20 August 1813 – Battle of Seesen

 

Tactical map of battle area

On the second day of the campaign the Prussians attack Seesen

1st Prussian army, commanded by general Blucher attack Seesen
3rd French army, marshal Murat, hold the border

Prussians have12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
French have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Both armies are at full strength

The French are deployed on the table at the start of the battle
8th French corps are observing the border in the centre of the table
7th and 9th corps will move forward to join them at the start of move 1

The Prussians are off table, but will arrive at the start of Move 1

Table at start of battle

French are deployed at the top of the table
CinC in Seesen
7 corps on the right
8 corps in the centre
9 corps on the left

Prussians are deployed off the bottom of the table
They will arrive at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French advance on left and right
CinC has taken command of two brigades from 8 corps
7 corps reach hill on the right (game objective)
8 corps in and around woods in the centre (game objective)
9 corps reach farm on the left (game objective

Prussian advance towards centre of table
CinC has taken command of three brigades from 1 corps
1 corps advance on the right
2 corps advance in the centre
3 corps advance on the left

End of move 4

French occupy all three game objectives
CinC commands woods in the centre
7 corps infantry move onto hill on the right
8 corps cavalry charge gunners, who retreat into square
9 corps infantry occupy farm on the left

Prussian deploy out of artillery range
CinC leads attack on hill on the right
1 corps deploy out of artillery range
2 corps win first round of cavalry melee in the centre
3 corps deploy out of artillery range, infantry advance over hill on the left

End of move 6

French lose cavalry melee in centre
CinC hold woods in the centre
7 corps halt at northern edge of hill on the right
8 corps cavalry lose melee and retreat shaken
9 corps artillery fire on gunners, no casalties

Prussian advance on left and right
CinC lead infantry attack on hill on the right
1 corps move forward to support attack on hill
2 corps win cavalry melee, corps advance
3 corps infantry advance towards farm on the left

End of move 8

French counter battery fire
CinC move reserve brigade between woods and farm
7 corps retreat cavalry and artillery to rear of hill
8 corps retreat artillery and supports
9 corps retreat cavalry and artillery to rear of farm

Prussian advance and prepare to attack
CinC deploy infantry on hill on the right
1 corps artillery and cavalry advance to support attack on hill
2 corps advance towards woods
3 corps advance towards farm

End of move 10

French fighting at all three game objectives
CinC infantry melee in woods and between woods and farm
7 corps losing melee for hill on the right
8 corps cavalry and two infantry brigades in rout in centre
9 corps winning melee for farm on the left

Prussian attacking all three game objectives
CinC winning melee for hill on the right
1 corps gunners lose 10% casualties but pass morale test
2 corps undecided melee for woods in the centre, and between woods and farm
3 corps losing melee for farm on the left

End of move 12

French lose hill on the right and woods in the centre
CinC forced to abandon woods in the centre, one brigade routed
7 corps forced to abandon hill on the right, two brigades routed
8 corps forced to retreat to Seesen
9 corps continue to dispute farm on the left

Prussian capture two of the three game objectives
CinC capture hill on the right
1 corps withdraw out of artillery range
2 corps capture woods in the centre
3 corps continue to dispute farm on the left

Summary

During the last hour of the battle the Prussians capture the woods and the hill
The farm is still in dispute and has changed hands twice
In the centre 8th French corps is smashed and forced to retreat to Seesen
Having taken two of the three objectives the Prussians win the battle

The French have lost 7 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (3000 men)
The Prussians have lost 3 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (1300 men)

The French have 5 infantry and 1 cavalry brigade in rout

20 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 2

The Prussians attack Seesen and retreat to Langelsheim
1st Prussian army – attack Seesen
2nd Prussian army – observe border
3rd Prussian army – retreat to Langelsheim

The French advance to border
1st French army – concentrate on border
2nd French army – advance to border
3rd French army – defend Seesen

19 August 1813 – Battle of Harsum

Tactical map of battle area

The campaign opens with a surprise Prussian attack in the north

3rd Prussian army, commanded by General Yorck, attack Harsum
2nd French army, commanded by Marshal Victor, defend the border

Prussians have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
French have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

The Prussians have the element of surprise, and all three corps advance together

5th French corps are deployed on the table, with orders to observe the border

4th and 6th French corps are deployed around Harsum
They will react to the Prussian attack at the start of move 2

Table at start of battle

The three game objectives are in the centre of the table
Village on the left, road junction in the centre and hill on the right
The army which occupies at least two of those at the end of the 12 moves will win

The French army are deployed on the table at the start of the game
5th corps are in and around the road junction in the centre of the table
They are active from the start of the game
The remainder are deployed either side of Harsum
They will become active at the start of move 2

The Prussian army are off table at the bottom of the photo
They will enter the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French active at the start of move 2
CinC joins 5th corps in the centre of the table
4 corps advance towards hill on the right
5 corps send one infantry brigade into the village in the centre
6 corps advance over and to either side of the hill on the left

Prussian advance towards the centre of the table
CinC moving with 8th corps in the centre
7 corps move towards hill on the right
8 corps move towards road junction in the centre
9 corps move to the left of the hill on the left

End of move 4

French artillery hit Prussian gunners
CinC takes command of 4th corps infantry on right hand hill
4 corps artillery and cavalry halt to support attack on right hand hill
5 corps artillery hit Prussian gunners
6 corps deploy short of village

