Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 12

1900-2000 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 12

Two Prussian brigades are in rout on the right, and a third in south Uelzen is shaken – all down to the skirmish ability of 13 French brigade.

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 8CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire close range on south Uelzen, one hit

Garrison test morale, pass and become disordered

Cavalry about turn and form line facing enemy

13 brigade garrison’s north Uelzen

13 brigade skirmish 7 Prussian, no casualties

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 5CP – Engage Orders

Kleist moves to square

Gunners return to abandon guns, limber and move east

Square retreats to cover artillery

8 brigade test morale for rout, fails and continue to rout

5 brigade test morale for rout, fails and continue to rout

Table at end of move 12

The French have taken north Uelzen, the Prussians hold south Uelzen

The Prussians have two brigades in rout, and have clearly lost the battle.

Even without effective cavalry, the Prussians will be able to retire east during the night

The French will have to wait at Uelzen until they can bring up their reserve infantry

Notes on Game

Both corps started the game with casualties from a previous battle.

The French opted to fight the battle without the three infantry brigades who had casualties. This gamble paid off as their one full strength brigade defeated three Prussian brigades one after the other.

The Prussians suffered heavy casualties. They lost 6 new infantry casualties to add to their existing 3 infantry and 2 cavalry

The French suffered light casualties. Only 1 new infantry casualty to add to their existing 5 infantry.

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 11

1800-1900 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 11

The skirmish fight for north Uelzen continues, but the French are gaining the upper hand, the right hand Prussian brigade is shaken and cannot skirmish

2nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 7CP – Engage Orders

Shaken 5 brigade retired facing enemy

Kleist moves to square

Square continued to move towards cavalry, cavalry continue to retire

Kleist returns to town

7 brigade skirmish 13 French

7 brigade test morale for another casualty, fail and become shaken

5 brigade test morale for shaken, fails and routs

8 brigade test morale for rout, fails and continue to rout

IV French Corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 8CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fires close range on south Uelzen, no casualties

Cuirassiers move away from enemy square to avoid blocking artillery

13 brigade skirmish 7 Prussian, no casualties

Notes on Game

Cavalry may not charge a formed square, and they must keep out of the square 4” defence zone. So by moving towards the cavalry each move, the square is pushing them away from the abandoned guns and towards their own artillery. Soon they will mask the artillery firing on south Uelzen.

Defence Zones are covered in wargame rule 5

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 10

1700-1800 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 10

The battle for north Uelzen continues

The Prussian square is forcing the cuirassiers back towards their artillery

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 6CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire close range on south Uelzen, no casualties

13 brigade skirmish 5 Prussian, no casualties

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 5CP – Engage Orders

7 brigade garrison south Uelzen

Routed 8 brigade move north of Uelzen

5 and 7 brigades skirmish 13 French

5 brigade test morale for casualty, fail and are shaken

8 brigade test morale for shaken, fail and rout

Notes on Game

Although outnumbered, 13 French brigade is elite and is overcoming one Prussian brigade after another. The Prussian casualties from the previous battle are now taking effect.

Morale tests are covered in wargame rule 17

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 9

1600-1700 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 9

Uelzen has been moved to the centre of the table by adding three squares to the north and three to the east. The French are in north Uelzen and the Prussians in south Uelzen. The French reserves are just off table to the left of the left centre square.

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 6CP – Attack Orders

Unlimber artillery

Change orders to Engage

Move Reynier to centre of corps

13 brigade move to east edge of north Uelzen

13 brigade skirmish with 5 Prussian

5 Prussian test and pass morale for one casualty

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 6CP – Engage Orders

7 brigade move to west edge of south Uelzen

5 brigade move to skirmish range of north Uelzen

Kleist moves to left flank

6 brigade (in square) move 2” towards cavalry, who retreat 2”

Kleist returns to Uelzen

6 brigade skirmish 13 French, no casualties

8 brigade test morale for shaken, fail and remains shaken

Notes on Game

Having driven the Prussians out of north Uelzen, Reynier changes his corps orders to Engage. If he remained on attack he would have to attack with at least one brigade each move.

Description of corps orders are covered in wargame rule 4

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 8

1500-1600 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 8

The whole battle is concentrated in the four top right squares

If not decided in this move, the table will be rearranged to bring the battle to the centre of the table for the rest of the battle.

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 8CP – Attack Orders

Artillery screened by cuirassier brigade

Artillery limber and move to reposition facing Uelzen

Cavalry charge limbered artillery

Gunners make morale to abandon guns and evade to nearby square

Cavalry halt 4” from square

Reynier moves closer to north Uelzen

13 brigade attack 8 brigade in north Uelzen

13 brigade win melee, lose one casualty and are Disordered

8 brigade lose melee, lose three casualties, withdraw 4” and are Shaken

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 5CP – Engage Orders

Infantry square moves towards cavalry to force them away from abandoned guns

Cavalry move back to maintain 4” distance

8 brigade moves out of north Uelzen to make room for counter attack

5 brigade forms column of attack in preparation for counter attack

8 brigade tests morale for Shaken, fails and remains Shaken

Notes on Game

13 French are an elite brigade with superior skirmishers

8 Prussian are a landwehr brigade with inferior skirmishers

Reynier orders an Attack rather than a Skirmish to clear the town

This means the French will charge and melee, rather than hold back and skirmish

The landwehr are pushed back, but not routed.

