Duben is finished!

Generallieutenant Kapzevich, commander of the Russian 10th Corps, has saved his heavy baggage train from the vanguard of the French/Saxon VII Corps, commanded by the Général de Division Guilleminot. Düben is now in French hands, but the Russian column is retiring towards the north safety, thanks to a combination of rain, mud and a stubborn defense.

Above we can see the last combat of the day fought under the rain, between the square of the Russian Olonetz Infantry Regiment and the Saxon Hussar Regiment. Despite heavy losses, the Russians were able to stand the cavalry onslaught forcing the Saxons to retire.
Last, a general view of the battlefield with the Russians leaving the battlefield under the protection of their cavalry and artillery, whereas the French/Saxons remain jammed around Düben and the bridge over the Mulde River.
A Russian victory without any doubt!

Duben on way (IV)

It is raining from several turns ago, and the men are moving with extreme dificulty over the soaked and muddy terrain. The French/Saxon units are slowly advancing towards the Russian lines but the Russian commander, Generallieutenant Kapzevich, has almost achieved his main objective: to save the heavy baggage and his aides de champ are passing the retreat order through the line.

Only a weak infantry rearguard and the fire of a heavy Russian battery, protected by the Russian dragoons, is visible, whereas the wagon train is vanishing under the rain.
The end of the battle is near.

Duben on way (III)

The combat of Düben is developing in a similar way to the real thing. The Russians are maintaining the advancing French-Saxon vanguard at a respectable distance, whereas their baggage wagon train is ponderously advancing and almost has reached the safe exit-point of the table.
It is raining now, and the terrain has become mud, so all units are now moving at reduced speed. This fact, united to the late arrival of the French reinforcements and the traffic jam in the bridge over the Mulde River, all are leading towards an almost sure French failure and a subsequent Russian success.
You can see above the retreat, to the second line, of the almost broken Saxon Prinz Clemens Uhlan Regiment, after suffering a strong Russian bombardment during several turns.
We are only at two Russian turns from the game end, marked by the baggage wagon train leaving the table. Only several additional turns and the end of the rain, could avoid the French failure and the Emperor's anger!

Duben on way (II)

The combat of Düben continues. The French have avoided the Düben trap by turning the town by the left, and are now advancing to break through the Russian center.
Because of the total absence of Russian cavalry (they are Reinforcements) the Saxon Prinz Anton Uhlans have broken a Russian square, and are now in good position to menace the Russian infantry.
However, the Russian baggage train, now past the cemetery, is slowly moving away from the danger. One Russian battery is also retiring under cover of its infantry, whereas the other has deployed and is firing, with small success, againts the left French flank.
The Russians are escaping!

Duben is on way

The combat for Düben is now in its first movements. Here, French Light Infantry is seeing while crosses the bridge and deploys, under the protection of the Saxon Horse Artillery and the Saxon Light Cavalry, that is charging the Russians in front of Düben.
The Russian C-i-C has hastily deployed a Light Foot battery covering the town, whereas the rest of the batteries have left the convoy and are trying to come back and deploy, covered by the Russian infantry. Now, only the slow baggage wagoons are still on the road moving ponderoulsy towards safety.

Some optional (home) rules for Duben

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!

Düben: a scenario for Lasalle

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 battle of Reichenbach is about to start!

After several home problems caused from an over-voltage spark that ruined the main home-computer, the external hard drive and the modem-router, I have been able, at last, to finish the terrain and to deploy the opposing forces for the battle of Reichenbach.
The game will start int the next days and I want to test some variations of routing moves found in the Napoleon's Battles Yahoo group.



See the Russian Jagers occupying the cemetery and the town of Reichenbach.
Watch this space!

A new tabletop map for Reichenbach

After reading the book: "Bautzen, la pursuite jusqu'a l'armistice 22 mai-4 juin 1813", of Liet. Col. Foucart, published by Berger-Levrault, Paris, 1901 and available through Google books, iI have modified the tabletop map (see the attached figure) and the arrival times for the French and Russian forces of the battle of Reichenbach.
The arrival times are now:
French
VII is on the table, Saxons (Sx) at right and French (32) at left.
GC is on the table and deployed
Napoleon arrives 10.00 h at C1
I Cavalry Corps enters 12.00 h at C1
Russians
II is on the table, Schachafskoy (3/II) at right and Pischnitzky (4/II) at left and the cavalry at south
5th division enters 9.30 h at C5
R enters 10.30 h at C5
2C enters 11.30 h at C5
This is a rearguard Scenario, so the Russian objective is to delay the advance of the French allowing his army the crossing of the Neisse River at Gorlitz, 7 km from Markersdorf by the C5 road. At that month and latitude the sunset is 21.00 h, so the French have until 18.30 h to.
The point values of the contending forces are: French 796 vs. Russians 691. The multiplier for the weaker side (Russian) is 1.38 in both NB1 and NB2 (372 and 149 victory points respectively). The key points and the percentage of victory points allotted are Reichenbach (20%), Mengelsdorf (10%), Marksdorf (40%), A4-C4 (20%) and B5 (10%) heights. Each Russian unit (infantry, cavalry or artillery) exiting the table in good shape is worth an additional 2.5% (there are 42 units in the Russian rearguard).
See the new pdf file at the main web-site: Reichenbach (1813).

