Battle of Steinhorst – Move 11

1800-1900 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move

Both sides have one brigade in rout and one shaken.

If the Prussians move first they should win the day with their artillery

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 6CP – Hold Orders

Change orders to Engage

18 Brigade advance, form line and volley fire shaken 2 Prussian

2 Prussian rout with two casualties

3 Prussian test morale for nearby rout, continue their own rout

4 Prussian test morale for nearby rout, fail and join rout

1 Prussian test morale for nearby rout, pass and remain formed

17 French test morale for shaken, pass and become disordered

19 French test more for rout, rally and become shaken

Cuirassiers test morale for rout, fail and continue to rout

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 7CP – Engage Orders

Artillery canister fire on 17 French, inflict casualties

17 French test morale, fail and become shaken

1 Prussian for line and exchange volley fire with 18 French

Draw, both lose 1 casualty, both are disordered

Infantry fire fight

The Prussians were very unlucky They lost the first skirmish fight during the previous move, resulting in one brigade in rout and a second shaken

The French moved first this turn, changed their orders to Engage and advanced 18 brigade to volley fire the shaken Prussian brigade. The Prussian brigade lost two casualties, joined the rout and took the reserve landwehr brigade with them. Three Prussian brigades are now in rout.

The sole remaining Prussian brigade then formed line and exchanged volley fire with the French brigade. The result was a draw, both sides receiving one casualty, but both brigades remained formed.

Table at end of move 11

Prussian hussars pin the Steinhorst garrison, and prevent the gunners from manning their guns. The Prussian artillery and one shaken brigade remain. The remaining three Prussian infantry brigades are in rout

The French hold Steinhorst with a full strength brigade. A second brigade is holding their own in the firefight. Two further brigades are shaken.

Notes on Game

With the loss of three of his infantry brigades general Yorck has no chance of taking Steinhorst in the remaining move before nightfall. To avoid further casualties he orders his corps to retreat towards Bodenteich, covered by his hussar brigade and the remaining infantry brigade.

Laurison has won a decisive victory due to his bold move in taking full advantage of his initial success in the early skirmish fight. Rather than continue to hold until nightfall, he changed his orders to Engage and forced a firefight before the enemy could recover from their initial setback.

At nightfall both sides have similar casualties

French – 6 infantry and 1 cavalry

Prussian – 5 infantry and 1 cavalry

However the Prussian attack has broken and fled, leaving just one infantry brigade and the cavalry to cover their retreat

The French have two formed and two shaken infantry brigades as well as their artillery.

V French corps has held Steinhorst throughout the day and won the battle

1 Prussian corps must spend the next day retreating to the east

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 10

1700-1800 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move

The Prussians cavalry have forced the French gunners to evade to the town, but must now remain there to prevent them returning to their guns.

If the French cuirassiers can rally they will force Yorck to abandon his attack until he can reposition his hussars.

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 6CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire short range on shaken infantry, hit

French infantry test morale for hit, fail and are shaken

3 brigade advance and form line from column of attack

3 Prussian skirmish, inflict casualties

19 French skirmish, inflict casualties

3 Prussian test morale, fail become shaken

19 French test morale, pass remain formed

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 4CP – Hold Orders

Move 18 brigade into skirmish range

Move shaken cuirassiers closer to battle line

18 French skirmish, inflict casualties

19 French skirmish, inflict casualties

3 Prussian test morale for 3 casualties, fail and rout

2 Prussian test morale for nearby rout, fail become shaken

1 Prussian test morale for nearby rout, pass remain formed

17 French test morale for shaken, fail and remain shaken

French cuirassiers test morale for shaken, fail and rout

19 French test morale for nearby rout, fail and rout

18 French test morale for nearby rout, pass and remain formed

Notes on Game

French reinforced their skirmish line, won the skirmish fight and routed Prussian brigade

They also brought up their cuirassiers, which if they rally can charge shaken Prussian infantry. Cuirassiers failed morale and routed, taking an infantry brigade with them.

Both corps are suffering morale problems, and either could break and run.

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 9

1600-1700 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move

Prussians have a slight advantage.

Their cavalry are in position to charge enemy guns, and force gunners to flee to town

Four infantry brigades supported by artillery against three infantry brigades

If French can rally their cavalry it would turn the whole battle around

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 5CP – Hold Orders

Artillery fire on 1 Prussian, hit

1 Prussian test morale, pass, remain formed

Laurison move to take command of cuirassiers

Move cuirassiers closer to battle line

Laurison return to centre of corps

Cuirassiers test morale for shaken, fail, remain shaken

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 5CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire on shaken infantry, miss

Yorck moves to take command of hussars

Hussars charge enemy gunners, who evade to church

Yorck returns to centre of corps

Manhandle guns within canister range of French battle line

Notes on Game

French moved first, and inflicted artillery casualties on Prussian infantry

Yorck has to use precious CP to order hussars to charge enemy artillery

Gunners then evaded to the church, but French deprived of their artillery

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 8

1500-1600 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move

The French infantry form column of attack so that they can get three brigades into line against the four Prussian. The left hand brigade has already suffered artillery casualties, and will shortly be under fire from the Prussian gunners again.

