10 March 1813 – Battle of Kassel

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

Three French corps launch surprise attack on Kassel

Two Russian corps hold Kassel, a third is marching to support them

Russian – 40000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

French – 38800 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

Table at start of wargame 

          

14 French corps - arrive E04 start of move 5

4 Russian corps - arrive E05 start of move 9

0800-1200

French combine artillery from both corps to form a grand battery

However they have no infantry targets, and fail to hit Russian gunners

6^th French corps halt to await arrival of 14^th corps

2^nd French corps advance through the pass to attack 1^st Russian corps

Russian cossacks charge Guard cavalry, lose melee and retire shaken

Russian artillery concentrate on 6^th French corps infantry

One French brigade receives 20% casualties and are shaken.

1300-1400  

The table has been extended to the right to allow 4^th Russian corps to arrive

14^th French corps has also arrived bottom centre and are moving towards the town

2^nd French corps cavalry have routed Russian cossacks

Their infantry are engaged in a fire fight with 1^st Russian corps

The combined french artillery have advanced to short range of the town

6^th French corps have moved to the south of the hill to avoid Russian artillery

Their cavalry have charged and routed Russian cossacks.

1500-1800  

2^nd French corps press home their attack

The infantry advance and there is a firefight, which the Russians lose

The combined French artillery unlimber and fire into the flank of the Russian infantry

The combined artillery and firefight break and rout 1^st Russian corps

6^th French corps cavalry charge and rout the cossacks of 3^rd Russian corps

14^th French corps cavalry charge a shaken Russian square, who also rout

The Russians still hold the town, but are now ordered to retreat

The arrival of 4^th Russian corps covers the retreat.

The Young Guard attack

The French guard cavalry rout the Russian cossacks

The Russian infantry concentrate to meet the French attack

But the right hand brigade has to remain in square

The French infantry can not fully deploy due to the difficult terrain

Despite this they win the fire fight and all four Russian brigades rout

The Russian gunners join them.

Conclusion

Despite infantry and cavalry casualties 3^rd Russian corps hold Kassel

The arrival of 4^th Russian corps will counter the arrival of 14^th French corps

But the crushing defeat of 1^st Russian corps by the Young Guard decides the battle

With the rout of 1^st Russian corps, Wittgenstein orders a general withdrawal

The French have lost 2400 infantry and have one brigade shaken

The Russians have lost 5200 infantry and 300 cavalry and have 8 brigades in rout

Outcome

The battle is a convincing French victory

On 11 March the French will occupy Kassel

The Russians will retreat to the north covered by 4^th corps

Battle Summary

The battle opened with the Russians in a strong position

They held Kassel with two corps, and were attacked by two French corps

The French artillery were combined to form a grand battery

But despite this the Russian gunners dominated the artillery  exchange

With the Russian artillery dominated the approach to Kassel throughout the morning

The French Young Guard advanced against 1^st Russian corps

The cossacks charted the guard cavalry, and were routed for their trouble

The French infantry struggled through the hilly ground, but finally deployed

They then advanced and engaged the Russian infantry in a firefight

The combined French artillery moved into position to engage the Russian flank

The combined artillery and firefight broke 1^st Russian corps, who broke and ran.

The arrival of 14^th French and 4^th Russian corps came too late to make a difference

Wittgenstein ordered 1^st and 3^rd corps to retreat, covered by 4^th corps.

The Russians lost 5500 casualties

The French lost 2400 casualties