The OOB's for Reichenbach

By using the books of George Nafziger and Digby Smith (See the previous post on Reichenbach) I have built the Order of Battle for the French and Russian Armies in Reichenbach. Summarising
French Army (Napoleon)
- VII Corps (Reynier)
32nd (French) Division
Saxon Royal Corps
- I Cavalry Corps (Latour-Mauburg)
1st Light Cavalry Division
3rd Light Cavalry Division
1st Cuirassier Division
- Guard Light Cavalry (Lefebre-Desnoettes)
Total: 11,000 Infantry , 5,400 Cavalry and 11 Batteries
Russian Army (Wurttemberg)
- 2nd Infantry Corps (Wurtemberg)
3rd Division
4th Division
Corps Cavalry
- Reinforcements
5th Division
2nd Cuirassier Division
Trubezkoi Cavalry (Corps?)
Total: 12,300 Infantry ; 7,180 Cavalry and 12 Batteries

The Russian numbers are slightly greater than the French and their quality superior. However, the Russian Reinforcements will be not present at the start of the battle and Napoleon is commanding the French, so the final result is in doubt.

See a near contamporary map taken from the 3rd Military Survey of Austria-Hungary

Battle of Reichenbach

After their defeat at Bautzen (20-21 may, 1813) the Allied retreated towards the south-east in two columns of weary soldiers in order to cross the Neisse River. Their rearguard, commanded by Eugen of Wurttemberg and comprising his 2nd Russian Corps, remained in Reichenbach and was catched by Reynier's VII Corps (not fighting in Bautzen) and the 1st Cavalry Corps. Napoleon himself arrived to the battlefield and engaged the Guard Light cavalry, including the famous Red Dutch Lanciers, a "new spectacle" for Wurttemberg, as it had been a long time since he did seen a force of French cavalry.
This will be my next battle. It will be fought using the 'one-half' Napoleon's Battles version and for the OOB's and basic narrative I will use the Nafziger's book (Lutzen and Bautzen. Napoleon's Spring Campaign of 1813, The Emperor press, 1992) and the Digby's Databook (The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book, Greenhill Books, 1998).
The picture is taken from The red Lancer Inc.

The battle of Kalisz is finished

I have finished the re-fight of the battle of Kalisz, the last battle of the Russian Campaign or the first of the 1813 Campaign. The played battle was a total disaster for the Saxon-French Reynier's VII Corps.
The Russian forces, led by Winzigerode, cut the Kalisz bridge (see the accompanying picture) isolating Reynier, which was obligated to gain his retreat through a cloud of Cossacks and regular Russian cavalry.
However, the von Nostitz's and von Gablenz's Saxon divisions performed heroically, making a fighting retreat before the menacing Russian cavalry.
Watch the main site for the Scenario and the Battle in pictures.
The next battle will be the affair at Goldberg, the failed prelude to the battle of the Katzbach, between the Bluecher's Army of Silesia and the V and XI Corps under Lauriston.

Cavalry combat at Kalisz

The battle of Kalisz is now at its heights. The Saxon rearguard is fightins a running combat with the Russian cavalry and artillery. During the 15.00 h turn, a cavalry combat has taken place between two of the recenlty painted units: the Saxon Chevaux-Legers and the Russian Mounted Jagers.
In this occasion the Saxons routed the Russian regular cavalry unit, falling after over a Russian puilk which was also routed by the heroic cavarylmen.



Until the end of the re-fight, you can see the Scenario in the Battle of Kalisz page at the main site.

An update of the battle of Kalisz

The battle of Kalisz is going on. Until this moment, six turns have been elapsed. The first Russian brigades (one Light cavaly and one Cossack) have arrived as well as the Saxon rearguard so all the units of the Reynier's VII Corps are on the table. The Russian cavalry have been harassing the Saxon infantry although the Polish Krakus have routed an excessively daring Cossack pulk (below).

But it was a short life success, because two lucky attacks carried out by the Russian Hussars (Alexandria and White Russia Regiments) have fully breaked the Saxon Prinz Clemens regiment and have taken its divisonal battery, pursuing the routed men until the first houses of the Kalisz suburbia.

These daring Russians will be forced to retreat in the next turn, but the artillery pieces taken will be the first trophies taken in this battle.

