7 September 1813 – Battle of Ebelben

 

Tactical map of battle area

Sixth French army is commanded by Marshal Poniatowski
Third Russian army is commanded by General Winzingerode

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

French – 8 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3,500 men)
Russian – 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2,500 men)

Table at start of battle

The French are deployed at the top of the table in and behind Ebelben
The Russian army will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

The three game objectives are in the middle of the table
The hill on the left, the hill in the centre and the walled farm on the right
The player who holds at least two of the three at the end of 12 moves will win the game

End of move 2

French reach all three objectivs
CinC commands two infantry brigades in the centre right
16 corps, on the right, occupy the farm and deploy to the right and left
17 corps, in the centre, are delayed by having to march through the town
18 corps, on the left, reach the hill

Russian army advance towards the three objectives
CinC has taken command of cavalry from 8 and 9 corps
7 corps, on the right, are delayed by having to pass through the woods
8 corps, in the centre, advance to the right of the main road
9 corps, on the left, advance to the left of the farm

End of move 4

French occupy farm on the right
CinC commands half of 17 corps in the centre
16 corps infantry occupy farm on the right
17 corps infantry climb hill in the centre
18 corps infantry climb hill on the left

Russian reach both hills
CinC commands cavalry reserve in the centre
7 corps clear woods on the right and start to deploy
8 corps climb hill in the centre
9 corps approach hill on the left

End of move 6

French artillery hit Russian gunners
CinC infantry brigade retreat with 20% casualties
16 corps counter battery fire, no casualties
17 corps artillery hit Russian gunners
18 corps cavalry retreat with 10% casualties

Russian approach all three objectives
CinC reserve artillery hit and shaken with 10% casualties
7 corps infantry approach supports for farm
8 corps infantry deploy to attack hill on right
9 corps infantry approach hill on the left

End of move 8

French hold all three objectives
CinC hold centre between hills
16 corps hold farm, two brigades rout
17 corps continue melee on hill
18 corps hold hill on the left

Russian attack all three objectives
CinC hold area between two hills
7 corps will infantry melee to right of farm
8 corps continue melee on hill
9 corps prepare to attack hill on the left

End of move 10

French lose melee on both hills
CinC hold centre between two hills
16 corps win melee and hold farm
17 corps lose melee and retreat from hill on the right
18 corps lose melee and retreat from hill on the left

Russian attack all three objectives
CinC hold centre between two hills
7 corps attack on farm fails
8 corps capture hill on the right
9 corps win melee on hill on the left

End of move 12

French retreat to Ebelben
CinC hold approach to Ebelben
16 corps retreat and abandon fortified farm on the right
17 corps retreat and abandon hill in the centre
18 corps retreat and abandon hill on the left

Russian occupy all three game objectives
CinC hold centre between two hills
7 corps occupy fortified farm on the right
8 corps occupy hill in the centre
9 corps occupy hill on the left

Summary
The Russians occupy all three objectives and win the battle

French have lost 22 infantry,3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (5000 men)
Russians have lost 12 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (9200 men)

French have 8 brigades in rout, Russians have 4 brigades in rout

7 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 6

 

French abandon Nordhausen
4 French army – day 2 siege of Weringerode
5 French army – abandon Nordhausen and retreat west
6 French army – defend Ebelben

Russian attack Ebelben
1 Russian army – day 2 siege of Weringerode
2 Russian army – occupy Nordhausen
3 Russian army – attack Ebelben

6 September 1813 – Battle of Nordhausen

Tactical map of battle area

French army is commanded by Marshal Moncey
Russian army is commanded by General Constantine

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

French have 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3,100 men)
Russians have 5 infantry casualties (2,000 men)

Table at start of battle

French are deployed in and around the city of Nordhausen
Russians will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

There are three game objectives:
Hill centre left
Hill centre
Fortified farm right
The army which controls at least two objectives at the end of 12 moves will win

Both armies start the game with casualties from previous battles

End of move 2

French advance towards the three game objectives
CinC has taken command of 2 brigades from 14 corps
13 corps advance on the right, one brigade enters fortified farm
14 corps advance in the centre, one brigade starts to climb hill
15 corps advance on the left, one brigade starts to climb hill

Russians enter table and advance towards the three game objectives
CinC has taken command of half of 5 corps
4 corps advance through woods on the right
5 corps advance towards hill in the centre
6 corps advance towards hill on the left

