Nap Campaign: Battle of Grazzbenn 2nd April 1808: Turns 25 - 28

 

A reminder of the situation at the end of turn 24.

Turn 25

An early success came for the French when the combined Guard horse artillery batteries firing from the high ground onto the Prussian cavalry decimated what was left of Sydow's brigade. A double 6 was rolled killing Sydow and wiping out more than half of the 2nd Pomeranian Landwehr cavalry (losing 6 out of 11). The survivors fled the field and with the loss of Sydow the subsequent brigade morale test failed leading to the dispersal of the last unit in the brigade, the 1st Pomeranian Landwehr cavalry.

The photo shows the aftermath with just two Prussian cavalry regiments remaining to hold the line east of Grazzbenn.

Continued -

The work of the Prussian cavalry is almost complete covering the withdrawal of the last infantry battalions into Grazzbenn.

Blancard's Brigade of elite Carabiniers has been ordered to assist the dragoons in dealing with the Prussian cavalry threat south of Grazzbenn. Both sides prepare for the clash!

A dramatic turn for the worse occurred for Reille's 2nd Corps. Soye had launched two battalion columns at the mass of Prussians hoping to disrupt their advance but both failed utterly and did not make contact.

The Prussians though continued their relentless advance keeping the pressure on the French preventing them from organising an effective defensive line. The 1st Kurmark Landwehr charged the 1/72nd Line who were still in line formation. The French battalion failed their morale check with hastily retreated. Unfortunately they did not put enough distance between them and the charging Prussians who caught them riding the panicking troops down. 

Two more French battalions of Bachelu's 5th Division were defeated in melees leading to brigade morale checks for Campy and Joubert. Both failed leading to the complete loss of Joubert's Brigade. The 5th Division all but ceased to exist with just one battalion in Campy's Brigade remaining.

Only the good quality of French troops (majority are veterans in the 2nd Corps) prevents a total collapse of morale due to the loss of the 5th Division.

In the foreground the combined Prussian batteries have virtually annihilated the French batteries opposing them over several turns.  

The disturbing view from the 3rd Corps!

An overview at the end of turn 25. With the dramatic turn of events in the French rear, barring a miracle, the chances of a French victory are all but over.

Napoleon must now turn his attention towards extricating as much of his army as possible, or at least minimising losses until nightfall. 

For the Prussians it is now simply a case of keeping up the pressure and not allowing the 2nd Corps to settle. Much of the French artillery has been neutralised but there is still a danger from their considerable cavalry. 

Turn 26

At the eastern end of the battlefield, Treskow II prepares of his assault on the French flank.

In response to Treskow II's approach, the Guard heavy cavalry are tasked with removing this threat. Napoleon has decided to use the sunken road as a route of retreat for his forces and the Prussian cavalry would represent a significant threat.

The Guard infantry are ordered to head for the sunken road but the Middle Guard on the left did not get the message! The Old Guard are ready to move off but are blocked by a bemused Middle Guard.

The Cuirassiers have been tasked with destroying the last of the Prussian cavalry east of Grazzbenn. Once again the Prussian cavalry have other ideas against the odds. The charging 11th Cuirassiers are counter-charged by the 6th Dragoons. The ferocity of the Prussian charge pushes back the Cuirassiers inflicting 4 casualties for the loss of only 1. 

South of Grazzbenn the French are seeking to eliminate the threat from the Prussian cavalry on their retreat. Two hard-fought melees ensue with mixed results.

At the bottom of the photo the elite 2nd Carabiniers charge the veteran 1st Uhlans who counter-charge. The Carabiniers prevail forcing the Prussian lancers to retreat. The French cavalry however suffer from blown horses.

At the top of the photo the 7th Dragoons charge the Prussian 6th Hussars who also counter-charge. The performance of the French dragoon brigade in this battle has been woeful and that run continues. The 7th Dragoons are routed and will be pursued by the Hussars.

The French 2nd Corps continues in their attempt to hold it together as they withdraw. 2 more battalions collapse and flee the field but luckily their panic does not spread. 

