Battle of Rosche – Move 11

1800-1900 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 11

Most of the French corps is in rout top right, and abandoned their guns

The confused infantry fight continues on the left flank of the Prussian battle line

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 5CP – Hold

5 infantry continues towards the left flank

5 infantry form column of attack

6 infantry advance to volley range

6 Prussian and 16 French exchange volley fire

6 Prussian 3 combat points plus 7 on dice

6 Prussian win, receive 1 casualty and are disordered

16 French lose, receive 3 casualties and rout into 13 French

13 French test morale (6) for rout, pass but are disordered

7 Prussian (6 casualties) continue to rout

Prussian cavalry test morale (5) for shaken, fail remain shaken

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 5CP – Attack

Reynier changes orders to Hold

13 French advance to volley range

13 French and 6 Prussian exchange volley fire

13 French 2 combat points plus 2 on dice

13 French lose, retire 4” shaken and lose 2 casualties

6 Prussian win, lose 1 casualty and are disordered

Table at end of game

Notes on Game

Reynier orders the shaken 13 brigade to cover the withdrawal of his broken IV corps

The French have 11 casualties and have abandoned their guns. His cavalry, gunners and three of the four infantry brigades are in rout. The remaining brigade covering the retreat is shaken

The Prussians have 12 casualties. Their cavalry and one infantry brigade are in rout. The rest of the corps is formed and holding their ground. However with such heavy casualties they are in no condition to pursue the French.

The French have had consistent bad luck (in the form of dice) throughout the game. Starting the battle with considerably less casualties than the Prussians, this should have been an easy French victory.

The Prussians are fortunate that most of their casualties are on the already weak 7 infantry brigade. Two other brigades are weak, but still formed. Their elite infantry brigade is still full strength, as is their artillery. The cavalry are in rout with one casualty, but will rally during the night.

Battle of Rosche – Move 9

1600-1700 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 9

French cavalry and one infantry brigade in rout

The advantage has moved to the Prussians

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 5CP – Hold

Artillery fire (12) and hit enemy gunners

French gunners test (2) and fail morale, become shaken

5 Prussian form column of march and move towards left flank

6 Prussian skirmish with 16 French, no casualties

Cavalry test morale (1) fail and rout

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 6CP – Engage

Change orders from Engage to Attack

Reynier move to artillery

14 brigade form column of attack from square and move 3”

13 and 16 brigade attack 7 Prussian

French win infantry melee (13) no casualties but disordered

7 Prussian lose 3 casualties and rout

6 Prussian test and pass morale (5) for nearby rout

Routed 15 French test morale (6) pass and become shaken

Shaken artillery test and fail morale (1) and rout

14 French test morale for artillery rout (2) fail and also rout

Routed cavalry test morale (5) pass and become shaken

Notes on Game

Both sides are suffering from poor morale

French cavalry and one infantry have rallied from rout but are still shaken

French artillery and a different infantry brigade have failed and routed

Prussian cavalry and one infantry brigade have routed

There are only two formed French infantry brigades left

They are on attack orders, and must continue to melee

It may well be too late for Reynier to change his orders to withdraw.

Battle of Rosche – Move 8

1500-1600 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 8

The French have been unable to inflict any casualties by artillery fire

They have also lost the initial cavalry melee

Despite this they must attack if they are to win the battle

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 7CP – Hold

Artillery fire close range (10) and hit shaken 15 brigade

15 brigade test (2) and fail morale and rout

French artillery test (6) and pass morale for nearby (-4”) rout

16 brigade test (6) and pass morale for nearby (-4”) rout

Kleist moves to command range of cavalry

Cavalry charge shaken French cavalry

French unable to counter charge and must accept charge at the halt

Prussian cavalry choose Skirmish melee rather than Attack melee

Prussian win melee (10 plus)

French cavalry lose one casualty and rout

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 5CP – Engage

Artillery fire (8) and hit Prussian cavalry

Cavalry test (2) and fail morale and are shaken

Remaining two infantry brigade advance and skirmish with weak 7 Prussian

13 French skirmish (2) and fail to inflict casualties

16 French skirmish (4) and fail to inflict casualties

7 Prussian skirmish (2) and fail to inflict casualties

Notes on Game

The Prussian cavalry are on Hold orders

When they charge they can choose either skirmish or attack melee

They choose skirmish, which is less risk if they lose

With a total of 10 they inflicted one casualty and routed the French cavalry

If they had chosen attack they would have inflicted 2 casualties and rout

Cavalry melee is covered by Rule 14

The French infantry require a total of 6 for a hit when skirmishing.

