6 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 6

Having lost the battle of Weyhausen, 3^rd French corps retreats west of the river

Napoleon is aware that this defeat will allow the Prussians to concentrate all four corps at Cremlingen, unless he can attack before they do so

He orders 1^st, 4^th and 13^th to concentrate at Brunswick

And intends to attack Cremlingen before all four Prussian corps concentrate.

Blucher continues to reorganise 2^nd and 4^th corps already at Cremlingen

3^rd corps are ordered to abandon Schonlingen and move to Cremlingen

1^st corps rally and regroup at Weyhausen

5 March 1813 – Battle of Weyhausen

Tactical map of battle area

After three days of battle both armies are in urgent need of rest and resupply

Napoleon has won all three battles, and wants to keep the pressure on Blucher

He orders 3^rd corps to attack across the river Elbe and take Wayhausen

 3^rd French – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

1^st Prussian – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Both corps have 10% artillery casualties.  

1^st Prussian corps have 50% in one infantry brigade, who is not used in the game

Table at start of battle

3rd French corps is top left

1^st Prussian corps centre

17 brigade is the garrison of Weyhausen

The river is fordable for infantry and cavalry

But must move at 50% distance and are disordered whilst crossing

All troops normal move rate on bridge, but must be in column of march

End of Move 4

French infantry have crossed above northern bridge

One brigade crossed using the bridge, to protect the remainder

They received 10% artillery casualties, but passed morale test

French artillery deployed to keep Prussians away from crossing

Prussians have redeployed to face north to meet threat

End of Move 8

Artillery have fired on enemy infantry for four moves

No casualties on either side

French can delay attack no longer

Infantry and cavalry move forward

End of Move 10

French infantry and cavalry advance towards town

Prussian cavalry charge French dragoons

Prussians lose melee and rout with 40% casualties

But French cavalry now have 30% casualties and are non operational

Right hand French brigade receive 20% artillery casualties

Pass their morale test and continue to advance

End of Move 12

French infantry attack

Right hand brigade routed by artillery fire with 30% casualties

Centre brigade shaken by rout

Left hand brigade break landwehr brigade, who rout into town

At nightfall the Prussians still hold town and have two formed brigades and artillery

French have one formed brigade and artillery, but can no longer attack

Prussians win battle.

Summary

Both sides started the game with casualties

This had a considerable effect, especially artillery and cavalry

French gunners particularly ineffective, no casualties all game

Cavalry did melee, but both were broken

French have lost 4 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1700 men)

Prussians have lost 3 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (1500 men)

5 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 5

Both armies rally, resupply and reorganise

Corps concentrate casualties in one brigade, less 10% per brigade

Battle casualty replacements start to arrive

However in the north, Napoleon orders 3^rd corps to cross the river Elbe

This results in the battle of Weyhausen, which the French lose

Both sides start with casualties, particularly cavalry and gunners

The Prussians hold against a determined French attack

At nightfall they still hold the town and the French retreat

4 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 4

3^rd French corps move to unguarded brigde over river Elbe

17 brigade move depot from Meinersen to Gifhorn

1^st Prussian corps rally and resupply, but do not react

1^st French corps occupy Brunswick

4^th French corps rally, regroup and resupply

2^nd and 4^th Prussian corps retreat towards Cremlingen

20 brigade move depot from Brunswick to Cremlingen

13^th Polish corps rally and resupply at Wolfenbuttel

3^rd Prussian corps move into supply range of Cremlingen

19 brigade move depot from Wolfenbuttel to Schonlingen

After three days of fighting both armies in urgent need of rest and resupply

Blucher orders his 1^st corps to hold Weyhausen

2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th corps to rally at Cremlingen

Napoleon moves his depots closer to the river Elbe

3^rd corps to cross the river in the far north

1^st corps to occupy Brunswick and 13^th corps Wolfenbuttel

4^th corps to rally and resupply

3 March 1813 – Battle of Brunswick

Tactical map of battle area

Napoleon has won the battles of Gifhorn and Wolfenbuttel

He now orders the main attack on Brunswick

French – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Prussian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle     

Brunswick is the large built up area on the centre right

2^nd Prussian corps is deployed in the centre square

Blucher and 4^th Prussian corps will arrive as shown at the start of move 1

4^th French corps will arrive as shown at the start of move 1

Napoleon and 1^st French corps will arrive as shown at the start of move 5

End of Move 4

4^th French corps are engaged with 1^st Prussian corps

The Prussian dragoons have charged the French cuirassiers 

The first round of melee is a draw, both brigades have lost 10% casualties

French are disordered, Prussians are shaken

1^st Prussian corps has reached the battle area

Their cavalry are within charge range of the French artillery

4^th French corps have halted to await the arrival of Napoleon and 1^st corps

End of Move 6

The arrival of the Old Guard (bottom left) save 4^th French corps

They have been unable to advance due to the prolonged cavalry melee (right)

They can hold their own against 2^nd Prussian corps

But would be in serious danger once 4^th Prussian corps entered the battle.

