Hildesheim Campaign – Day Seven

25 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 7

The Prussians retreat to Hildesheim-Goslar border
1st Prussian army – retreat to Seesen
2nd Prussian army – retreat to Holle
3rd Prussian army – hold Harsum

The French hold Hildesheim and win the campaign
1st French army – regroup at Hildesheim
2nd French army – hold Springe
3rd French army – occupy Alfeld

Comments
The failure of the Prussians to take Hildesheim created a problem as to who had won the campaign. They had won four of the six battles fought during this campaign phase. But the campaign objective was to take and hold the city of Hildesheim.

Having failed to take Hildesheim 2nd Prussian army has to retreat to Holle, just south of 3rd Prussian army at Harsum. This left 1st Prussian army isolated at Alfeld, so they had to retreat west to Seesen, bringing them into line with the other two Prussian armies. This allowed 3rd French army to retake Alfeld.

This seemed the most reasonable solution. The Prussians occupied the three border towns, reflecting their success throughout the campaign phase, in that all three were within French held Hildesheim District.

In truth the result of this campaign phase was a draw. Both armies had suffered considerable battle casualties, and neither were in any condition to continue the campaign. Both would need a week or so to regroup, resupply and reinforce. All this would be easier to do were the Prussians to move further west into Goslar District. But I could not convince myself that this was a decision Blucher would have made in similar circumstances.

It is perhaps a little surprising that this sort of compromise is not required more often. Given the unpredictability of our wargame rules one would imagine that it would happen more often. But in fact the “obvious winner” almost always takes the campaign objective of the enemy city and rightly wins the campaign phase.

So a rather unsatisfactory conclusion to an otherwise enjoyable campaign phase. Not a great problem, because the aim of the campaign is to produce interesting and enjoyable battles to wargame, and it has certainly done that.