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Wednesday, July 31, 2024

26 July 1813 – Battle of Mansfield

Tactical map of battle area

The first battle of the campaign is a surprise attack by the French
Only one Russian corps is on the border
It will take two hours to activate the remaining two Russian corps

French army is commanded by Marshal Davout
Russian army is commanded by General Wittgenstein

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Russian – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Russians are deployed on the table at the start of the game
General Wittgenstein is in the town of Mansfield
2nd corps is the advance guard and deployed either side of the main road
1st and 3rd corps are either side of Mansfield, they can move at the start of move 3

French are deployed off table and will arrive at the start of move 1
End of move 2

French arrive on table
CinC commands artillery from 10 and 11 corps, plus one infantry brigade
10 Corps are reduced to 50% move rate moving on hill
11 Corps are advancing between the hill and the woods
12 Corps are advancing to the left of the farm

Russian sight advancing French
1 Corps are waiting for orders
2 Corps send messenger to warn CinC of French advance
3 Corps are waiting for orders
End of move 4

French advance towards Mansfield
CinC with grand battery approached woods in centre
10 Corps delayed by crossing hill, cavalry in advance to protect infantry
11 Corps approach woods in the centre
12 Corps approach hill on the left

Russian 1 and 3 corps advance
CinC commands part of 3 corps
1 Corps advance either side of fortified farm on right
2 Corps move infantry behind woods for cover from artillery
3 Corps advance to right behind hill on the left

End of move 6

French capture woods in the centre
CinC moves grand battery forward between woods and farm
10 Corps finally cross hill, deploy into attack formation
11 Corps capture woods in centre
12 Corps reach hill on the left and deploy in to attack formation

Russian CinC sends two infantry brigades to attack hill on the left
1 Corps enter fortified farm on the right
2 Corps brigade rout from woods, remainder deploy between woods and Mansfield
3 Corps infantry attack hill on the left

End of move 8

French attack hill on the right
CinC moves grand battery to support 10 corps attack on farm
10 Corps cavalry rout Cossacks and gunners
11Corps continue melee in the woods, cavalry rout Russian cuirassier
12 Corps prolonged melee on the hill, still undecided

Russian counter attack woods in the centre
CinC rally cuirassier and withdraw artillery
1 Corps rally Cossacks, withdraw infantry from farm
2 Corps continue melee in woods, remainder of infantry withdraw behind woods
3 Corps rally cuirassier, infantry continue extensive melee on hill
End of move 10

French capture fortified farm on the left
CinC moves grand battery to engage Russian infantry between farm and woods
10 Corps infantry enter fortified farm on the right
11 Corps secure woods in the centre
12 Corps lose melee on the hill on the left

Russian win melee for hill on the left
1 Corps withdraw from fortified farm on the right
2 Corps rout from woods in the centre
3 Corps win extended melee on hill on the left
End of move 12

French capture fortified farm and woods in the centre
CinC supports 10 corps attack with grand battery
10 Corps occupy fortified farm and pursue retreating Russians
11 Corps occupy woods in the centre and advance on Mansfield
12 Corps three brigades rout from melee, remainder rally to the right of hill

Russian hold hill on the left
CinC deploys between woods and town
1 Corps retreat to right of woods
2 Corps artillery and one brigade hold approach to town, remainder rout behind town
3 Corps Grenadier brigade hold hill on the left, three brigades rout from melee

Summary

The French have taken two of the three game objectives
They have won the game

The town of Mansfield still held by the Russians

French have lost 7 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2900 men)
Russians have lost 13 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (5400 men)

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