Campaign Move 40 – Battle of Peine Day Two

0800 - 1200 5 August 1813

Table at 1200

Blucher was not expecting to fight a second day.

The previous evening XIII corps had routed towards Hanover. V and VI corps were retiring towards Celle. IV corps were at Brunswick, but were not expected to attack. Blucher rested his army overnight, but sent one cavalry brigade to pursue XIII corps.

Davout was not aware that IV corps were at Brunswick and had ordered V and VI corps to retire to Celle. He supervised the retreat from high ground north of Peine, and was surprised to see IV corps march towards Peine from Brunswick. He immediately sent orders for V and VI corps to return to support IV corps.

The Prussians lost their only cavalry brigade early in the battle, and the French cavalry were able to delay the Prussian deployment. By midday the Prussian infantry were still deploying.

Meanwhile IV corps was approaching the farm. V corps was back on the battlefield and VI corps returning.

1^st Prussian corps has only one infantry brigade and their corps artillery. They took position on a hill overlooking IV corps, but out of sight of the French. By midday they were ready to advance to the northern edge of the hill and fire on the French.

Blucher held a strong central position, but was slow to get into position to defend it

Davout commanded two widely separated wings, and would have to coordinate them both if he was to stand any chance of defeating the Prussians.

Battle of Peine Day Two – Move 10

1700-1800 5 August 1813

Table at the start of move 10

Top – V and VI corps hold Celle road

Centre – Prussian brigade in farm are well placed to attack IV corps flank

Bottom – 3^rd and 4^th corps still trying to deploy

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) - Engage - 4CP

Artillery fire (10) on 17 French and score hit

17 French pass morale (6) for first casualty

11 brigade (in rout) move 8”

10 brigade advance 6”

10 Prussian (6) skirmish 15 French (6) both score hit

10 Prussian pass morale (3) for first casualty

15 French fail morale (-2) for third casualty and rout

16 French fail morale (-1) for rout within 4” and join rout

French artillery fail morale (2) for rout within 4” and are shaken

French cuirassiers fail morale (1) for rout within 4” and are shaken

Marshal Davouot (Gifted) - 7CP

Change VI corps orders to “retreat to Celle”

Move to join V corps

Change V corps orders to “retreat to Celle”

Move to join IV corps

4^th Prussian corps

Prince Blucher (Average) - commanding 4th corps - 6CP

Change 4^th corps orders to Attack

15 brigade move into farm

Artillery move 16” behind farm

13 brigade charge routed 15 French infantry in flank

15 French cut down

16 French fail morale (-5) for friends cut down within 4” and rout

French artillery fail morale (1) for friends cut down within 4” and remain shaken

Prussian infantry cut down French brigade in rout

IV French corps

General Reynier (Average) - Attack - 7CP

Change orders to Halt

Limber artillery and retire 4”

Cuirassiers retire 6” facing enemy

Reynier move to support artillery morale check

Artillery fail morale (1) and remain Shaken

Cuirassiers fail morale (-2) and Rout

Poor Card

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) - Retreat - 3CP

23 brigade (on hill) retreat 3”

Marmont joins 23 brigade for morale test

23 brigade fail morale (1) and remain Shaken

24 brigade fail morale (-1) for Rout and continue to Rout

Cavalry brigade fail morale (-1) for Rout and continue to Rout

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) - Retreat - 2 CP

Artillery limber and retreat 4”

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) - Halt - 3CP

Enemy out of artillery range

Waiting for new orders from Blucher

Table at the end of Move 10

Top – V and VI corps are in retreat towards Celle

Centre – IV corps is in retreat towards Brunswick

Bottom – Prussians are too far away to mount effective pursuit

Winner

A very decisive win for Blucher.

