced and cripplingly short of horseflesh, then somehow managed to defeat the combined armies of Russia and the resurgent Prussia during the Spring Campaign of 1813, at the battles of Lützen and Bautzen.  However, despite these victories, Napoleon proved unable to land the knockout blow and was forced in June to agree to an armistice.

The war stopped for a couple of months as both sides paused to build up their forces and re-draw their plans.  The embryonic new Prussian Army was massively expanded with the addition of the Landwehr militia, but most significantly, the Allied cause was boosted in August by the addition of Austria to the 6th Coalition, along with her massive army.

Still welcome, but somewhat less significantly, was the addition of a Swedish Corps and the creation of a multi-national corps in Northern Germany, consisting of British regulars, the newly-reformed Hanoverian, Mecklenburg and Hanseatic Armies, Prussian and German Freikorps, Russian Cossacks and Swedish units.

The Allies were now split into three main parts; the Army of the North under Crown Prince Charles John of Sweden (i.e. the former French Marshal Bernadotte), the Army of Silesia under the Prussian Field Marshal Blücher and the Army of Bohemia under the Austrian Field Marshal Schwarzenberg.  The three monarchs (of Russia, Prussia and Austria) would accompany the Army of Bohemia, which was by far the largest of the three armies.

Each Allied army had a large Russian contingent and at least one Prussian army corps (the Army of the North had two Prussian army corps and the Army of Bohemia had the Prussian Royal Guard Division attached to the Russian Imperial Guard).  The Swedish Corps was assigned to the Army of the North, while the Austrian Army formed a very large part of the Army of Bohemia.  In addition to the three main armies were General Wallmoden’s multi-national corps in North Germany and the all-Russian Polish Reserve Army under General Benningsen, which was conducting siege and lines-of-communication duties in the rear, but which would also eventually join operations in Germany.

Riven by disagreement over their overall war-aims, the Allies nevertheless managed to thrash out a strategy, based on the (accurate) assumption that Napoleon would attack them first.  The ‘Trachenberg-Reichenbach Plan’ had six key points:

1. Any fortresses occupied by the enemy are not to be besieged, but merely observed.
2. The main effort is to be directed against the enemy’s flanks and lines of operation.
3. To cut the enemy’s lines of communication, forcing him to detach troops to clear them or move his main forces against them.
4. To accept battle only against part of the enemy’s forces and only if that part is outnumbered, but to avoid battle against his combined forces, especially if these are directed against the Allies’ weak points.
5. In the event of the enemy moving in force against one of the Allied armies, this army is to retire while the others will advance with vigour.
6. The point of union of the Allied armies is to be the enemy’s headquarters.

This essentially boiled down to one simple concept: “Fight where Napoleon is absent.  Retreat where he is present.”

Napoleon for his part planned to use his advantage of interior lines in Saxony to strike at one of the Allied armies at a time, while holding off the others with smaller forces.  Marshal Davout’s XIII Corps would continue to hold Hamburg and the line of the Lower Elbe in the north (in concert with the tiny Danish Army in Schleswig-Holstein), while Marshal Oudinot’s Army of Berlin (IV, VII & XII Corps & III Reserve Cavalry Corps) would advance from Saxony to take Berlin, thereby causing political trouble for the Prussians, to draw the army of the North upon himself and to draw Prussian forces away from the other Allied armies (Napoleon seems to have forgotten that threatening Berlin only three months earlier to draw the Prussians away from the Russians didn’t work prior to the Battle of Bautzen).

Marshal Ney’s Army of the Bober (III, V, VI & XI Corps & II Reserve Cavalry Corps) meanwhile, would hold the line of that river against the Army of Silesia, while General Poniatowski’s Poles (VIII Corps and IV Reserve Cavalry Corps) and Marshal Victor’s II Corps would screen the passes of the Bohemian Mountains for any sign of an advance by Schwarzenberg.  Marshal Augerau’s still-forming IX Corps would cover the lines of communication to Bavaria.  Marshal Saint-Cyr’s XIV Corps would hold the base of operations at Dresden, where Napoleon was positioned with his operational reserve (The Imperial Guard, I Corps and I & V Reserve Cavalry Corps).

(If you’re counting, the X Corps slot was taken by General Rapp’s garrison of Danzig, who had been besieged since the Spring)

With the armistice coming to its pre-arranged end on 13th August, Napoleon’s offensive first struck eastward from his base of operations at Dresden, aiming to join Ney’s Army of the Bober and knock out Blücher’s Army of Silesia, which faulty intelligence had led Napoleon to believe was the largest of the three main Allied armies (while Napoleon had massively built up his cavalry arm during the armistice, it was still significantly inferior in terms of numbers and quality and with bands of Cossacks seemingly everywhere, the Allies had a considerable reconnaissance advantage).  Realising that he was facing the Emperor and in accordance with the agreed Allied plan, Blücher withdrew his army, leaving Napoleon punching into thin air.

The Battle of Grossbeeren, 23rd August

With Napoleon known to be in front of Blücher, the Allies were quick to take advantage; Bernadotte’s Army of the North moved to engage Oudinot’s Army of Berlin, while the Army of Bohemia crossed over the Bohemian Mountains and descended upon Dresden.  The first major clash of the campaign took place on 23rd August, at the town of Grossbeeren near Berlin, where Marshal Oudinot’s 70,000 men found themselves facing the Crown Prince of Sweden’s 93,000.  Oudinot was decisively defeated and was forced to retreat back to the Elbe.

Napoleon meanwhile, alerted to the threat to his base at Dresden, immediately marched back to the city with his reserves, arriving there on 25th August.  Marshal Ney was also ordered to Dresden with orders to leave Marshal MacDonald in command of the Army of the Bober.  However, thanks to his imprecise orders, Ney also ordered his own III Corps (the strongest formation, now commanded by General Souham) to also march to Dresden, leaving MacDonald’s army dangerously weakened.

The Battle of Dresden, 26th-27th August

Moving characteristically slowly thanks to multi-national ‘Command by Committee’, Schwarzenberg’s Army of Bohemia finally assaulted the city on 26th August and made significant gains during the first day of fighting, but was unable to break the resistance shown by the defenders.  Shouts of “Vive l’Empéreur!” coming from the defenders made the Allies suspicious, but they were certain that Napoleon was miles away, in front of Blücher.  After much discussion, they finally agreed to continue their assault and by 5pm they were at the very walls of Dresden.

Then it all started to unravel for the Allies… Napoleon now unleashed the 70,000 men of his reserve and the Allies were immediately thrown back, with fighting continuing until midnight and the Allies being pushed almost back to their start-line in many areas.  During the night, each flank of Napoleon’s army was massively reinforced under the cover of darkness and heavy rain.

At dawn on the 27th, the French left wing, led by Marshal Ney and spearheaded by the Young Guard, launched a counter-attack which quickly drove back Wittgenstein’s Russians, but eventually got bogged down in the heavy mud.  Marshal St-Cyr’s centre also made gains against Kleist’s Prussians and rebuffed a counter-attack, while Marshal Murat’s right wing also began to gain ground against the Austrians.  The Russians planned a counter-attack against Ney’s left wing, but this also quickly bogged down in the mud.

