An Afternoon Along the Kratzenburg - 1813

Last night provided another opportunity for a 6mm multiplayer game, this time involving five players. As with last week’s engagement it was set in 1813. However, this time opposing the French was an Allied army of Russians, Prussians and Swedes.

Following the Armistice of 1813 the campaign was renewed with vigour. Ney had concentrated two reinforced corps, some 39,000 bayonets, 4,500 cavalry and 92 cannon. With orders from the Emperor he moved north to engage a hastily assembled allied army. Realising that the three allied corps in the area were not fully concentrated Ney determined to strike before the Allies were fully assembled along the Kratzenburg stream which would provide a strong defensive position.

Initially however the Kratzenburg was held by the Swedish Corps drawn up on what would become the Allied left. Below, the French right early in the battle with the Swedes formed up along the Kratzenburg.

As the French approached the stream a Prussian corps began to deploy becoming the Allied centre and right. Yet despite the arrival of the allied reinforcements Ney pressed forward. He desperately hoped to be across the stream before the Prussians could fully deploy.

On the French right the Swedish were pinned by Lauriston’s Corps while Marmont forced the Kratzenburg and attacked the Allied centre. These attacks were initially conducted by Compan’s Division and supported by an artillery concentration of 36 cannon. Further support was provided by the cavalry of d’Hurbal’s Division. 

Above, the French attack is underway.

The Allied centre was progressively driven back. Yet several Prussian counterattacks were assembled against the exposed French bridgehead, though with limited success.

A series of determined counterattacks also pressed the French left. Here Friederich’s Provisional Infantry Division was soon under significant pressure as Allied infantry and cavalry numbers grew at an alarming rate. At one point one French Provisional brigade was routed back across the Kratzenburg. Yet the Prussian attack was itself the focus of French retribution with the arrival of Curial’s Middle Guard Division. Advancing with great elan the 4,000 men of the division shattered the Prussian Landwehr in less than an hour and in doing so demoralised the Prussians in this sector.

Ney was by now reinforcing his bridgehead with additional infantry & heavy cavalry crossing. In particular Lagrange’s 21st Infantry Division and Walthier’s 2nd Cuirassier Division. However, as the Russians deployed the momentum of the attacks slowed and by late afternoon the fighting finally ceased. 

Below, Walthier’s Cuirassiers begin to cross the Kratzenburg.

The butcher’s bill was not insignificant with both armies suffering around 3,500 casualties in the afternoon’s fighting. For the allies the majority of casualties had fallen on the Prussians. 

The miniatures are all from Heroics & Ros 6mm ranges, with the French from my collection and the Russians, Prussians & Swedes from Jon’s. Unlike the veteran Russians the engagement was the first outing for Jon’s Prussians & Swedes. Fortunately for the Swedes their army was relatively unscathed.