Third Day – Third Battle

3 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 3

In the north both 3^rd French and 1^st Prussian corps regroup and resupply

In the south 13^th Polish corps enter Wolfenbuttel, 3^rd Prussian corps retreat

In the centre 1^st and 4^th French corps attack Brunswick

 

Table at the start of the Game

The game started with 2^nd Prussian corps in the middle of the table. 

Both 4^th Prussian and 4^th French corps will enter the table at the start of move 1

1^st Old Guard corps would arrive on the table at the start of move 5

All of this was dictated by the campaign. 

This had the makings of a really interesting wargame

First there would be two corps per side, so more tactical options

Second they would be staggered in their arrival, again offering tactical options.

Equally important, both Prussian corps would be on the table from move 1

4^th corps would not come into action until move 4 or 5

But they would be seen approaching, which would threaten the French player (me)

End of move 7

The Old Guard entered the table at the start of move 5

By then 4^th Prussian corps was approaching 4^nd French corps

Napoleon sent forward his cavalry brigade to counter the Prussian cavalry

They immediately charged the Prussian cuirassiers

This caused the rest of 4^th Prussian corps to halt and deploy

By the end of move 7 (of 12 game moves) the rest of the Old Guard were in position

You can see that 4^th Prussian corps are further back than 2^nd Prussian corps

This meant that the Guard infantry were unlikely to reach them before nightfall

Meanwhile 4^th French and 2^nd Prussian corps were knocking hell out of each other

And they would consider to do so until the end of the game

By then 4^th French would have lost 6 infantry and 2 cavalry figures

2^nd Prussian corps would have lost 13 infantry and 4 cavalry figures

Three French and four Prussian corps would be in rout

I am particularly pleased that I use my French guard brigades regularly in my games.

There are three corps, 1^st Old Guard, 2^nd and 3^rd Young Guard

The Young Guard are not much better than a regular French corps

But the Old Guard have one elite infantry and one cavalry brigades

However the rest of the corps in First French army have no elite troops

This game proved just as interesting as it promised.   The staggered arrival of corps added a lot of tension to the game, and as the attacking French commander I found that I had to hold back and try to time the arrival at the battle of the Old Guard.   Not sure that I got it right, but it was a great game.

After three defeats things are not looking well for the Prussians.   I suspect that they will have to retreat, concentrate and try to recover before a final large game to decide the outcome of this campaign phase.