Nap Campaign: Battle of Grissburg, Turns 11 - 16

Turn 11

Of the 3 Landwehr battalions lining up to charge the isolated 1/92nd Line, there was only room for two. The 2/4th Westphalia lead by Groeben and the 1/3rd Westphalia from Friccius' regiment began their charge. With the 2/4th Westphalia about to hit its flank, the 92nd Line lost their nerve and routed. As they ran towards the bridge both Landwehr battalions continued their charge and successfully made contact. The Prussians butchered 10 of their number before the rest dispersed. In the rules a routing unit contacted by an enemy unit automatically disperses. However, for the purpose of the campaign the attacking units are allowed one strike inflicting casualties as they would for a melee win before the unit disperses. In certain situations where the attacking unit outpaces the routing troops, I allow the pursuit to continue leading to the potential destruction of the routers.

This defeat left the attack of the 9th Division back to square one.

Continued -

For the French 6th Division, the opposite was the case. A charge against the Fusiliers of the 29th Infantry resulted in the Prussians routing before contact was made (middle of photo). With other battalions of Baudiun's brigade advancing into open ground the situation for the Prussians in this sector. This was compounded with the 3/3rd Westphalia Landwehr failed to rally from rout and dispersed. The Prussian 19th Infantry from the 4th Brigade that had been held in reserve was now ordered to advance (3 columns middle and right).  

In the middle of the photo is the lone battalion of the 2/4th Middle Guard Grenadiers. It had formed part of the garrison of the capital but had been ordered to rejoin its Middle Guard comrades. It was now completing its long march heading for the other 3 Grenadier battalions. 

Also arriving are the 3 Guard 12pdr batteries (The Beautiful Daughters). They had been ordered to move to the western half of the battlefield to support the 6th and 9th Divisions. Due to the broken terrain they had to take a circuitous route keeping to the roads. 

The French batteries had now deployed along the river banks and began bombarding Grissburg including the redoubt.

Schwerin advances his cavalry brigade towards the French 3rd Corps. A couple of companies of very brave skirmishers open fire but fail to hit any of the troopers.

Von Sydow begins to move his cavalry brigade out of Grissburg along the eastern road. It is a high risk strategy as the ground immediately outside Grissburg is difficult terrain preventing cavalry from forming up. He gambles that he will be able to make good ground before the French 3rd Corps can intercept them.

The arrival of the 11th Division (bottom right) and Vathiez' Lancer brigade (top right) completes the arrival of the 3rd Corps. Several casualties are caused on both sides as the exchange of artillery and skirmish fire intensifies.

With the approach of Prussian cavalry, the 2 battalions of the 64th Line form square. This is the extreme right of the 3rd Corps deployment.

Turn 12

With the massed French artillery on the south side of Grissburg now routinely bombarding the town, at its western end a furious artillery duel is under way between two batteries of Guard artillery and 2 reduced Prussian batteries ensconced in the redoubt.

On the French left flank, Baudiun's brigade of the 6th Division is making good progress successfully routing two Prussian battalions with another pushed back. As a result of the pressure they applied, Stengel's brigade broke with one battalion dispersing.

In the middle left of the photo is what is left of the 2/4th Westphalia Landwehr. More than a third of their number were brought down by two batteries on the opposite river bank, one of which was in canister range. A double 6 and an '11' being the cause of their troubles. Incredibly they did not break in the morale test.

More battalions of the 6th Division cross the river including the first battalion of Soye's brigade.

French infantry squares move apart to allow for the Lancers to pass through and intercept the approaching Prussian cavalry.

The French 3rd Corps gradually increase the pressure on the Prussian northern perimeter.

The 11th Division of 3rd Corps receives orders to move out towards the eastern perimeter of Grissburg.

Emerging from the eastern access road is the cavalry of Sydow's brigade. The have been instructed to engage with the 3rd Corps.

Turn 13

This turn began with command problems for the French. Both Soye of the 6th Division, and Piquet in command of a brigade of dragoons received double 1's in succession for their command rolls. This meant command confusion. Soye was to make way for the dragoons crossing the bridge and went to a hold order from attack. This was not too much of a problem apart from one of his battalions already crossing the bridge. Soye in the photo is stood by the bridge with his isolated battalion forming an attack column on the opposite side.

Piquet was completely confused! His orders were to cross the bridge and attack the Prussians. He took it upon himself to retire and here he is merrily leading his dragoons in the opposite direction to that intended.

Elsewhere on the French left flank, the 1/1 Light battalion charged into the flank of the 1/3rd Westphalia Landwehr with Friccius attached. A double '6' for the French. This routed the Prussian battalion with Friccius receiving a light wound. The French also captured the Prussian standard. To the left of this melee is the remnants of the 2/4th Westphalia Landwehr who is again raked by a battery of artillery losing more casualties. And it still held on albeit faltering. Not a good position to be in with more French columns approaching.

