Goslar Campaign Day 1

1 June 1813 – North Germany - Day 1

The campaign opens with a surprise attack on Vienenburg

In the north 3^rd Prussian army attack 2^nd French army at Vienenburg

In the centre both armies resupply

In the south both armies resupply

The battle of Vienenburg – end of move 2

The French occupied the town, but not the hills on either side

The Prussians entered the table at the start of move 1

There was a race for the hills, which the French won

The battle opened with cavalry melee along the whole front

The French had some success, but were eventually all routed

 

The Prussian cavalry and artillery then concentrated on the French gunners

They were deployed in front of the town, but vulnerable without infantry or cavalry support

As the Prussian cavalry prepared to charge the French gunners withdrew into the town

This allowed the Prussian artillery to advance and unlimber at short range of the town

 

Meanwhile the Prussian infantry attacked the hills either side of the town

Three brigades were routed, but the Prussian cavalry then supported their infantry]

This forced the French infantry to form square, which were broken by Prussian columns

With the loss of both hills, and Prussian artillery at close range, the French garrison withdrew

Prussian infantry were then able to occupy the town unopposed

A convincing Prussian victory

 

Comment

 

This was the first wargame with the larger three corps armies on each side.

You will see from the photo above that one corps occupied each scenic square

The French CinC formed a grand battery of the guns from all three corps in front of the town

 

The Prussians did not arrive on the table until the start of move one

Both Prussians and French were the same distance from the hills either side of the town

This resulted in a race to occupy the hills, which the French won

The Prussian CinC took command of half of 8^th corps, plus artillery from 9^th corps

He sent the guns forward to engage the French gunners

But both his infantry, and 8^th corps, remained outside the range of the French artillery

 

7^th and 8^th Prussian corps advanced to attack the hills

The cavalry covered this advance, and were quickly engaged by the French cavalry

After a prolonged melee the Prussians won and the French horsemen routed

This allowed the Prussian cavalry and artillery to concentrate on the French gunners

When they withdrew their guns into the town the Prussians could attack the centre

 

But first there was hard infantry fighting for possession of the hills

The French soon had the upper hand, and it looked likely that both attacks would fail

But as the gunners withdrew, the Prussian cavalry moved to support their infantry

This forced the French infantry to form square, and they were no match for the columns

 

The battle ended in a convincing Prussian victory.

However a closer look at the casualties will show just how close it was

The French have lost 7 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (3200 men)

The Prussians have lost 7 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3200 men)

 

A very different wargame with three corps per side slogging it out

Had the French not lost all of their cavalry it would have been very different

The French gunners would have dominated the centre

The French infantry would have held both hills

The Prussians would have lost the battle.