Fighting in build up areas are covered in wargame rule 10

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 7

1400-1500 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 7

French and Prussians both move infantry towards north Uelzen

French corps still widely separated as Reynier concentrates on Uelzen

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 5CP – Engage Orders

8 brigade moves into north Uelzen

5 brigade moves to support north and south Uelzen

Kleist moves to centre of corps

Artillery limber and move towards south Uelzen

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 7CP – Move Orders

Artillery fire on south Uelzen, no casualties

Gunners manhandle guns towards south Uelzen

Change orders to Attack

13 brigade move into north Uelzen

Cavalry move within charge range of limbered artillery

Notes on Game

Moving artillery without adequate support is always risky

Cavalry can declare an Opportunity Charge on limbered guns

Cavalry on Engage or Attack orders can declare a charge on limbered guns

Even if the Prussians move first next move, the cuirassiers can try for an Opportunity Charge

Opportunity Charges are covered in wargame rule 6

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 6

1300-1400 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 6

French and Prussians both move infantry towards north Uelzen

French corps still widely separated as Reynier concentrates on Uelzen

2nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 6CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire on enemy guns, no casualties

Kleist moves to town

5 brigade moves towards north Uelzen

8 brigade moves into north Uelzen

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 7CP – Move Orders

Artillery fire on south Uelzen, no casualties

Manhandle guns nearer to town

13 brigade moves towards north Uelzen

Cavalry retreat out of artillery range

Notes on Game

Artillery ineffective as only difficult targets within range

French gunners require 10 for a hit on south Uelzen

Prussian gunners require 11 for a hit on enemy gunners

Artillery fire covered in wargame rule 7

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 5

1200-1300 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 5

French attack group is on the right, pin group on the left

Prussians move forward their battle line

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 7CP – Move Orders

Artillery fire on town, no casualties

Gunners manhandle guns towards Uelzen

Reynier used multiple moves to move 13 brigade towards north Uelzen

1st Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 6CP – Engage Orders

Cavalry move forward

Gunners manhandle guns towards enemy cavalry

5 brigade form column from square to support south Uelzen

Kleist moves closer to Uelzen

8 brigade moves towards north Uelzen

6 brigade forms square to protect gunners

Notes on Game

French artillery have pinned Prussian infantry in centre of south Uelzen

Both sides are moving infantry to occupy north Uelzen

Reynier is concentrating all of his CP on preparing his attack group

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 4

1100-1200 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 4

Prussians deploy between Uelzen and the farm

French continue to advance towards Uelzen

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 7CP – Move Orders

Reynier used multiple moves to position his artillery within range of Uelzen

2nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 6CP – Engage Orders

Move 7 brigade into Uelzen

Manhandle guns towards enemy cavalry

Move Kleist to centre of corps

Cavalry form line and move towards enemy column

Move 8 brigade closer to Uelzen.

Notes on Game

Although both sides have 5 casualties each from the previous battle, the effect is different on each corps.

2^nd Prussian corps has two cavalry casualties, and their brigade is a liability. The rest of their casualties are one to each of three brigades. This is a disadvantage, but manageable.

IV French corps has two infantry brigades with two casualties and another brigade with one casualty. The former are a liability. If they receive one more casualty, or have to test morale, they are likely to fail.

Reynier is trying to bring his full strength brigades to attack the town; these are one infantry brigade, the cavalry and the artillery. He will use the remainder of the corps to pin the enemy.

His first step is to multi move his artillery within range of the town by keeping them more than 16” from the nearest enemy.

Rule 5 deals with multi movement

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Battle of Uelzen – Move 3

1000-1100 27 July 1813

Table at the start of move 3

Prussians have deployed the head of the column to keep the enemy cavalry at bay

French corps move to join their cavalry

2nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 6CP – Engage Orders

Artillery fire on cavalry, who are just out of maximum range

Manhandle guns into range of cavalry

Move 8 brigade towards town

Move cavalry to protect left flank

Move Kleist to centre of corps

Move 7 brigade into Uelzen

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 6CP – Move Orders

Move corps column towards Uelzen

Move Reynier to take command of cavalry

Cavalry retire out of artillery range

Reynier returns to command corps column

Notes on Game

The French cavalry have done their job of delaying the Prussian advance, and withdraw out of artillery range.

The Prussian cavalry are kept well away from the enemy cavalry and artillery. If they have to test morale they will probably fail, as they have two casualties from the previous battle.