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 6CP – Hold Orders

Artillery fire on 1^st brigade, but miss

18 brigade withdraw half move facing the enemy

Shaken cuirassiers test morale, fail but remain shaken

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 7CP – Engage Orders

Yorck moves within command range of cavalry

Cavalry advance within charge range of enemy artillery

Move artillery and unlimber

1, 2 and 3 brigades all advance

Notes on Game

The Prussians are now poised to close with the French battle line.

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 7

1400-1500 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move 7

The French cuirassiers have routed once more, and are even further from the main battle line. The Prussian hussars have rallied and are ready to advance again. The French artillery are redeploying to cover the Prussian infantry advance.

1^st Prussian corps

1st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 7CP – Engage Orders

Gunners limber and advance

All four infantry brigades advance

Cavalry move to right flank to threaten enemy artillery

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 6CP – Hold Orders

18 brigade form column of attack from line

17 brigade move forward beside 18 brigade

Laurison moves within command range of artillery

Unlimber artillery

Cuirassiers test morale for rout, pass and become shaken.

Notes on Game

Yorck wants to make maximum use of his cavalry superiority by sending them off to the right flank to threaten the enemy artillery, whilst moving his infantry in dense columns to outnumber the French lines. But it will take a lot of CP to move him around the battlefield to keep within command range of both cavalry and infantry.

Battle of Marienborn - Move 6

1300-1400 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move 5

V French have two brigades shaken, one infantry and one cavalry

1^st Prussian cavalry brigade shaken.

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 7CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire on shaken infantry, no casualties

Gunners manhandle artillery nearer to French

All infantry brigades advance

Hussars test morale for shaken, pass and become disordered

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 5CP – Hold Orders

Shaken 17 brigade withdraw half move facing the enemy

Gunners limber and move artillery

Laurison moves within command distance of both shaken brigades

17 brigade test morale for shaken, pass and become disordered

Cuirassiers test morale for shaken, fail and rout

Notes on Game

The French cavalry have failed their morale and routed once more, taking them even further from the main battle line. Their absence has made it easier for the Prussian infantry to advance in column of attack, even though their own cavalry are still shaken and unable to support the advance.

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 5

1200-1300 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move 5

Prussian advance to engage the French

Prussian hussars shaken, and French cuirassiers in rout

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 7CP – Hold Orders

Artillery fire on enemy guns who are out of range

20 brigade garrison church

Laurison moves to centre of corps

19 brigade changes to column of attack

Laurison returns to command artillery

Cuirassiers test morale for rout, pass and become shaken

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 5CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire on infantry nearest church and score hit

French infantry test morale for casualty, fail and become shaken

Gunners manhandle guns towards enemy

1,3 and 4 brigades advance

Shaken hussars test morale, fail and remain shaken

Notes on Game

To garrison a built up area an infantry brigade has to move to the far edge at half movement speed and then take a full move to occupy the area. 20 brigade was able to take two moves to do so because there are no enemy within 16”

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 4

1100-1200 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move 4

Both cavalry brigades are in reserve and shaken

The Prussians have started to advance towards Steinhorst

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 5CP – Engage Orders

Artillery advance and unlimber

2, 3 and 4 brigades advance

Hussars test morale for shaken, fail and remain shaken

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 5CP – Hold Orders

Artillery unlimber to the left of Steinhorst

20 brigade move into Steinhorst

19 brigade advance to extend battle line

17 brigade form column of attack from square

Cuirassiers test morale for shaken, fail and rout

Notes on Game

Both cavalry brigades are finding it difficult to rally from shaken.

They each require a total of at least 4 on 1D6 to rally

If they fail they also run the risk of going into rout again

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 3

1000-1100 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move 3

French cuirassiers are returning to their own lines, but will still be within range of the Prussian artillery if they do not move first.

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 6CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire on enemy cavalry and sore a hit

Cuirassiers test morale for casualty, fail and rout

Prussian gunners limber guns

1 brigade change to column of attack and advance

4 brigade change to column of attack

Yorck moves to centre of corps

Hussars test morale, fail and remain shaken

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 4CP – Hold Orders

Move cavalry away from Prussians

Move artillery forward two moves

Laurison moves to centre of corps

Test morale for routed cuirassiers, pass and become shaken

Notes on Game

Artillery casualty on the French cuirassiers has put them on a par with the Prussian hussars. Both have one casualty, both are shaken. Had this not happened it would have been very difficult for Yorck to continue to attack without cavalry support.

The routed French cuirassiers were moved away from the enemy so that they would gain by being more than 16” from the nearest enemy when they tested their morale.

The French artillery can move twice because they are more than 16” from the nearest enemy

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 2

0900-1000 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move 2

Prussian cavalry are tangled with their artillery

Both sides have started to deploy

V French corps

PGeneral Laurison (Average) – 6CP – Engage Orders

Change orders to Hold

Move Laurison towards cuirassiers

Cuirassiers about turn and retire half move

Move Laurison back to centre of corps

Move artillery to left of church

1st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 5CP – Engage Orders

Move artillery and unlimber

Move 2, 3 and 4 brigades forward

Hussars test morale for rout, pass and become shaken

Notes on Game

The French passed on the opportunity to exploit their cavalry success.

This was because the cavalry had no infantry or artillery support and could do little against the infantry brigade in square. Had they charged the gunners, they would have retreated to the square.

It would take a long time to bring the French infantry and artillery forward, and the cavalry could easily have been pushed back and exposed to infantry and artillery fire.