22 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 4

The Prussians attack Harsum
1st Prussian army – regroup Seesen
2nd Prussian army – occupy Holle
3rd Prussian army – attack Harsum

The French retreat to Hildesheim
1st French army – retreat Hildesheim
2nd French army – defemd Harsum
3rd French army – regroup Alfeld

21 August 1813 – Battle of Holle

Tactical map of battle area

The French are in position at the border at the start of the battle

2nd Prussian army, commanded by General Blucher attack Holle
1st French army, commanded by Emperor Napoleon, defend Holle

Prussians have12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
French have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Both armies start the battle at full strength

The French are in position on the three battle objectives
The Prussians will enter the table at the start of move 1

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

Table at start of battle

French deployed on the three game objectives
CinC with guard corps
1 corps woods on the right
2 corps road junction in the centre
3 corps farm on the left

Prussian will arrive at the start of move 1
CinC with 5 corps in the centre
4 corps on the right
5 corps in the centre
6 corps on the left

End of move 2

French adjust to Prussian advance
CinC takes command of half of 1 corps
1 corps artillery deploy right of woods
2 corps cavalry advance between junctions of farm
3 corps infantry advance to left of farm

Prussians arrive on table
CinC takes command of right half of 6 corps
4 corps advance on the right
5 corps advance in the centre
6 corps advance on the left

End of move 4

French lose cavalry melee
CinC cavalry lose melee and retreat
1 corps hold woods on the right
2 corps withdraw to rear of woods in centre
3 corps cavalry lose melee and rout

Prussian win cavalry melee
CinC advance towards farm
4 corps win cavalry melee
5 corps advance
6 corps cavalry win melee but are shaken

End of move 6

French suffer heavy casualties
CinC rally guard cavalry
1 corps artillery 10% casualties, pass morale test
2 corps cavalry 10% casualties, fail morale and rout
3 corps cavalry fail morale and continue to rout

Prussian advance to attack
CinC advance to attack farm on the left junction
4 corps advance to attack woods on the right
5 corps advance to attack woods on road junction
6 corps pin enemy on far left

End of move 8

French four brigades have been routed
CinC winning melee for woods on the right
1 corps winning melee for woods on the right
2 corps losing melee in the centre
3 corps winning melee for farm on the left

Prussian infantry attacking all three objectives
CinC attacking farm on the left
4 corps attacking woods on the right
5 corps about to break French centre
6 corps pinning French left of farm

End of move 10

French hold woods on the right
CinC holds left of woods
1 corps hold right of woods
2 corps whole corps broken and in rout
3 corps lost farm on left and withdraw to woods

Prussian hold road junction in centre and farm on the left
CinC occupy farm on the left
4 corps withdraw woods on the right
5 corps occupy road junction in centre
6 corps advance on the left

Summary

The French deployed behind the three game objectives
But they positioned their artillery in front, supported by infantry

The Prussians sent forward their cavalry and won all three melee

French Guard cavalry rallied and supported the woods on the right.
But the other two brigades took no further part in the battle.

The loss of the French cavalry allowed the Prussian infantry to advance
They attacked all three objectives, and the fighting continued for three rounds/hours

The main Prussian attack was in the centre, and 2nd French corps were broken
By nightfall the whole corps was in rout back towards the town of Holle

At nightfall the French guard held the woods on the right
The Prussians had captured the road junction in the centre and inn on the left
The Prussians won the battle.

The French have lost 12 infantry. 4 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (5400 men)
The Prussian have lost 7 infantry casualties (2800 men)

21 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 3

 

The Prussians attack Holle
1st Prussian army – occupy Seesen
2nd Prussian army – attack Holle
3rd Prussian army – regroup Langelsheim

The French retreat to Alfeld
1st French army – defend Holle
2nd French army – retreat to Alfeld
3rd French army – regroup at the border

20 August 1813 – Battle of Seesen

 

Tactical map of battle area

On the second day of the campaign the Prussians attack Seesen

1st Prussian army, commanded by general Blucher attack Seesen
3rd French army, marshal Murat, hold the border