Then in the afternoon, Marshal Victor’s French II Corps finally broke through the Austrians and this advantage was soon exploited by Murat with the massed reserve cavalry.  The Austrian wing, partly penned against the flooded River Weisseritz, was completely smashed, with three whole divisions surrendering outright to the French.  This disaster was compounded by the news that Vandamme’s French I Corps had arrived at Pirna, thereby cutting the Allies’ line of communication to Prague via the valley of the Elbe.

The Battle of the Katzbach, 26th August

In the meantime, the wily Blücher, realising that the pressure in front of him had eased considerably, decided to go onto the offensive.  His four corps; the Russian corps of Sacken, St Priest and Langeron and Yorck’s Prussian I Corps totalled around 96,000 men, which was roughly on a par with MacDonald’s total of around 91,000.  However, the withdrawal of Souham’s III Corps had just taken 28,000 from the French total!

The resultant Battle of the Katzbach was a confused encounter-battle in appalling weather, marked by heavy rain, thick mud, flooded rivers and broken bridges which trapped thousands of French troops, forcing them to surrender.  Both sides fought each other to exhaustion, but even the late return of Souham’s III Corps couldn’t save the day for the Army of the Bober.

A further victory by Langeron’s Corps at Löwenberg on 29th August netted thousands more prisoners.  The Army of the Bober was completely routed, having lost in excess of 30,000 men and 100 guns.  However, Blücher’s victory was not without considerable cost; the Army of Silesia had lost 22,000 men, though their victory had won them a considerable morale-advantage over the French.

Worse was to come for Napoleon.  Having pursued the defeated Army of Bohemia as far as Pirna, he now received news of Oudinot’s defeat at Grossbeeren and MacDonald’s defeat on the Katzbach.  As Vandamme’s I Corps had not been engaged, he was tasked with continuing the pursuit of the defeated Allied army into Bohemia, while Napoleon regrouped back at Dresden and marched north, intending to resume the advance on Berlin and to crush the Crown Prince of Sweden’s Army of the North.

The Battle of Kulm, 29th-30th August

However, on 29th August, a Russian force of around 10,000 men under Ostermann-Tolstoy mounted a successful rearguard action, checking Vandamme’s pursuit at the village of Priesten.  Although Vandamme outnumbered the Russians by more than 3:1, the action was fought in a narrow valley, bordered by mountains and thick forests, so the French were unable to outflank the enemy rearguard or bring their greater numbers to bear.  Thus rebuffed, Vandamme fell back to the village of Kulm to reconsider his options.  On the 30th, Vandamme resumed the attack on the Russians, who had now been reinforced by further Russian and Austrian units under Barclay de Tolly and Colloredo-Mansfeld respectively, bringing the odds to roughly 3:2 (34,000 French versus 20,000 Allies).

However, Vandamme had lost track of one enemy formation during the pursuit; Kleist’s Prussian II Corps.  Kleist became aware that he had been passed by the French pursuit and now, at some considerable risk to his own corps, marched to attack Vandamme’s rear.  A sudden cannonade to the north alerted Vandamme to the terrible situation he now found himself trapped in!  This situation then became worse as the Russians and Austrians mounted their own frontal attack.  The Battle of Kulm was a complete disaster for the French.  Estimates of losses vary wildly from 13,000 to 25,000, but the outcome was that I Corps was completely destroyed, with Vandamme himself being captured and every gun being lost.  The defeats at Grossbeeren and the Katzbach had been mere setbacks for Napoleon, but the removal of an entire corps from the order of battle had now undone everything that he had achieved at Dresden.

Already on his way to take command of the Army of Berlin, Napoleon realised that he now had to turn his attention back to the south and east, so ordered Ney to take over command from Oudinot and resume the offensive in the north.  Blücher in the meantime was advancing, so Napoleon once again marched to face him.  However, just as before, Blücher withdrew when he realised that he was facing Napoleon.  Finally appreciating the Allied strategy, Napoleon decided not to pursue Blücher and sure enough, soon received word that Schwarzenberg was again threatening Dresden, forcing him once again to rush his reserves to that point.  This time however, the cautious Allies managed to avoid a battle against the Emperor.

The Battle of Dennewitz, 6th September

This however, was not the case in the north, where the Allies were very much seeking another battle.  Marshal Ney, determined to avoid what he perceived to be Oudinot’s mistake of advancing in multiple columns, decided to advance on Berlin in a single column.  However, on 6th September this column was checked outside the town of Juterbogk, where Tauentzein’s Prussian IV Corps (a weak formation consisting almost entirely of Landwehr units) successfully halted the advance of Bertrand’s French IV Corps (although nominally French, it was actually a mix of French, Italian and Württemberg troops, as well as some attached Polish cavalry).

Both sides had reinforcements marching to the scene, but Bülow’s powerful Prussian III Corps were first to arrive, relieving Tauentzein’s battered command and driving back Bertrand.  However, Morand’s excellent French 12th Division eventually checked the Prussians, who were then driven back by the Saxons of Reynier’s freshly-arrived VII Corps.

Bülow, now supported by Swedish cavalry and horse artillery and assured by the Crown Prince’s promises of support from Winzingerode’s Russian Corps and Stedingk’s Swedish Corps, now threw all of his reserves into a fresh attack and drove back Reynier’s Saxons.  However, the arrival of arrival of Oudinot’s XII Corps with yet more fresh French, Polish and Bavarian divisions turned the tide of battle yet again!

The Prussians, now fully-engaged against three French army corps and a reserve cavalry corps, were now close to breaking.  However, their salvation came in the form of Marshal Ney himself, who ordered Oudinot to move his corps to support Bertrand’s struggling right flank, thereby relieving pressure on Bülow’s centre, just as it was about to collapse.

At last, Winzingerode’s Russians arrived and the great weight of Russian artillery soon completed the defeat of Bertrand on the French right.  As more Russian and Swedish troops began to pour onto the field, Ney’s army collapsed.

With the score now at 4-1 to the Allies, Ney retreated all the way back to the Elbe, having lost over 20,000 men and 50 guns.  Perhaps most importantly, the various contingents of the Confederation of the Rhine had suffered terribly during the battle and their confidence (both from the point of view of their monarchs and the ordinary soldier) in Napoleon and his cause were irretrievably broken.  The Württembergers, who had long been among the best allied troops, had been utterly shattered, with only a tiny remnant remaining under their colours.  The Saxons, already very reluctant allies, had also suffered very badly during the battle.  The Bavarians, although only lightly engaged during the battle, would soon be ordered by their King to march back to Bavaria and would take no further part in the campaign…  Well, not on Napoleon’s side, anyway…

[If you’re interested, I have a scenario for the Battle of Dennewitz here.]

Following the Battle of Dennewitz, Napoleon’s Grande Armée remained at bay, temporarily safe behind the considerable military obstacles of the River Elbe to the east and north, and the Bohemian Mountains to the south.  These natural obstacles acted as a defensive wall around Napoleon’s army which would prove difficult to penetrate, particularly as Napoleon held all of the fortified crossings on the Elbe; namely Dresden, Torgau, Meissen, Wittenberg, Magdeburg and Hamburg.  However, Napoleon’s ability to conduct reconnaissance beyond these barriers was virtually nil, so he had little idea of where the enemy might be massing for an attack.

