Nordhausen Campaign – Day Two

3 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 2

French defend Sangerehausen
4 French army – retreat to Weringerode
5 French army – defend Sangerhausen
6 French army – defend Heldrungen

Russian attack Sangerhausen
1 Russian army – occupy Halberstadt
2 Russian army – attack Sangerhausen
3 Russian army – observe border

Battle of Sanderhausen – table at start of battle

Fifth French army is commanded by Marshal Moncey
Russian army is commanded by General Constantine

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Russian – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

All brigades are at full strength

The battle started with both armies deployed on the table, both out of artillery range

The three game objectives were in the 2 foot square between them
On the left the large woods, in the centre a cottage, on the right a long hill

Both commanders decided that the key to the battle was the woods on the left
The woods covered a large area, and command and control would be difficult
Both commanders took command of half of the armies attacking the woods
Artillery and cavalry played little part in the battle, which was decided by infantry melee
Each side occupied the half of the woods nearest to them
6th Russian corps captured the northern half, and repulsed a counter attack by 16th Italian corps

The ground in the centre was open, with a small cottage being the objective
14th French corps deployed their artillery to the right of the cottage
5th Russian corps placed their artillery to the left, and attacked on this side
The French lost the cottage and the area to the left
This allowed the Russians to outflank the French position
14th French corps retreated to the town

The hill on the right was also decided by infantry
Both corps placed their cavalry and artillery to the right of the hill
The French cavalry charged the guns, who took refuge in a nearby square
The Russian cavalry were slow to react, and the French retreated without loss
Both commanders sent their best three infantry brigades to take the hill
This resulted in a prolonged melee, eventually won by the Russians.

Comments

Both armies were on the table, and within 24”, at the start of the game. This meant that the decisive fighting took place much more quickly than usual. In previous games one army had to march onto the table at the start of move 1, and would take four moves to reach the position both were in at the start of this game.

The intention of this different deployment was to allow time for the losing side to rally and launch a counter attack. And this happened to a degree, with both sides having time to rally and return routed brigades to the combat areas. But it all happened quicker than I anticipated. I don’t think this is particularly important, because the Russians were clear winners by the end of move 8. The Russians launched a counter attack on the woods on the left, and the hill on the right.

The battle for the woods was a slow business. Both sides had placed their cavalry and artillery between the woods and the road, preventing the other side outflanking the woods. Three infantry brigades attacked the woods. Both sides occupied the two sections nearest to them, but had to fight hard for the opposite two. The Russians were the first to occupy all of the woods, and they then had to fight off a French counter attack – which they did.

On the opposite flank the fight for the hill was similar. Both sides placed their artillery and cavalry to the right of the hill, and each sent three infantry brigades to fight for the hill itself. Both sides had sent their best brigades which are one elite, one light and one line. It is not obvious which is which just looking at the figures, so the combats were interesting.

The centre was completely open, very unusual in my games. Normally there is a terrain feature in each square. But I wanted to see what would happen if there was no obstacle and no cover. There was a small cottage on the table, but this was just a marker. It did not provide cover, nor was it an obstacle. I simple removed it when the Russians attacked.

This new type of deployment seems to be working well. Certainly it makes for completely different type of wargame, which is always welcome. I am sure that we will both develop new tactics for each objective with this encounter type of game. But for the present they feel fresh and a new challenge.