Thursday 13 June 2013

Final considerations about Raguhn

Actual position of the Russian forces
The battlefield was, in theory, dominated by the bridges located in the center and eastern zone, which could make possible the stopping of Russian columns or even their break into two parts, out of range of each other.
However, the French vanguard lost a precious time, which turned out to be unrecoverable, cleaning the central wood of enemies, so only a lone lancer regiment was available to try the taking of the strategic central features. Additionally, the appearance of the Russian units (based on the dice), allowed Osteman-Sacken to deploy his forces in a way facilitating the defense, and thus the line of western hills at South of Brugerkint, become the actual focal point of the battlefield.
That hill line protected the only escaping route available to the Russians, i.e. the road running through Burgkemnitz, since the other road was cut off by the French advance almost from the beginning of the fight. The French C-iC- realized its importance and left to their own devices to his right flank forces in a continuous and futile skirmishing with the Russian Cossacks and regular cavalry, which protected the withdrawal of the infantry units in that area. The French vanguard also had a secondary role in the central sector, and although they cleared the forest from Russian Jaegers, they suffered greatly at the hands of Russian units covering the exits of the forest. Actually, the French vanguard acted as a covering force of the French main attack.
That main attack was launched in the western sector, where the bulk of the French forces inclined to the left. First the cavalry and then the infantry, advanced uphill against the defensive line formed by the Russian C-i-C, which also realized the importance of the position. At last, the Russian units rejected several attacks of the French line infantry, which were left next to collapsing point. This fact was used by the Russian forces to follow their march westwards under the protection of their victorious infantry, because of the excessive time needed by Bertrand to mount another assault.
 

French losses
1/, 2/ and 3/8e Legere; 4e Chevaux-Legers Lanciers (8 moral points). The actual units onto the battle field were 14 battalions/6 regiments/3 batteries (43 moral points), so the losses amounted to 19%.
Russian losses
1/8th and 1/ and 2/39th Jaegers; 1/Simbrisk IR; Light Battery #35; Kourland DR and Karpov#2; Loukoffkin and Kutainikov #4 Cossack Pulks (14 moral points). The actual Russian forces used were 14 battalions/5 regiments (3+)/2 batteries/3 cossacks (46 moral points), so the Russian losses were 30%. However, if the total Russian forces are taken into account (i.e. the un-used units are considered to successfully pass along the battlefield), that were 19 battalions/6 regiments/(4+)/5 batteries/8 cossacks (67 moral points), i.e. 21% of losses.
 

This is a combat where the assignment of victory is not easy and it can ba a drawn battle.



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2 comments:

  1. Interesting battle and map. I will have a go myself! thanks.

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  2. Hi Rafa
    Given the disparity of the forces you have to give kudos to the French for attacking so vigorously but they appear lucky to have gotten a draw out of it despite the number of casualties they inflicted. At this point in the campaign the Allies can absorb heavy losses, the French cannot. Be interested to see how the rest of it plays out.
    Cheers,
    Doc

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