Napoleon’s army in Saxony was also now running critically short of supplies and while he could retreat to shorten his supply lines, this would mean abandoning the Confederation of the Rhine, which was politically unacceptable.  He therefore had to make his stand in Saxony if he wanted to keep the Confederation intact.  Of course, the Allies were also seriously suffering from supply issues, but hungry men are more likely to keep fighting when they are winning.  And the Allies were most definitely winning.

The Battle of Wartenburg, 3rd October

After several weeks, the stalemate was finally broken when Blücher, spotting an opportunity and using his own initiative, launched a highly risky assault-crossing of the Elbe.  Early in the foggy morning of 3rd October, Yorck’s Prussian I Corps threw two pontoon bridges across the Elbe at the village of Elster and then, in the face of stiff resistance from French skirmishers, his infantry fought their way through the bogs and woods to reach the town of Wartenburg and the open ground beyond.  However, Bertrand’s IV Corps was waiting to receive them.

As the fog lifted, the Prussians could see that the French had turned Wartenburg into a fortress.  The Prince of Mecklenburg’s advance guard was already suffering heavy casualties from fire coming from the town and it was therefore judged that a frontal assault through the streams, bogs and ox-bow lakes surrounding it would be impossible.

The village of Bleddin, about 3km to the south and on the right flank of the French line, offered a more practicable alternative; it had also been garrisoned and fortified by Bertrand, but the approach along the bank of the Elbe was far more accessible.  The village was held by Franquemont’s Württembergers who, while excellent troops, were now sorely depleted in number and demoralised, following their rough handling at Dennewitz.

As Steinmetz brought his brigade up to screen the movement, Mecklenburg took his brigade to the left with Horn’s brigade in support.  In bitter fighting, the Prussians eventually ejected the Württembergers from the village, allowing Horn’s brigade to wheel right and engage Fontanelli’s Italians.  Horn’s assault went in with maximum aggression, with the 2nd Battalion of the Leibregiment alone breaking four battalions at bayonet-point!  As the Prussians broke through into the south side of Wartenburg, Bertrand knew that his position was untenable and conceding defeat, ordered his corps to retreat.

With their hard-won victory at Wartenburg, Blücher’s Army of Silesia now had a firm bridgehead and poured over onto the east bank of the Elbe.  The Crown Prince’s Army of the North followed suit further downstream only a day later.

With both the Army of Silesia and the Army of the North now across the Elbe and the army of Bohemia threatening to emerge once again from the mountains to the south, Napoleon now had a difficult choice to make as to which enemy army to face first.  With the enemy now firmly across the Elbe, Dresden was no longer the critical hub of manoeuvre it once was and Napoleon’s main depot was now placed further back at Leipzig.  With the Crown Prince of Sweden and Blücher now only a few days’ march from Leipzig, they were clearly the greater threat.  Added to which, Blücher would struggle to withdraw his entire army across the Elbe, so would struggle to avoid battle as he had done twice before in this campaign.  Blücher would therefore be Napoleon’s next target.

As Napoleon marched on Blücher, the wily old general avoided being forced into a battle at Düben and crossed over the River Mulde, thereby moving closer to the Crown Prince’s position.  Favouring an aggressive strike against Napoleon’s lines of communication, Blücher proposed a joint move over the River Saale, cutting Leipzig off from the west and to that end captured the Saale crossing-point of Halle.  However, the Crown Prince disagreed, opting instead to stay close to his line of retreat back over the Elbe.  By this time, Napoleon’s army was dangerously close and both Allied armies would soon be forced to fight a battle of Napoleon’s choosing.

However, with Marshal Saint-Cyr having abandoned Dresden and with the news being received that Bavaria had switched sides, the Army of Bohemia passed through the Bohemian Mountains and steadily began advancing on Napoleon’s base at Leipzig.  Marshal Ney was ordered to secure Leipzig, while Marshal Joachim Murat, the King of Naples, now outnumbered roughly 4:1, conducted a rearguard against Schwarzenberg as he withdrew toward Leipzig.

With Schwarzenberg advancing on Leipzig, Blücher having taken Halle and with the Bavarians threatening his lines of communication, Napoleon now had no choice but to concentrate his forces at Leipzig, massively shorten his interior lines and fight all three enemy armies there (hopefully one at a time).  The stage was set for what was to be the greatest battle in history.  However, as the armies marched inexorably toward that single point, there was to be one more battle before the Big One…

The Cavalry Battle of Liebertwolkwitz, 14th October 1813

Murat’s rearguard consisted of Marshal Victor’s II Corps (3 divisions), Lauriston’s V Corps (3 divisions and a cavalry brigade), Prince Poniatowski’s VIII (Polish) Corps (1 division and a weak cavalry brigade), Marshal Augerau’s IX Corps (two weak and inexperienced divisions), Kellermann’s IV (Polish) Reserve Cavalry Corps (2 divisions, minus one brigade), Pajol’s V Reserve Cavalry Corps (4 divisions) and a division of Young Guard.  All corps except Augerau’s and Pajol’s were very well served with artillery, for a combined total of 156 guns, including four heavy batteries of 12-pounders and eight horse batteries.  This force totalled around 49,000 men.

With Napoleon initially hoping to deal first with Blücher’s Army of Silesia, but now agreeing to join Murat against Schwarzenberg’s Army of Bohemia, he ordered Murat to make a stand south of Leipzig, along the line Mark-Kleeberg – Wachau – Liebertwolkwitz, with the intention of holding off the Army of Bohemia until he could bring his reserves to bear.  Under no circumstances was he to become over-engaged in heavy combat.

The landscape over which Murat made his stand is gently rolling, with wide, flat-topped hills that made ideal artillery platforms.  The largest feature is a hill known as the ‘Galgenberg’ (Gallows Hill), which stands between Wachau and Liebertwolkwitz.  On this hill, Murat placed the majority of Victor’s and Lauriston’s artillery, flanked by Lauriston’s infantry.  Hidden to the rear of the hill he placed Pajol’s cavalry in an enormous column.  Victor’s infantry held Wachau, while Poniatowski held Mark-Kleeberg, with Kellermann’s cavalry in support.  One of Lauriston’s divisions was placed at a right-angle with a large battery to cover the left flank, with their flank in turn protected by the Young Guard division at Holzhausen.  Augerau’s infantry were kept back in reserve, covering the line of withdrawal.

On the opposite side, the advance guard of the Army of Bohemia was commanded by the German-born Russian General of Cavalry Peter Wittgenstein, the ‘Saviour of St Petersburg’.  Wittgenstein had replaced Kutuzov as commander of the Russian army during the previous April and had therefore been the commanding general of the allied Russian and Prussian Armies during the Spring Campaign.  However, following his defeats at Lützen and Bautzen he had stepped down to a more junior role.  Wittgenstein was now tasked with pushing back Murat’s rearguards, reconnoitering Napoleon’s likely chosen battlefield around Leipzig and countering enemy reconnaissance.

