Battle of Peine Day One – Move 11

1800-1900 4 August 1813

Table at the start of move 11

Top – V and VI corps must decide whether to attack 3^rd corps in the farm

Centre – XIII corps have broken and routed

Bottom – Polish lancers are shaken and unable to cover the rout

XIII French corps

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – Hold - 5CP

Davout changes orders from Hold to Retreat on Hanover road

Artillery limber and retreat 4”

1 brigade test morale (-2) for Rout, fail and continue to rout

2 brigade test morale (0) for Rout, fail and continue to rout

3 brigade test morale (-1) for Rout, fail and continue to rout

4 brigade test morale (0) for Rout, fail and continue to rout

Cavalry test morale (-1) for Shaken, fail and join rout

Prince Blucher (Average) 6CP

Hand command of 4^th corps back to Tauentzien

Moves to join 3^rd corps

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) - Engage – 5CP

Artillery limber and advance 4”

3 brigade form line from square

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – Halt – 7CP

Artillery fire (8) close range on farm and hit garrison

11 Prussian (garrison) test morale (1), fail and become Shaken

17 brigade withdraw 3” facing enemy

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor) – Engage – 6CP

Artillery fire (9) on enemy guns and miss

Limber artillery and prepare to advance

15 brigade form column of attack from square

13 brigade form column of attack from line

14 brigade advance 6”

Tauntzien moves to centre of corps

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – Move –4CP

Artillery fire (9) on 20 French and hit

20 French test morale (2) for first casualty, fail and become Shaken

Artillery advance 2”

11 brigade form garrison of farm

Bulow joins 11 brigade to help them make their morale

11 brigade test morale (3) for Shaken, pass and become Disordered

Poor Card

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – Engage Farm – 6CP

Cavalry advance to counter enemy cavalry

23 brigade advance 3”

24 brigade advance 6”

Marmont changes orders from Engage to Halt

Game Notes

In the early stages of a battle the CinC often has little to do, and particularly if his army is in defence. But as the battle reaches the critical stage he often loses control due to lack of CP. This has happened with Davout.

XIII corps have lost their morale and are in rout, except for the artillery and cavalry. Davout has taken command to avoid the consequences of a Poor Card. At present they are on Engage orders, but he must change them to Move, so that they can retreat. He must then use his remaining CP to try to get his artillery away.

At the same time, on the opposite flank, both V and VI corps urgently need new orders. They both have orders to Engage, but are facing a well defended farm. Both corps commanders feel unable to move forward and have changed their orders to Halt.

V corps has decided that they are not strong enough to take farm. Laurison has changed his orders from Engage to Halt. They continue to bombard the farm with their 12 pounder guns, but withdraw their infantry to avoid casualties

Rule 4 explains the difference between corps orders

VI corps has also decided they can not attack the farm, and Marmont has changed his orders from Engage to Halt. However he then moves his cavalry to protect his infantry from the enemy cavalry, and repositions his infantry brigades in case Davout decides he wants him to advance anyway.

4^th Prussian corps form column of attack ready to pursue routed XIII corps and occupy Peine. They leave their cavalry facing the rear to recce Brunswick, which has just been occupied by the French

A corps commander must remain within command range (8”) of each command to exercise command. In addition he can add to the morale of a brigade if he moves into base contact. Bulow has done this with his garrison of the farm, and the additional plus 1 on the morale test was just enough to rally the shaken garrison

Rule 18 covers morale

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/