Second Helmstedt – Move 9

1600-1700 1 August 1813

Table at the start of move 9

Davout has ordered a withdrawal to the farm in an attempt to hold until nightfall

Blucher has taken personal command of 4^th corps to resume the attack

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – Retire to Farm – 4CP

Prussian cuirassiers declare Opportunity Charge on Shaken chasseurs

Cuirassiers test (3) to charge, fail and remain stationary

23 brigade (in square) move within range of cuirassiers

23 brigade fire on cuirassiers (6) and cause one casualty

Cuirassiers test morale (-1) for first casualty, fail and Rout

Test morale (2) for Shaken chasseurs, fail remain Shaken

Test morale (-1) for Routed 22 brigade, fail and rout off the table

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – Hold – 6CP

Corps ready to advance, but waiting for orders from Prince Blucher

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – Withdraw to T Junction - 5CP

Artillery fire (4) on 14 Prussian and miss

20 brigade retire 6”

17 brigade retire 2” facing enemy

Test morale (3) for Shaken 20 brigade, rally and become Disordered

Poor Card

4^th corps is under command of Prince Blucher (Average)

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor)

Corps under the command of Prince Blucher

Prince Blucher (Average) – 5CP

Artillery advance 4” and unlimber

13 brigade advance 6”

15 brigade advance 6”

Tauentzien move to command range (8”) of cuirassiers

Test Morale (-1) for Routed cavalry, fail and continue to rout

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – Hold – 7CP

Artillery fire (9) on 23 French hit and cause one casualty

23 French test morale (6) for first casualty, pass and remain formed

Unable to take any further action on Hold orders

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 6CP

Move to 24 brigade and take personal command

24 brigade retire 2” facing enemy

Game Notes

Prince Blucher had intended to hand back command to general Tauentzien

But the timing of the Poor Card would have meant 4^th corps would have had to change their orders to Halt

Furthermore with only 5CP Blucher would not have been able to change orders for 1^st or 4^th corps

Formed cavalry can declare an Opportunity Charge on any Shaken enemy at the start of that enemy’s turn. To complete the charge they must first test their morale

Rule 6 deals with Opportunity Charges

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/