2 September 1813 – Central Germany – Nordhausen Campaign

  

                                                                   Map of Europe

There are five campaign areas in Europe

North Germany – French v Prussians
Central Germany – French v Russians
Southern Germany – French v Austrians
North Spain – French v British
South Spain – French v Spanish

This is the 23rd phase of the sixth campaign
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Nordhausen is the white star

Map of Germany

There are three campaign areas in Germany

North Germany – First French and Prussian Armies
Central Germany – Second French and Russian Armies
South Germany – Third French and Austrian Armies

This is the 14th campaign phase to be fought in Germany
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Nordhausen is the white star

Map of Central Germany

There are three regions in Central Germany

Dusseldorf Region – French rear area
Erfurt Region – campaign area
Dresden Region – Prussian rear area

This is the fifth campaign phase to be fought in North Germany
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Nordhausen is the white star

Map of Erfurt Region

There are nine districts in Erfurt Region
There have been 23 battles fought in this region
The French have won 15 and the Russians 8
Each star shows the location of a battle fought

Campaign Map

The Nordhausen campaign is fought between the cities of Halle and Nordhausen
The French Army of Central Germany is deployed to the left of the district border
The Russian Army is deployed to the right of the district border
The Russian objective is to take and hold the city of Nordhausen
Each block represents one corps

Typical French corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades,1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

The French Army of Central Germany - Marshal Davout

Fourth French Army
10th Young Guard corps
11th French corps
12th French corps

Fifth French Army
13th French corps
14th French corps
15th Italian corps]

6th French Army
16th French corps
17th Polish corps
18th Vistula corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Typical Russian corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Russian Army - General Wittgenstein

First Russian Army
1st Russian corps
2nd Russian corps
3rd Russian corps

Second Russian Army
4th Russian corps
5th Russian corps
6th Russian corps

Third Russian Army
7th Russian corps
8th Russian corps
9th Russian corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Campaign Diary
01 Feb 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France
01 Feb 1813 Formation of Second French army in Dusseldorf region
26 Feb 1813 Second French army declared operational.
27 Feb 1813 The Russians moved into the Erfurt region
28 Feb 1813 Davout entered Erfurt region and occupied Fulda district
14 Mar 1813 Start of Erfurt campaign phase
21 Mar 1813 French win Erfurt campaign phase
01 May 1813 Start of Gera campaign phase
09 May 1813 French win Gera campaign phase
16 Jun 1813 Start of Bayreuth campaign phase
24 Jun 1813 Russians win Bayreuth campaign phase
26 Jul 1813 Start Halle campaign phase
01 Aug 1813 Russians win Halle campaign phase
02 Sep 1813 Start Nordhausen campaign phase

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 the1813 campaign
02 - Five campaign areas
20 - Introduction to the campaign in Central Germany
21 - Second French Army order of battle
22 - Russian Army order of battle
23 - Daily diary for the campaign in Central Germany
24 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Central Germany
25 - Summary of campaign in Central Germany

Summary of Northern Spain Campaign – 1 September 1813

                                                     Regional map of Northern Spain

There are three regions in Southern Spain
But unlike Germany, the French do not have a secure rear area
All of Spain is in revolt against the French, who only control the area they occupy

Fourth French army are in Burgos
Their main depot is in Bayonne

The Anglo/Portuguese army is in Valladolid
Their main depot is in Oporto

French Strategy in Spain
King Joseph is the commander in chief of all French troops in Spain.
However he commands no respect from either his army commanders
Both Soult and Suchet are determined to remain independent commanders
Suchet wants to invade southern Spain and become King of Andalusia
Soult wants to defeat Wellington and become King of Portugal
All three agree that Soult will drive Wellington out of Spain
Suchet will invade Andalusia and take Seville
He will then detach two of his four corps to support Soult
Soult will invade Portugal and drive Wellington out of the Peninsula

Anglo-Spanish Strategy in Spain
Wellington is the commander in chief of all allied troops in the Peninsula
However all Spanish generals deeply resent this appointment
Giron is determined to take Madrid and become the hero of Spain
Wellington is well aware that he cannot rely on his Spanish generals
To defeat the French he must first take Madrid
To do so the Spanish army must hold southern Spain to pin Suchet
Most importantly the Spanish must avoid a comprehensive defeat
This would allow both French armies to concentrate against Wellington

