27 September 1813 – Battle of Soltau

Tactical map of battle area

Despite winning the battle of Lehtre, Napoleon is forced to retreat
He fought Lehtre to allow 2nd and 3rd French armies to retreat to Soltau and Laatzen
1st Army is now outflanked at Lehtre and retreats to Hannover
This allows 1st Prussian army to attack Soltau

1st Prussian army, commanded by General Kleist, is ordered to attack Soltau
They have12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

3rd French army, commanded by Marshal Murart, defend Soltau
They have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Both armies are deployed on the table at the start of the battle
3rd French army are at the top, on or around the three objectives

1st Prussian army are at the bottom advancing in column of march

Marshal Murat had taken command of half of 8th corps on the right hand hill
General Kleist has taken command of half of 1st corps on the far right

There are three game objectives
Woods on the left
Hill in the centre
Farm on the right
The army who holds two at the end of 12 moves is the winner

End of move 2

French charge guns and are routed
Murat cavalry charge guns, lose 10% casualties, routs
7 corps cavalry withdraw to rear of farm
8 corps concentrate at front of hill
9 corps cavalry and artillery move to front of woods

Prussian advance towards three objectives
Kleist advance artillery to engage enemy cavalry
1 corps advance along top of hill on the right
2 corps gunners fire on charge cavalry and hit 10%
3 corps deploy out of artillery range

End of move 4

French lose right half of hill in the centre
Murat infantry on hill receive 10% casualties and rout
7 corps wait for Prussian attack
8 corps retreat to rear of hill
9 corps cavalry rout with 10% casualties then rally

Prussian advance on objectives
Kleist move artillery to support 1 corps attack
1 corps clear hill and advance towards farm
2 corps advance onto hill
3 corps advance towards woods

 

End of move 6

French retreat behind objectives
Murat rallies routed infantry behind centre right hill
7 corps garrison receive 10% casualties and withdraw from farm
8 corps retreat to rear of centre left hill
9 corps retreat to rear of woods

Prussian attack woods and hill
Kleist hold right flank
1 corps skirmish farm
2 corps occupy hill in the centre
3 corps capture nearest woods section

End of move 8

French fight to hold all three objectives
Murat winning infantry melee on right half of hill
7 corps garrison withdraw from farm
8 corps infantry rout from left half of hill, nearby gunners join them
9 corps win melee for part of woods

Prussian attack all three objectives
Kleist hold far right flank
1 corps attack farm
2 corps attack hill
3 corps attack woods

End of move 10

French lose hill and farm
Murat rallies infantry bet ween town and farm
7 corps rally behind farm
8 corps rally in town
9 corps hold one section of woods

Prussian capture farm and hill
Kleist support attack on farm
1 corps capture farm
2 corps capture hill
3 corps fight continues for woods

End of move 12

French hold farm on the right
Murat attempting to rally infantry behind town
7 corps recapture farm on the right
8 corps rally between town and hill
9 corps one brigade on hill covers rout of corps

Prussian hold woods and hill
Kleist regroup south of farm
1 corps regroup south of farm
2 corps occupy hill in the centre
3 corps occupy woods on the left

Summary
At nightfall the Prussians hold two of the three objectives
The French hold one of the three objectives
The Prussians win the battle

The French have lost 10 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (4400 men)
The Prussians have lost 10 infantry casualties (4000 men)

The French have 10 brigades in rout
The Prussians have 3 brigades in rout

27 September 1813 – Hannover Campaign – Day 4

French retreat to Hannover to regroup army group
Prussians attack Soltau

The Prussians occupy Lehtre and attack Soltau
1st Prussian army – attack Soltau
2nd Prussian army – occupy Lechtre
3rd Prussian army – regroup at Peine

The French retreat to Hannover and defend Soltau
1st French army – retreat to Hannover
2nd French army – regroup at Laatzen
3rd French army – defend Soltau

26 September 1813 – Battle of Lehtre

Tactical map of battle area

1st French army are deployed on the border, in front of Lehtre
2nd and 3rd armies have both been defeated and are in retreat
Napoleon is determined to delay the Prussian advance to allow them to regroup

2nd Prussian army, commanded by General Bulow, attack Lehtre
They have12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

1st French army, commanded by the Emperor Napoleon, defend District border
They have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

