A new year has begun and with it our first Volley & Bayonet game of the year, fought on Friday evening. Set in early 1813 this multiplayer fictional scenario involved three French players and two Russian players.
Napoleon sat at his field table his right leg resting on a small box. He had gathered together three of his corps commanders for the conference in late morning. Lauriston pressed for bold movement which he argued would bring victory. He favoured splitting the army and pressing the enemy left by a flanking movement. Marmont also pressed for such action, but perhaps not as enthusiastically. Victor, it seemed, was less inclined for such a movement. Concerned by the large number of recruits bolstering the French corps he advised caution. Rather than divide the army Victor proposed concentration. Napoleon of course favoured bold action. He was determined to achieve victory. In due those elements near the field of battle deployed. Orders were dispatched to hasten those reinforcements due late in the day. They would however move against the Russian left.
The battlefield was flat with little rising ground of substance. Several small towns broke the fields that were green with spring crops. While the battlefield was open it was bordered somewhat by two meandering streams. One was on the French right the other on the French left, this later heading in a direction that somewhat restricted the deployment of the Russians.
The French were deployed as follows. Marmont's VI Corps deployed in the centre and comprised three infantry divisions. Specifically, Compan's, Lagrange and Freiderich's. Laurinston's V Corps extended to the right and comprised Maison's and Bachhelet's infantry divisions and d'Hurbal's light cavalry division. Victor formed on the left where he deployed to the left of the town of Gross Gruna, the town marking the left of the French centre. Victor's II Corps was the smallest of the three corps, with just two infantry divisions. These were Vial's and Dubreton's supported by a single cavalry brigade. Four remaining divisions would eventually be available but these were strung out on roads well to the rear. Several hours would pass before they would finally be arrive on the field.
The Russians deployed opposite before advancing around 3pm. Napoleon, not sure if the Russians were fully concentrated or not, ordered a limited attack in the centre. Three French infantry brigades were launched at the town of Tolknitz. Alas, the French were thrown back with heavy casualties. Yet, this setback seemed to slow the Russian advance with Russian advance in the centre slowing.
Below, a view from the French left towards the French centre and right. The town of Gross Gruna is in the centre and marked the left of the French centre. The town of Tolknitz is just discernible in the distance.
Below, the French centre and a portion of the right. Here Roussel d’Hurbal’s 2nd Light Cavalry Division deliver one of what would be several charges, this time against an advanced Russian infantry brigade. The town of Gross Gruna is on the left that of Tolknitz on the right.
It was soon apparent the Russian main effort was against the French left where Victor’s II Corps was soon under intense pressure. Below, the Russian right advances with two cavalry brigades extending to the right of the Russian infantry.
Unlike the centre the Russian attacks quickly gained momentum and soon put both Vial and Dubreton under significant pressure. Vial's 6th Division contained just two brigades both of which comprised a significant number of new recruits. The weight of the attack was such a narrower defensive position was required. To achieve this Vial's brigades needed to fall back behind the more experienced brigades of Dubreton's 4th Division. A difficult task especially under such determined attacks. However, he was successful and with a narrower frontage Victor's brigades would hold.
Above, the three brigades of Dubreton's 4th Division in the foreground. The town of Gross Gruna is on the right and remained in French control throughout the battle. Below, a limited French cavalry attack on the advancing Russian right flank, in part to relieve pressure on the French left. Soon after Victor's converged cavalry would also attack with more success.
With the pressure on the French relentless Napoleon was clearly losing the imitative. However, a couple of hours before dusk the four divisions from the French reserve finally arrived on the Russian left and fell upon the unprotected Russian line of communication.
Above, the four French divisions of the reserve deploy. They comprised Curial's Guard Division, Bordesoulle's 1st Cuirassier Division, Doumerc's 3rd Dragoon Division and the 1st Light Cavalry Division.
Faced with this unexpected situation Russian reserves from the left and centre began to move to the rear. Soon Russian and French Guard would be locked in attack and counterattack as would be several cavalry brigades. Despite this neither could gain complete advantage. Yet by nightfall, and with casualties evenly spread but with their line of communication cut, the Russians had little option but to retire. Napoleon had gained a victory, though it was far from complete.
As mentioned previously the scenario was, as is normally the case with such games, developed using the Road to Glory Scenario System. The Russians selecting "Full Deployment, Card #25" while the French "Turning Manoeuvre - Right, Card #22". With the Russians having a higher victory rank, and their line of communication cut, the result was a narrow victory for the French. The armies comprised 4,000 points of troops. As to the miniatures, they are all from the Heroics & Ros Napoleonic ranges with the Russians from my opponent's collection while the French were from my own.
Comments
Post a Comment