Diary of Northern Spain Campaign

1 February 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia, Russia and Spain declared war on France
20 February 1813 Anglo/Portuguese army operational in Oporto Region
27 February 1813 Fourth French army operational in Burgos Region
22 March 1813 Start of Valladolid campaign phase
29 March 1813 British win Valladolid campaign phase
10 May 1813 Start of Llanes campaign phase
19 May 1813 British win Llanes campaign phase
25 June 1813 Start of Talavera campaign phase
2 July 1813 French win Talavera campaign phase
19 July 1813 Start of Santander campaign phase
25 July 1813 British win Santander campaign phase
26 August 1813 Start of Burgos campaign phase
1 September 1813 French win Burgos campaign phase

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 the1813 campaign
02 - Five campaign areas
40 - Introduction to the campaign in Northern Spain
41 – French Army order of battle
42 – Anglo/Portuguese Army order of battle
43 - Daily diary for the campaign in Northern Spain
44 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Northern Spain
45 - Summary of campaign in Northern Spain

1 September 1813 – Northern Spain – End of Burgos Campaign

Battles fought during campaign phase

Soult won three of the six battles fought
Wellington won the other three

To win the campaign Wellington had to take the city of Burgos
He lost two of the first three battles and had to retreat towards Valladolid
He won two of the next three, and halted the French advance
However he failed to take Burgos and lost the campaign.

The campaign started on 7 August and ended on 28 September 2025

We play tested new rules for artillery counter battery fire during this campaign. Previously artillery required a roll of 6 on 1D6, and often spent most of the game in counter battery fire. A lucky dice could make it impossible for the other side to press home their attack. Historically counter battery fire was pretty ineffective, but dominated most of our games. We changed the rules so that artillery could only fire on enemy guns at short range, which is 4”. This resulted in the complete absence of counter battery fire during this campaign. This much improved the game, and we are keeping the new rule.

Madrid Region

At the end of the campaign the French still held Burgos
The British had to retreat towards Valladolid
The French won the campaign

Wellington ordered his army to hold Valladolid
Soult ordered his army to concentrate on Burgos

 

 

01 September 1813 – North Spain – Day 7

French lose campaign and retreat into Burgos district
10 French army – retreat to Picuerga
11 French army – retreat to Santa Maria
12 French army – retreat to Cuellar

British win campaign and hold Valladolid-Burgos district border
1 British army – occupy Quintana
2 British army – occupy Laguna
3 British army – occupy Coca

31 August 1813 – Battle of Laguna

Tactical map of battle area

2nd British army retreated to Laguna having lost the battle of Santa Maria
11th French pursue and attack them at Laguna

French army is commanded by Marshal Oudinot
British army is commanded by General Hill

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

French have 9 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (3800 men)
British have 6 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2500 men)

Table at start of battle

The game objectives are the three squares at the top of the photo
Hill on the left
Woods in the centre
Bridge on the right
The side who controls two of the three at the end of move 12 will be the winner

Both armies are deployed on the table at the start of the game

British army in and around the Laguna
CinC centre right has taken command of 4 and 5 corps cavalry
4 corps on the right either side of the river
5 corps in the centre in front of Laguna
6 corps on the left in front of the hill

French army nearest camera
CinC centre right has taken command of 31 and 32 corps cavalry
31 corps on the right either side of the river
32 corps in the centre in front of the hill
33 corps on the left in front of woods

End of move 2

French advance towards town
CinC deploy cavalry reserve centre right
31 corps halt and unlimber out of artillery range
32 corps halt and unlimber our of artillery range
33 corps cavalry lose melee and rout with 10% casualties

British cavalry charge French cavalry on the left
CinC deploy cavalry within charge range of French cavalry
4 corps wait for French to advance
5 corps artillery advance and fire on woods, no casualties
6 corps dragoons charge and rout French lancers

End of move 4

French lose battle
CinC cavalry lose melee and both brigades rout
31 corps artillery hit infantry brigade who retreat
32 corps artillery rout infantry brigade
33 corps routed lancer brigade fail to pass morale test

British win battle
CinC win cavalry melee and both brigades rally
4 corps one infantry brigade retreat with 20% casualties
5 corps one infantry brigade rout
6 corps cavalry force gunners to abandon guns

Summary
Oudinot was ordered to attack, even though his army had more casualties than the British. To do so he had to inflict cavalry or artillery casualties on the enemy, so that his brittle infantry could advance. However by the end of move 4 he had lost two cavalry melee, and all three brigades were in rout. The Westphalian gunners were forced to abandon their guns and seek shelter in a nearby square. So serious were his casualties that Hill, who only had to hold the three objectives to win, ordered his army to advance and attack.