A ray of hope for the French when a faltering 1/4th Light battalion of Jamin's Brigade is charged towards their rear by the 1st Kurmark Landwehr cavalry (middle left in photo). The rough ground slows the Landwehr giving the French time to react. They pass their formation test successfully turning to meet the charge in column formation. They also pass their morale test meeting the charge in good order. That strong discipline paid off and they successfully defeated the Prussian cavalry in melee.

Not so lucky was the 2/4th Light battalion (lower middle left next to the cavalry). They became the target for the massed Prussian artillery losing 8 of their number. 

More and more Prussians pour through the woods eager to get at the retreating French.

The 10th Division are tasked with setting up a defensive line to protect the line of retreat. 

An overview at the end of turn 26. If the French move onto the clearer ground, the boundary of which is the line of boards running from bottom left to top middle right, their increased speed should put some distance between them and the Pursuing Prussians. At least that's the theory but the increasingly worn battalions are suffering from shaky morale.

Turn 27

All the Imperial Guard infantry now begin making their way southwards, primarily heading for the sunken road.

Cuirassiers continue to attempt to eliminate Prussian cavalry east of Grazzbenn. The 3rd Cuirassiers defeated the 4th Kurmark Landwehr which would see them flee the field. Schulenburg's brigade had now been destroyed.

It is not over for the Prussian centre yet though as a spirited charge by the 6th Dragoons lead by Thurman decimated the 11th Cuirassiers.

South of Grazzbenn the French heavy cavalry struggled to contain the Prussian cavalry. On the right the 2nd Carabiniers with blown horses were charged by the 8th Hussars with Watzdorf. The superior quality of the Carabiniers successfully pushed back the charge by the lighter Prussian cavalry.

On the left the pursuing Prussian 6th Hussars plough into a battery of artillery wiping it out.

As French columns stream from east attempting to escape, the scale of the Prussian attack becomes ever more apparent.

The Prussian cavalry of Lutzow II's brigade cause significant problems for the retreating French infantry who are torn between defending against advancing Prussian infantry columns and forming square against cavalry. The 6th Uhlans lead by Lutzow himself catch the 1/1st Line battalion unformed and rout them causing a good deal of slaughter in the process with almost half the battalion wiped out.

Pire's 2nd Cavalry Division desperately attempt to find a way through the infantry to deal with Lutzow's marauding cavalry.

The 10th Division move towards the right of the Prussian attack preparing to form a defensive line.

Turn 28

The final heroic charge of the Prussian 6th Dragoons left them isolated and reforming as two Cuirassiers regiments struck them from front and rear. Morale disintegrated as the French cavalry hit leading to their final destruction. This was the final act of the Prussian centre east of Grazzbenn which was now entirely in French hands. Too late though to change the outcome of the battle.  

Schwerin's 6th Hussars, having overrun a French battery, were in the process of conducting an uncontrolled charge towards the retreating 3rd Corps when they were intercepted by the 1st Carabiniers lead by Blancard. The elite French cavalry comprehensively defeated the 6th Hussars routing them. This went some way to stabilising this flank south of Grazzbenn.

Desperate stands were made by individual French battalions in an attempt to stem the Prussian tide and thus allow fellow units to escape. Pire's cavalry came closer to finding a way through to intercept the Prussian cavalry that were causing mayhem on the unprepared French infantry.

Among that mass, Lutzow II with the 6th Uhlans continued with their rampage (upper middle) striking and decimating the 3/1st Line of Soye's Brigade. A rare moment of hope occurred for the French when the 1/4th Light maintained their composure and repelled the charge of Lutzow's 4th Kurmark Landwehr cavalry (bottom middle).

Steinmetz' 1st Brigade begins to peal away from the great mass of Prussian troops with orders cover their right flank and if possible prevent the escape of the French army.

An overview at the end of turn 28. There are now only 4 turns left until nightfall. The rough terrain has been both a curse for the French and a blessing. While it prevented them from making rapid progress it also slowed the Prussian advance to their rear giving them time to extract themselves. It is not over yet though with damage limitation now a priority for Napoleon.

NEXT: The final 4 turns of the day.