Hildesheim Campaign – Day Four

22 August 1813 – Northern Germany Day 4

The Prussians attack Harsum
1st Prussian army – regroup Seesen
2nd Prussian army – occupy Holle
3rd Prussian army – attack Harsum

The French retreat to Hildesheim
1st French army – retreat Hildesheim
2nd French army – defend Harsum
3rd French army – regroup Alfeld

Second battle of Harsum – End of Move 2

On 19 August general Yorck failed to take the town of Harsum
He had to retreat east to Langelsheim to regroup

Since then the French have been defeated at Holle and Seesen
They both had to retreat west to regroup

This has left Marshal Victor isolated at Harsum

Yorck has been ordered to attack Harsum again and force Victor to retreat

General Yorck commands 3rd Prussian army
Marshal Victor commands 2nd French army
Both armies have suffered casualties at the first battle of Harsum

French start the battle with 6 infantry and 1 artillery casualty – 2500 men
Prussians start the battle with 4 infantry and 1 artillery casualty 1700 men

On the left the French artillery started the battle with 10% casualties
This meant that they were outgunned by the Prussian artillery
Consequently 6th corps had to withdraw slowly to keep out of artillery range
This allowed the Prussian infantry to attack and take the village

In the centre both CinC had taken command of two cavalry brigades
Neither side were prepared to risk a melee, and neither played any role in the battle
Without cavalry support the fight for the woods in the centre was an infantry melee.
It continued for three moves, but eventually the Prussians took the woods and road junction

On the right the Prussian artillery started the game with 10% casualties
This put them at a serious disadvantage against 4th French corps.
However the Prussian infantry advanced onto the hill and engaged the French infantry
This melee continued for most of the game, and both sides lost many casualties
But once again the Prussians gained the advantage and took the hill

Having captures all three game objectives the Prussians won the battle

Comments

The large number of casualties with which both sides started the game would play an important role. As explained above this was particularly so for those corps with gunner casualties.

The reluctance of both sides to commit their cavalry did not play a significant role. If they had risked an extended cavalry melee it would have been a game changer for the winner. Had the Prussians lost they would not have been able to advance their infantry in mass. A French defeat would have resulted in their infantry being forced into square, and their gunners put at risk. This is the reason neither player risked a cavalry battle.

The Prussians were able to concentrate their best infantry brigades to attack the three game objectives. The game was decided by three prolonged infantry melee. This is always risky, because so much depends on the luck of the dice. And with both sides starting the game with casualties, many brigades were very brittle and at risk from morale tests. The large number of French brigades in rout at the end of the game was a direct result of this condition. Once one brigade failed their morale and routed, all supporting brigades within 4” had to test their own morale. If they had existing casualties there was a real risk the rout would spread throughout the whole corps.

Very enjoyable game, and not nearly as one sided as the outcome would suggest. In the early moves either side could easily have one any of the three decisive infantry melee. The French were unfortunate that they failed their early morale, and the rot spread