At the point of Wittgenstein’s advance were Pahlen’s Russian Cavalry Corps (actually a strong division of four brigades), Prince Gorchakov’s Russian I Corps (2 divisions), Duke Eugène of Württemberg’s Russian II Corps (2 divisions), Röder’s Prussian Reserve Cavalry Brigade (a divisional-sized formation of Kleist’s Prussian II Corps) and Duka’s Russian 3rd Cuirassier Division.  These forces were placed under the command of Prince Gorchakov.  Marching on a parallel route to the east was Klenau’s Austrian IV Corps (actually referred to in 1813 as an ‘Armee-Abteilung’), consisting of 3 divisions with organic light cavalry and an attached heavy cavalry brigade).

In reserve and under Wittgenstein’s direct control were the balance of Kleist’s Prussian II Corps and Raevsky’s Russian III (Grenadier) Corps.  Wittgenstein’s entire advance guard totalled around 70,000 men and roughly 300 guns; a considerable number for a mere reconnaissance force!

Convinced that the French were in full retreat, Wittgenstein pushed his forces hard, urging them that the enemy was retiring.  However, Klenau’s Austrians were exhausted from their previous exertions and were late departing their bivouacs.  Nevertheless, Pahlen’s cossacks, uhlans and hussars pressed forward, eventually making contact with enemy cavalry vedettes near Wachau.

It rapidly became apparent to Pahlen from the large mass of guns on the Galgenberg and the enemy troops seen massed between Mark-Kleeberg and Wachau, that the enemy was going to make a stand.  However, with Wittgenstein’s forces now strung out on the march with orders to push forward, there was now no chance of properly preparing an attack; they would now just have to do the best with what they had as it arrived on the battlefield.  As the Russian and Prussian cavalry continued to push forward, Helfreich’s Russian 14th Division (from Gorchakov’s I Corps) took control of the vital river-crossing at Cröbern, which had earlier been seized by two Prussian battalions.  In the meantime, Duke Eugène of Württemberg’s Russian II Corps deployed to the south of Gülden-Gossa.

As the Russian Soumy Hussars approached Wachau they were forced to fall back by a sudden cannonade from the Galgenberg.  Murat then launched his attack, sending l’Héritier’s 5th Heavy Cavalry Division and Subervie’s 9th Light Cavalry Division down the hill in a great column.

While this may seem to be a curious tactical formation, the poor level of training of the French cavalry likely led Murat to feel that committing them as a column, one regiment behind another, would be easier to control than deploying them on a broader frontage.  In any case, the first French cavalry regiment was thrown back by the Soumy Hussars, though the Russians were then themselves thrown back by the second French regiment.  A charge by the Prussian Neumärk Dragoons then threw back the next challenger, before they themselves were forced back.

 

By now the Soumy Hussars had rallied and more Prussian cavalry had arrived.  While the head of the French column was disordered by their last combat, they were hit frontally by the East Prussian Cuirassiers and in the flank by the Silesian Uhlans.  This counter-attack threw the French cavalry all the way back to the gun-line on the Galgenberg, but the Prussians were then countered by Murat’s reserves; Berckheim’s 1st Light Cavalry Division and Milhaud’s 6th Heavy Cavalry Division.

With some clashes also occurring between the Grodno Hussars, Illowaisky’s Cossacks and Kellermann’s Polish cavalry, the cavalry battle now settled down to sporadic skirmishing as both sides caught their breath.  It was now around mid-day and Klenau’s Austrian IV Corps, spearheaded by Mohr’s 1st Division, was now starting deploy at Gross-Possna, to the east of Liebertwolkwitz.  Klenau’s task was to capture Liebertwolkwitz, thus making French possession of the Galgenberg untenable.  A mixed detachment of light troops, cavalry, infantry and cavalry-guns under Generalmajor Baumgarten had also been sent on a flanking march via the Kromberg hill, toward Holzhausen, thereby hoping to outflank the French position.

While Baumgarten’s flank-march failed to make any headway toward Holzhausen, due to the presence of Maison’s 16th Division, a large battery and the unidentified Young Guard division, Mohr’s infantry, spearheaded by the ‘Archduke Charles’ Regiment, managed to break into the town.  After two hours of bitter fighting and reinforcement by the ‘Lindenau’ Regiment, the Austrians managed to secure Liebertwolkwitz, but Lauriston’s infantry prevented any further advance beyond the town.

Murat now launched another massive charge down the hill, but was again countered by the Allied cavalry, who had now been reinforced by the rest of Röder’s Prussian Reserve Cavalry Brigade (minus Mutius’ Silesian Landwehr Cavalry, who had been detached to support the Grodno Hussars and Cossacks on the left flank) and two more Russian regiments; the Olviopol Hussars and Tchuguiev Uhlans.  Once again, flank-attacks by the Prussian cavalry broke the attack, with Murat almost being taken prisoner.  Again, the Allied cavalry swarmed up the hill in pursuit and this time managed to sabre a few French gunners, before once again being driven back by Murat’s reserves.  The Silesian Cuirassiers in particular, found themselves completely surrounded and had to hack their way out, suffering heavy casualties in the process.

With the time now at around 1430hrs, Murat, having now completely forgotten his orders about ‘not getting fully engaged’, now threw his last fresh reserves into a third and final attack.  With the Allied cavalry now having been reinforced by Duka’s freshly-arrived Russian 3rd Cuirassier Division and Desfours’ Austrian brigade (the ‘Kaiser’ Cuirassiers and ‘O’Reilly’ Chevaulégers), this last attack fared no better than the last two.  The French cavalry were now utterly routed and Murat was almost captured for a second time.  The Allied cavalry pursued the broken French horse right over the Galgenberg, where the French gunners had now wisely withdrawn their guns to safety, though the large numbers of French infantry in the area would not allow them to take permanent possession of the Galgenberg.

As the exhausted Allied cavalry withdrew to their own lines, low-level infantry fighting and artillery fire continued around Liebertwolkwitz.  However, Wittgenstein didn’t consider the situation there to be critical enough to commit any of his reserves from Kleist’s Prussian II Corps and Raevsky’s Russian III (Grenadier) Corps.  Then at around 1600hrs, Lauriston’s French V Corps, spearheaded by Maison’s 16th Division, launched a counter-attack which threw the Austrians completely out of the town, with many being trapped and slaughtered in the church.

With Liebertwolkwitz recaptured, the French now reoccupied the Galgenberg and both sides were now back where they had started the day, albeit battered, bloodied and exhausted.  This was a battle in which both sides had been drawn into a full-scale battle that neither wanted and it ended rather indecisively as that rarest of things; an actual draw.  It could be argued that Murat had stopped the Allied advance, had held his ground and had frustrated the Allied objective of conducting reconnaissance ‘beyond the hill’, so had achieved a ‘tactical victory’.  However, Murat had disobeyed his orders to avoid a full-scale engagement and his cavalry formations in particular, could scarce afford the butcher’s bill.  The stage was now set for the resumption of full-scale hostilities on 16th October and the start of the Battle of Leipzig (this sector of the larger battle would be known as the Battle of Wachau, which will soon be posted here as another scenario).

Scenario Outline

The scenario will last for 20 turns, starting with the Allied 1000hrs turn and ending with the French 1930hrs turn.  See below for the detailed schedule of reinforcements.

