Review of Fifth 1813 Campaign

Phases in Fifth 1813 Campaign

There have been five stages of the 1813 campaign since it started in April 2009.  

Stage 1 – solo campaign April 2009 to October 2009

Stage 2 – PBEM campaign October 2009 to July 2013

Stage 3 – PBEM campaign July 2013 to March 2015

Stage 4 – PBEM campaign March 2015 to February 2016

Stage 5 – Solo campaign February 2016 to May 2020

The basic campaign is designed to produce interesting wargames, and has not changed at all throughout this period.   It was designed from the tabletop up, and the whole mapping system reflects this.

The campaign rules were written to support this concept, as were the wargame rules.   Both have been revised throughout this period, but changed little.   The basic rules provide the type of wargames we like to play and have stood the test of time.   The campaign has produced 312 battles to wargame.

The campaign is a full time operation requiring updating most days.   There is always a battle being fought on the wargames table.   So it is not surprising that it is a constantly changing project.   But only in minor detail.

However every so often a major review is required.  Stage 2 when I decided to change from solo to PBEM campaign.   Stage 3 was when the campaign diary reached the end of 1813, and I experimented with 1814.   Stage 4 was return to 1813.   Stage 5 was to convert back to solo campaign.

Each review was to update a tired campaign to meet a new challenge.  With such a full on project it is not surprising that I ran out of steam after two to four years.  

The current stage has lasted four years.   During that period we have played 21 phases, each a stand-alone mini campaign.   We have also fought 98 wargames.   There have been relatively few rule changes, either to the campaign or the wargame rules.   However it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a fresh approach to each new phase.   So I feel that it is time for Stage 6.

Over the past four months I have been experimenting with ways to improve the campaign experience.  As it is a solo campaign I only have to please my wife and myself.  And as I do all of the administration of the campaign, I really only have to please myself.

The review is not yet complete, but I have to halt the current campaign to make time to test out the new concept.  

The 1813 campaign will continue, but it may be a while before I am ready to continue the diary blog.   If you would like to follow the progress of the review you should follow the link below:

 http://napoleonicwargaming.blogspot.com/

10 November 1813 – Summary of Campaign in Central Germany

Battles fought in Central Germany

Campaign History

At the end of 1812 both the French and Russian armies were broken and exhausted by the terrible Russian campaign.   Napoleon believed that the Russians would be prepared to agree to peace in order to rebuild their army.

At the start of February 1813 he did not consider them to be an immediate threat.   He was unaware of the secret allied treaty which agreed that the Prussia, Russia, Austria, England and Spain would all declare war on France.    He was also unaware that the Russians had crossed the river Oder on 20 January 1813.

On 8 February 1813 General Wittgenstein crossed the river Moldau and entered Dresden.   Having secured the city he ordered his army to march west and on 21 February they occupied Gera.

Napoleon ordered Davout to concentrate the Second French army at Kassel.   By the end of February they were fully operational.

5 March 1813 – Kassel campaign.   The Russians advanced and defeated the French at Kassel, Warburg, Freidland and Kassel again.   The French won two battles at Kassel.   Wittgenstein lost the campaign and retreated east.

19 March 1813 – First Gotha campaign.   The Russians won the first battle at Suhl, but were defeated at Gotha and again at Suhl.   The French won the campaign and Wittgenstein was again forced to retreat.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   After a month of non stop marching and fighting both armies were in a poor shape.   Both needed time to regroup, resupply and reinforce.  Napoleon offered a seven day truce and Wittgenstein eagerly accepted.  The terms of the truce was that the Russian Army would retreat to Gera and the French Army would hold Kassel.

12 April 1813 – Second Gotha Campaign.   Davout won the first battle at Meiningen, but was defeated at Barchfeld and again at Meiningen.   The French lost the campaign and retreated to Kassel

24 May 1813 – Eisenbach Campaign.   Davout lost the first battle at Kassel.   He defeated the Russians at Meiningen, but lost again at Friedland.   He won at Gotha and again at Dolstadt.   The final battle of Meiningen was a draw.   The battered Russian Army retreated to Erfurt and the French won the campaign.

                                         

16 July 1813 – Erfurt Campaign.   Davout won the first battle at Amstadt, forcing the Russians to retreat and abandon Erfurt.   He was surprised and defeated as he tried to cross the river Saale, but when the Russians tried the same tactic again they were defeated at Weissensee.   The final battle was fought at Rudolstadt.   The Russians still held the town at the end of the battle and claimed a victory.  However with two of their four corps in rout they had to retreat during the night leaving the French winners of the campaign.

26 August 1813 – Bayreuth Campaign.   The French opened the campaign by crossing the southern Saale bridge and taking Eschenbach.   They were defeated when they attacked Kulmbach, but won a major victory at Bayreuth.   They also won the final battle at Kulmbach and won the campaign.

Next Campaign – Halle   Both armies divided into two corps either side of the river Saale.  The French won at Eisleben, and again at Halle.   However the Russians won both battles at Gerbstedt.   The campaign was decided by the French victory at Radegast.   The French won the campaign

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.   The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

01 - introduction to the 1813 campaign

02 - the five campaign areas

20 - introduction to the campaign in Central Germany

23 - daily diary for the campaign in Central Germany

24 - battle reports of all battles fought in Central Germany

10 November 1813 – Central Germany – End of Halle Campaign

Tactical Map

The campaign opened with the French victory at Eisleben on the west bank of the river Saale.

The Russians retreated, and had to send a second corps west of the river.  This resulted in two separate campaigns, one either side of the river

The French victory at Halle, on the east bank of the river, forced the Russians to retreat to Gerbstedt.  

The first French attack on Gerbstedt was a draw, and resulted in a second battle the following day.   The Russians won the second battle.

Both armies were now low on supplies and had considerable battle casualties.

The battle of Radegast was close fought, but once more won by the French.   This again resulted in a Russian retreat, but this time off the campaign map.

The campaign ended in a French victory.  

Campaigns in Central Germany

The Halle campaign was the seventh phase in Central Germany between Second French and the Russian armies.   It lasted 9 days and there were five battles.  The French won three, the Russians two

                                                                

The French won the Halle campaign phase

The campaign started on 14 April and ended on 20 May 2020