Steven Smith of the Napoleon-Series Forum has found a Russian page (in Russian sorry!) about the changes in the Russian flags. It covers also the Napoleonic era, so it could be a good source of inspiration.
For the Regular Army go to Banners and the standards of regiments, battalions of the Russian army 
And for the Cossacks, go to The Cossacks
Evidently, I used an on-line translator (Babelfish) !
After revision in the Lasalle Forum
(1) Baggage units are formed by one or more wagon train models
(2) They are irregular units
(3) They can move only in march column by road at limbered Foot Artillery speed (reduced or not as indicated in the scenario)
(4) They can not fire nor fight
(5) They are automatically broken (plundered or destroyed) during Combat with an enemy unit. The winning enemy unit always takes 1 DISR
I'll try this optional rule in the Düben Scenario.
Lasalle is a ruleset designed primarily for club and tournament type games providing a well balanced and short game with few or none optional rules. However, I play solo, so I can add optional rules to make a more fun game. Of course, the added rules must not be unrealistic and the game-engine must not be substantially modified.
Below there is a list of Optional rules I will use in the next Lasalle game. I have given a chance to Cossacks to charge regular enemies (forbidden in the oficial Lasalle), defined a new type of units, the baggage units, and randomised the deployment and entry point of the reinforcements. Last, I have imposed victory conditions based on the number of broken units.
Optional rule for Cossacks (and other irregular cavalry)
1) Irregular cavalry units may charge enemy units standing in 'march column' formation.
2) Irregular cavalry units must to pass a 'Discipline' test to initiate the charge.
3) If routed in 'decisive combat' the irregular cavalry unit is immediately broken.
Optional rule for baggage units
Baggage units are formed for one or more wagon train models. They can move only by road at limbered Foot Artillery speed (reduced or not as indicated in the scenario). They can not fire nor fight. They are plundered or destroyed by any enemy unit in contact for at least one Turn.
Optional rule for Weather
The weather in Saxony in October 1813 was very rainy. To account for, the Roll Weather procedure (p. 87) must be repeated every odd turn, until a ‘Precipitation’ result is rolled, after which it will rain continuously until another ‘Precipitation’ result was rolled.
Optional Russian deploymentDuben is a running combat between a vanguard (French VII Corps) and a retiring rearguard (Russians) trying to evade and escorting a slow baggage train.
I have added a 'Baggage unit' formed by two wagons. These areinitially are on the road with the last wagon touching the north end of the crossroad. They move at reduced Foot Artillery speed (2 BW per turn).
All the combat Russian units (except the Reinforcements) are on the table at Turn 1, but only the 8th Division is deployed. The actual formation of the 22nd Division and the three artillery batteries must be individually determined at the start. The percentages for Deployed /March Column are 30%/70% respectively.
The Russian cavalry was detached by Langeron days before the battle and were at the left bank of the Mulde. Reinforcements may arrive to the battlefield at A1/B1 (70%/30%)
Optional French deployment
Only the 26th Light Cavalry Brigade and the Brigade Grayer are on the table at Turn 1. They must be deployed in the left (west) bank in march column formation.
All VII Corps units were at the left bank of the Mulde. However, in this scenario the Saxon Infantry reinforcements may arrive to the battlefield at D2/D3 (70%/30%). The existence of an un-historical ford is for give similar chances for flank moves to both sides.
The Brigade Lejeune may be also considered as Reinforcement. In that case, the Saxon units can not enter the table until that Brigade will finish its deployment.
Optional objectives
The game will end when the last Russian wagon unit exits the table (around 16 Turns). The side with the lesser number of broken units is the winner.
I hope these options will make more interesting the Düben combat!
I am presenting the OOB for the Lasalle refight of Düben. This battle is smaller tha Zahna so the forces are more manageable and similar in size to the used in a standard Lasalle battle.
I have used the 'Liberation' lists for both the French and Russians. The French got the organic Light Cavalry asset and an Allied Saxon brigade as reinforcements. The Russians got a Jäger organic brigade and a Light Cavalry brigade as reinforcements. The Russian OOB has been made more similar to the actual , as the components of the Jager brigade have been divided between the tow main infantry brigades.