The Allies will win a tactical victory if they can capture the town of Liebertwolkwitz and clear all undisordered enemy units from the Galgenberg by nightfall, thus enabling them to complete their reconnaissance-in-force and observe the landscape beyond.  The French can win a tactical victory merely by frustrating the Allied objective.

As usual, either side can win an outright victory by pushing the enemy army permanently beyond their morale limit.  Note however, that the Allied morale limit will increase as reinforcements arrive (see the scenario schedule below), so they must be pushed beyond their maximum limit of 29M.

Orders of Battle

For the uninitiated, 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 PrLN [6D]’ means a 16-figure unit of Prussian Line Infantry, which will likely disperse when it reaches a strength of 6 figures.  The stats for Prussian 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 Roguet with ‘4″G(7)+1 [2F]’) 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), 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) and the formation’s fatigue rating.  The C-in-C also usually has a number with ‘M’; this is the army’s morale rating.

The Southern Wing of the French Grande Armée

Maréchal Murat, King of Naples                                               20”E(10)+2 [22M]
(6 Free Rolls)

Elements, II Young Guard Corps

4th Young Guard Division – Général de Division Roguet                         4”G(7)+1 [2F]
Flamand’s Brigade (Flanqueur-Grenadiers & Chasseurs & 7th Tirailleurs) 24 FrYGD [12D]
Marquet’s Brigade (8th, 9th & 10th Tirailleurs)                                                 24 FrYGD [12D]

II Corps – Maréchal Victor                                                             8”G(5)+1 [3F]

4th Division – Général de Division Dubreton                                                  4”E(7)+1
Ferrière’s Brigade (24e Légère & 19e de Ligne)                                                   20 FrLT [12D]
Brun’s Brigade (37e & 56e de Ligne)                                                                      24 FrLN [14D]

5th Division – Général de Division Dufour                                                       3”P(5)+0
D’Etsko’s Brigade (26e Légère & 93e de Ligne)                                                   16 FrLT [10D]
2nd Brigade (46e & 72e de Ligne)                                                                           16 FrLN [10D]

6th Division – Général de Division Vial                                                              3”A(6)+0
Valory’s Brigade (11e Légère & 4e de Ligne)                                                          20 FrLT [12D]
Bronikowski’s Brigade (2e & 18e de Ligne)                                                            28 FrLN [17D]

II Corps Artillery Reserve
10/6th Foot Artillery Company                                                                                 Fr12#
2/9th Foot Artillery Company                                                                                   Fr12#
1/2nd Horse Artillery Company                                                                                Fr6#

V Corps – Général de Division Lauriston                                        9”G(5)+1 [4F]

10th Division – Général de Division Albert                                                        4”G(7)+1
Bachelet’s Brigade (4e Demi-Brigade Provisoire & 139e de Ligne)                   12 FrLN [7D]
Bertrand’s Brigade (140e & 141e de Ligne)                                                             16 FrLN [10D]

16th Division – Général de Division Maison                                                      4”G(7)+1D
Montenelle’s Brigade (152e & 153e de Ligne)                                                        20 FrLN [12D]
Montesquieu’s Brigade (154e de Ligne)                                                                  20 FrLN [12D]

19th Division – Général de Division Rochambeau                                            4”A(6)+1
Lafitte’s Brigade (135e & 149e de Ligne)                                                                 16 FrLN [10D]
Harlet’s Brigade (150e & 155e de Ligne)                                                                  16 FrLN [10D]

6th Light Cavalry Brigade – Général de Brigade Dermoncourt                  3”A(6)+0
Dermoncourt’s Brigade (2e, 3e & 6e Chasseurs à Cheval)                                  12 FrLC [7D]

V Corps Artillery Reserve
16/1st Foot Artillery Company                                                                                  Fr12#
17/1st Foot Artillery Company                                                                                  Fr12#
2/5th Horse Artillery Company                                                                                Fr6#
7/6th Horse Artillery Company                                                                                Fr6#

VIII (Polish) Corps – Général de Division Prince Poniatowski 10”G(6)+1D [2F]

26th (Polish) Division – Général de Division Kaminiecki                            3”G(5)+1
Sierawski’s Brigade (1st, 16th & Vistula Legion Infantry)                                   16 PdLN [8D]
Malachowski’s Brigade (8th & 15th Infantry)                                                        16 PdLN [8D]
Grabowski’s Brigade (from 27th (Polish) Division) (12th & 14th Infantry)    16 PdLN [8D]

27th (Polish) Light Cavalry Brigade – Général de Brigade Umiński       4”G(6)+1
Uminski’s Brigade (Krakusi & 14th Light Cavalry (ex-14th Cuirassiers))       8 PdLC [4D]

VIII Corps Artillery Reserve
6th Polish Foot Battery                                                                                               Pd12#

Elements, IX Corps

52nd Division – Général de Division Sémélé                                                    3”A(5)+0 [1F]
Bagneris’ Brigade (37e Demi-Brigade Provisoire & 2/39e de Ligne)               16 FrPLN [10D]
Godard’s Brigade (6/121e, 6/122e & 2/86e de Ligne)                                         16 FrPLN [10D]

IV Reserve Cavalry Corps – Général de Division Kellermann  8”E(7)+2 [2F]

7th (Polish) Light Cavalry Division – Général de Division Sokolnicki 4”G(7)+1
Tolinski’s Brigade (1st Chasseurs à Cheval & 3rd Uhlans)                                12 PdLC [6D]
Krukostowiecki’s Brigade (absent – detached to Dabrowski’s 27th Division)
2nd Polish Horse Battery                                                                                         Pd6#

8th (Polish) Light Cavalry Division – Général de Division Sułkowski 3”G(5)+0
Kamizierz’s Brigade (6th & 8th Uhlans)                                                               12 PdLC [6D]
Weissenhof’s Brigade (1st Uhlans & 13th Hussars)                                            12 PdLC [6D]
1st Polish Horse Battery                                                                                            Pd6#

IV Reserve Cavalry Corps Artillery Reserve
4/2nd Horse Artillery Company                                                                             Fr6#
2/6th Horse Artillery Company                                                                              Fr6#

V Reserve Cavalry Corps – Général de Division Pajol            7”G(6)+1 [4F]

1st Light Cavalry Division – Général de Division Berckheim (attached)    4”A(5)+0
Montmarie’s Brigade (12e Chasseurs and 1er & 3e Chevaulégers-Lanciers)     8 FrLC [5D]
Picquet’s Brigade (5e & 8e Chevaulégers-Lanciers and 1st Italian Chasseurs) 8 ItLC [4D]

9th Light Cavalry Division – Général de Brigade Subervie                      3”G(5)+1
Klicki’s Brigade (3e Hussards and 27e Chasseurs à Cheval)                           12 FrLC [7D]
Vial’s Brugade (14e & 26e Chasseurs à Cheval)                                                  12 FrLC [7D]

5th Heavy Cavalry Division – Général de Division l’Héritier                  4”G(6)+1
Quinnet’s Brigade (2e, 6e & 11e Dragons)                                                           12 FrVLC [6D]
Collard’s Brigade (13e & 15e Dragons)                                                                 16 FrVLC [8D]

6th Heavy Cavalry Division – Général de Division Milhaud                   4”G(7)+1
Lamotte’s Brigade (18e, 19e & 20e Dragons)                                                     12 FrVLC [6D]
Montelegier’s Brigade (22e & 25e Dragons)                                                       12 FrVLC [6D]

V Reserve Cavalry Corps Artillery Reserve
5/3rd Horse Artillery Company                                                                            Fr6#

French Order of Battle Notes

1.  Murat’s orders were to defend and resist enemy attempts at reconnaissance and under no circumstances was he to mount a large-scale attack.  Murat is therefore required to maintain garrisons in the villages of Mark-Kleeberg, Wachau, Liebertwolkwitz, Holzhausen and Zuckelhausen (detailed below).  This will therefore tie down a considerable portion of Murat’s infantry and should discourage offensive action.