All three French corps are deployed on and around the objectives
1st Guard corps on the right, 2nd corps in the centre and 3rd corps on the left

Prussian corps are deployed closer to the camera
4th corps on the right, 5th corps in the centre and 6th corps on the left

There are three game objectives
Woods on the left, hill in the centre and fortified farm on the right
The army who holds two at the end of 12 moves will be the winner

End of move 2

French wait for Prussians to advance
Napoleon has command of two brigades on hill in the centre
1 corps in fortified farm on the right
2 corps between woods and hill
3 corps in woods on the left

Prussian advance towards three objectives
Bulow command half of 6th corps between road and village
4 corps redeploys artillery to avoid enemy artillery fire
5 corps deploys artillery
6 corps artillery fires on French lancers, no casualties

End of move 4

French withdraw behind objectives
Napoleon melee on hill undecided
1 corps cavalry advance to charge Prussian cavalry
2 corps retreat towards town to avoid artillery
3 corps cavalry 10% casualties, withdraw behind woods

Prussian artillery open fire, infantry attack hill
Bulow artillery force French to withdraw
4 corps deploy to their left
5 corps infantry skirmish hill, no casualties
6 corps advance to attack woods

End of move 6

French win cavalry melee and melee on hill
Napoleon wins infantry melee on hill
1 corps cavalry wins melee and returns to farm
2 corps hold area between hill and woods
3 corps vacate two wooded sections

Prussian advance to attack woods
Bulow holds area between woods and hill
4 corps cavalry lose melee and rout
5 corps infantry lose melee on hill and rout
6 corps advance towards woods

End of move 8

French hold all three objectives
Napoleon holds hill in the centre
1 corps artillery engage enemy gunners, no casualties
2 corps artillery hit enemy gunners
3 corps redeploy to rear of woods

Prussian attack woods
Bulow gunners rout with 10% casualties
4 corps artillery fire on enemy gunners, no casualties
5 corps prepare to counter attack hill
6 corps prepare to attack woods

End of move 10

French hold all three objectives
Napoleon skirmish fire on hill, no casualties
1 corps artillery withdraw out of range
2 corps hold area between hill and woods
3 corps extensive melee in woods

Prussian attack woods and hill
Bulow rally gunners back to guns
4 corps too weak without cavalry to attack
5 corps attack hill
6 corps attack woods

End of move 12

French hold farm and dispute woods
Napoleon lost melee on hill and routed
1 corps firmly hold farm on the right
2 corps hold area between hill and woods
3 corps dispute woods

Prussian hold hill and dispute woods
Bulow holds area between woods and hill
4 corps unable to attack farm without cavalry support
5 corps defeat guard infantry and take hill
6 corps dispute woods

Summary
Fighting for the woods and hill continues until nightfall
The Prussians win the infantry melee and take the hill
The French hold two of the three woods sections
The Purssians hold one of the three wood sections

Prussians have only taken one of the three game objectives
French hold one and two thirds of the other game objective
French have won the battle

The French have lost 10 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (4200 men)
The Prussians have lost 7 infantry and 2 artillery casualties (3000 men)

There are 5 French and 5 Prussian brigades in rout

26 September 1813 – Hannover Campaign – Day 3

 

French abandon Peine
Prussians attack Lehtre

The Prussians occupy Peine and attack Lehtre
1st Prussian army – regroup at Celle
2nd Prussian army – attack Lehtre
3rd Prussian army – occupy Peine

The French retreat to Laatzen and defend Lehtre
1st French army – hold border
2nd French army – retreat to Laatzen
3rd French army – regroup at Soltau

25 September 1813 – Battle of Peine

Tactical map of battle area

The second battle of the campaign is in the south, when the Prussians attack the border town of Peine.

The town is defended by Second French Army, which is commanded by Marshal Victor. He has 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades and 3 corps artillery under command. The French have one corps on the border with two more in reserve at Celle, which have been ordered to move up to the border.

Third Prussian Army, which is commanded by General Yorck, plan of attack is to cross the Hannover/Brunswick District border and take the town. He has 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades and 3 corps artillery under command. All three corps are deployed in and around the town of Meinersen. Under cover of darkness they will advance to the border ready to attack at first light.

