Salzwedel Campaign – Day 3

Campaign Map on 24 September 1813

2nd Prussian corps is unable to fight a second day

So Blucher orders them, and the reserve corps, to retreat to Salzwedel

This leaves 3^rd corps very exposed at Kleinau

They must hold Kleinau for one more day to allow the rest of the army to disengage

Napoleon has won two battles in two days

But the 1^st corps has taken heavy casualties

He orders them to occupy Kuhfelde

3^rd corps will rally, resupply and reorganise

To maintain the pressure on Blucher, 13^th corps will attack Kleinau

Battle of Kleinau

After a lengthy artillery exchange neither side has suffered any casualties

The Polish infantry attack, covered by their lancer brigade

Prussian cavalry charge and rout the lancers, but lose morale and pursue

The Polish infantry press home their attack and rout a brigade in square

Unable to redeploy to counter attack the Prussians retreat

Without their cavalry the Poles are unable to pursue

The town garrison manage to remove all supplies before they also retreat

Campaign Notes

In our wargame rules both sides do not move at the same time

Poker chips are used in multi corps games to determine sequence of play

With one corps per side a dice is used to determine who moves first each turn

At critical parts of the game who moves first can make a huge difference

It can enable a threatened brigade to retreat before the enemy can attack them

Or advancing infantry can close with the enemy before their artillery can fire on them

This game lasted eight moves, representing eight campaign hours.   The first four moves were the Polish corps arriving on the table.  Who moves first during this period does not make any difference, unless the enemy cavalry try to delay the deployment and have to be engaged with the attacking cavalry.

The next four moves usually covers attackers deployment and pre attack artillery fire.   Sequence of movement is not usually important during this phase, again unless cavalry engagements take place.   Throughout this period the defending artillery will usually fire, and the attacking artillery for the latter part.

The final four moves deal with the hand to hand fighting, and here who moves first is critical, particularly for the attacker.   This is when he must move into close artillery range, skirmish range and possibly musket range.   If he receives too many casualties he may not be able to complete his attack.

In this particular game the critical phase came on moves 7 and 8.  This is because it is a one corps per side game, and neither side can absorb casualties.

At the end of move 6 the Prussians had received one artillery hit on their infantry.  It was their elite brigade, and they could easily survive light casualties.   The Poles has received no casualties.   The Poles advanced their cavalry into charge range to protect the infantry who were about to advance.

Move 7 - Prussians move first.  

Their artillery missed their main target but managed to hit the reserve infantry brigade.   The infantry made their morale, but were disordered and could not move this move.  

The cavalry charged the lancers.  They received plus 1 for impact and won the melee.   The lancers routed with 20% casualties, the Prussians lost 10% casualties and were disordered.   The Prussians failed their morale and pursued the lancers, causing another 10% casualties.  

It is looking bleak for the Poles.  They are about to attack with three infantry brigades, protected by their lancer brigade.  However they have lost the cavalry and one of the brigades is disordered and cannot advance.   Fortunately the Prussian cavalry are in wild pursuit and will have to return within command range of their corps commander to rally.  This cannot happen for at least three moves.

Two Polish infantry brigades advance to attack the Prussian line

Move 8 – Poles move first

Artillery fire but inflict no casualties

The disordered reserve brigade is rallied, and three brigades advance against the extreme left of the Prussian position, which is protected by an infantry square.

Leading infantry column charge a Prussian square.   The square is broken and routs with 20% casualties.   Nearby gunners pass morale test for rout.

With three Polish infantry brigades moving against the exposed flank the Prussian commander orders a general retreat.  

Comment

The Prussians still have three full strength infantry brigades, all of their gunners and only 10% casualties on their cavalry.   But they are all in the wrong place.   If they do not retreat the three Polish infantry brigades will attack their gunners next move and then the infantry to their right.

Because the Poles moves first the Prussians were unable to redeploy to meet the attack.   Had they moved first they could have deployed their square into line, this should stop at least one column, possibly two.   They could have moved their artillery to fire on the Polish supports and bring their second infantry brigade to threaten the flank of the Polish columns.

However because they moved second they were able to limber and retreat their artillery, plus the supporting infantry.   The infantry withdrawing from the woods could also move towards the town.  The disordered cavalry could move within command range and will be formed at the start of the next move.

It is all a little complicated to explain, but I hope you can see what a huge difference it can make to move first at a critical stage of the game.