End of move 4

French occupy all three objectives
CinC commands infantry on hill in the centre
13 corps occupy farm on the right
14 corps deploy between two hills in the centre
15 corps occupy hill on the left

Russian deploy out of artillery range
CiC commands half of 5 corps in the centre
4 corps deploys north of the woods on the right
5 corps infantry advance onto hill on the right
6 corps linfantry advance towards hill on the left

End of move 6

French lose cavalry melee on the right
CinC major infantry melee on centre hill
13 corps lose cavalry melee and retreat shaken
14 corps hold area between two hills
15 corps reinforce hill on the left

Russian continue melee on right hand hill
CinC push forward between two hills
4 corps win cavalry melee on the right
5 corps lose one infantry melee on right hand hill
6 corps move onto hill prepare to attack

End of move 8

French witdraw towards Nordhausen
CinC one brigade in rout, artillery hold firm
13 corps cavalry rout, remainder hold farm
14 corps two brigades rout from hill
15 corps artillery rout, remainder hold hill

Russian capture hill in the centre
CinC hold area between two hills
4 corps advance to attack farm
5 corps capture hill in the centre
6 corps prepare to attack hill on the left

End of move 10

French abandon both hills
CinC artillery fire on Russian attack on farm
13 corps hold farm, but infantry on their right lose melee
14 corps abandon hill and reform in front of Nordhausen
15 corps all in rout

Russian capture both hill and attack farm
CinC hold area between the two hills
4 corps cavalry rout from artillery fire
5 corps infantry secure hill on the right
6 corps infantry secure hill on the left

End of move 12

French hold farm on the right
CinC rallies reserve to the right of Nordhausen
13 corps hold farm on the right
14 corps rally in front of Nordhausen
15 corps rout into woods on the left

Russian hold both hills
CinC hold area between hills
4 corps fail to take farm, four brigades in rot
5 corps hold hill on the right
6 corps hold hill on the left

Summary
The Russians hold two of the three objectives and win the battl

French have lost 12 infantry, 3 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (8100 men)
Russians have lost 15 infantry casualties (6000 men)

French have 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 artillery brigades in rout
Russians have 4 infantry and 1 cavalry brigades in rout

6 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 5

 

French start of siege of Weringerode
4 French army – day 1 of siege of Weringerode
5 French army – defend Nordhausen
6 French army – regroup at Ebelben

Russian attack Nordhausen
1 Russian army – day 1 siege of Weringerode
2 Russian army – attack Nordhausen 3 Russian army – regroup at Heldrungen
3 Russian army – regroup at Heldrungen

5 September 1813 – Battle of Weringerode

Tactical map of battle area

Fourth French army is commanded by Marshal Davout
First Russian army is commanded by General Wittenstein

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

French – 6 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (2600 men)
Russian – 6 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (2600 men)

Table at start of battle

French army is deployed on the table at the start of the game
Russian army is off table at the bottom, they will arrive at the start of move 1

8 if 12 brigades in each army start the game with 10% casualties

There are three game objectives, all in the centre of the table
Hill on the left
Woods in the centre
Hill on the right

The side which holds at least two of them at the end of move 12 wins the game

End of move 2

French advance and climb both hills
CinC, to the right of main road, takes command of half of 11 corps
10 corps advance on the right with two brigades on the hill
11 corps advance in the centre
12 corps advance on the left with two brigades on the hill

Russian arrive on table and advance towards the centre
CinC right of the main road, no troops under command
1 corps advance on the right between the road and the farm
2 corps advance is the centre between the village and the woods
3 corps advance to the left of the village

End of move 4

French deploy out of artillery range
CinC deploy between woods and hill on the right
10 corps occupy hill on the right
11 corps occupy woods in the centre
12 corps occupy hill on the left

Russian deploy out of artillery range
CinC take command of half of 2nd corps
1 corps advance towards hill on the right
2 corps advance towards woods in the centre
3 corps advance towards hill on the left

End of move 6

French fighting for all three objectives
CinC one infantry brigade rout with 20% casualties
10 corps undecided infantry melee on hill on the right
11 corps infantry occupy woods in the centre
12 corps undecided infan try melee on hill on the left

Russian attack all three objectives
CinC artillery rout enemy infantry brigade
1 corps undecided infantry melee on hill on the right
2 corps skirmish with woods in the centre
3 corps undecided infantry melee on hill on the left