The French are aware of the battle of Celle, and are expecting an attack. 4th and 6th will advance to support 5th corps at first light

Table at start of battle

French are deployed at the top of the photo
5 corps occupy the hill in the centre of the table
4 and 6 corps are either side of the town
All three corps may move at the start of move 1

Prussians are deployed at the bottom of the photo
7 corps on the right
8 corps in the centre
9 corps on the left

The three game objectives are in the centre of the table
Woods on the left, hill in the centre, farm on the right
The army which holds at least two objectives at the end of 12 moves will be the winner

End of move 2

French 4 and 6 corps advance to support 5 corps
CinC has taken command of right half of 5 corps
4 corps deploy around farm on the right
5 corps occupy left half of hill, artillery open fire
6 corps advance towards woods on the left

Prussians advance towards all three objectives
CinC taken command of right half of 8 corps
7 corps advance towards farm on the right
8 corps advance towards hill in the centre
9 corps advance towards woods on the left

 

End of move 4

French artillery fire on enemy gunners
CinC hold between hill and farm
4 corps fire on gunners, no casualties
5 corps artillery receive 10% casualties, pass morale test
6 corps prepare to attack woods

Prussians occupy woods
CinC advance to attack right half of hill
7 corps fire on enemy gunners, no casualties
8 corps artillery hit enemy gunners
9 corps occupy woods

 

End of move 6

French attack woods on the left
CinC cavalry lose melee and rout
4 corps cavalry hit by artillery and rout
5 corps withdraw from front of hill
6 corps attack woods

Prussians infantry attack hill
CinC win cavalry melee, rout infantry on hill
7 corps artillery rout cavalry
8 corps advance to attack hill
9 corps fight to hold woods

End of move 8

French attack woods
CinC routed from right half of hill
4 corps withdraw to rear of farm
5 corps withdraw to rear of left hand hill
6 corps attack woods

Prussians attack hill and farm
CinC capture left half of hill
7 corps advance to attack farm
8 corps advance to attack left half of hill
9 corps artillery routed, fight to hold woods

End of move 10

French attack woods
CinC attempts to rally routed brigades in Peine
4 corps garrison routs from farm
5 corps lose melee and rout from hill
6 corps capture two of three woods sections

Prussians capture farm and hill
CinC supports attack on left half of hill
7 corps rout garrison and enter farm
8 corps win melee and capture left half of hill
9 corps lose melee and two of three woods sections

End of move 12

French hold half of woods
CinC holds area between town and woods
4 corps counter attack on farm fails
5 corps rallies inside town
6 corps attack on woods fails

Prussians hold hill and farm
CinC holds right half of hill
7 corps beats off counter attack on farm
8 corps holds left half of hill
9 corps counter attacks woods

Summary

On the right Prussians beat off a desperate French counter attack on the farm.
4th French corps were forced to retreat to the woods north of the farm to rally
At nightfall 7th Prussian corps were in firm control of the farm.

In the centre Prussians force 5th French corps to retreat to Peine
8th Prussian corps are in firm control of the hill and pass in the centre

On the left the woods are in dispute until the last dice was thrown
9th Prussian corps captured all three wooded sections by half way through the battle
The French abandoned the woods, but did not suffer many casualties in doing so
6th French corps launched a determined counter attack, which almost worked.
At the start of the last move they held two of the three wood sections

Their attack on the third section was defeated by Prussian artillery support
A weak Prussian brigade rallied and counter attacked the left hand section
They surprised the full strength French grenadier brigade who had just taken it
The Prussian flank attack routed the surprised grenadiers who broke and routed.

The “knife edge” battle for the woods provided an exciting end to the battle
But it did not make any difference, because the Prussians held two objectives

French lost 11 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 gunners (4800 casualties)
Prussians lost 6 infantry, 1 cavalry and 2 gunners (2700 casualties)

7 French brigades were in rout and 3 Prussian brigades.

A convincing Prussian victory

25 September 1813 – Hannover Campaign – Day 2

French advance to the border
Prussians attack Peine

The Prussians occupy Celle and attack Peine
1st Prussian army – occupy Celle
2nd Prussian army – observe Lehtre
3rd Prussian army – attack Peine

1st and 2nd armies move to border, 3rd army retreat
1st French army – advance to border
2nd French army – advance to border
3rd French army – retreat to Soltau

24 September 1813 – Battle of Celle

 

Tactical map of battle area

The campaign opens in the north, when the Prussians attack the border town of Celle.

