Battle of Wolfsburg – Move 2

0900-1000 26 July 1813

Table at the start of move 2

Prussian infantry have reached both the woods and the farm

French corps is moving south of the road to deploy

4th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor) – 5CP – Move Orders

Unlimber artillery

Tauentzien moves within command range of farm

13 brigade multiple moves to garrison farm

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – 7CP – Move Orders

Corps column multiple move off road

Column turn left to face enemy

Artillery unlimber

Notes on Game

Both sides can still have multiple moves because they are more than 16” from the nearest enemy

The whole French corps column can move for just 2CP providing general is at the front, all brigades are within 2” of each other and all carry out the same move. Otherwise it costs 1CP for each brigade, and the commander, to move or change formation.

Wargame Rule 3 applies and can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Wolfsburg – Move 1

0800-0900 26 July 1813

Table at the start of move 1

Prussian infantry ready to move to woods and farm

Prussian and French cavalry facing each other in centre

4th Prussian Corps

General Tauentzien (Poor) – 5CP – Move Orders

13 brigade double move towards farm

Yorck moves within command range of woods

14 brigade double move towards woods

IV French Corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – 6CP – Move Orders

Marmont moves to front of corps column

Advance cavalry to cover corps deployment

Corps double move to right of Wolfsburg road

Notes on Game

Prussian move first so that they can carry out their campaign orders to move to woods and farm

French move to right of road to deploy in accordance with their campaign orders

Both sides can have multiple moves because they are more than 16” from the nearest enemy

Wargame Rule 5 applies and can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Wolfsburg – Set Up

0800 26 July 1813

Campaign Background

During the early evening of 25 July Marshal Marmont sent a cavalry patrol north to Steinhorst to confirm the outcome of the battle there. Just after midnight they reported a French victory. He immediately ordered his corps to attack Wolfsburg at first light.

General Tauentzien is a Poor commander, and lacked the initiative to confirm the outcome of the battle. He had orders to hold Wolfsburg and his corps were deployed to do so. At first light he sent infantry to occupy the woods in G7 and the farm in J7.

Tactical Map

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

V French corps will enter H6, where their cavalry are already deployed

1^st Prussian corps will be deployed in square H8 and their cavalry in H7

Table at start of game

Steinhorst is the town on the cross roads on the right

4 Prussian corps is deployed in and around the town

VI French corps will arrive on the left

Both cavalry brigades are facing each other in line but outside charge move

1st Prussian corps

Cavalry screening approach to Wolfsburg

Two infantry brigades are ready to move to the farm (right) and woods (left)

Landwehr brigade is garrison of Wolfsburg

Remaining infantry brigade and artillery ready to deploy as required

Special Rules

The Prussians will move first to ensure that the two infantry brigades move towards the woods and farm as ordered in the campaign move.

Campaign Move 10 - Battle of Wolfsburg

0800-1200 26 July 1813

Marshal Marmont entered Wiesendorf on 23 July and received reports from his cavalry brigade that they were in contact with Prussian heavy cavalry just west of Wolfsburg and that a Prussian corps was in the town itself.

Marmont had orders to hold Wiesendorf. However throughout 25 July he heard the sound of fighting from the north, near the town of Steinhorst. Late in the evening he received confirmation that V corps had won their battle there. He immediately issued orders for his own VI corps to attack Wolfsburg at first light the next day.

General Tauentzien had orders to hold Wolfsburg and his corps were deployed to do so. As the enemy made no attempt to approach the town, he decided to reinforce his cavalry west of the town. At first light on 26 July he would send infantry to take possession of a woods north of the Wesendorf to Wolfsburg road, and a farm south of the road. This would delay any French attempt to approach Wolfsburg.

At first light on 26 July Marmont led his corps east on the Wolfsburg road. He determined to deploy his corps south of the road to avoid the wooded area north of the road. As he left Wesendorf he sighted Prussian infantry marching towards the woods north of the road, and the farm to the south. They were covered by a cuirassier brigade, and he was reluctant to risk his light cavalry so early in the battle.

By the time the VI French corps were deployed south of the road, the enemy had taken possession of both the farm and the woods.

Table at the start of the battle

Campaign Move 9 - Battle of Steinhorst

1600-2000 25 July 1813

It was late afternoon by the time General Yorck had rallied his cavalry and deployed his infantry ready to launch the attack on Steinhorst.

General Laurison had garrisoned Steinhorst and deployed his three infantry brigades to form a line south of the village. His artillery were positioned to the north of the village, but angled to cover the ground the Prussians would have to cover to reach Steinhorst. He had failed to rally his cavalry, who were further south and still shaken.

Yorck sent his cavalry brigade north in a wide arc to threaten the French artillery without entering their field of fire. He ordered his four brigades to advance towards the village in close column of attack. He could afford to do this because the French cavalry were at present out of the battle.

The French gunners opened fire on the nearest column and caused casualties, but the approaching enemy cavalry caused them to abandon their guns and seek safety in the village. The Prussian hussars halted out of musket range to prevent them returning to their guns.

The French infantry formed line to meet the approaching enemy columns. This forced the leading Prussian infantry to do the same to match their firepower. This meant that the first skirmish fire was between one brigade on each side. The French were more effective, and the Prussian brigade shaken.

Laurison took advantage of this temporary advantage to order the same brigade to advance into musket volley range and blasted the shaken Prussian brigade. They immediately broke and ran, taking the two nearest brigades with them.

It was now early evening, and Yorck has lost three of his four infantry brigades. The French garrison of Steinhorst had not been touched, and they had a second brigade which was holding its own against the sole surviving Prussian brigade.

As night fell Yorck ordered a retreat towards Bodenteich.

Laurison was content to hold the village, and did not attempt to pursue the retreating Prussians.

The casualties of each side were moderate, and it would take at least one day for either to regroup and recover.

This French victory had more than made up for their defeat at Uelzen the previous day. Their northern flank was now secure, and if the Prussians attempted to follow up their victory at Uelzen they would have a large gap between their northern and southern flanks.

The Prussian retreat

Campaign Move 8 - Battle of Steinhorst

1200-1600 25 July 1813

The battle opened with a cavalry melee.

As 1^st Prussian corps approached Steinhorst, their march was covered by their hussar brigade. 5^th French cuirassier brigade had withdrawn throughout the morning, and the hussars were not prepared for their sudden charge. They received the charge at the halt, were overthrown and routed back through the corps column strung out on the road behind them.

Fortunately the cuirassiers failed to make their morale to pursue. This gave the leading Prussian infantry brigade time to form square, in case the French cavalry should attempt to follow up their advantage. The hussars were withdrawn behind the square and the gunners unlimbered their guns.

Faced with artillery supported by a steady infantry square, the cuirassiers withdrew towards Steinhorst. As they did so the Prussian artillery opened fire, causing casualties to the French cavalry.

The outcome of the melee was that both sides lost the use of their cavalry for the whole morning. It also caused 1^st Prussian corps to deploy much sooner than intended, and delayed the whole attack by four hours. This allowed V French corps to move clear of Steinhorst and deploy ready to meet the Prussian attack.

By late afternoon general Yorck was ready to order the attack. But time was no longer on his side, and he would have to press home his attack if he were to stand any chance of taking Steinhorst by nightfall.

Table mid afternoon

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