The Franco-Prussian War provides plenty of challenges for wargamers used to fighting the earlier wars in the black powder era. With the widespread use of breech loading rifles and improved artillery warfare had been transformed. For our group Friday evening provided another opportunity for seven players to test their skills with these weapons in a fictional encounter. Four players declared for the Prussia and three for the French.
The battlefield was centred around the Muinon stream, which meandered generally from north to south. It was bordered by rising ground on each side. In the north and south the banks of the stream were soft unlike that the central section, which delineated by two bridges at firm banks. Three small towns were near these bridges and were some 200 to 1000 yards from the stream. The towns of Bosberis and Vergonty were in the north and that Tramsborn in the south.
As the warm August sun reached its peak around noon Marshal Bazaine had on hand two corps. These comprised five divisions drawn from Frossard’s II Corps and De Ladmiault’s IV Corps. In all some 38,000 bayonets, 84 rifled guns and 30 Mitrailleuse. In the distance the Prussians and Bavarians had during the morning been pouring on to the battlefield. Based on reports Bazaine estimated three corps, one of which was Bavarian.
Soon after midday the Prussian commander executed an advance by his right with one division advancing rapidly on the town Bosberis. Within an hour this advance would be reinforced for a total of three divisions. One division would cross the Muinon stream, and most alarmingly, a further division advanced from the north, directly on the French left. All were converging on the French deployed near Bosberis.
Marshal Bazaine, having determined previously an attack against his left was likely, had ordered De Laveaucoupet’s Division to extend further left. This division’s original position was to be held by the divisions of Verge and Bataille. As these divisions moved north Genl Grenier’s Division, part of De Ladmiault’s IV Corps, would occupy the centre with Genl Cissey’s Division to the right.
As described earlier the Prussian attack on the left would fall on the area around the town Bosberis. Initially the town was held by a battalion of Chasseurs but as the afternoon progressed other French troops would be moved into the town. Bosberis was without doubt critical to the French position and around 2pm Bazaine made a personal visit to supervise the dispositions.
As the warm August sun reached its peak around noon Marshal Bazaine had on hand two corps. These comprised five divisions drawn from Frossard’s II Corps and De Ladmiault’s IV Corps. In all some 38,000 bayonets, 84 rifled guns and 30 Mitrailleuse. In the distance the Prussians and Bavarians had during the morning been pouring on to the battlefield. Based on reports Bazaine estimated three corps, one of which was Bavarian.
Soon after midday the Prussian commander executed an advance by his right with one division advancing rapidly on the town Bosberis. Within an hour this advance would be reinforced for a total of three divisions. One division would cross the Muinon stream, and most alarmingly, a further division advanced from the north, directly on the French left. All were converging on the French deployed near Bosberis.
Marshal Bazaine, having determined previously an attack against his left was likely, had ordered De Laveaucoupet’s Division to extend further left. This division’s original position was to be held by the divisions of Verge and Bataille. As these divisions moved north Genl Grenier’s Division, part of De Ladmiault’s IV Corps, would occupy the centre with Genl Cissey’s Division to the right.
As described earlier the Prussian attack on the left would fall on the area around the town Bosberis. Initially the town was held by a battalion of Chasseurs but as the afternoon progressed other French troops would be moved into the town. Bosberis was without doubt critical to the French position and around 2pm Bazaine made a personal visit to supervise the dispositions.
Around 2.30pm a determined Prussian attack was launched on the town by no less than three Prussian regiments. Bazaine calmly directed the defenders and with a degree of his stoic resolve, and French determination, the Prussian attack was driven back.
Below, the battle around the town of Bosberis.
Now the French moved to the attack with the regiments from three divisions advancing on the Prussians. The Prussian advance was clearly stalled.
The Prussians were determined to regain the initiative. With some French regiments in the centre in reverse slope positions around 3pm the Prussian centre was committed to the attack. The Prussian regiments, in their dark blue uniforms filled the valley as they advanced across Muinon stream. Even the Bavarians, on the Prussian left pressed forward, moving towards the centre. The moment of decision had been reached.
Below, the troops of the Prussian centre move forward, cresting the ridge line. Opposite unlimbered French guns and prone infantry engage. The white markers denote unlimbered artillery and infantry regiments that are prone.
On the French left and centre the French regiments tended to advance the go to ground, stark contrast to the Prussians who preferred to advance rapidly closing on the French.
The Prussian commanders deployed their superior artillery further back where the Krupp guns belched fire on the French wherever possible. However, this often left the advancing infantry without close range artillery support. In contrast the French artillery, outclassed by the Prussian artillery moved forward, often with Mitrailleuse batteries, into close range to directly support their infantry.
Above and below Prussian artillery deployed some distance from the French where their accurate fire could decimate the French.
The fighting was now confused. Several French regiments were forced back but accurate French fire and the determination of retiring troops to reform, and advance again, was finally causing the Prussian attacks to stall.
Indeed, by 5pm and with casualties mounting, the Prussian divisions were increasingly spent. Those Prussians on the extreme right were finally going to ground and those, who just hours before advanced with such elan, were falling back, some in uncontrolled rout.
Below, the French drive the last Prussians back across the stream.
It was of course another cracking game. The scenario was developed with the Road to Glory scenario system. All miniatures are 6mm and from Heroics & Ros. The Prussians are from Robin’s collection and the French from my own.
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