Battle of Helmstedt – Move 5

1200-1300 29 July 1813

Table at the start of move 5

The Prussians continue to deploy

The French continue to wait for their attack

General Blucher (Average) – 7CP

No movement and no orders issued

XIII French corps

General Poniatowski (Poor) – 4CP – Hold Helmstedt

Move general to right flank

Move 1 brigade to end of right flank and form line

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 7CP

No movement and no orders issued

4th Prussian corps

General Tauentzien (Poor) – 5 CP – Move to Helmstedt

Move onto table along Walsbeck-Helmstedt road

3rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – 7CP – Move to Farm

Manhandle artillery forward

Move cavalry to right flank

Move 9 brigade to front of farm

Move remaining infantry towards enemy

Notes on Game

4^th Prussian corps arrive in an unusual order of march

The cavalry and artillery are in the middle of the column

This makes it difficult to send either forward to cover the corps deployment

Battle of Helmstedt – Move 4

1100-1200 29 July 1813

Table at the start of move 4

Bulow has started to deploy his corps out of range of the French guns

He has sent one infantry brigade to occupy the farm

Poniatowski is not going to contest the farm

He has sent his reserve infantry to extend his right flank

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 8CP

No movement and no orders issued

General Blucher (Average) – 7CP

Move forward to keep pace with the advance

No orders issued

XIII French corps

General Poniatowski (Poor) – 4CP – Hold Helmstedt

Redeploy artillery to cover farm

Move reserve infantry to right flank

3rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – 6CP – Move to Farm

Move forward to command range of infantry in farm

Move 9 infantry into centre of farm

Manhandle artillery forward

Move infantry forward

Notes on Game

Prussian deployment continues

French extend their battle line and wait developments

It has taken four hours to position and start to deploy 3^rd Prussian corps

Battle of Helmstedt – Move 3

1000-1100 29 July 1813

Table at the start of move 3

Bulow now has orders to move towards the farm

He has reinforced his cavalry with his artillery

One infantry brigade has moved ahead of the column to occupy the farm

The remainder of the infantry move towards the farm in column of march

Poniatowski has not made any move to occupy the farm

3rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – 6CP – Move to Farm

Unlimber artillery beside cavalry brigade

Move 9 infantry into farm

Move Bulow to centre of infantry

Start deployment of remaining infantry brigades

XIII French corps

General Poniatowski (Poor) – 4CP – Hold Helmstedt

Poniatowski orders cavalry to withdraw to main battle line

He returns to centre of corps

He also orders reserve infantry to move to right flank

General Blucher (Average) – 5CP

Does not move or issue any orders

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 6CP

Move to command range of cavalry brigade

Notes on Game

Bulow has started to occupy the farm.

He has unlimbered his artillery in support of the cavalry

He has started to deploy his remaining infantry out of enemy artillery range

Poniatowski is using his reserve infantry to extend his battle line to the right

He has withdrawn his cavalry, as they would have been within skirmish range of the farm

Battle of Helmstedt – Move 2

Table at the start of move 1

Poniatowski has deployed his corps to the right of Helmstedt

He has positioned his cavalry behind the farm to threaten the Prussian attack

Bulow is advancing along the road on the right

His cavalry have moved forward to protect the corps column

Blucher is on the right observing the advance

General Blucher (Average) – 5CP

Move to join Bulow

Change orders to Move to Farm

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 6CP

Move to command range of cavalry brigade

XIII French corps

General Poniatowski (Poor) – 6 CP – Hold Helmstedt

Poniatowski does not issue any orders

He will wait to see what the Prussians intend to do first

3rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – 7CP – Move to Farm

Move artillery to join cavalry screen

9 infantry brigade move to occupy farm

Remainder of the infantry move towards farm in column of march

Notes on Game

Blucher has ordered 3^rd corps to move to the right of the main road

This is to make space for 4^th corps who are due to arrive on move 5

He has also ordered the occupation of the farm, which protect his open right flank

Davout is happy to remain where he is and await developments

Battle of Helmstedt - Move 1

Table at the start of move 1

Poniatowski has deployed his corps to the right of Helmstedt

His cavalry are further to the right on the Magdeburg road

He has reinforced his left flank to hold the Wolfsburg road for reinforcements

The Prussians will enter the table from the right

General Blucher (Average) – 7CP

Move on to table

No orders issued

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 6CP

No movement and no orders issued

XIII French corps

General Poniatowski (Poor) – 6 CP – Hold Helmstedt

Poniatowski moves to command range of the lancers

Withdraws lancers behind farm

3rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – 5CP – Move to Helmstedt

Cavalry move forward and form line to protect the corps advance

Infantry move towards Helmstedt on the Walsbeck road

Notes on Game

Poniatowski has deployed his infantry and artillery where he wants to fight the battle

His cavalry were in an exposed position, and he has withdrawn them now that the enemy hussars are advancing to engage them.

Battle of Helmstedt – Set Up

Tactical Map

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

Start positions are as shown

Table at start of game

Helmstedt is the town on the cross roads in the centre left

XIII French corps is deployed to the right of the town

French cavalry are further right either side of the Walsbeck road

3^rd Prussian corps will enter the table on the road to the right

XIII French corps

Deployed either side of the Walsbeck road

Cavalry have one casualty from an earlier skirmish

Poniatowski has reinforced his left flank, the road to Wolfsburg

Campaign Move 19 - Battle of Helmstedt

0800 - 1200 29 July 1813

Davout has sent urgent orders to VI corps at Wolfsburg to march south to support XIII corps at Helmstedt. However the orders were not sent until midnight 28 July 1813, and will not arrive before first light. If Marmont has not anticipated their arrival, and started his march south at first light, Poniatowski will be in for a hard fight.

Poniatowski has deployed his corps just east of Helmstedt. His cavalry are further east keeping watch on the Prussian’s at Walsbeck. He has strengthened his left flank, in anticipation of the arrival of Marmont from Wolfsburg.

Blucher has ordered 3rd Prussian corps to attack Helmstedt at first light. 4th corps will move in support, and should arrive on the battlefield by midday.

Table at 0800 29 July 1813