IV French corps has failed t o fight its way through to the Celle road , and has been driven back towards Brunswick in rout

V and VI French corps falling back towards Celle, with VI corps covering the retreat

Total campaign casualties

French have lost 53 infantry, 5 cavalry and 4 gunners

Prussians have lost 43 infantry, 12 cavalry and 5 gunner

Routed brigades at night fall

French have 3 cavalry and 5 infantry brigades in rout

Prussians have 1 infantry brigade in rout

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Peine Day Two – Move 9

1600-1700 5 August 1813

Table at the start of move 9

Top – V and VI corps move advance towards Peine

Centre – IV corps prepare to fight their way through to Celle road

Bottom – 1^st corps continue to fire on IV corps brigades routed from farm

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) - Engage - 2CP

Artillery advance 4” and unlimber

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) - Halt - 3CP

Artillery fire and hit (10) 14 French

14 French fail morale (-2) for third casualty and rout, continue to rout

Poor Card

IV French corps

General Reynier (Averag e) - Attack - 8CP

Artillery advance 4” and unlimber

15 French charge 11 Prussian

French combat factors 10

11 Prussian 3 casualties and rout

15 French 0 casualties and disordered

16 French charge 9 Prussian (in square)

Prussian combat factors 9

16 French lose 2 casualties and retire shaken

9 Prussian lose 1 and disordered

Prussian artillery pass morale (3) for being routed through

13 French fail morale (-1) for rout and are removed from table

14 French fail morale (-3) for rout and are removed from table

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) - Engage - 2CP

23 brigade advance 3” on to hill

Marmont joins 24 brigade for morale test

24 brigade fail morale (-2) for shaken and routs

17 brigade pass morale (3) for rout within 4”

23 brigade fail morale (2) for rout within 4” and are shaken

6 cavalry fail morale (-3) for rout within 4” and join rout

Marshal Davout (Gifted) - 7CP

Change V corps orders to Hold

Move to VI corps and change orders to Hold

4^th Prussian corps

Prince Blucher (Average) - commanding 4th corps - 4CP

13 brigade move to edge of farm

Artillery advance 8” towards Celle road

13 Prussian (4) skirmish 15 French (4) no casualties

14 brigade fail morale (-4) for rout and are removed from table

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) - Engage - 6CP

French cuirassiers fail test (3) to opportunity charge disordered 9 brigade square

9 brigade (square) retire 2”

11 brigade (rout) retreat 8” clear of friendly artillery

Artillery manhandle 2” towards Celle road

10 brigade turn right and form column of attack

Bulow moves to centre of corps

11 brigade fail morale (-3) for rout continue to rout

Game Notes

Although French charge Prussian square, the Prussians have more combat factors and therefore they roll dice for combat result.

Rule 13 covers infantry combat

After three failures to rally from rout, the brigade is removed from the table

Rule 17 covers reaction to rout

24 French brigade were in the centre of a group when they failed their morale and routed. Two other infantry brigades, and one cavalry brigade, were all within 4” of the rout. All three had to test morale. The cavalry, who already has two casualties, joined the rout. One infantry brigade was shaken, the other passed their morale.

VI corps have lost their cavalry and one of their two infantry brigades to rout. As a result Davout has changed both their orders and V corps to Hold. He has had to abandon his advance to support IV corps, but will continue to hold as long as possible to allow them to fight their way through to him.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Peine Day Two – Move 8

