Second Helmstedt – Move 12

1900-2000 1 August 1813

Table at the start of move 12

Davout has completed his withdrawal to the farm

The French are out of artillery range of 1^st and 3^rd Prussian corps

4^th Prussian corps is now faced with the reformed V and VI French corps

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – Hold – 5CP

French out of artillery range

Waiting for orders from Prince Blucher to advance

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – Hold – 6CP

Cavalry move to left flank

24 infantry occupy farm

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 5CP

No orders issued

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – Hold - 6CP

Artillery fire (5) at close range on enemy gunners and miss

Poor Card

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

4th Prussian corps

Prince Blucher (Average) – Commanding 4^th Corps - 6CP

Change orders from Engage to Hold

Artillery fire (9) on 20 French and cause one casualty

20 French test morale (-1) for second casualty, fail and Rout

Gunners test morale (1) for Rout within 4”, fail become Shaken

Garrison test morale (5) for Rout within 4”, pass and remain formed

15 brigade advance 6”

13 brigade advance 6”

Artillery manhandled 2”

Cavalry test morale (2) for Shaken, fail and remain Shaken

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – Hold – 7CP

French are out of artillery range

Waiting for new orders from Prince Blucher

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor)

Corps under the command of Prince Blucher

Game Notes

Blucher has ordered 4^th corps to hold on the VI corps abandoned guns

He is confident that if the French do not retreat during the night he will be able to defeat them once he has regrouped his three corps.

Davout has done well to hold his second position until night fall

Table at the end of move 12

Winner

The Prussians are clear winners and will hold their ground over night

The French will retreat during the night and avoid battle for 24 hours

Casualties

French have lost 12 infantry, 1 cavalry and 4 gunners

Prussians have lost 2 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 gunner

Routed brigades at night fall

French have 1 cavalry and 3 infantry brigades in Rout

Prussians have 1 cavalry and 1 infantry brigades in Rout

Second Helmstedt – Move 11

1800-1900 1 August 1813

Table at the start of move 11

Davout is retreating to the farm which he will hold until nightfall

The farm is out of artillery range of 1^st and 3^rd Prussian corps

Blucher has personal command of 4^th corps and only issue orders to them

4th Prussian corps

Prince Blucher (Average) – Commanding 4^th Corps - 7CP

Artillery fire (8) on 24 French and cause one casualty

24 French test morale (4) for first casualty, pass and remain formed

All four infantry brigades advance 6”

Blucher moves to centre of corps

Cavalry test morale (2) for Rout, pass and become Shaken

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – Retire to Farm – 6CP

Change orders to Halt

24 infantry retire into farm

23 infantry form line from column of attack

Cavalry move behind 23 infantry

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

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – Withdraw to T Junction - 6CP

Change orders to Halt

Artillery fire (9) at short range on enemy gunners, cause one casualty

Prussian gunners test morale (3) for first casualty, pass and remain formed

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – Hold – 5CP

French are out of artillery range

Waiting for new orders from Prince Blucher

Poor Card

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

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – Hold – 6CP

French out of artillery range

Waiting for orders from Prince Blucher to advance

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor)

Corps under the command of Prince Blucher

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 7CP

Move to V corps change orders to Hold

Move to VI corps change orders to Hold

Game Notes

Davout has completed his withdrawal to the farm

VI corps has also occupied the farm, and rallied their cavalry

The French are now in a strong position

Blucher has failed to break VI corps before they withdraw and regroup

To attempt to storm the farm would be a very dangerous choice

Without cavalry to counter VI corps cavalry his infantry are at risk

And with only one move to night he would not have time to exploit any success

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Second Helmstedt – Move 10

1700-1800 1 August 1813
Table at the start of move 10

Davout is retreating to the farm which he will hold until nightfall

The farm is out of artillery range of 1^st and 3^rd Prussian corps

Blucher has personal command of 4^th corps and only issue orders to them

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 6CP

Personal command of 24 brigade

24 brigade retire 2” facing enemy

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – Hold – 6CP

French are out of artillery range

Waiting for orders from Prince Blucher to advance

General Tauentzien (Poor)

Corps under the command of Prince Blucher

4th Prussian Corps

Prince Blucher (Average) – Commanding 4^th Corps - 5CP

Artillery fire (6) on 24 French and miss

Manhandle guns 2” towards enemy

14 brigade advance 6”

16 brigade advance 6”

Blucher moves to centre of corps

Test morale (0) for Routed cavalry, fail and continue to Rout

Poor Card

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

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – Hold – 7CP

Artillery fire (8) on 23 French hit and cause one casualty

23 French test morale (5) for second casualty, pass and remain formed

Unable to take any further action on Hold orders

Waiting for new orders from Prince Blucher

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – Withdraw to T Junction - 4CP

Artillery fire (6) on 14 Prussian and miss

20 brigade form line

17 brigade retire 2” facing enemy

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – Retire to Farm – 6CP

23 brigade form column of attack from square

23 brigade retire 3”

Test morale (2) for Shaken cavalry, fail and remain Shaken

Game Notes

Once again a poor dice throw prevent Blucher from handing control of 4^th corps back to Tauentzien. He has now run out of time to activate 1^st and 3^rd corps and must do the best he can with 4^th corps

The French withdrawal has worked well. They are now out of artillery range of 1^st and 3^rd Prussian corps and are well positioned to hold their own against 4^th Prussian corps.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

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/

Second Helmstedt – Move 8

1500-1600 1 August 1813

Table at the start of move 8

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

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – Withdraw to T Junction - 4CP

Artillery retire 4” and unlimber

17 brigade retire 2” facing enemy

Test morale (2) for Shaken 20 brigade, fail and remain Shaken

4^th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor)

Corps under the command of Prince Blucher

Prince Blucher (Average) – 5CP

14 and 16 brigade advance 6”

Artillery limber and advance 4”

Cavalry charge limbered artillery

Artillery test morale (1) to react to charge but fail

23 brigade (square) fire on cavalry (5) and miss

Cavalry cut down all gunners

Cavalry test to react (1), pass and halt Disordered

Test morale (3) for 23 brigade for gunners cut down within 4”, pass remain formed

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – Hold – 5CP

Artillery fire (8) on 27 French, hit and cause one casualty

27 French test morale (1) for second casualty, fail and remain Shaken

Unable to take any further action on Hold orders

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – Retire to Farm – 5CP

Cavalry move 8” towards Prussian cavalry, and form line

Shaken 22 brigade move 6” towards friendly cavalry

Marmont moves to centre of corps

Test morale (-1) for Shaken 22 brigade, fail and Rout

Cavalry test morale (2) for Rout within 4”, fail and become Shaken

Poor Card

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

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 7CP

Both corps on orders to retire to farm

No need for further orders

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – Hold – 5CP

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

Game Notes

Prince Blucher has taken command of 4^th corps to attack the French centre. But by doing so he is unable to issue orders to either 1^st or 3^rd corps, both of whom are now ready to resume the attack.

To issue orders to 1^st and 3^rd corps, he must first hand back command of 4^th corps to general Tauentzien. By doing so he will risk that the Poor Card will halt 4^th corps again.

With only four moves to nightfall he must decide next move whether to continue with 4^th corps alone, or risk the whole attack stalling once more whilst the orders 1^st and 3^rd to Engage the enemy.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/