23 August 1813 – Battle of Alfeld

 

Tactical map of battle area

On 20 August the Prussians defeated the French at the battle of Seesen
The French retreated to Alfeld and the Prussians entered the city of Seesen
Both armies have regrouped and the Prussians now attack Alfeld

1st Prussian army, commanded by Marshal Blucher, attack Alfeld
They have12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
They start the battle with 3 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (1200 men)

3rd French army, commanded by Marshal Murart, defend Alfeld
They have 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
They start the battle with 5 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (2100 men)

Table at start of batt

The French are deployed on the three game objectives at the start of the game

CinC has taken command of 7 and 8 corps cavalry between the road and the woods
9 corps hold the fortified farm on the left
8 corps hold the road junction in the centre
7 corps hold the woods on the right

The army who holds two at the end of 12 moves is the winner

The Prussians will arrive on the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French react to arrival of Prussian army
CinC observe centre right
7 corps moves into woods on the right
8 corps observe in the centre
9 corps observe on the left

Prussian army arrive on table
CinC has taken command of 1 and 2 corps artillery
1 corps advance on the right
2 corps advance in the centre
3 corps advance on the left

End of move 4

French wait for Prussians to advance into artillery range
CinC observe with reserve cavalry centre right
7 corps support front of woods
8 corps observe centre left
9 corps occupy farm on the left

Prussian deploy out of artillery range
CinC deploy grand battery centre right
1 corps advance towards woods on the right
2 corps halt out of artillery range
3 corps advance towards farm on the left

End of move 6

French reserve cavalry charge grand battery
CinC reserve cavalry charge guns, one brigade shaken
7 corps one brigade lose infantry melee and rout
8 corpshold centre and observe
9 corps withdraw to rear of fortified farm

Prussian attack farm and woods
CinC gunners on right evade to square, on left halt cavalry charge
1 corps rout infantry brigade in the centre of woods
2 corps await outcome of cavalry charge on guns
3 corps enter farm on the left

End of move 8

French centre shaken
CinC both cavalry brigades in rout
7 corps fight continues for woods on the right
8 corps artillery routed
9 corps withdraw behind fortified farm

Prussian attack all three objectives
CinC advance centre right, but one battery shaken
1 corps attack woods on the right
2 corps advance in the centre
3 corps enter farm on the left

End of move 10

French fighting continues on three objectives
CinC fails to rally reserve cavalry
7 corps fighting continues in woods on the right
8 corps fighting continues on road junction in centre
9 corps fighting continues in farm on the left

Prussian press home their attack on three objectives
CinC advance with grand battery centre right
1 corps capture one woods section on the right
2 corps infantry melee in centre
3 corps infantry melee in farm on the left

End of move 12

French retreat
CinC fails to rally reserve cavalry at Alfeld
7 corps retreat and abandon woods on the right
8 corps retreat and abandon road junction in the centre
9 corps retreat and abandon farm on the left

Prussian take three objectives and win battle
CinC advance with grand battery centre right
1 corps occupy woods on the right
2 corps occupy road junction in the centre
3 corps occupy farm on the left

Summary

The Prussians have taken all three objectives and have therefore won the battle
The French have lost 16 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (6600 men)
The Prussians have lost 7 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3000 men)
The French have 6 brigades in rout, the Prussians have 2 brigades in rout.