1500-1600 5 August 1813

Table at the start of move 8

Top – V and VI corps waiting for orders to advance

Centre – IV corps take farm and move towards Celle road

Bottom - 1^st and 4^th corps are badly placed to meet IV corps attack

IV French Corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – Attack – 7CP

14 brigade enter farm

16 brigade advance 6” towards Celle road

13 brigade advance 6” towards Celle road

Reynier moves to centre of corps

Cavalry advance 6” towards Celle road

15 brigade charge Prussian square

Infantry combat results in a draw, both lose one casualty, both are disordered

13 brigade fail morale test for shaken and rout

14 brigade (in farm) fail morale test for rout within 4” and also rout

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – Halt –4CP

Artillery fire on and hit (8) 13 French in farm

13 French fail morale (-2) for third casualty and continue rout

4^th Prussian Corps

Prince Blucher – Commanding 4^th corps – 4CP - Engage

Artillery fire on village (7) at close range and miss

Limber artillery

13 brigade move into farm and skirmish (6) 14 French, one casualty

14 French fail morale (0) for second casualty and continue to rout

14 Prussian fail morale (-2) for rout and continue to rout

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont (Average) – Hold – 2CP

24 brigade advance onto hill

Poor Card

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 5CP

Move to VI corps change orders to engage

Move to V corps change orders to engage

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – Engage – 5CP

French cuirassier fail test (3) to opportunity charge disordered Prussian square

Artillery fire (9) on 24 French and hit

24 French fail morale (1) for third casualty and are shaken

Artillery manhandle 2” towards Celle road

10 brigade advance 6” to support artillery

9 brigade (square) move 2” to make room for 11 brigade

11 brigade wheel to face French column alongside 9 brigade

11 Prussian (2) skirmish 15 French (4) both miss

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – Engage – 2CP

Artillery advance 8”

17 brigade advance 6”

Game Notes

Disappointing move for the IV French corps, who started in a very strong position. Two of their four infantry brigades are in rout and they have lost the farm. However they are still well placed to break through north of the farm towards the Celle road and join forces with Davout.

Davout has just received a report that Prussian cavalry are approaching Celle. He must decide whether to fall back on Celle to secure his line of retreat, or to advance to support IV corps and hope to defeat Blucher.

He orders V and VI corps to advance and engage the Prussians in support of IV corps. It is now all or nothing.

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Battle of Peine Day Two – Move 7

1400-1500 5 August 1813

Table at the start of move 7

Top – V corps is taking position beside VI corps

Centre – IV corps are ready to attack the farm

Bottom – 4^th corps are still taking up position

IV French Corps

General Reynier (Gifted) – Attack – 7CP

15 brigade advance 6”

16 brigade advance 6”

Artillery advance 8”

Reynier move to centre of corps

Cavalry advance 8”

14 brigade attack farm, total combat points 11

14 Prussian (garrison) lose 3 casualties and rout from farm

14 brigade lose 1 casualty and are disordered

13 brigade pass morale test (3) for shaken and become disordered

4^th Prussian Corps

Prince Blucher – Commanding 4^th corps – 5CP - Move

Artillery fire and hit (9) 13 French

13 French fail (1) morale test for third casualty and are shaken

Blucher changes orders to Engage

13 brigade move to farm

15 brigade move to farm

14 brigade fail morale test for rout

V French corps

General Laurison (Average) – Move – 2CP

Artillery advance 8”

17 brigade form column of attack

1^st Prussian corps

General Yorck (Gifted) – Halt –3CP

Artillery fire (5) and miss 13 French

Artillery bounce through (6) and miss 14 French

Poor Card

3^rd Prussian corps

General Bulow (Average) – Engage – 4CP

Artillery fire and hit (9) 24 French

24 French test (1) and fail morale for second casualty and are shaken

11 brigade turn right and advance to right of line

9 brigade move 2”

Marshal Davout (Gifted) – 5CP

Move to join chasseur brigade and take command

Chasseurs retire 7” towards corps commander

VI French corps

Marshal Marmont – Hold – 2CP

No orders issued

24 brigade test and pass (3) morale for shaken and become disordered

Game Notes

The French have been very lucky with their dice this turn, both morale and combat

14 French managed to attack the farm before the Prussians had become the garrison. The Prussians had reached the far edge of the farm, but require one full move to become the garrison. The combat took place at the edge of the farm, and with 11 combat points French routed the Prussians with three casualties.

Rule 9 deals with combat at the edge of BUA

When the Prussian garrison of the farm routed there were no supports within 4” who had to test for the rout. In second and third of rout the routers avoid friends, and supports only have to test morale during initial rout.

Rule 17 deals with reaction to rout.

Davout took command of the chasseur brigade because their own corps commander is unable to move them due to the small number of CP each turn (VI corps have four brigades missing and have to deduct 4CP each turn)

Rule 2 deals with CinC taking command of a brigade

Wargame rules can be found at

http://napoleonicwargamerules.blogspot.com/