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.

Battle of Steinhorst – Move 1

0800-0900 25 July 1813

Table at the start of move 1

Note Prussian artillery are at the front of the column

Quick to deploy, but vulnerable if their cavalry lose melee and uncover them

Note French artillery are at the rear of the column.

Safe, but will take a longer to deploy

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – 6CP – Engage Orders

17 brigade form square

18 brigade move to right and form column of attack

Move Laurison to centre of corps

19 brigade move forward

Cuirassiers charge enemy cavalry

Prussian hussars test to counter charge, fail and receive charge at the halt

Prussians lose melee, lose one casualty and rout into artillery

Gunners test morale for rout, pass but are disordered

Cuirassiers test morale to pursue, fail and remain stationary

1st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – 4CP – Engage Orders

1 brigade form square

2 brigade move to right and form column of attack

Move Yorck to centre of corps

3 brigade move to left and form column of attack

4 brigade move forward

Notes on Game
With both corps on Engage orders whichever side moves first would have to order their cavalry to charge. The French moved first, and ordered charge. The Prussians had to test morale to counter charge, failed and had to receive charge at the halt.

Heavy cavalry gain plus 2, hussars halted lose 2. Prussian cuirassiers rolled 2D6 for 10, plus 4 made a total of 14. Hussars lose one casualty and rout.

Because Prussian artillery were leading the column the hussars routed into them. They were lucky to make their morale. They were even luckier that the cuirassiers failed to make their morale to pursue.

We used the new cavalry v cavalry rules for this melee. Had we used the old ones the Prussians would have lost two casualties and routed.


Wargame Rule 14 applies and can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Steinhorst – Set Up

0800 25 July 1813

Campaign Background

At midnight on 24 July 1813 General Yorck received news of the French defeat at Uelzen. He immediately ordered his 1^st Prussian corps to attack Steinhorst at first light.

At Steinhorst General Laurison also received notification of the French defeat, and ordered his corps to move on Bodenteich.

1^st Prussian corps marched out of Bodenteich at 0400.

Tactical Map

The battle will take place in the nine squares outlined in white.

V French corps will be deployed in square E5 and their cavalry in E6

1^st Prussian corps will be deployed in square E7 and their cavalry in E6

Table at start of game

Steinhorst is the town on the cross roads on the left

V French corps is in column of march ready to leave the town

1 Prussian corps is approaching in column of march

Both cavalry brigades are facing each other in line within charge move

1st Prussian corps

Prussian’s approach Steinhorst in column of march

Cavalry brigade in line protect the column

Note artillery at the front of the column

V French corps

French ready to leave Steinhorst in column of march

Cavalry brigade in line to protect the column

Note artillery at the rear of the column

Special Rules

The campaign day normally starts at 0800. The Prussian player requested permission to start four hours earlier in order to “steal a march” on the French. This was allowed because General ReynierYorck is a Gifted general, and could be assumed to have greater initiative than an Average or Poor commander.

As a result when the game starts the two corps are within one square of each other.

The French are still within the town, ready to start their march

The Prussians left Bodenteich at 0400 and have passed through H7 by 0800.