Zollingen - October 1813

The last couple of weeks have seen something of a focus 1813. So without further rambling here is a summary our most game, a fictional 1813 engagement, played on Friday evening.

Napoleon, having concentrated a significant portion of his army, was poised to strike the Russo-Prussians to his front. The battlefield comprised a number of small towns the largest of which was Zollingen. Near to a meandering stream this large town was to mark Napoleon's right flank. The forces immediately available to the Emperor comprised Marmont's VI Corps, Lauriston’s V Corps and Victor’s II Corps. In support were three cavalry divisions and Curial’s 2nd Old Guard Division from the army reserve. In all some 50,000 bayonets, 10,000 cavalry and 84 cannon. 

Opposite Blucher had deployed Prussian II Corps and two divisions Bulow’s III Corps, about half the forces he would eventually concentrate on the field. Those forces immediately comprised some 24,500 bayonets, 6,000 cavalry and 50 cannon. Reinforcements, in the form of the remainder of Bulow’s Corps and Gorchkov’s I Russian Corps, were strung out in road column, though their arrival, at least of the Russians, was imminent. These reinforcements when fully deployed would bolster the army by a further 20,000 bayonets, 2,000 heavy cavalry, 2,000 Cossacks and 52 cannon.

Around 3pm Napoleon unleashed his hammer blow on the Allied right. This unexpected flanking movement fell on the open Allied flank catching Blucher completely by surprise. The weight of the French attack fell on the regiments of von Thumen’s 4th Infantry Division and von Oppen’s Cavalry Division. First to be engaged were the Landwehr cavalry of von Oppen’s cavalry. French Cuirassiers smashed into the Prussian Landwehr who routing, disordered the nearby Hussars and Dragoons who in turn were hit by the pursuing Cuirassiers, routing these as well!

The infantry of von Thumen’s Division fought with a little more determination. One brigade reformed and attempted to delay the attackers while two other brigades fell back. One brigade attempted to reform in the small town of Gebenhofen, but these were soon evicted by a brigade from Curial’s Guard Division. 

Unprepared for this attack Bulow’s two divisions were effectively shattered in under two hours of fighting with riderless horses and the once proud Prussian patriots of the right fleeing in panic.

Above, the situation on the left after von Thumen’s Landwehr regiment has fallen back. The Allied cavalry have already been routed. 

Above and below, the Landwehr have reformed and have been charged again by an Old Guard Chasseur brigade and Montmarie's light cavalry brigade. Below, a Prussian regiment attempts to take refuge in the town of Gebenhofen, visible in the foreground. My town sectors do not have removable buildings so when a brigade enters a town sector it is replaced by one or more smaller bases though counts as a brigade base.

The arrival around 4.30pm of Gorchakov’s I Russian Corps provided some hope for the allies. Indeed, over the next two hours the Russians stabilised the Allied right flank, eventually driving back several over extended French units. In particular French Dragoons were forced back by Russian Cuirassiers while French infantry, having advanced through a wooded area, were driven back by the stoic Russian infantry from Helfreich’s 14th Russian Infantry Division. 

Below, the Russians arrive. The town of Gebenhofen is visible in the top right and is now in French hands.

Meanwhile fighting had been extending to the centre. Here also the French pressed the Allied centre, though with less elan. The Prussians, from von Kleist’s Corps were well aware of the chaos to their right, realigned into defensive positions. Nearby woods slowed the French advance and allowed Blucher time to deploy some 36 cannon. These guns now belched round shot at the French opposite, discouraging them from further advance. As the Allied line steadied limited Prussian counterattacks in the centre were launched further frustrating French advances. 

The Allied left was for much of the afternoon held by von Roder’s Cavalry Division. Comprised mostly of recently raised Landwehr units the cavalry had limited fighting cohesion, yet it provided a critical screen. At one point one Landwehr regiment delivered a charge against French infantry forcing the French back in disorder. 

Above, von Roder's cavalry move to the left flank early in the battle. Below, a landwehr cavalry regiment can be discerned charging French infantry in the distance. The town of Zollingen is visible in the top left.

Soon the Allied left would be further extended by several regiments of Russian Cossacks who began to probe the extreme French right. It should be added the Cossacks gained little for their demonstrations.

Above and below, the Cossacks advance around the French right.

Around 5.30pm the remaining divisions of Bulow’s Corps arrived on the field and critically bolster the Prussian left. 

Above, a view of the centre and Allied left, viewed from behind the Allied rear. The last two divisions of Bulow’s Corps are advancing behind a screen provided by von Roder's cavalry. 

Below, a view from the Allied left and French right. The large town of Zollingen is prominent on the left foreground.

With Bulow's arrival Napoleon, unwilling to press the Russians on the right, ordered his attacks to cease. He was more than pleased with the afternoon’s gains. 

The scenario was developed with the Road to Glory Scenario System with each army comprising some 4,000 points. The Allies had selected “Build-up Echelon Right, Card 10”, while the French selecting “Flank Attack, Card 27”. The French flank attack was superbly delivered and caught the Allies completely unprepared. While the Allied reinforcements, particularly the Russians, contained the attack and prevented further disaster. However the battle was, without doubt, a victory for Napoleon.

The miniatures are all from Heroics & Ros 6mm ranges based at half scale and are from my own collection. Terrain is a mix of commercial and homemade.