Prussian gunners receive first casualties
CinC takes command of attack on hill on the right
7 corps cavalry and artillery deploy to support attack on hill on the right
8 corps gunners receive 10% casualties but pass morale test
9 corps approach village on the left

End of move 6

French second hit on Prussian gunners
CinC deploy infantry on right hand hill
4 corps artillery fire on gunners, no hits
5 corps artillery hit gunners again
6 corps withdraw garrison to centre of village

Prussian prepare to attack village and hill on the right
CinC deploy infantry on right hand hill
7 corps artillery force enemy cavalry to withdraw
8 corps gunners hit again, pass morale with 20% casualties
9 corps infantry approach village on the left

End of move 8

French melee farm and hill
CinC one of three brigades rout, melee continues on hill
4 corps gunners rout with 10% casualties to artillery fire
5 corps withdraw from woods with 10% casuatlies
6 corps garrison rout from farm with 10% casualties

Prussian capture farm
CinC one of three brigades rout, melee continues on hill
7 corps artillery rout Prussian gunners
8 corps gunners rout with 30% casualties from artillery fire
9 corps infantry capture farm

End of move 10

French rout from hill
CinC all three brigades have routed on hill
4 corps gunners rally and return to guns
5 corps artillery redeploy to fire on village
6 corps skirmish garrison of village

Prussian rout from hill
CinC three brigades rout, one rally and return to hill
7 corps hold their position
8 corps hold their position
9 corps garrison exchange skirmish fire

End of move 12

French attack village
CinC rallies routed infantry at woods on the right
4 corps abandon hill on the righ
5 corps hold woods in the centre
6 corps drive garrison out of village on the left

Prussian rout from village
CinC holds hill on the right
7 corps support CinC
8 corps too weak to attack woods in the centre
9 corps lose village but continue to fight for it

Summary

At nightfall the French hold woods in the centre
The Prussians hold hill on the right
The village is still disputed and not held by either side

Neither side hold two of the three game objectives
The Prussians have failed to take two of the objectives
The Prussians have three brigades in rout, the French only one
Technically a draw, but the French declared winners

The French have lost 9 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (3700 men)
The Prussians have lost 7 infantry and 3 casualties (3100 men)

The French have one brigade in rout
The Prussians have three brigades in rout

19 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 1

 

The campaign opens with a Prussian surprise attack on Hildesheim district

The Prussians are deployed to the east of the Goslar-Hildesheim border
They are out of sight of the French, but are concentrated ready to attack
1st Prussian army – observe Seesen
2nd Prussian army – observe Holle
3rd Prussian army – attack Harsum

The French are deployed to the west of the Goslar-Hildesheim border
One corps from each army is deployed on the border
The remainder are in reserve for ease of resupply
1st French army – defend Holle
2nd French army – defend Harsum
3rd French army – defend Seesen

19 August 1813 – Northern Germany – Hildesheim Campaign

1813 Campaign Map

This is a fictional campaign loosely based on the 1813 campaign
It started in April 2009 and consists of stand alone campaign phases
Each phase is similar in size to the Waterloo campaign
This is the 94th phase, each of which is shown on the above map
There have been six major adjustments to the campaign
The following maps are used for the Sixth Campaign, which started in June 2020

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 campaign phase 21

Each star shows the location of a campaign phase
Hildesheim 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 13th campaign phase to be fought in Germany
Each star shows the location of a campaign phase

Hildesheim is the white star

Map of North Germany

There are three regions in North Germany

Osnabruck Region – French rear area
Brunswick Region – campaign area
Berlin 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
Hildesheim is the white star

Map of Brunswick Region

There are nine districts in Brunswick Region
There have been 24 battles fought in this region
The French have won 13 and the Prussians11
Each star shows the location of a battle fought

Campaign Map

The Hildesheim campaign is fought between the cities of Hildesheim and Goslar
The French Army of Northern Germany is deployed to the left of the district border
The Prussian Army is deployed to the right of the district border.
The Prussian objective is to take and hold the city of Hildesheim.

Typical French corps

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

French Army of North Germany – Emperor Napoleon
1st Old Guard corps
2nd French corps
3rd French corps
4th French corps
5th French corps
6th Westphalian corps
7th French corps
8th French corps
9th Polish corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Typical Prussian corps

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

Prussian Army – Marshal Blucher
1st Prussian corps
2nd Prussian corps
3rd Prussian corps
4th Prussian corps
5th Prussian corps
6th Prussian corps
7th Prussian corps
8th Prussian corps
9th Prussian corps

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Campaign Diary
01 February 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France
01 February 1813 Formation of First French army in Osnabruck region
19 February 1813 First French army declared operational.
20 February 1813 Prussians invade Brunswick region
25 February 1813 Prussians occupied the city of Brunswick
26 February 1813 Napoleon advanced into the Brunswick region
28 February 1813 French occupy the city of Hannover
01 March 1813 Start of Brunswick campaign phase
08 March 1813 French win Brunswick campaign phase
12 April 1813 Start of Lubeck campaign phase
19 April 1813 French win Lubeck campaign phase
31 May 1813 Start of Goslar campaign phase
07 June 1813 Prussian win Goslar campaign phase
11 July 1813 Start of Wismar campaign phase
18 July 1813 French won Wismar campaign phase
19 August 1813 Start of Hildesheim 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
10 - Introduction to the campaign in Northern Germany
11 – French Army of Northern Germany order of battle
12 - Prussian Army order of battle
13 - Daily diary for the campaign in Northern Germany
14 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Northern Germany
15 - Summary of campaign in Northern Germa