The town is defended by Third French Army, which is commanded by Marshal Murat
He has 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades and 3 corps artillery under command. The French have one corps on the border with two more in reserve at Celle

First Prussian Army, which is commanded by General Blucher, plan of attack is to cross the Hannover/Brunswick District border and take the town. He has 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigades and 3 corps artillery under command. All three corps are deployed in and around the town of Meinersen. Under cover of darkness they will advance to the border ready to attack at first light.

The French are not expecting an attack. 7th and 8th corps will not be able to move until they receive notification of the Prussian attack.

Table at start of battle

French are deployed at the top of the photo
HQ, 7th and 9th corps are in and around the walled town of Celle
8th corps is in front of the town either side of the main road

The Prussians are marching towards Celle at the bottom of the table
Blucher has taken command of half of 2nd corps on the left of the main road

There are three battle objectives
Woods on the left, hill in the centre, village on the right
The army who occupy at least two objectives at the end of 12 moves will win the battle

French HQ, 7th and 9th corps cannot move until the start of move 2

End of move 2

French Murat, 7th and 9th corps advance towards the objectives
CinC is moving towards 7th corps
7 corps have reached the village on the left
8 corps are withdrawing nearer to Celle t o join their supports
9 corps are approaching the woods on the left

Prussian are approaching all three objectives
CinC has halted outside artillery range, but advanced his artillery
1 corps are advancing towards the village on the right
2 corps have reached the hill in the centre
3 corps are approaching the woods on the left, cavalry are protecting their right flank

End of move 4

French all three corps now in position
CinC takes command of cavalry and one infantry from 7th corps
7 corps occupy village
8 corps artillery hit enemy gunners
9 corps halt and deploy short of woods on the left

Prussian deploy out of artillery range
CinC gunners receive 10% casualties, pass morale but reduced firepower
1 corps deploy in front of village, wait for infantry on left to catch up
2 corps move onto hill in the centre, prepare to attack
3 corps occupy two of the three wooded sections on the left

End of move 6

French fight to hold hill in the centre
CinC hold right flank
7 corps withdraw infantry out of artillery range
8 corps infantry on hill both suffer 10% casualties, pass morale test
9 corps deploy to attack woods on the left

Prussian attack hill
CinC move artillery to engage cavalry
1 corps artillery fire on infantry, no casualties
2 corps skirmish and melee hill in the centre
3 corps artillery fire on infantry, no casualties

End of move 8

French withdraw under pressure
CinC cavalry advance to threaten artillery
7 corps gunners receive 10% artillery casualties, pass morale test
8 corps infantry lose melee on hill and rout
9 corps cavalry lose melee and rout, gunners receive 10% casualties

Prussian capture hill and woods
CinC force artillery to retreat
1 corps infantry advance between hill and village
2 corps capture hill and advance between hill and woods
3 corps capture woods and win cavalry melee

End of move 10

French withdraw but hold village
CinC counter attack and rout attack on village
7 corps withdraw but hold area between village and hill
8 corps withdraw and abandon hill
9 corps withdraw and abandon woods

Prussian attack all three objectives
CinC force French to withdraw between woods and hill
1 corps attack on village fails infantry rout
2 corps secure hill
3 corps secure woods

End of move 12

French retake hill in the centre
CinC withdraw to right of village
7 corps hold village on the right
8 corps recapture hill in the centre
9 corps abandon woods on the left

Prussian lose melee to hold hill in the centre
CinC withdraw to area between woods and hill
1 corps withdraw from village on the right
2 corps lose melee to hold hill, two brigades rout
3 corps hold woods on the left

Summary

As night falls 9th grenadier brigade of 8th corps attacks the hill in the centre
The two brigades holding the hill are caught by surprise
The landwehr is struck in flank, and immediately routs
The light brigade in support lose their morale and join the rout

The French now hold two objectives and win the battle

The French have lost 12 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (5200 men)
The Prussians have lost 6 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (1000 men)

There are 3 French and 5 Prussian brigades in rout

The French win the battle. But they have lost twice as many casualties as the Prussians, and their centre is broken. They are in no condition to fight another battle the following day. At nightfall Murat orders a general retreat and abandons Celle.