The French have lost 10 infantry and 7 cavalry casualties (4700 men)
The British have lost 9 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (3800 men)
The French have three brigades in rout, the British have one

The British hold all three objectives and win the battle

31 August 1813 – North Spain – Day 6

French attack Laguna
10 French army – regroup at Quintana
11 French army – attack Laguna
12 French army – retreat to Cuellar

British win battle of Laguna
1 British army – regroup at Palencia
2 British army – defend Laguna 3 British army – occupy Coca
3 British army – occupy Coca

30 August 1813 – Battle of Coca

Tactical map of battle area

Wellington’s invasion of Burgos District has suffered a major set back
He has lost three of the four battles fought so far
His army have been forced to abandon the invasion and retreat into Valladolid District

The French defeated Picton at the battle of Cuellar two days ago
They now attack him at Coca as he regroups and resupplies his army

12th French army is commanded by Marshal Marmont
3rd British army is commanded by General Picton

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
British – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

French start the battle with 8 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3500 men)
British start the battle with 9 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (3900 men)

Table at start of battle

The game objective are the three centre squares
Hill on the left
Town in the centre
Hill on the right
The side who controls two of the three at the end of move 12 will be the winner

British army is deployed on the table at the start of the game
CinC centre left between town and hill on the left
7 corps on and around hill on the right
8 corps in and around town in the centre
9 corps on and around hill on the left

French army is off table at the bottom
They will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French advance towards the centre
CinC has taken command of 35 and 36 corps cavalry
34 corps advance towards hill on the right
35 corps advance towards town in the centre
36 corps advance towards hill on the left

British react to the arrival of the French army
CinC advance cavalry reserve centre left
7 corps wait to see what the French will do
8 corps wait to see what French will do
9 corps advance infantry brigade on the left of the hill

End of move 4

French unlimber artillery
CinC observe with cavalry reserve centre left
34 corps advance to attack between town and hill on the right
35 corps artillery unlimber within range of town
36 corps artillery open fire on hill on the left

British cavalry reserve advance
CinC advance cavalry reserve to engage French cavalry
7 corps move artillery to centre of hill
8 corps move artillery to engage any attack on right half of town
9 corps observe French advance

End of move 6

French attack hill on the right
CinC lose cavalry melee, both brigades rout
34 corps attack hill on the right
35 corps artillery hit garrison of right half of town
36 corps artillery fire on hill on the left, no casualties

British win cavalry melee
CinC win cavalry melee, one brigade in rout the other shaken
7 corps redeploy artillery to centre of hill
8 corps garrison of right half of town pass morale test with 20% casualties
9 corps observe French advance

End of move 8

French lose battle for hill on the right
CinC rallies one cavalry brigade
34 corps attack on hill fails, three brigades in rout
35 corps advance to attack town
36 corps advance to attack hill on the left

British hold all three objectives
CinC fails to rally reserve cavalry
7 corps win battle for hill on the right, two brigades in rout
8 corps lose right half of town, three brigades in rout
9 corps hold hill on the left, one brigade in rout

End of move 10

French capture hill on the left
CinC deploy cavalry to charge guns in the centre
34 corps abandon attack on hill on the right
35 corps enter right half of town
36 corps occupy hill on the left

British hold two of the three objectives
CinC fails to rally cavalry reserve
7 corps hold hill on the right, cavalry rally
8 corps highland brigade counter attack right half of town
9 corps abandon hill on the left and retreat

End of move 12

French hold hill on the left
CinC loses battle for left half of town
34 corps cavalry charge and rout British hussars
35 corps lose battle for right half of town
36 corps secure hill on the left

British hold town and hill on the right
CinC fails to rally routed cavalry reserve
7 corps holds hill on the right
8 corps holds town in the centre
9 corps abandon hill on the left

Summary

The battle ends with a determined attack on the town led by Marshal Marmont
Three of the four French brigades are routed, and one of the two British brigades
At nightfall one shaken and one disordered British brigades hold the town
The British hold two of the three game objectives and win the battle

The French have lost 17 infantry 4 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (7300 men)
The British have lost 18 infantry and 7 cavalry casualties (7900 men)
There are 8 British and 6 French brigades in rout