2 June 1813 – Battle of Harzburg

Tactical map of battle area

General Bulow is ordered to attack Harzburg with 2^nd Prussian army

He is not aware that his opponent is Napoleon himself with 1^st French army

 

1^st French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

2^nd Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The French start the game already deployed on the table

On the right is 1^st Old Guard corps

Napoleon is in the centre with 2^nd French corps

On the left is 3^rd French corps

 

2^nd Prussian army will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French advance either side of town

Napoleon has taken command of 1^st grenadier and a lancer brigade in the centre

1^st corps advance to the right of the town

2^nd corps advance artillery and infantry to the left of the town

3^rd corps advance between the town and the woods

 

Prussian army arrive and advance towards town

Bulow has taken command of half of 5^th corps and 6^th corps artillery

4^th corps occupy village and unlimber artillery, infantry remain in reserve

5^th corps halt to left of village

6^th corps send one brigade to occupy fortified farm

End of move 4

French artillery open fire

Napoleon reserve cavalry come under artillery fire and withdraw

1^st corps artillery fire on Prussian gunners, no casualties

2^nd corps artillery unlimber and open fire, no casualties

3^rd corps cavalry fight two rounds of melee, 20% casualties to each brigade

 

Prussian artillery fire on town, no casualties

4^th corps artillery fire on Guard cavalry, 20% casualties but pass morale

5^th advance in support of reserve

6^th corps infantry occupy village

End of move 6

French retreat out of artillery range

Napoleon redeploys his reserve out of artillery range

1^st corps infantry and cavalry withdraw out of artillery range

2^nd corps artillery manhandle forward

3^rd corps cavalry lose melee and rout with 40% casualties

 

Prussian advance towards town

Bulow moves artillery to short range of town

4^th corps exchange fire with guard artillery

5^th corps advance towards town

6^th corps vacate farm, cavalry win melee but have 30% casualties

End of move 8

French prepare for attack

reserve cavalry charge hussars, result draw both 10% casualties

1^st corps redeploy on Harzburg road

2^nd corps artillery and garrison receive casualties, but pass morale test

3^rd corps advance towards farm

 

Prussians attack town

reserve artillery hit enemy gunners and town garrison, infantry advance

4^th corps redeploy to attack

5^th corps hussars counter charge French lancers, result draw

6^th corps cavalry routed when charging gunners, infantry advance

End of move 10

French lose half of town

1^st corps infantry retreat out of artillery range, artillery continue to fire on gunners

reserve cavalry win melee, but withdraw with 20% casualties

2^nd corps lose left half of town, artillery forced to retreat shaken

3^rd corps artillery fire on infantry

 

Prussians press home attack on town

4^th corps infantry retreat out of artillery range

5^th corps advance to attack half of town, cavalry lose melee and rout

reserve artillery rout left half of town, and force 3 corps artillery to retire shaken

6^th corps infantry retreat out of artillery range.

End of move 12

French lose Harzburg

1^st corps firmly hold right flank

reserve cover rout of 2^nd corps

2^nd corps rout and abandon Harzburg

3^rd corps firmly hold left flank

 

Prussians take Harzburg

4^th corps retire out of artillery range

5^th corps take right section of Harzburg

Reserve take left section of Harzburg

6^th corps redeploy behind farm

 

Summary

The battle was fought and won in the centre against the town of Harzburg

The French fought a defensive battle, but lost the town in the last two game moves

The Prussians made no attempt to attack either flank

Close range artillery finally too effect and the garrison was shaken

5^th corps and reserve infantry routed the garrison and took the town

 

The French have lost 7 infantry. 5 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3400 men)

The Prussians have lost 1 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (1000 men)