9 March 1813 – Battle of Brunswick

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

All four French and four Prussian corps have orders to attack

Prussian – 54000 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 guns

French – 53600 infantry, 3900 cavalry, 120 guns

Redeployment prior to battle

This is a very difficult battle to wargame.

The two armies are not facing each other squarely

Each has one corps facing open ground

The wargames table is not large enough to deploy this formation

Flank marches are not possible during the wargame itself

So the army which has its four corps on the table has an advantage

To overcome this problem I have allowed the Prussian army to redeploy

During the night of 8/9 March 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th Prussian corps have redeployed

They have marched one square to their right

At first both armies have three corps facing each other, and one in reserve

3^rd Prussian and 13^th French will both arrive on the table at the start of move 1

Table at start of wargame

Each army has three corps on the table at the start of the game

They are shown on blinds, which enables hidden movement

When they come within 20” they are in sight, and the blinds are replaced with figures

Each side has one corps off table, who will both arrive at the start of the game.

0800-0900

Both armies advance and deploy out of sight of the enemy

The leading corps deploy into column of attack

3^rd Prussian and 13^th French corps arrive in column of march

0900-1000  

Both armies advance into 20” range and sight each other

The blinds are replaced by figures

1000-1100  

Napoleon orders 4^th corps to engage the farm and 1^st corps the woods in the centre

The rest of the French army wait for orders

Blucher orders 1^st corps to engage the farm on the right

The remainder of the Prussian army wait for orders

1100-1200 

All artillery open fire

4 Prussian ordered to engage woods in centre

1 Prussian enter woods on right

1 French artillery hit infantry, who pass morale

3 French ordered to engage right hand woods

13 French ordered to advance in centre between woods

1200-1300

1 Prussian artillery hit infantry, who fail morale and are shaken

1 Prussian cavalry charge French dragoons, melee is a draw both disordered

2 Prussian ordered to engage farm

1 French artillery hit Prussian cavalry, who pass morale

1 French infantry skirmish in woods in centre, no casualties

1300-1400 

4 French in farm receive artillery casualties, pass morale

2 Prussian attacking farm receive skirmish casualties, pass morale

1 French (Old Guard) cavalry charge artillery, receive 20% casualties and rout

1 French (Old Guard) in woods receive skirmish casualties, fail morale and shaken

4 Prussian attacking woods receive skirmish casualties, fail morale and shaken

13 Polish shaken infantry fail morale and rout

3^rd Prussian do not have sufficient space to deploy

3 French and 1 Prussian cavalry break melee contact and retreat

3 French and 1 Prussian infantry skirmish for control of woods

At the end of this round Napoleon orders the Old Guard to attack through woods

Guard fight for woods

Guard cavalry charge Prussian artillery to the left of the woods

They start with 10% casualties, and receive another 10% from artillery fire

Fail morale, fail to charge home, turn and rout

Nearby Guard infantry in woods pass morale test for nearby rout

All four Guard infantry brigades are in the woods

The leading left hand brigade has won firefight and Prussian infantry are shaken

The leading right hand brigade has lost firefight, failed morale and is shaken

Both reserve infantry brigades started the battle with 10% casualties

At this point Napoleon orders the guard to attack.

1400-1500 

4^th French garrison farm and force 2^nd Prussian artillery to retire

2^nd Prussian infantry skirmish with garrison, but no casualties

1^st French (Guard) attack through woods and rout shaken Prussian brigade

4^th Prussian artillery shaken by rout and forced to retire

4^th Prussian infantry continue to skirmish for woods, no casualties

3^rd Prussian artillery hit Polish lancers, who make their morale with 10% casualties

13^th Polish continue to skirmish for woods

1^st Prussian cavalry charge and rout French dragoons

3^rd French corps skirmish for woods, Prussian infantry hold despite 10% casualties

Blucher orders 4^th corps to Hold due to casualties

Napoleon orders 3^rd corps to attack woods

1500-1600 

4^th French infantry skirmish for farm, result draw

2^nd Prussian shaken infantry faill morale and rout

1^st French infantry continue attack on left of main road

1^st French infantry lose melee on right of main road, two brigades rout

4^th Prussian have two brigades and gunners in rout

4^th Prussian infantry win melee for right hand woods

13^th French continue skirmish for woods, result draw

3^rd Prussian cavalry charge and rout gunners

3^rd French infantry attack woods on right, result draw

1^st Prussian cavalry charge gunners, who evade into nearby square

Conclusion

Both armies have suffered heavy casualites and have multiple brigades in rout

Neither are in any condition to continue the battle

Both commanders order a cease fire and reorganisation

French have 5600 infantry, 300 cavalry and 200 gunner casualties,

Prussians have 6000 infantry and 100 gunner casualties

Outcome

The battle is a draw

On 10 March both armies will spend the day regrouping and reorganising

The French will hold Brunswick

The Prussians will withdraw to establish the “no mans land” square

Battle Summary

The battle opened with both armies just outside artillery range of each other

All corps required orders to engage or attack

As a Gifted commander Napoleon was able to issue orders faster than Blucher

Consequently the French corps advanced first

They occupied the farm on the left, and the woods centre and right

The three forward Prussian corps were soon contesting all three features

3^rd Prussian corps found it difficult to advance through the high ground and deploy

Napoleon ordered the Guard to attack the woods in the centre

The division on the left of the road routed the Prussian defenders

The division on the right were themselves routed by the Prussians

The Prussian artillery proved superior to the French gunners

The two flanks held, but both were badly mauled.

Throughout the battle Napoleon had left the garrison in Brunswick

He now ordered his army to retreat to the city and regroup

Blucher was in no condition to pursue, he also ordered his army to regroup

The French have lost 6100 casualties and have five brigades in rout

The Prussians have lost 6100 casualties and have five brigades in rout