End of move 8

French extensive heavy fighting
CinC attempts to rally routed infantry and artillery
10 corps winning the battle for the hill on the right
11 corps routed from woods in the centre
12 corps routed from hill on the left

Russian extensive heavy fighting
CinC swings right to attack hill
1 corps losing battle for the hill on the right
2 corps about to enter woods in the centre
3 corps also routed from hill on the left

End of move 10

French rally to counter attack both hills
CinC attempts to rally routed infantry and artillery
10 corps prepare to counter attack hill on the right
11 corps attempt to rally in town
12 corps prepare to counter attack hill on the left

Russian capture all three objectives
CinC captures hill on the right
1 corps rally and advance on the right
2 corps occupy woods in the centre
3 corps captures hill on the left

End of move 12

French recapture hill on the left
CinC attempting to rally routed infantry in town
10 corps in retreat
11 corps in retreat
12 corps recapture hill on the left

Russian hold woods in the centre and hill on the right
CinC secures hill on the right
1 corps infantry rally and return to hill on the right
2 corps occupy hill in the centre
3 corps lose melee for hill on the left and retreat

Summary
French retake hill on the left, but are forced to retreat under cover of darkness
Russians occupy woods in the centre and hill on the right
They hold two of the three objectives and win the battle

French have lost 12 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (5200 men)
Russians have lost10 infantry casualties (4000 men)

French have 7 brigades in rout, Russians have 2 brigades in rout

5 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 4

French retreat to Ebelben
4 French army – defend Weiringerode
5 French army – regroup at Nordhausen
6 French army – retreat to Heldrunger

Russian attack Weiringerode
1 Russian army – attack Weiringerode
2 Russian army – regroiup at Sangerhausen
3 Russian army – occupy Heldrungen

4 September 1813 – Battle of Heldrungen

Tactical map of battle area

6th French army is commanded by Marshal Poniatowski
3rd Russian army is commanded by General Winzingerode

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

All brigades are at full strength

This is the third battle of the campaign
The Russians have won the first two
Poniatowski has been ordered to engage and destroy 3rd Russian army
Winzingerode is under orders to hold the border and the town of Heldrungen

Table at start of battle

Both armies are deployed on the table at the start of the game in column of march
French are at the top, Russians at the bottom

There are three game objectives, all in the centre of the table
Farm with hedge on the right
T junction (marked by tree) in the centre
Hill on the left
The side who control at least two of the objectives at the end of 12 moves win the game

End of move 2

French advance towards the three objectives
CinC with 17 corps
16 corps deploy out of artillery range, one infantry brigade approach farm
17 corps deploy out of artillery range but closer to T junction than the Russians
18 corps three infantry brigades advance on hill, remainder of corps to the left of hill

Russian advance towards the three objectives
CinC centre between 7 and 8 corps
7 corps deploy out of artillery range, two infantry brigades reach edge of farm
8 corps deploy out of artillery range
9 corps three infantry brigades reach hill, remainder of corps deploy to the left of hill

End of move 4

French cavalry melee
CinC advance with 2 brigades from 17 corps
16 corps win cavalry melee, rout cossack brigade
17 corps lose cavalry melee and rout with 30% casualties
18 corps cavalry retreat wit h 10% casualties from artillery fire

Russian general advance
CinC advance with 3 brigades from 8 corps
7 corps cossack and grenadier brigades rout
8 corps win cavalry melee, all advance
9 corps artillery force lancer brigade to withdraw wit h 10% casualties

End of move 6

French retreat in centre and right
CinC lost melee centre right, two brigades rout
16 corps lost melee in farm, one brigade rout
17 corps gunners rout
18 corps hold hill, one brigade in rout

Russian gaining the upper hand
CinC swing right t o attack flank of 16th corps
7 corps win melee for farm, withdraw to right of farm
8 corps cavalry rout gunners, corps advance towards town
9 corps artillery rout infantry far left, prepare to attack hill

End of move 8

French have taken hill on the left
CinC attempts to rally routed infantry in town
16 corps retreat in good order
17 corps rout to safety of town
18 corps win melee and take hill on the left

Russian have taken road junction in the centre and farm on the right
CinC halts advance in the centre and right
7 corps secures village on the right
8 corps secures road junction in the centre
9 corps lose melee and routs from hill on the left

Summary
The Russians have taken two of the three game objectives
The French have taken the hill on the left
The Russians hold two of the three and win the game