Prussians have12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
French have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Both armies are at full strength

The French are deployed on the table at the start of the battle
8th French corps are observing the border in the centre of the table
7th and 9th corps will move forward to join them at the start of move 1

The Prussians are off table, but will arrive at the start of Move 1

Table at start of battle

French are deployed at the top of the table
CinC in Seesen
7 corps on the right
8 corps in the centre
9 corps on the left

Prussians are deployed off the bottom of the table
They will arrive at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French advance on left and right
CinC has taken command of two brigades from 8 corps
7 corps reach hill on the right (game objective)
8 corps in and around woods in the centre (game objective)
9 corps reach farm on the left (game objective

Prussian advance towards centre of table
CinC has taken command of three brigades from 1 corps
1 corps advance on the right
2 corps advance in the centre
3 corps advance on the left

End of move 4

French occupy all three game objectives
CinC commands woods in the centre
7 corps infantry move onto hill on the right
8 corps cavalry charge gunners, who retreat into square
9 corps infantry occupy farm on the left

Prussian deploy out of artillery range
CinC leads attack on hill on the right
1 corps deploy out of artillery range
2 corps win first round of cavalry melee in the centre
3 corps deploy out of artillery range, infantry advance over hill on the left

End of move 6

French lose cavalry melee in centre
CinC hold woods in the centre
7 corps halt at northern edge of hill on the right
8 corps cavalry lose melee and retreat shaken
9 corps artillery fire on gunners, no casalties

Prussian advance on left and right
CinC lead infantry attack on hill on the right
1 corps move forward to support attack on hill
2 corps win cavalry melee, corps advance
3 corps infantry advance towards farm on the left

End of move 8

French counter battery fire
CinC move reserve brigade between woods and farm
7 corps retreat cavalry and artillery to rear of hill
8 corps retreat artillery and supports
9 corps retreat cavalry and artillery to rear of farm

Prussian advance and prepare to attack
CinC deploy infantry on hill on the right
1 corps artillery and cavalry advance to support attack on hill
2 corps advance towards woods
3 corps advance towards farm

End of move 10

French fighting at all three game objectives
CinC infantry melee in woods and between woods and farm
7 corps losing melee for hill on the right
8 corps cavalry and two infantry brigades in rout in centre
9 corps winning melee for farm on the left

Prussian attacking all three game objectives
CinC winning melee for hill on the right
1 corps gunners lose 10% casualties but pass morale test
2 corps undecided melee for woods in the centre, and between woods and farm
3 corps losing melee for farm on the left

End of move 12

French lose hill on the right and woods in the centre
CinC forced to abandon woods in the centre, one brigade routed
7 corps forced to abandon hill on the right, two brigades routed
8 corps forced to retreat to Seesen
9 corps continue to dispute farm on the left

Prussian capture two of the three game objectives
CinC capture hill on the right
1 corps withdraw out of artillery range
2 corps capture woods in the centre
3 corps continue to dispute farm on the left

Summary

During the last hour of the battle the Prussians capture the woods and the hill
The farm is still in dispute and has changed hands twice
In the centre 8th French corps is smashed and forced to retreat to Seesen
Having taken two of the three objectives the Prussians win the battle

The French have lost 7 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (3000 men)
The Prussians have lost 3 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (1300 men)

The French have 5 infantry and 1 cavalry brigade in rout

20 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 2

The Prussians attack Seesen and retreat to Langelsheim
1st Prussian army – attack Seesen
2nd Prussian army – observe border
3rd Prussian army – retreat to Langelsheim

The French advance to border
1st French army – concentrate on border
2nd French army – advance to border
3rd French army – defend Seesen

19 August 1813 – Battle of Harsum

Tactical map of battle area

The campaign opens with a surprise Prussian attack in the north

3rd Prussian army, commanded by General Yorck, attack Harsum
2nd French army, commanded by Marshal Victor, defend the border

Prussians have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
French have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