Düben is a running combat between an attacking vanguard (French VII Corps) and a defending and retiring rearguard (Russian 10th Corps) trying to evade and escorting a slow baggage train. A unit of twwo baggage trains, moving always by road at reduced Foot Artillery speed (2BW per turn) has been added to the Russian OOB. The wagons must be escorted to safety , leaving the table by the North road end.
Both armies are almost balanced in numbers. Ths statistics of the Subcommanders have been diced out according to the ruleset. The actual table could be slightly different because of the fog of war.
Russian Forces 10th Corps (Langeron’s Army Group) Army Moral 38 Break point 13.
Commander Generallieutenant Kapzevich
8th Division Generalmajor Count Ourousov -/-
Archangle Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
Old Ingermannland Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
Old Ingermannland Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
Schusselburg Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
7th Jager Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK2
37th Jager Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK2
22nd Division Generalmajor Tourchaninov -/-
Viatka Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
Viatka Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
Staroskol Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
Staroskol Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
Olonetz Infantry Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK1
29th Jager Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK2
45th Jager Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK2
Position Battery #18 (12 guns) Foot/4 cannon/Heavy/1 Howitzer
Light Battery #3 (12 guns) Foot/4 cannon/Medium/1 Howitzer
Light Battery #19 (12 guns) Foot/4 cannon/Medium/1 Howitzer
Baggage train 2 wagons
Reinforcements
Cavalry Generallieutenant Korff -1/-
Kargopol Dragoon Regiment + Reliable/Experienced/Pursuit
Kiev Dragoon Regiment + Reliable/Experienced/Pursuit
1st Ukranian Cossack Regiment Shaky/Irregular/Pursuit
Horse Battery #18 Horse/3 cannon/Medium/2 Howitzer
French Forces: 13th Division (VII Corps) Army Moral 41 Break point 14.
Commander: Général de Division Guilleminot
26th Light Cavalry Brigade: von Lindenau +1/-
Prinz Clemens Uhlan Regiment Valiant/Experienced/Pursuit/Lance
Saxon Hussar Regiment Valiant/Experienced/Pursuit
1st Saxon Horse Battery "Birnbaum" Horse/2 cannon/Medium/1 Howitzer
Brigade Grayer +1/-
4/1st Légêre Regiment Reliable/Experienced/SK2
1/18th Légêre Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
2/18th Légêre Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
3/7th Ligne Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
1/156th Ligne Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
Brigade Lejeune -1/-
2/ Illyrian Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
3/52nd Ligne Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
3/67th Ligne Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
2/101st Ligne Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
3/101st Ligne Regiment Reliable/Amateur/SK1
1/8th Foot Artillery Foot/3 cannon/Medium/1 Howitzer
4/4th Foot Artillery Foot/3 cannon/Medium/1 Howitzer
Reinforcements
24th (Saxon) Division: Generalleutnant von Zeschau -1/-
1st (Lecoq) Light Battalion Shaky/ Experienced/SK2
von Spiegel Grenadier Battalion Reliable/Experienced/SK1
von Steindal Infantry Regiment Shaky/Experienced/SK1
Prinz Frederich Infantry Regiment Shaky/Experienced/SK1
2/von Rechten Infantry Regiment Shaky/Experienced/SK1
1/Niesemeuschel Infantry Shaky/Experienced/SK1
1 Saxon 6pdr Foot Battery Foot/2 cannon/Medium/1 Howitzer
2nd Saxon Horse Battery "Groshayn" Horse/2 cannon/Medium/1 Howitzer
In a next post I will detail some optional rules I'll use to add spice to the Scenario!
The Casttle of San Pedro (Jaca, Huesca, Spain) also known as 'La Ciudadela' (The Citadel) is a pentagonal fortress, built at the end of the 16th century that still retains today all of its characteristic parts: moat, battlements, scarps, barracks, powder houses, tunnels... as well as a beautiful entrance, accessed via a bridge.
The castle lodges in one of its casemates the Museum of Military Miniatures, whose origins are rooted in the collection of lead figurines which were gathered from the sixties onwards by Carlos Royo-Villanova, a miniatures fan and history lover. The figures and their accessories, all to the same scale, 1:87 or 20 mm in height, were mostly produced by the Valencia-based company Alymer.