2.  Poniatowski may act as a wing commander, commanding Kellermann’s IV Reserve Cavalry Corps, in addition to his own VIII Corps.

3.  Poniatowski’s VIII Corps is responsible for holding the river crossing at Mark-Kleeberg and must therefore maintain a garrison of at least one complete infantry brigade in the village at all times.

4.  The town of Wachau must be garrisoned at all times by at least one complete infantry brigade from Victor’s II Corps.

5.  The town of Liebertwolkwitz must be garrisoned at all times by at least one complete infantry brigade from Lauriston’s V Corps.

6.  It is not actually known which Young Guard division was involved in the battle, though looking at the Young Guard’s known dispositions on 16th October, it would almost certainly have been a division from Marshal Mortier’s II Young Guard Corps.  I’ve therefore arbitrarily included Roguet’s 4th Young Guard Division.  The Young Guard must garrison Holzhausen with at least one complete brigade at all times.

7.  Rochambeau’s 19th Division and Dermoncourt’s 6th Light Cavalry Brigade (of Lauriston’s V Corps) are not mentioned in the accounts.  However, I’m fairly sure that it must have been Rochambeau’s division who had fortified and who were defending Liebertwolkwitz itself, as the other two infantry divisions are shown deployed on each flank of the town.  They were certainly the town’s garrison during the battle of 16th October.  Dermoncourt doesn’t seem to have been involved in the cavalry battle, so I have arbitrarily placed him on the left flank of V Corps, supporting the battery placed there.

 

8.  The village of Zuckelhausen must be garrisoned at all times by one complete brigade from Sémélé’s 52nd Division of Marshal Augerau’s IX Corps.  The rest of IX Corps was positioned slightly further back, garrisoning villages (Probstheida and Stotteritz) that covered the line of retreat back to Leipzig.  IX Corps was comprised entirely of inexperienced provisional demi-brigades (i.e. battalions of replacements that had not yet reached their parent units) and played no part in the day’s action, but was in close proximity, hence the inclusion of 52nd Division here.  If desired, this formation can be removed from the scenario.  NB The nearby presence of Augerau’s IX Corps covering the line of retreat increases the French army morale level as if they were on table.

9.  Picquet’s Brigade of Berckheim’s 1st Light Cavalry Division had four squadrons of Italian Chasseurs à Cheval and four squadrons of French Chevauléger-Lanciers.  I’ve classed them as Italian, which in Napoleon’s Battles terms, gives them a slightly improved dispersal level (C instead of D), though a slightly worse response number (5 instead of 6).  Feel free to class them as French if you prefer.

10.  The Duchy of Warsaw 14th Cuirassiers had been reformed in 1813 as the 14th Light Cavalry.  They retained their old uniforms and distinctive helmets, but lost their shock cavalry role, their cuirasses and heavy horses.  They were brigaded with the Krakus Regiment under Uminski’s command and the brigade is therefore classed here as light cavalry (LC).

10.  Victor’s II Corps Artillery Reserve was historically deployed on the Galgenberg, in front of Lauriston’s V Corps and Pajol’s V Reserve Cavalry Corps.  The French player may alternatively choose to redeploy all or part of Victor’s Artillery Reserve to the II Corps deployment area.

11.  In Napoleon’s Battles, dragoons would normally be classed as light cavalry (with a few exceptions, such as British dragoons).  However I’ve given the French dragoons here a little boost, classing them as Veteran Light Cavalry (VLC), so they use their 1812 stats and have a little more combat and staying power.  All the regiments listed here had transferred from Spain, so had escaped the Russian disaster.  Although the Peninsular War was no picnic for the French cavalry, they therefore retained a reasonably large core of veterans.  Feel free to class them as normal French Light Cavalry (LC) if you disagree.

12.  One of Nafziger’s orders of battle mentions that Kellermann functioned as a cavalry wing-commander role, commanding both the IV and V Reserve Cavalry Corps, leaving Sokolnicki as the commander of IV Reserve Cavalry Corps.  However, Nafziger then contradicts himself elsewhere, stating that this organisational change didn’t happen until after Liebertwolkwitz.  As Kellermann doesn’t seem to have been at all involved in directing V Reserve Cavalry Corps on 14th October, I would suggest that the second statement is far more likely and that Kellermann should only therefore, command his own corps during this scenario.

The Vanguard of the Allied Army of Bohemia

General of Cavalry Wittgenstein                                                        17”G(10)+1D
(5 Free Rolls)

Vanguard Corps – Generallieutenant Count Pahlen III                                 5”G(7)+1 [2F]
Rüdiger’s Hussar Brigade (Grodno & Soumy)                                                     12 RsLC [6D]
Schwanow’s Hussar Brigade (Olviopol)                                                                12 RsLC [6D]
Lissanevich’s Brigade (Tschugujew Uhlans & Lubny Hussars)                        12 RsLC [6D]
Illowaiski XII’s Cossack Brigade                                                                             16 RsCLC [11D]
Russian Horse Battery #7                                                                                         2x Rs6#
East Prussian Kürassiers (from Röder)                                                               12 PrHC [4D]
Prussian Lt Cav (Neumärk Dragoons & Silesian Uhlans) (from Röder)     12 PrLC [6D]
Prussian 6pdr Horse Battery #10 (from Röder)                                                Pr6#

Russian I Corps – Generallieutenant Prince Gorchakov          7”E(6)+1 [4F]

Russian 5th Division – Generalmajor Mezentov                                           3”P(4)+0
Lukov’s Brigade (Sievesk & Kalouga)                                                                    12 RsLN [6D]
Wlastow’s Brigade (Perm, Mohilev & Grand Duchess Catherine Pavlovna) 12 RsLN [6D]
Roth’s Brigade (23rd & 24th Jäger)                                                                       12 RsJG [6D]

Russian 14th Division – Generalmajor Helfreich                                         3”G(6)+0
Ljallin’s Brigade (Tenguinsk & Estonia)                                                               12 RsLN [6D]
Wuetsow’s Brigade (25th & 26th Jäger)                                                               12 RsJG [6D]

I Corps Artillery Reserve
Position Battery #3                                                                                                    2x Rs12#

Russian 3rd Cuirassier Division (attached) – Generallieutenant Duka 4”G(7)+1
Gudowich’s Cuirassier Brigade (Military Order & Little Russia)                    12 RsHC [6D]
Levaschoff’s Cuirassier Brigade (Novgorod & Starodoub)                                12 RsHC [6D]

Russian II Corps – Duke Eugène of Württemberg                       8”G(7)+1 [3F]