The Prussians have the element of surprise, and all three corps advance together

5th French corps are deployed on the table, with orders to observe the border

4th and 6th French corps are deployed around Harsum
They will react to the Prussian attack at the start of move 2

Table at start of battle

The three game objectives are in the centre of the table
Village on the left, road junction in the centre and hill on the right
The army which occupies at least two of those at the end of the 12 moves will win

The French army are deployed on the table at the start of the game
5th corps are in and around the road junction in the centre of the table
They are active from the start of the game
The remainder are deployed either side of Harsum
They will become active at the start of move 2

The Prussian army are off table at the bottom of the photo
They will enter the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French active at the start of move 2
CinC joins 5th corps in the centre of the table
4 corps advance towards hill on the right
5 corps send one infantry brigade into the village in the centre
6 corps advance over and to either side of the hill on the left

Prussian advance towards the centre of the table
CinC moving with 8th corps in the centre
7 corps move towards hill on the right
8 corps move towards road junction in the centre
9 corps move to the left of the hill on the left

End of move 4

French artillery hit Prussian gunners
CinC takes command of 4th corps infantry on right hand hill
4 corps artillery and cavalry halt to support attack on right hand hill
5 corps artillery hit Prussian gunners
6 corps deploy short of village

Prussian gunners receive first casualties
CinC takes command of attack on hill on the right
7 corps cavalry and artillery deploy to support attack on hill on the right
8 corps gunners receive 10% casualties but pass morale test
9 corps approach village on the left

End of move 6

French second hit on Prussian gunners
CinC deploy infantry on right hand hill
4 corps artillery fire on gunners, no hits
5 corps artillery hit gunners again
6 corps withdraw garrison to centre of village

Prussian prepare to attack village and hill on the right
CinC deploy infantry on right hand hill
7 corps artillery force enemy cavalry to withdraw
8 corps gunners hit again, pass morale with 20% casualties
9 corps infantry approach village on the left

End of move 8

French melee farm and hill
CinC one of three brigades rout, melee continues on hill
4 corps gunners rout with 10% casualties to artillery fire
5 corps withdraw from woods with 10% casuatlies
6 corps garrison rout from farm with 10% casualties

Prussian capture farm
CinC one of three brigades rout, melee continues on hill
7 corps artillery rout Prussian gunners
8 corps gunners rout with 30% casualties from artillery fire
9 corps infantry capture farm

End of move 10

French rout from hill
CinC all three brigades have routed on hill
4 corps gunners rally and return to guns
5 corps artillery redeploy to fire on village
6 corps skirmish garrison of village

Prussian rout from hill
CinC three brigades rout, one rally and return to hill
7 corps hold their position
8 corps hold their position
9 corps garrison exchange skirmish fire

End of move 12

French attack village
CinC rallies routed infantry at woods on the right
4 corps abandon hill on the righ
5 corps hold woods in the centre
6 corps drive garrison out of village on the left

Prussian rout from village
CinC holds hill on the right
7 corps support CinC
8 corps too weak to attack woods in the centre
9 corps lose village but continue to fight for it

Summary

At nightfall the French hold woods in the centre
The Prussians hold hill on the right
The village is still disputed and not held by either side

Neither side hold two of the three game objectives
The Prussians have failed to take two of the objectives
The Prussians have three brigades in rout, the French only one
Technically a draw, but the French declared winners

The French have lost 9 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (3700 men)
The Prussians have lost 7 infantry and 3 casualties (3100 men)

The French have one brigade in rout
The Prussians have three brigades in rout

19 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 1

 

The campaign opens with a Prussian surprise attack on Hildesheim district

The Prussians are deployed to the east of the Goslar-Hildesheim border
They are out of sight of the French, but are concentrated ready to attack
1st Prussian army – observe Seesen
2nd Prussian army – observe Holle
3rd Prussian army – attack Harsum

The French are deployed to the west of the Goslar-Hildesheim border
One corps from each army is deployed on the border
The remainder are in reserve for ease of resupply
1st French army – defend Holle
2nd French army – defend Harsum
3rd French army – defend Seesen