French have lost 13 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (5600 men)
Russians have lost 7 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2900 men)

There are four French brigades in rout and one Russian

3 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 2

 

 

French retreat to Weringerode
4 French army – retreat to Weringerode
5 French army – defend Sangerhausen
6 French army – defend Heldrungen

Russian attack Sangerhausen
1 Russian army – occupy Halberstadt
2 Russian army – attack Sangerhausen
3 Russian army – observe border

3 September 1813 – Battle of Sangerhausen

Tactical map of battle area

Fifth French army is commanded by Marshal Moncey
Russian army is commanded by General Constantine

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

The fighting on 2 September warned Moncey that the Russian invasion has started
He orders his three corps to take up position in front of Sangerhausen

Table at start of battle

Fifth French army is deployed at the top of the table
Russian army is deployed at the bottom of the table

There are three game objectives in the centre of the table
Woods on the left
Cottage in the centre
Hill on the right

End of move 2

French advance and deploy out of artillery range
CinC takes command of half of 15 corps
13 Corps cavalry charge gunners, infantry move onto hill
14 Corps deploy out of artillery range
15 Corps deploy behind northern woods

Russian advance and deploy out of artillery range
CinC takes command of half of 6 corps
4 Corps gunners evade to square, infantry move onto hill
5 Corps deploy out of artillery range, artillery move to the left
6 Corps deploy behind southern woods

End of move 4

French withdraw on left and right
CinC cavalry lose 10% to artillery fire and retreat
13 Corps attack hill, both brigades 10% casualties, first round of melee a draw
14 Corps advance towards cottage in the centre
15 Corps cavalry lose 10% to artillery fire and retreat

Russian artillery success against French cavalry
CinC prepare to advance between woods and cottage
4 Corps melee on hill, two brigades lose 10%, first round a draw
5 Corps artillery force cavalry to withdraw
6 Corps advance into woods

End of move 6

French wide spread fighting
CinC withdraw towards town
13 Corps lose melee on hill, hold to right of hill
14 Corps withdraw towards town
15 Corps lose melee for woods

Russian getting the upper hand
CinC capture right of woods
4 Corps win infantry melee for hill on the right
5 Corps advance to left of main road, pinned to right of road
6 Corps capture left of woods

End of move 8

French retreat and abandon all three game objectives
CinC attempts to rally troops in town
13 Corps lose counter attack on hill and retreat
14 Corps retreat to town
15 Corps retreat to woods left of town

Russian occupy all three objectives and win the battle
CinC occupy right half of woods on the left
4 Corps occupy hill on the right
5 Corps occupy cottage in the centre
6 Corps occupy left half of woods on the left

Summary

Russians occupy all three game objectives
French retreat and attempt to rally at Sangerhausen

French have lost 11 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (4700 men)
Russians have lost 7 infantry casualties (2800 men)

French have 6 brigades in rout
Russians have 4 brigades in rout

3 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 2

 

French defend Sangerehausen
4 French army – retreat to Weringerode
5 French army – defend Sangerhausen
6 French army – defend Heldrungen

Russian attack Sangerhausen
1 Russian army – occupy Halberstadt
2 Russian army – attack Sangerhausen
3 Russian army – observe border

2 September 1813 – Battle of Halberstadt

Tactical map of battle area

The campaign opens with a surprise attack by First Russian Army on the border town of Halberstadt.

Fourth French army is commanded by Marshal Davout
First 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

Both armies are at full strength and have no campaign casualties

Table at start of battle

Both armies are on the table at the start of the battle
The French are at the top of the table, in front of the walled town of Halberstadt
The Russians are at the bottom of the table and have orders to advance
Because this is the surprise attack the French will not move until the start of move 2

There are three game objectives, all in the centre of the table
The farm on the left, the woods in the centre and the hill on the right
The winner will be the side which occupies at least two of them at the end of 12 moves

End of move 2

French not allowed to move during move 1
10 Corps infantry reach the edge of the hill on the right
11 Corps infantry reach edge of woods in the centre
12 Corps infantry reach edge of farm on the left

Russian reach all three objectives before the French
1 Corps advance along hill on the right
2 Corps enter woods in the centre
3 Corps enter farm on the left

End of move 4

French winning battle on the left and right
CinC moves to join battle on the hill
10 Corps winning battle on hill, cavalry melee a draw
11 Corps lost cavalry melee in the centre
12 Corps winning battle for farm and cavalry melee

