30 September 1813 – Battle of Salzwedel

Tactical map of battle area

Blucher would like to attack, but his reserve is about to run out of supplies

He orders them to support 2^nd corps and hold the city

Napoleon is determined to take Salzwedel and win the campaign

He orders 1^st corps and the reserve to attack

French – 14400 infantry, 1800 cavalry, 60 guns

Prussian – 14800 infantry, 1800 cavalry, 54 guns

Table at start of battle

2^nd Prussian corps is deployed in the centre square

Prussian reserve is deployed in centre right square

13 brigade is the garrison of Salzwedel

Napoleon and 1^st French corps will arrive bottom centre at the start of move 1

The French reserve corps will arrive bottom right at the start of move 1

City of Salzwedel

Salzwedel is a fortified city

It has four town sections

The wall does not make any difference in the wargame

All town sections count the same defensive value

But it does make a difference in the campaign rules

2^nd Prussian corps is deployed in and around the city

There are three brigades within the city walls

Two are from 2^nd corps, the third is the town garrison

The third brigade, and corps artillery, are deployed to the left of the city

Move 1 : 0800-0900     

Napoleon arrives with 1^st corps and the reserve

Prussian troops deploy either side of Salzwedel

Move 2 : 0900-1000

Napoleon has taken command of the right wing of 1^st corps

1^st corps infantry advance towards the city

Reserve corps pin the Prussian left flank

Blucher has taken command of the right wing of 2^nd corps

Artillery move forward to be within range of the heavier French guns

2^nd corps move the city reserve brigade to support the reserve

Reserve wait for the French to come within artillery range

Move 3 : 1000-1100

French guard artillery fire on infantry, no casualties

Guard infantry continue to advance towards the city

Reserve advance and artillery unlimber in range

Prussian 2^nd corps artillery have 20% casualties and must wait until enemy advance

Infantry brigade in city moves towards reserve corps

Reserve artillery open fire on French gunners, no casualties

Move 4 : 1100-1200

Napoleon has better artillery than the Prussians

So he wants to inflict some casualties before he moves closer

He orders his infantry and cavalry to hold, and artillery to fire

But no casualties

Blucher returns fire with his reserve artillery

But again no casualties

2^nd corps artillery have 20% casualties and must wait for the enemy to approach

The infantry brigade sent from the city is approaching the reserve corps

Move 5 : 1200-1300

Napoleon again orders his artillery to fire

But again no casualties

He can wait no longer to start the advance

He orders his reserve cavalry to advance and engage the enemy cavalry

The reserve corps artillery had already fired and no casualties

So they must wait for next turn to fire on the approaching cuirassiers

Which reserve moves first next turn will have a big advantage

Move 6 : 1300-1400

French artillery fire, again no casualties

Napoleon orders 1^st corps infantry to support reserve corps

Reserve cavalry charge and rout Prussian cuirassiers

They then fail morale to rally and charge nearby gunners

They receive 10% casualties, fail morale again and rout

Prussian gunners were very lucky to survive cavalry charge

They failed their morale and could not seek safety in nearby square

They fired at cavalry, requiring 7 or more with two dice

The cavalry received 10% casualties and had to test morale to charge home

They were disorders with 20% casualties and needed 5 or more with 1D6

They failed morale and routed.

Move 7 : 1400-1500

French artillery fire but no casualties

Napoleon orders cavalry and infantry to advance

1^st corps infantry advance towards Prussian reserve

French reserve artillery fire on infantry, cause 10% casualties

Infantry fail morale and rout

Nearby artillery test morale for rout, fail and are shaken

Prussian artillery fire on Guard cavalry, no casualties

Move 8 : 1500-1600

On the left Napoleon orders cavalry, artillery and infantry to advance

In the centre Garrison fire on nearest infantry brigade

1^st corps Infantry fail their morale test and are disordered

Remainder of infantry halt to regroup

Leading brigade fire on Prussian line and cause 10% casualties

French reserve artillery advance towards Prussian line infantry

On the left Prussian gunners have 20% casualties

Blucher orders them to take shelter in nearby square 

In the centre infantry line receive 10% casualties but pass their morale test

On the right the whole reserve are broken and routed

Move 9 : 1600-1700

On the left 1^st grenadiers charge and rout square and gunners

In the centre reserve and disordered brigades change place

On the right artillery unlimber

On the left Bluchers command has broken and in rout

Blucher still holds city with two brigades, half the required garrison

On the right Prussian reserve in rout

Conclusion

Blucher still holds Salzwedel with two infantry brigades

He needs four brigades to hope to hold against determined attack

But both 2^nd corps and his reserve are in rout

Six of his eight brigades are in rout

Napoleon has one cavalry brigade in rout

But the rest of 1^st corps and his reserve is intact

Under cover of darkness Blucher orders the garrison to abandon Salzwedel

The French have lost 400 casualties and one brigade in rout

The Prussians have lost 2300 casualties and six brigades in rout