Day Five – Hard Going

5 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 5

Both armies rally, resupply and reorganise

Corps concentrate casualties in one brigade, less 10% per brigade

Battle casualty replacements start to arrive

However in the north, Napoleon orders 3^rd corps to cross the river Elbe

This results in the battle of Weyhausen, which the French lose

Both sides start with casualties, particularly cavalry and gunners

The Prussians hold against a determined French attack

At nightfall they still hold the town and the French retreat

End of Move 4

The French had to cross the river well north of the town

Fortunately this was unopposed, but it did take one third of the game

As they did so their artillery fired on the Prussians, but no casualties

Apart from the river crossing, the most interesting aspect of this game was existing casualties.    Both corps had infantry, cavalry and artillery casualties.

Each casualty (or 10% casualties) means a minus of 1 on morale and combat charts.

This can have a considerable impact, particularly on artillery.

At long range gunners need 8 or more for a hit with 2D6.   They lose 1 for each casualty and 1 more if they have fired last time (indicated by smoke beside gun)

The French had 2 casualties (20%), so needed 10 or 11 if they fired last time

This will explain why they did not manage a single hit, despite firing 10 moves out of 12.

The French cuirassiers had 2 casualties (20%), the Prussian hussars 1 casualty (10%).   The hussars charged and gained plus 1 for impact.  So they were even on the dice.   Both sides suffered 1 for the first round of melee, but the hussars routed due to morale.   However the cuirassiers now had 3 casualties and were effectively non-operational for the rest of the game.

End of Move 12

Against the odds the French crossed the river, regrouped and attacked the town

However they lost too many casualties to artillery fire as they approached.

One brigade did defeat the landwehr brigade, who routed into the town

But the conscript brigade passed their morale test and held the town

One French brigade routed due to 30% casualties from artillery fire

A nearby brigade were shaken as a result of the rout

So there were no infantry to exploit the rout of the landwehr brigade

At nightfall the Prussians still held the town.   They also had two formed infantry brigades and their gunners still manned the guns

The French has one formed infantry brigade and their gunners.   They were too weak to continue the attack and withdrew overnight.

Another very interesting game.   Despite the existing casualties morale did not play a major role, as it often does.   When required to test morale both sides rolled good dice.   The unfortunate French brigade tasked to charge the guns lost three casualties, yet passed their morale each time until the very last.   Had they moved first during that final round they would have been able to charge the guns, but might still have broken and run.   But the Prussians moved first, hit the infantry a third time and that was sufficient for them to break and run.

This was another game which was uncertain right up until the 12^th move.   And might well have gone to the French had they managed to move first.   When there is only one corps per side we roll 1D6 at the start of each turn to decide who moves first.  I always have to roll first, and got a 4.   Jan (the Prussians) rolled a 5.

Despite losing the game I was very pleased that the Prussians had at last won a game in this campaign phase.