2 July 1813 – Battle of Amstadt

Tactical map of battle area

Marshal Soult opens the campaign with an attack on Amstadt

2^nd and 5^th corps are ordered to attack 3^rd Russian corps

4^th Russian corps has orders to support 3^rd corps if they are attacked

French – 32000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Russian – 32000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Table at start of wargame

The town of Amstadt is off table on the bottom right

 Both French corps are deployed and ready to advance

3^rd Russian corps is deployed to hold the road to Amstadt

4^th Russian corps will arrive at 1000 (start of move 2)

0800-1200

2^nd French corps are advancing over the hill centre left

They have deployed their artillery to support 5^th corps

5^th French corps have unlimbered and opened artillery fire

But no casualties so far

The cavalry have advanced to counter the Cossacks on the hill bottom right

The French infantry are deploying ready to attack

3^rd Russian corps have deployed between the farm and hill bottom right

4^th Russian corps have started to arrive top right.

1200-1600

Davout orders 2^nd corps to hold the hill

They will only advance to prevent 4^th Russian corps joining the battle

He does not wish to risk casualties to the Young Guard so early in the campaign

5^th corps are ordered to attack.   This means that any combat will be hand to hand.

The outcome is more likely to be heavy casualties and a decisive result.

This is risky as the attacker may not reach the defender

However the result is an overwhelming French victory.

The combined French artillery caused moderate Russian casualties

The Russian artillery were less effective

The French cuirassiers charged and routed the Russian Cossacks on the hill

At the critical time the French moved first and avoided close range artillery fire

More important they rolled high dice (6-5-6-5) for the hand to hand fighting

Conclusion

2^nd French and 4^th Russian corps have taken no part in the battle

Neither corps has suffered any casualties

3^rd Russian corps have suffered heavy casualties and have four brigades in rout

5^th French corps have suffered light casualties, no routed brigaded

The French have lost 800 casualties

The Russians have lost 4200 casualties