Russian 3rd Division – Generalmajor Schachovskoi                                   3”A(5)+0
Schalfinski’s Brigade (Mourman & Revel)                                                           12 RsLN [6D]
2nd Brigade (Tchernigov & Selguinsk)                                                                 12 RsLN [6D]
3rd Brigade (20th & 21st Jäger)                                                                             12 RsJG [6D]

Russian 4th Division – Generalmajor Puschnitski                                       3”A(4)+0
Reibnitz’s Brigade (Krementchug & Minsk)                                                        12 RsLN [6D]
Feodoroff’s Brigade (Tobolsk & Volhynie)                                                           12 RsLN [6D]
Walkow’s Brigade (4th & 34th Jäger)                                                                   12 RsJG [6D]

II Corps Artillery Reserve
Position Battery #5                                                                                                   2x Rs12#
Position Battery #13                                                                                                 2x Rs12#
Horse Battery #?A                                                                                                     2x Rs6#
Horse Battery #?B                                                                                                     2x Rs6#

Austrian IV. Armee-Abteilung – General der Kavallerie Klenau 7”G(6)+1 [7F]

Baumgarten’s Detachment – Generalmajor Baumgarten                       3”P(4)+0
12th ‘Palatinal’ Hussars                                                                                          8 AsLC [4D]
Elements, 13th Wallach-Illyrian Grenz Infantry Regiment                            12 AsGRZ [7D]
49th ‘Kerpen’ Infantry Regiment (from Best’s Brigade, 3rd Div)               16 AsLN [10D]
6pdr Cavalry Battery                                                                                               As6#

Austrian 1st Division – Feldmarshalleutnant Mohr                                   4”A(6)+0
Elements, 13th Wallach-Illyrian Grenz Infantry Regiment                             12 AsGRZ [7D]
2nd ‘Hohenzollern’ Chevaulégers                                                                          8 AsLC [4D]
3rd ‘Erzherzog Ferdinand’ Hussars                                                                       8 AsLC [4D]
3rd ‘Erzherzog Karl’ Infantry Regiment (from Best’s Brigade, 3rd Div)    16 AsLN [10D]
29th ‘Lindenau’ Infantry Regiment (from Splenyi’s Brigade, 2nd Div)      24 AsLN [14D]
6pdr Cavalry Battery                                                                                                As6#

Austrian 2nd Division – Feldmarshalleutnant Fürst Hohenlohe-Bartenstein 3”G(6)+0
57th ‘J. Colloredo’ Infantry Regiment (Schaeffer’s Brigade)                           16 AsLN [10D]
15th ‘Zach’ Infantry Regiment (Schaeffer’s Brigade)                                         24 AsLN [14D]
29th ‘Lindenau’ Infantry Regiment (Splenyi’s Brigade) (with Mohr)            24 AsLN [14D]
40th ‘Württemberg’ Infantry Regiment (Splenyi’s Brigade)                            24 AsLN [14D]

Austrian 3rd Division – Feldmarshalleutnant Mayer                                 3”A(5)+0
12th ‘Alois Liechtenstein’ Infantry Regiment (Abele’s Brigade)                      24 AsLN [14D]
22nd ‘Koburg’ Infantry Regiment (Abele’s Brigade)                                          24 AsLN [14D]
3rd ‘Erzherzog Karl’ Infantry Regiment (Best’s Brigade) (with Mohr)           16 AsLN [10D]
49th ‘Kerpen’ Infantry Regiment (Best’s Brigade) (with Baumgarten)          16 AsLN [10D]
Desfour’s Brigade (attached) (‘Kaiser’ KR & ‘O’Reilly’ CR)                               12 AsHC [4D]

IV. Armee-Abteilung Artillery Reserve
12pdr Position Battery                                                                                               As12#
12pdr Position Battery                                                                                               As12#

Prussian II. Armeekorps – Generallieutenant von Kleist      9”G(7)+1 [7F]

Prussian 9th Brigade – Generalmajor von Klüx                                            3”A(5)+0
6th (1st West Prussian) Infantry Regiment                                                          16 PrLN [8D]
6th Reserve Infantry Regiment                                                                               16 PrLN [8D]
7th Silesian Landwehr Infantry Regiment                                                            16 PrSLW [10D]

Prussian 10th Brigade – Generalmajor von Pirch I                                      4”G(7)+1
7th (2nd West Prussian) & 7th Reserve Infantry Regiments                            20 PrLN [10D]
9th Silesian Landwehr Infantry Regiment                                                            16 PrSLW [10D]

Prussian 11th Brigade – Generalmajor von Ziethen                                     4”G(8)+1
10th (1st Silesian) & 10th Reserve Infantry Regiments                                     20 PrLN [10D]
8th Silesian Landwehr Infantry Regiment                                                           16 PrSLW [10D]

Prussian 12th Brigade – Generalmajor Prinz August von Preussen         3”G(5)+1
11th (2nd Silesian) Infantry Regiment                                                                   16 PrLN [8D]
11th Reserve Infantry Regiment                                                                              16 PrLN [8D]
10th Silesian Landwehr Infantry Regiment                                                          16 PrSLW [10D]

Prussian Reserve Cavalry Brigade – Generalmajor von Röder              4”G(6)+2
Wrangel’s Brigade (1st (Silesian) & 3rd (Brandenburg) Kürassiers)              16 PrHC [5D]
2nd (East Prussian) Kürassiers (with Pahlen)                                                    12 PrHC [4D]
6th (Neumärk) Dragoons & 2nd (Silesian) Uhlans (with Pahlen)                  12 PrLC [6D]
Mutius’ Brigade (1st, 7th & 8th Silesian Landwehr Cavalry)                           12 PrLWC [7D]
6pdr Horse Battery #7                                                                                              Pr6#
6pdr Horse Battery #8                                                                                              Pr6#
6pdr Horse Battery #10 (with Pahlen)                                                                  Pr6#

Prussian II. Korps Reserve Artillery Brigade
12pdr Foot Battery #3                                                                                               Pr12#
12pdr Foot Battery #6                                                                                               Pr12#
7pdr Howitzer Battery #1                                                                                         PrHFA
6pdr Horse Battery #9                                                                                              Pr6#

Optional Forces:

Russian III (Grenadier) Corps – Generallieutenant Raevsky  9”E(7)+2 [4F]

Russian 1st Grenadier Division – Generalmajor Pissarev                        3”G(6)+1
Kniaschnin’s Grenadier Brigade (Ekaterinoslav & Arakcheyev)                      12 RsGN [5D]
Ocht’s Grenadier Brigade (St Petersburg & Tauride)                                         12 RsGN [5D]
Yemelianov’s Brigade (Pernau & Kexholm)                                                         12 RsGN [5D]

Russian 2nd Grenadier Division – Generalmajor Tchoglokov               3”A(4)+0
Levin’s Grenadier Brigade (Kiev & Moscow)                                                       12 RsGN [5D]
Damas’ Grenadier Brigade (Astrakhan & Fangoria)                                           12 RsGN [5D]
3rd Brigade (Siberia & Little Russia)                                                                     12 RsGN [5D]

III Corps Artillery Reserve
Position Battery #30                                                                                                  2x Rs12#
Position Battery #33                                                                                                   2x Rs12#

Allied Order of Battle Notes

1.  The units shown in italics are units attached from other divisions, which for clarity are then listed again in their parent division.  Don’t count them twice!