The French 9th Division now moves with purpose across the bridge to reinforce battalions of the 6th Division.

The view from behind Prussian lines showing the French bridgehead almost complete.

The 3rd and 4th Prussian brigade commanders now orders their forces to retire to the 15th Brigade's position among the industrial buildings with the intention of forming a new defensive line.

As the French lancers move out to confront the Prussians, the 6th Lancers are blasted with canister from the Prussian horse artillery battery. Shot from the redoubt also falls among them. The 3 casualties they suffer generates a morale test which they pass.

Even worse was to follow for the French. Vandamme impatiently ordered two brigades to make an assault on the earthworks between the two redoubts. The Prussian artillery battery positioned here was still fully functioning and was yet to be reduced by French artillery.

As the columns of Billiard's brigade approached (middle of photo), the artillery battery poured canister into the densely packed columns. A double '6'! 7 casualties of the 3/15th Light with another 3 from the 1/23rd Line immediately behind were inflicted. Both however passed their morale tests.

An overview for the 3rd Corps' position. 

The 11th Division moving out towards the east of Grissburg. 

Sydow, who had been leading his cavalry brigade out of Grissburg to engage the Prussians received new orders. He was to leave the field of battle while he still could! Although disappointed, Sydow appreciated the helplessness of his position. He would not be able to form up his cavalry in the rough ground and would be at the mercy of French musketry and artillery. His brigade would live to fight another day.

Turn 14

French artillery continues to pound Grissburg softening up the defenders prior to the main attack. Here the concentrated fire of two Guard batteries inflicted more damage on the batteries mounted on the small redoubt. One battery failed a morale test as a result and will retreat the next turn.

Piquet finally gets his orders right and about faces his dragoons. They now head for the bridge to reinforce Baudiun's brigade.

Two Prussian battalions fail to rally from rout and leave the field. With 9th Division battalions joining those of the 6th Division, a bridgehead is firmly established.

Skirmishers exchange fire as the Prussians fall back on the 15th Brigade's position.

The first cavalry melee of the game. The Prussians had the initiative and Schwerin lead the charge of his Hussars towards the 6th Lancers. They lost their nerve prior to contact and were counter-charged by the Lancers. The failure to charge home proved decisive with the Lancers defeating the Hussars causing them to retreat. The 6th Lancers failed their pursuit test and will now pursue the retreating Hussars.

To their right the 5th Lancers charged the Prussian Uhlans who retreated prior to contact. Vathiez' Lancers have stabilised the right flank of 3rd Corps.

Vandamme's impatience appears to have paid off so far. 3 battalions of Billiard's Brigade charged the Prussian infantry defending their perimeter earthworks. All 3 took casualties from the defenders volley fire but nevertheless all charged home. The 2 battalions of the Prussian 10th Infantry are pushed back.

The 1st units of the 14th Brigade have finally rallied. The 2 battalions of the 11th Infantry form up to act as a reserve behind the sector immediately under pressure from the French 3rd Corps. The Brigade's battery of artillery has also formed up and is sent to the redoubt at the north west corner (top left in photo) which has been badly depleted.

Turn 15

Napoleon believes he has softened up the Prussians enough on the southern perimeter and orders the assault. The Old Guard is given the honour of being first in rather than reserve. The Chasseurs lead as they begin to cross the bridge.

The small redoubt on the south western corner of Grissburg is reduced to one solitary 12pdr. The crew bravely refuse to abandon their post and continue to fire on the enemy batteries on the opposite bank.

The dragoons finally move out to reinforce Baudiun's Brigade.

The 12pdr batteries of the Guard prepare to deploy. They are tasked with bombarding the western perimeter of Grissburg.

An overview of the French left flank. Baudiun is still an assault orders. An attempt to change his orders to 'engage' failed so he continues to press forward with his increasingly worn brigade (middle right). To the left the 9th Division are steadily increasing their presence within the bridgehead.

The remnants of the Prussian 3rd and 4th Brigades fall back on the 15th Brigade's positions in and around the industrial suburbs of Grissburg.

The pursuing 6th Lancers has maintained contact with the retreating Prussian Hussars. They automatically win the melee with the Hussars having to continue retreating. The Lancers suffer a "Horses Blown" pursuit test result so they will fall back on their own lines to recover in the next move.

Two views from behind Prussian lines of the northern perimeter with battalions of the French 3rd Corps lining up to attack. Reichenbach's 11th Infantry battalions have reformed just in time to provide support to the troops holding the perimeter.

The Great Redoubt continues to pour fire onto the 3rd Corps in this sector.