Both concentrated on the Prussian brigade with three casualties already

Due to poor dice they failed to inflict a hit, which would probably have resulted in rout

Skirmish combat is covered by Rule 11

Due to bad luck (or poor dice) the battle is going badly for the French

They could abandon the attack and accept the casualties

Or hope that by pressing on they will break the fragile Prussian infantry

Battle of Rosche – Move 7

1400-1500 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 7

Both corps are now fully deployed and within artillery range

The French must now take the initiative to avoid unnecessary casualties

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 5CP – Engage

Artillery fire on cavalry (6) and miss (again)

Large infantry column advance towards enemy

French cavalry charge enemy cavalry

Prussian cavalry pass test to counter charge (4)

French roll 2D6 (5) and lose melee

French cavalry retire 8” shaken

Prussian cavalry disordered

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 6CP – Hold

Artillery fire at short range (10) on 15 brigade and inflict a second casualty

15 brigade test and fail morale (3) become shaken

Prussians wait for French attack.

Notes on Game

Artillery firing on cavalry or infantry at long range require 8 or more with 2D6

Rule 7 covers artillery fire

When cavalry melee with equal combat points the attacker rolls 2D6

If they roll less than 6 they have lost the melee

Rule 14 covers cavalry melee

Battle of Rosche – Move 6

1300-1400 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 6

French infantry ready to advance

French artillery in range to support them

Prussians in position and ready for attack

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 6CP – Hold

Artillery fire on infantry (4) and miss

7 brigade move 2” to the left

6 brigade form line

Kleist moves to command range (8”) of 7 brigade

7 brigade form line

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 5CP – Move

Artillery fire on cavalry (7) and miss

Manhandle gun (2”) forward

Change orders from Move to Engage

Reynier moves to command range (8”) of cavalry

Cavalry advance (6”)

Notes on Game

Reynier now ready to advance and change corps orders to Engage

French cavalry move into charge range of enemy cavalry

Kleist forms line with his left hand brigades to meet the enemy infantry columns

Battle of Rosche – Move 5

1200-1300 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 5

French are fully deployed

Artillery moving forward into range of enemy infantry and cavalry

Prussians completing their redeployment

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 7CP – Hold

Move 7 brigade into line on the left

Move 5 brigade (2”) to the right

Change 8 brigade from square to column of attack

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 6CP - Move

Move artillery (4”) and unlimber

Move 14 brigade (3”) and form square

Move Reynier to centre of infantry

Massed infantry column advance (6”)

Notes on Game

Prussian corps is now redeployed

French artillery now in range and infantry advance

Battle of Rosche – Move 4

1100-1200 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 4

French still waiting for 13 brigade to join main corps

Prussians completing their redeployment

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 7CP – Hold

Artillery is out of range of French

Kleist moves within command range of cavalry (8”)

Cavalry withdraw (6”) out of artillery range facing enemy

Kleist returns to centre of corps

7 brigade advance and form column of attack

6 brigade advance beside artillery

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 7CP - Move

Artillery limber and move

13 brigade join main corps and form column of attack

Reynier moves to centre of corps

Cavalry advance 6”

Notes on Game

Prussian cavalry withdraw out of range of enemy artillery

Prussian redeployment now complete

French artillery limber and advance into range of enemy

French cavalry advance to cover artillery redeployment

French infantry are now ready to advance

Battle of Rosche – Move 3

1000-1100 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 3

French are fully deployed, but waiting for garrison to join them

Prussians have adjusted their battle line to meet the new threat

IV French corps

General Reynier - (Gifted) – 6CP - Move

Cavalry advance 6”

Artillery move and unlimber

14 infantry advance to protect gunners

General moves to command range (8”) of town

Garrison leave town to join main corps

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 7CP – Hold

6 brigade form column of attack and move to support artillery

5 brigade (square) move to right

8 brigade move next to artillery and form square

Artillery manhandle (2”) forward

7 brigade moves towards left flank

Notes on Game

French move cuirassiers towards enemy cavalry

Artillery move within range of enemy cavalry and unlimber

Prussians redeploy to meet enemy deployment

Battle of Rosche – Move 2

0900-1000 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 2

French are deploying in the open ground to the left of the main road

The garrison of Rosche has been ordered to join the main corps

Prussians now have to redeploy to meet this threat

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 8CP - Move

Corps deploy to left of road in column of attack

Garrison move to edge of town

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 4CP – Hold

Artillery limber, move and unlimber to face French deployment

On the right 5 infantry brigade form square

Notes on Game

French have taken advantage of good dice to deploy and change to column of attack

Prussian artillery redeploy to cover the French approach area

Infantry on right flank forms square to protect the artillery

Battle of Rosche – Move 1

0800-0900 30 July 1813

Table at the start of move 1

Kliest has deployed his corps either side of the Rosche-Domitz road

He has his two best infantry brigades in the front rank

The remaining two, who have the majority of casualties, are in reserve

He has placed his cavalry on his right flank

2^nd Prussian corps

General Kleist (Average) – 7CP – Hold

Artillery man handle (2”) forwards

Cavalry advance (4”) and angle towards road

Two reserve infantry move forward within supporting distance (4”) of front line

IV French corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – 7CP - Move

Corps column double move (16”) towards Prussians

13 infantry brigade prepare to leave Rosche

Cavalry advance and form line to cover corps deployment

Notes on Game

Prussians moved first and did some minor adjustment to battle line

French remained outside of 16” from the Prussians so that they could make maximum use of corps movement