Afeter the cleaning and restauration by a professional team of technicians and Jaca volunteers, the over 32,000 lead miniatures are now displayed on 23 historical dioramas. The visitors of the Museum can view the recreation of armies and battles of many historical periods, from Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece and the Roman Empire through to the period of the Crusades, the Crown of Aragón, the Spanish Tercios and the Napoleonic era, without forgetting the great 20th century wars, modern mountain units and the Spanish army, now deployed on humanitarian missions.
The web site of the Museum: The Jaca Citadel Military Miniatures Museum (in english, français and español) allows to known the Museum's history, its origins, current rooms, permanent exhibitions as well as a virtual visit of the dioramas.
The Museum is on charge of Diego García, professional military man and fan of the historical miniaturism.
In the first days of October 1813, the Blucher's Army of Silesia was put under the command of the Swedish Crown Prince, Bernadotte, and crossed the Elbe River at Wartenburg (see also the Wartenburg page at the main web site) thus placing itself near the Bernadotte's Army of the North. In order to achieve the junction of both forces, Blucher made a 'flank march' under the eyes of the Ney's Army of Berlin, routed recently in Gross-Beeren and Dennewitz.
This dangerous situation was immediately spoted by Napoleon, that hurried up with the mauled Army of Berlin (VII, XI and IV Army Corps), other Army Corps (III, VI), the I, II and III Cavalry Corps and the Guard. The maneuver was discovered by Blucher, which crossed the Mulde River towards Bernadotte, instead moving back towards the Elbe River and his line of communications. This bold action sealed the fate of Napoleon and forced him to fight in Leipzig against a ring of converging Allied armies.
The Düben affaire took place in October 9, when the vanguard of Reynier's VII Corps, advancing by the left bank of the Mulde River, arrived to the bridge of Düben and ran into the village. Düben was the crossing point over the Mulde River assigned to Langeron by Blucher, but when the Allied outposts were alerted from the arrival of the french, Langeron hurried up by the right bank towards the next northern crossing point. The Russian rearguard, the Kapzevich's X Corps, scorting the heavy artillery, was almost catch up, and only the rapid reaction of that General stopped the pursuit saving time for the slow baggage columns. Incidentally, Blucher and Langeron avoided capture by only one half hour, because they were also staying at Düben.
This engagement is too small for Napoleon's Battles and it seems adequate for Lasalle, so it will be my next project.
Sources
- Correspondance of Napoléon Ier. Vol. 26. Paris. 1868
- Mémoires de Langeron, Général d'infanterie dans l'armée russe. L.G.F. Paris. 1909
- Mémoires du Maréchal Marmont Duc de Raguse (Vol IV). Paris. 1857
- Journal des opérations des IIIe and Ve Corps en 1813. G. Fabry. Paris. 1902
- Napoleon at Leipzig. The Battle of Nations 1813. G. Nafziger. Chicago. 1996
- The map is taken from the napoleon-series.org site
Nota bene. Again my acknowledge for my good friend Armand d'Arc, that kindly told me about this small combat
A more detailed After Action Report of the battle of Zahna, has been uploaded to the main web-site.
Watch it at Battle of Zahna!
Irregular units (Cossacks, Kalmuks or Bashkirs) in Lasalle can not initiate combats against regular foes.
The reason behind, according to Sam Mustafa, is that these units were not used in formal battles, but only in pursuits, ambushes and the like. Their only utility is to add points in the 'Pursuit and Victory' step during the Army Morale Check and Victory (p. 67 of the rule-set) along other 'Pursuit' cavalry units like hussars, chasseurs, chevaux-legers and similar.
During game play, the only use I found for the Cossacks is to use they to avoid the fall back of enemy units, placing them in the rear of the defending enemy. However, I think that these cavalrymen do not remained iddle during the battle, but were seeing always to make opportunist attacks against un-warned and surprised enemy units, such as march formation columns or convoys.
My proposal (posted to the Lasalle Forum) is the following:The Lasalle re-fight of the battle of Zahna is finished with a French marginal victory.
The Prussian cavalry has achieved a stalemate in the left flank and center, while fighting the 29th Light Cavalry brigade (Westphalian Chevauleger-lanciers, Hessian Chevaulegers and Bavarian Chevaulegers Regiments) after losing two cavalry regiments, one of them because of the galling fire of the Bavarian light infantry infiltrated in the woods. The Prussian cavalry regiments resulted more fragile than their German opponents, but also achieved to stop the French advance, fixing they in square formation.