To be continued

The battle of Kalisz

Poland, February 1813. Following the disastrous Russian Campaign, the Russian forces leaded by Winzigerode, have caught up the retiring Reynier's VII Corps trying to cross the river Prosna.
The VII Corps formed part of the French-Austrian right-flanking column under Schwarzenberg, and was a multinational force composed from Saxons, French and Wurzburgers formed in three divisions. At the time of the battle, it was reduced to around 9,000 infantrymen, 800 Saxon horse and 36 guns (not including some low-calibre regimental pieces). In addition, around Kalisz were 3,000 Polish infantry levies and 300 Krakus cavalry.
The pursuing Russians, under Winzigerode, included the 2nd Infantry Corps of Eugene of Wurtemberg, the ad-hoc Bachmetiev’s Infantry Reserve corps and a large cavalry force under Trubezskoi and Lanskoi. The total force amounted to 6,000 infantry and 6,500 cavalry (mainly Cossacks) with 70 guns. All units were under-strength after heavy campaigning.
The battle will be played using the 'divisional' Napoleon's Battles modification. Until the actual playing, you can watch the Scenario files and some additional information at The battle of Kalisz page in the main website.

The OOB's for the battle of Kalisz (February 1813)

As I said in a previous post, I am preparaing my next wargame, the battle of Kalisz. At last I received the issues No. 196, 199 and 201 of the French magazine Tradition with the series of articles of Pierre Juhel about that battle. In general lines the articles coincide with the information given by George Nafziger and Digby Smith. However, this last author said me (in the Napoleon Series Forum) that his Data Book only shown the units really fighting in the battle, whereas Nafziger (and Juhel) show all the units present in the area.
My final decission is to use the Juhel data and the divisional Napoleon's Battles modification (1 figure/30 men and 1"/25 yds) in order to put on the table a decent number of figures. In a next post I'll present the final OOB's.
Incidentally, the main web site is again on-line but I have received an e-mail from Geocities saying that I was breaking the conditions of the hosting by using my site as a pasarel to other sites, a thing explicitely forbidden. I don't understand its statement because all websites are full of links!. However, I have written back to them because I don't know which are the ofending links. I am now waiting its answer.

Battle of Kalisz (February 1813)

Following an interlude caused by the end-of-semester academic duties, I return again to wargaming by re-fighting the battle of Kalisz (Kalisch).
That battle is considered to be the last of the ill-fated 1812 Russian Campaign or the start of the 1813 Spring Campaign. The pursuing Russian forces, leaded by Winzigerode, catched up the the Reynier's VII Corps. That Corps was almost intact after forming part of the French-Austrian right-flanking column under Schwarzenberg command, and was formed by two Saxons and one French division.
The involved forces were too samll for normal Napoleon's Battles, so again Iill use my 'one-half' Napoleon's Battles version : 1"/50 yds for terrain, 1/60 for men and 15 minutes per turn.
Kalisz is a somewhat obscure battle. The best references available were the Nafziger's (G. Nafziger, 'Lutzen & Bautzen. Napoleon's Spring Campaign of 1813’. The Emperor Press, Chicago, 1992) and Smith's books (D. Smith, 'The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book', Greenhill Books, London, 1998).
A search trough Google books produced some hits: Histoire de la Guerre de 1813 en Allemagne by J.B.A. Charras and Les Allemands sous les aigles françaises. Vol III by Sauzey . A query in the Napoleon-Series Forum, kindly answered by Digby Smith and Thomas Hemmann, also produced the existence of a series of 3 articles "Kalisch, la dernière bataille de la retraite de Russie" by Pierre Juhel in the issues Nos. 196, 199 and 201 of the French magazine Tradition. I have ordered these issues to make a definitive study bfore to play the battle.

Last but not least, I want to acknowlege the efforts of my Argentinian friend Armand d'Arc, which caught my attention on this battle and provided me with the necessary encouragement to further researching. This scenario is for him, sine qua non.

Modellbahn Total (Oldenburg, Germany)

This weekend, Benno de Groot (owner of the Benno's Figures web site and administrator of the Benno's Figures Forum) and his friends of the Miniatuurweld team, will be present (and painting) at the Modellbahn Total fair in the town of Oldenburg (Germany).
Duringt the fair, Benno will display several posters with contributions of some habituals of his Forum. It's a big honour for me that Benno has chosen some of my figures for that occasion.
See at left the poster he designed, and note that many of the conversions of this blog have been included, so the Rheinbund men are back in Germany!
Many thanks to Benno!

Saxon Line Infantry

The Saxon contingent is complete! The Line units were again an easy painting conversion of French Line Infantry, this time mainly ITALERI 6066 post-1812 French Line and some (two exactly!) HAT 8042 post-1812 French Light .
The full history is, as always at my web-site.

Saxon Converged Grenadiers

The Saxon Grenadiers are finished (luckily only there were two battalions of them!). It's an easy paint conversion from the HAT 8042 French Light Infantry.


See the full history at my web site