One battalion of the 11th Division was on the receiving end of particularly accurate fire from the Great Redoubt. 3 massed batteries targeted the 2/12th Line rolling a double '6'. These were reduced batteries of 1, 2 and 3 guns each. Combined with the fact that they were firing at long range reduced the potential devastation of the battalion. Nevertheless they lost 5 and will retreat the next move. General Dufour nearby had his horse killed from beneath him (risk to General test) but remounted on  a new mount impressing the men with his calmness.

An overview of 3rd Corps with more troops being funnelled into the gap between the two redoubts. Around the battlefield batteries of artillery were running low on ammo. Here one of the French batteries suffers such a fate.

Two of the French battalions that had pushed back the 2 Prussian battalions from behind the earthworks charged the newly reformed 1/11th Infantry (middle top). The Prussian battalion poured a steady volley into the two attacking columns scything down many of their number. Both failed to charge home and retreated. The 3rd French battalion involved in the earlier melee reformed and turned to attack the Prussian artillery battery. The latter, a horse battery, limbered up and quickly got themselves out of trouble. The top half of the photo shows the aftermath of those actions.

The bottom middle of the photo involves 2 battalions of Gengoult's Brigade charging the Prussian battalion defending the earthworks. After defensive fire one French battalion retreated with one charging home. The heavily outnumbered French battalion suffered badly in the melee and was repulsed.

With the attack starting to break down, Billiard orders 3 of his battalions to assault the redoubt. The 2 gun Prussian battery prepared to fire a volley of canister at the attacking columns and rolled a double '1'! They failed to score any hits and were now low on ammo.

An overview at the end of turn 15. The 3rd Corps on the right are now struggling to make headway against the northern perimeter despite the early success. The reforming 14th Brigade is providing a timely reserve for the Prussians.

At the top the French build-up continues on the northern side of the river. Reille's orders are to clear the Prussians from the industrial suburbs and then turn on the western perimeter of Grissburg.

With the Prussians beaten back from the southern perimeter Napoleon has ordered the Middle and Old Guards to attack. The Middle Guard are static having suffered a command blunder but the Old Guard are on the move.

Turn 16 

The first of the Old Guard Chasseur battalions crosses the bridge and so far is only met by ineffectual fire from a lone company of skirmishers.

The Guard 12pdr batteries begin to deploy with their main target being the western redoubt just visible to the right.

The current situation on the French left flank with Baudiun's Brigade of the 6th Division continuing to press retreating Prussian units.

The 9th Division advancing towards the woods in front of the main Prussian position occupied by the 15th Brigade.

Triumphant battalions of Billiard's Brigade from the French 8th Division capture the North Western redoubt. They had charged a 2 gun artillery battery situated within the redoubt who were low on ammo. They fired a hurried round of canister (only 3 thrown on the dice) combined with reduced fire due to lack of ammunition meant only one casualty caused. The two battalions clamouring up the side of the redoubt continued their charge routing the artillery crews prior to contact. A single gun horse artillery battery occupying the opposite end of the redoubt rapidly limbered up and retreated.

The view from the rear of the redoubt with a single battalion following up.

A solid wall of Prussian infantry is presented to the attacking French now that the rallied 11th Infantry from the 14th Brigade has joined the line.

A view from the French side. Shattering volleys from the Prussians stop the French in their tracks who struggle to provide an effective response.

Elsewhere, Dufour successfully rallies his retreating battalion from the 11th Division. They, and the battalion they unformed, must now hurry to catch up with the rest of the Division.

More units of the 14th Brigade rally. The two battalions of the 1st Pomerania Landwehr form up in column ready to support the northern perimeter.

Schwerin rallies his Hussars and the Uhlans in front ready to charge the 5th French Lancers (in the foreground).

An overview at the end of Turn 16 - half way through the day. The 6th and 9th Divisions are behind schedule in clearing the Industrial suburbs. They are needed to commence their assault on the western perimeter of Grissburg (a reminder - north is to the right).

The Prussians suffered badly from the early encounters but in the last two turns it is the French who have come off worst including losing 2 battalions routing from the field. The last remaining Prussian gun on the small south western redoubt was finally destroyed by the combined firepower of 2 Guard batteries.

The French are seriously struggling with the assaults of the 8th and 10th Divisions. Although they have captured the north western redoubt it really is only a toe-hold with support at least a couple more turns away. 

Until the 11th Division severs the eastern road into Grissburg the Prussians still have a route of escape. Once that is overrun any dispersing units within Grissburg will be captured.

For the Prussians it is a case of holding on plugging gaps in their perimeter, or as in the case of the southern perimeter, withdrawing to the town and making the French lives as difficult as possible.

To be Continued -