The Prussian infantry and artillery of the second line in the center is retiring, under the cover of the cavalry and some infantry battalions.
In the Prussian right, the French infantry has fully occupied Zalmsdorff but, tired from the combat and under the menace of the Prussian cavalry and the Cosscks, they have limited themselves to take defensive positions, without exiting from the village.
The French losses were: five battalions, four guns and three wounded Generals (Brun, Pachtod and Beaumon). On the other side, Prussian have lost eight battalions, two cavalry regiments ans six guns. Taking in account that the village of Zalmsdorff is in French hands, Oudinot is the clear victor of the battle. The type of victory (according to Lasalle) is dependent upon whether or not there is a pursuit.
The French scored seven points (seven bases of pursuing cavalry), whereas the Prussians scored fourteen points (three 'normal' cavalry unis plus nine bases of pursuing cavalry). All in all, the French achieved only a marginal victory.
In the next days I'll upload a full AAR of this battle to the main web site.
The battle of Zahna is near the end. The Prussian right flank detachment has been overcome: its two infantry batallions broken and the two accompanying guns in French hands, that now menace to turn the Prussian right.
The Prussian first line has given way: several batallions have been broken and Zalmsdorf is being evacuated under French pressure to avoid the outflanking.
Only the Prussian cavalry, in the left flank is maintaining the ground, favoured by their superior numbers. Generallieutenant Tauentzien is now considring a retreat under the cover of his cavalry, hoping to save his still intact second line.
Starting in the year 2006, the shire of La Guareña (The Guarena for english-speakers) in Zamora (Spain) is carrying out each even year, a re-enactement on the events happened during the campaign of 1812 in the Peninsular War. The main event, from which the celebration is named, is the famous 'Paralel March' of 20th July, leading the armies towards the final battle of Salamanca (Los Arapiles for French and Spanish)
Two armies of over 40,000 men each marched in parallel, with parade ground precision, within a hundred of meters of each other until the outcome of the battle of Salamanca (or Los Arapiles as it is known in French and Spanish sources). This was one of the more memorable days in the Peninsular war, to be remembered for both French and English soldats.
The historical re-enactement is carried out in different villages of the shire, thanks to the iniative and efforts of the Cultural Association 'Pro-Cañizal'. Visitants and re-enacters of different Spanishsh places: Valladolid, Astorga, Madrid, salamnca, Bilbao, Barcelona... participate in the different programmed events.
The goal of the celebration is the recovery of the historical memory of the shire, making the history available to the new generations, as well as to reach a greater understanding between the different European peoples and cultures.
Program
July 23, 2010
* CASTRILLO DE LA GUAREÑA -
20:00 H. - Opening Lecture by Luis Miguel de Dios (Journalist)
21:00 H. - Ceremonial hoisting of flags
21:30 H. - Presentation of the contenders
* CAÑIZAL -
22:30 H. - Dramatisation of the capture of General Carrie
23:00 H. - March of the Lanterns. The Regiment of La Villa welcomes Wellington
23:30 H. - Lodging of Wellington in the Casa Blasonada
July 24, 2010
09:00 H. - Start of the re-enacters from Cañizal towards the locality of El Olmo de la Guareña
10:00 H. - Arrival to El Olmo de la Guareña. Historical dramatization. Dance of Sticks.
11:00 H. - Start towards the locality of Vallesa. PARALLEL MARCH.
11:45 H. - Arrival to vallesa. Historical dramatization. Dance of sticks
12:45 H. - Start towards Cañizal
13:15 H. - Arrival to Cañizal. Tribute to the fallen in the combats of Cañizal
14:30 H. - Brotherhood Lunch
19:00 H. - Lecture by Arsenio Garcia Fuentes (writer and specialist in Napoleonic subjects).
For more information, contact Luis Torrecilla (lutoher214@gmail.com)
The pictures of the 2008 edition are in Parallel March 2008
Edited (may 2, 2010)
All the participants in the events, are not 'professional' reenacters, but men and women of the shire dressed with hired uniforms or home-made clothes. Maybe the historical accuracy was low, but the enthusiasm is high!
This work is under a
Creative Commons license
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