The cavalry melee has now fought three rounds.   Each side has lost 10% casualties in each round, but both manage to continue the melee.   However 40% casualties mean an automatic rout, so it must end during the next move.

End of Move 7

4^th Prussian corps cavalry (left) fall back out of artillery range

Cavalry melee (right) end with both sides losing 40% casualties

Both brigades automatically rout, causing nearby brigades to test morale

Nearest French and Prussian brigades both fail test and also rout

4^th French corps attack has stalled due to cavalry and infantry routs

Napoleon joins them to help rally shaken and routed brigades

4^th Prussian corps (left) have halted and exposed 2^nd corps flank

In doing so they are out of range of 1^st French corps

2^nd Prussian and 4^th French corps (right) are both disordered due to routs following cavalry melee.

End of Move 9

Guard cavalry charge Prussian dragoons (left)

After two rounds of melee the Prussians rout with 20% casualties

Old Guard advance in the centre

4^th brigade charge Prussian infantry supporting the artillery

The first round of melee is a draw, both sides lose 10% casualties

Both cavalry brigades on the right flank continue to rout

4^th French corps having problems reforming

Napoleon joins shaken brigade near artillery

They receive 10% more casualties, lose morale and rout

They take Napoleon with them!

Blucher joins shaken Prussian brigade, and with more success

He manages to rally them and brings them forward to the battle line

End of Move 11

French guard (left) continue to advance

4^th brigade melee and rout Prussian brigade

Cavalry charge and rout gunners, despite 20% casualties

Artillery rout second brigade with 20% casualties

But 4^th Prussian corps continue to hold their ground

4^th French corps (right) infantry lose one brigade to artillery fire

Remainder continue reach 2^nd Prussian corps and fight large melee

One brigade on each side is routed, other two are draw

With just one move to go to nightfall either side could wi

End of Move 12

French guard (left) press home their attack

4^th Prussian corps break contact and start to retreat

4 Old Guard brigade support 4^th French corps (right)

Together they break 2^nd Prussian corps who have four brigades in rout

Both 4^th French and 2^nd Prussian corps have suffered heavy casualties

With the Prussian army in retreat the French have won the battle

Summary

A brutal game in which both 2^nd Prussian and 4^th French suffered heavy casualties

The Imperial Guard arrived too late to make their full power felt

However their cavalry and artillery both did damage to the enemy

The French have lost 7 infantry and 6 cavalry casualties (3400 men)

The Prussians have lost 15 infantry, 8 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (7000 men)

3 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 3

In the north both 3^rd French and 1^st Prussian corps regroup and resupply

In the south 13^th Polish corps enter Wolfenbuttel, 3^rd Prussian corps retreat

In the centre 1^st and 4^th French corps attack Brunswick

The battle of Brunswick starts with 4^th French and 2^nd Prussian corps

4^th Prussian corps does not arrived until 1200 (move 4)

1^st French Old Guard does not arrive until 1600 (move 8)

Both 4^th French and 2^nd Prussian corps suffer heavy casualties

The French win and the Prussians retreat

French lost 3400 casualties

Prussians lost 7000 casualties

2 March 1813 – Battle of Wolfenbuttel

Tactical map of battle area

Having won the battle of Gifhorn Napoleon keeps up the pressure

He orders 13 Polish corps to attack Wolfenbuttel in the south

3 Prussian corps have orders to hold the town

French – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Prussian – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Wolfenbuttel is the walled town on the right of the table

3^rd Prussian corps are deployed in the centre

13^th Polish corps will arrive far left at the start of move 1

End of Move 4

13^th Polish corps have halted just out of artillery range of the enemy

Their gunners have advanced and unlimbered within range of their cavalry

The Polish lancers have moved along the ridge on the right

Prussian gunners have opened fire on the Polish artillery

This is the only target available to them

They failed to inflict any casualties

End of Move 8

Polish artillery hit hussars, who lose 10% casualties but pass morale test

Lancers move forward off hill, and are charged by hussars

The melee is a draw, both lose 10% casualties and melee continues

Gunners realign to fire on enemy infantry

Infantry move forward

End of Move 10

Cavalry fight three rounds of melee

Lancers win but lose 30%, hussars rout with 40%

Leading Polish infantry receive artillery fire and are shaken with 10% casualties