2.  Gorchakov, commander of the Russian I Corps, may also act as a wing commander, controlling Pahlen’s Vanguard Corps, Württemberg’s Russian II Corps, Röder’s Prussian Reserve Cavalry Brigade and Duka’s Russian 3rd Cuirassier Division, in addition to his own corps.

3.  Pahlen’s Vanguard ‘Corps’ is really a very large division, with brigades reporting directly to his headquarters.  For that reason, his corps functions as a division, but he gets an improved command-span compared to a usual divisional commander.

4.  Elements of Röder’s Prussian Reserve Cavalry Brigade start the scenario under the command of the Russian General Pahlen III’s Vanguard Corps and are marked as such above.  They may be commanded by Pahlen as if they were part of his formation, but they belong to Röder and count against the Prussian II. Korps fatigue strength.

5.  The Austrian order of battle on the day is very confused, with units and brigades being split up and attached to the advance guard elements under Mohr and Baumgarten.  Baumgarten was normally part of Mohr’s command, but was detached on a separate flanking mission and completely failed to make any headway against the French left flank around Holzhausen.

6.  The 29th ‘Lindenau’ Infantry Regiment of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein’s Austrian 2nd Division is attached to Mohr’s Austrian 1st Division.  This unit may be commanded by either general.

7.  The 3rd ‘Erzherzog Karl’ Infantry Regiment of Mayer’s Austrian 3rd Division is attached to Mohr’s Austrian 1st Division.  This unit may be commanded by either general.

8.  The 49th ‘Kerpen’ Infantry Regiment of Mayer’s Austrian 3rd Division is attached to Generalmajor Baumgarten’s Detachment.  This unit may be commanded by either general.

9.  Desfour’s Austrian cavalry brigade consisted of the ‘Kaiser’ Kürassiers and the ‘O’Reilly’ Chevaulégers. Although only half cuirassiers, I’m happy to class the brigade as Heavy Cavalry (HC), as the ‘O’Reilly’ Chevaulégers were an excellent regiment and the entire brigade was rested and retained as a reserve.

10.  The Prussian II. Korps, with the exception of Röder’s Reserve Cavalry Brigade, was largely unengaged. It is described as being in position near Cröbern at 1730hrs, having marched via Gulden-Gössa.  It could potentially be left out of the scenario, though it will act discouragement to an over-aggressive French player.

11.  The Russian III (Grenadier) Corps was completely unengaged during the battle and probably didn’t even arrive in the area defined by the map.  I’ve put some arbitrary arrival times in the scenario reinforcement schedule, but this is not based on any historical evidence.  In any case, they’ll probably arrive too late to do anything meaningful.  This formation may therefore be left out of the scenario, perhaps unless the French have managed to mount a successful counter-attack that threatens Gulden-Gössa.

12.  Army Morale is initially [17M].  This increases as reinforcements arrive (see scenario reinforcement schedule) until it reaches its maximum level of [29M].

13.  The two horse batteries with Württemberg’s Russian II Corps Artillery Reserve are not identified.  I’ve therefore designated them as A and B.

Deployment

Units may either be deployed in their historical locations as per the map in the battle account above, or they may be deployed freely by either player, within the ‘formation boxes’ shown on the map below.  I suggest that each player take it in turns to deploy a division.

Units may start the game deployed in any tactical formation.

The French player may start the game with Cavalry React markers on any or all of his cavalry units.

 

Game Schedule

The Allies have the initiative and move first.

Allied commanders and units on table at the start (higher commanders are in italics):

Wittgenstein, Pahlen III (reinforced by Prussian units listed), Württemberg, Helfreich, Röder, Klenau, Mohr (reinforced by units listed) & Baumgarten (minus the infantry elements).

Turn  Time     Arriving Allied Reinforcements                                      Allied Morale

1           1000hrs  Gorchakov & Mezentov’s Russian 5th Division at Point F                [17M]
Baumgarten’s infantry detachments at Point I

2           1030hrs

3           1100hrs   Russian I Corps Artillery Reserve at Point F                                        [18M]
Mayer with Desfour’s Austrian Kürassier Brigade at Point G

4           1130hrs   Austrian Artillery Reserve at Point G

5           1200hrs   Duka’s Russian 3rd Cuirassier Division at Point A or B                     [19M]

6           1230hrs   Remainder of Mayer’s Austrian 3rd Division at Point G or H           [20M]

7           1300hrs

8           1330hrs   Kleist & Klüx’s Prussian 9th Brigade at Point C, D or E                      [21M]

9           1400hrs   Hohenlohe-Bartenstein’s Austrian 2nd Division at Point G or H     [24M]

10         1430hrs   Prinz August’s Prussian 12th Brigade at Point C, D or E                     [26M]

11         1500hrs   Prussian Artillery Reserve at Point C, D or E

12         1530hrs   Pirch I’s Prussian 10th Brigade at Point C, D or E                                [28M]

13         1600hrs   Ziethen’s Prussian 11th Brigade at Point C, D or E                               [29M]

14         1630hrs   Raevsky & Pissarev’s Russian 1st Grenadier Division at Point C, D, E or F
Russian III (Grenadier Corps) Artillery Reserve at Point C, D, E or F

15         1700hrs   Tchoglokov’s Russian 2nd Grenadier Division at Point C, D, E or F

16         1730hrs

17         1800hrs

18         1830hrs

19          1900hrs

20         1930hrs   End Game

All reinforcements arrive in March Column formation at one of the lettered arrival points shown on the map below.

Where there is a variable arrival point, the entire reinforcing division must arrive on the road at the same point and may not be split between several arrival points.

 

Terrain Notes

The scenario is played on an 8′ x 6′ table.  The map is divided into 12″ squares.

Woods – These simply count as rough terrain to all troop-types and do not cause disorder. There is a -1 cover modifier* and the usual combat modifiers for woods apply.

Hills – These give the defender a +1 combat modifier.

Streams – These are passable to all troop-types, counting as 1” of rough terrain. Any unit defending a stream-bank gains a +1 combat modifier.

River – This is impassable to all troop types. The only crossing-point is the bridge at Cröbern, which may only be passed by units in Column, Limbered or March Column formation.

Liebertwolkwitz – This town consists of three built-up sectors, all of which have been fortified.  The defender gains a -2 cover modifier and a +3 combat modifier.

Auenhain Farm – This consists of a single built-up sector, comprising a solidly-built walled farm complex that is most suitable for defence.  The defender gains a -2 cover modifier and a +3 combat modifier.

All Other Settlements – These give the defender a -2 cover modifier and a +2 combat modifier.

* Note that Napoleon’s Battles for some reason only includes a universal -2 cover modifier for all cover types from woods to redoubts, which has always seemed somewhat bizarre to me.  I therefore apply the ‘Old Standard’ of -1 for light cover and -2 for hard cover.

French Unit Labels

Allied Unit Labels

Right, that’s enough for now!  It’s occurred to me that we’re already well into February and I haven’t yet had a wargame this year, so I need to go and put that right…