Russian winning battle in the centre
CinC leads grenadier attack between farm and woods
1 Corps two brigades rout on hill, cavalry melee a draw
2 Corps occupy all of woods in the centre
3 Corps lose battle for farm on the left, and cossacks rout

End of move 6

French retake farm on the left
CinC lose infantry melee on hill and retreat
10 Corps retreat in square
11 Corps lose melee in woods and retreat
12 Corps retake farm on the left

Russian take woods in the centre and hill on the right
CinC win infantry melee between farm and woods
1 Corps take hill and ground to the right
2 Corps take woods and area to the right
3 Corps lose melee and rout from farm

Summary
At the end of six hours the Russians have taken two of the three objectives
The French have held the farm on the left, the remainder of their army is in retreat
The Russians have won this battle

French have lost 8 infantry and 5 cavalry casualties (3700 men)
Russians have lost 9 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (3900 men

There are 11 French brigades in rout (blue star) and 5 Russian brigades (green star)

2 September 1813 – Nordhausen Campaign - Day 1

French defend Nordhausen/Halle border
4 French army – defend Halberstadt
5 French army – defend Sangerhausen
6 French army – defend Heldrungen

Russian attack Halberstadt
1 Russian army – attack Halberstadt
2 Russian army – observe Sangerhausen
3 Russian army – observe Heldrungen

2 September 1813 – Central Germany – Nordhausen Campaign

  

                                                                   Map of Europe

There are five campaign areas in Europe

North Germany – French v Prussians
Central Germany – French v Russians
Southern Germany – French v Austrians
North Spain – French v British
South Spain – French v Spanish

This is the 23rd phase of the sixth campaign
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Nordhausen is the white star

Map of Germany

There are three campaign areas in Germany

North Germany – First French and Prussian Armies
Central Germany – Second French and Russian Armies
South Germany – Third French and Austrian Armies

This is the 14th campaign phase to be fought in Germany
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Nordhausen is the white star

Map of Central Germany

There are three regions in Central Germany

Dusseldorf Region – French rear area
Erfurt Region – campaign area
Dresden Region – Prussian rear area

This is the fifth campaign phase to be fought in North Germany
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Nordhausen is the white star

Map of Erfurt Region

There are nine districts in Erfurt Region
There have been 23 battles fought in this region
The French have won 15 and the Russians 8
Each star shows the location of a battle fought

Campaign Map

The Nordhausen campaign is fought between the cities of Halle and Nordhausen
The French Army of Central Germany is deployed to the left of the district border
The Russian Army is deployed to the right of the district border
The Russian objective is to take and hold the city of Nordhausen
Each block represents one corps

Typical French corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades,1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

The French Army of Central Germany - Marshal Davout

Fourth French Army
10th Young Guard corps
11th French corps
12th French corps

Fifth French Army
13th French corps
14th French corps
15th Italian corps]

6th French Army
16th French corps
17th Polish corps
18th Vistula corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Typical Russian corps

Each corps has 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Russian Army - General Wittgenstein

First Russian Army
1st Russian corps
2nd Russian corps
3rd Russian corps

Second Russian Army
4th Russian corps
5th Russian corps
6th Russian corps

Third Russian Army
7th Russian corps
8th Russian corps
9th Russian corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Campaign Diary
01 Feb 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France
01 Feb 1813 Formation of Second French army in Dusseldorf region
26 Feb 1813 Second French army declared operational.
27 Feb 1813 The Russians moved into the Erfurt region
28 Feb 1813 Davout entered Erfurt region and occupied Fulda district
14 Mar 1813 Start of Erfurt campaign phase
21 Mar 1813 French win Erfurt campaign phase
01 May 1813 Start of Gera campaign phase
09 May 1813 French win Gera campaign phase
16 Jun 1813 Start of Bayreuth campaign phase
24 Jun 1813 Russians win Bayreuth campaign phase
26 Jul 1813 Start Halle campaign phase
01 Aug 1813 Russians win Halle campaign phase
02 Sep 1813 Start Nordhausen campaign phase

Reference
The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.
The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign
02 - Five campaign areas
20 - Introduction to the campaign in Central Germany
21 - Second French Army order of battle
22 - Russian Army order of battle
23 - Daily diary for the campaign in Central Germany
24 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Central Germany
25 - Summary of campaign in Central Germany