Remaining infantry have to redeploy to allow them to retreat

Polish artillery rout infantry brigade with 10% casualties

Artillery and landwehr brigade both pass morale test

Prussian infantry brigade charge approaching infantry

Melee is a draw with 10% casualties on each side

End of Move 12

At nightfall both corps have fought themselves to exhaustion

Both cavalry brigades are in rout with 40% casualties each

Both gunners are in rout and have abandoned their guns

One infantry brigade on each side is in rout

Two brigades continue to melee (left)

Both have lost 30% casualties, but both continue melee

Prussian grenadier brigade continue to hold woods

Summary

Both sides have lost considerable casualties

The Prussians have one elite infantry brigade still formed

The French have two average infantry brigades still formed

At nightfall the French have more effective brigades than the Prussians

They have won the battle

The French have lost 5 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (2400 men)

The Prussians have lost 5 infantry, 4 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (2600 men)

2 March 1813 – North Germany - Day 2

In the north 3^rd French corps enter Gifhorn

1^st Prussian corps retreat towards Weyhausen

In the centre Napoleon awaits the outcome of the battle of Wolfenbuttel

Blucher is undecided whether to support 1^st corps or attack

He does neither and waits to see what develops

In the south 13^th Polish corps attack 3^rd Prussian corps at Wolfenbuttel

The battle is hard fought on both sides, and both suffer heavy casualties

At nightfall the Prussians have one brigade left, the French two

Blucher orders them to retreat

1813 Campaign in Spain

National map showing campaign areas

There are two campaign areas in Spain

North – 4^th French Army v Anglo/Portuguese Army

South – 5^th French Army v Spanish Army

Regional map showing initial concentration areas

There are six regions in Spain.

Each region has nine districts

Each district has nine towns (not shown on map)

Each town is a wargames table

Background

The political and military situation was much more complicated in the Iberian Peninsula than in Germany.   Napoleon had established military regions throughout Spain, but they were not recognised by either the Spanish or the British.

1812 has been a good year for the French.   Throughout the year they defeated one Spanish field army after another.  By the end of the year only one Spanish army remained and it was in Andalusia in the far south.

The British had established firm control over Portugal before marching into Spain at the start of 1812.   They took the two critical border fortresses of Cuidad Rodrigo and Badajoz, and they defeated the French at Salamanca.   Wellington then marched them east towards France.   The first obstacle was Burgos, where it all went badly wrong.   Despite a long siege Wellington failed to take Burgos.   The French armies in Spain concentrated and forced him to retreat back into Portugal.

In January 1813 the French held all of Spain, except for the southern region of Andalusia.   There were French armies, one at Burgos and the second at Madrid. Napoleon’s brother Joseph was the nominal King of Spain and commander of all French troops in the Iberian Peninsula.   But he exercised no real control.  Marshal Soult at Burgos and Marshal Suchet at Madrid ignored his orders.   Napoleon was too far away to exercise real control, and was much too busy building his new Army of Germany.   The Spanish, both military and civilian, held Joseph in contempt.

During the January meeting of allied commanders it was agreed that the two allied armies in Spain would also commence offensive operations on 1 February.   But, as in Germany, neither were capable of doing so.

In January 1813 Joseph, Soult and Suchet all received urgent orders from Napoleon in Paris.   The two armies of Spain would send 50% of their best officers and men back to France to form the basis of the new French Army of Germany.   No excuses would be accepted for any delay.   In return they would receive a similar number of conscripts.

By February most of the replacements had arrived in Spain.  But it would take weeks to train and incorporate them into the corps and divisions of 4^th and 5^th French armies.   At the end of February they were still concentrated around Burgos and Madrid.

Meanwhile Wellington had reorganised, resupplied and reinforced his army. 

10 February he ordered them to move to the border fortress of Cuidad Rodrigo.  

14 February he laid siege to the town and the garrison surrendered ten days later.

He then marched into Spain, and arrived at Salamanca on 28 February

General Giron was also encouraged by the French lack of activity

8 February he concentrated his army at Seville

12 February marched north to Cordova

25 February marched north to Toledo

On 9 March 1813 Marshal Suchet marched south into the Toledo region to start the campaign.