Nap Campaign: The Battle of Sharpsborg

THE BATTLE OF SHARPSBORG

French v Hanoverians

Total French = 879 figures

CinC Marshall Grouchy

Total Hanoverians = 495 figures

CinC Maj Gen Kielmansegge

Figure scale = 6mm

5th March 1808

1100 hours (Max 24 moves to end of day)

ORDERS OF BATTLE

These orders of battle evolved as the campaign progressed to make them clearer and easier to record casualties etc. which you will see as the campaign progresses. The numbers after the unit name are the numbers of men in the unit with the number of figures representing these on the right hand column. The numbers in the central column are the number of bases. 

TERRAIN (14B)
Each square = 3' square on tabletop

6' x 3'9" table

Hanoverians defending squares 8 and 9

French attacking from bottom of map

Terrain Description

14B8 Firm grazing land, stone walls, farm.

14B9 Firm grazing land, farm, river fordable (difficult terrain)

14B3 (bottom right) Firm grazing land

14B4 (bottom left) Firm grazing land

All woods are difficult terrain

This photo details the initial deployments with the French attacking from the left. Kielmansegge was acutely aware that not only was he outnumbered and outclassed in quality of troops, but his only cavalry was the Cumberland Hussars, who were fine troopers in themselves, but they were lead by that complete buffoon Colonel von Estorff. In order to cancel out the French advantage as much as possible, and hopefully counter the overall French advantage, he utilised the defensive nature of the terrain. The larger farm in 14B8 was occupied by Halkett's Brigade. To it's east was positioned Vincke's Brigade mostly behind a wall. 

Kielmansegge himself with his best troops, being his own Brigade of trained regulars, together with the Hussars were positioned in 14B9. The two companies of Jagers occupied the farm with the Luneberg and Grubenhagen light battalions occupying the two woods to it's north west. The 3 field battalions were deployed along the line of road to its north east with Estorff's Hussars providing support.

Grouchy's plan was simple. It was an all out attack to deliver a hammer blow to the Hanoverians and sweep them from the field in as little a time as possible. He had supreme confidence in the ability of his troops and he was looking forward to lunch in Sharpsborg.

Three views of the French line which amply illustrates what a difficult task it will be for the Hanoverians.

Vincke's Brigade deployed behind a wall with one battalion forming square at the sight of the French cavalry.

Kielmansegge with his 3 field battalions and battery of artillery. He begins repositioning 2 of his battalions. At the edge of the photo on the left is Estorff's Hussars.

Donzelot's Division and Brue's Brigade advance towards the Hanoverian left supported by Delort's 14th Cav Division on the extreme right flank.

On the French left, Quiot's 1st Division moves off from its start position. Charlet's Brigade is tasked with capturing the farm and Bourgeois's Brigade with driving the Hanoverians from the two woods. Bruno's 1st Cav Brigade screened their left flank.

In the centre, Gobrecht's Lancers and the Cuirassiers of Walthier's 13th Cav Division took advantage of the open terrain to threaten the thin Hanoverian line.

The Jagers poured fire from behind walls and within buildings of the farm towards the advancing columns of Charlet's Brigade. They could not miss the densely packed men of 3 of the 4 battalions who lead the attack, but despite bringing down several of the attackers, there were simply insufficient Jagers to make a difference. All 3 battalions successfully completed their charge and there followed a vicious melee in and around the farm. The Jagers desperately hung on despite overwhelming odds and suffering horrendous casualties. They finally succumbed but only after losing 2/3 of their number.

While the drama of the Jagers was being played out, the advancing French columns closed with the Hanoverians on the right flank. The Hameln Landwehr had already formed a square looked on nervously at the approaching Cuirassiers. Even worse for them came in the form of a Horse artillery battery which had deployed in support of the cavalry. They began firing shot into the vulnerable square but, miraculously, the conscripts held. To their right, the Hanoverians lining the wall opened fire on the approaching columns of Aulard's Brigade.

Schmitz and Brue's Brigades advance on Halkett's Brigade defending the farm and its enclosure.

The 5th Cuirassiers launch their attack on Hameln's square. Their commander is acutely aware that if the square breaks that will signal the end of Vincke's Brigade. He shouts encouragement as they desperately fend off the imposing heavy cavalry and casualties start to mount. They hold however, and give a rousing cheer as the Cuirassiers fall back having been repulsed. While this melee is being played out, Aulard orders his Brigade to charge the remainder of Vincke's line. Much to his disgust, the 2nd battalion of the 51st Line falters. Their column becomes disordered and in doing so collides with the 1st battalion of the same regiment causing confusion. With 2 of the 3 attacking battalions in a God almighty mess it fell to the 1st battalion of the 19th line to complete the job. As the column steadily advanced a Hanover artillery battery opened fire with canister. The column buckled under the hail of canister together with a volley from the defending infantry. They heroically continued with their charge and successfully struck the defending Hildesheim Landwehr Battalion.

Such was the ferocity of the charge of the 1/19th Line, the Hanoverian Conscripts, after a brief melee, turned and ran. At the same time, the 5th Cuirassiers charged again the Hameln square. The increasingly nervous Landwehr were not so solid this time around. A gap opened in the square and in poured the victorious Cuirassiers starting the inevitable butchery. Only a few escaped the slaughter. It was all too much for Vincke's remaining green troops and the Brigade broke. This photo shows that point and the desperate struggle around the farm held by Halkett's Brigade.

Schmitz and Brue's Brigades launched repeated attacks at Halkett's men defending the walls of the farm enclosure. They were proving to be an altogether tougher target and they successfully repulsed one attack after another. As French battalions were beaten back they were replaced by fresh units but still the Hanoverians held.

Halkett's men were so occupied by the attacking French columns they were not aware of events to their left. Von Vincke stands alone in shock by the sudden collapse of his Brigade!

Without any support it was only a matter of time before Halkett's men succumbed. The relentless French attacks finally broke through. French troops streamed across the boundary wall through the gap they had created. Halkett had no spare resources to respond and his men within the farm buildings were now acutely aware that there was nothing but French troops on their flank where Vincke should have been. There was no need for Halkett to call on them to retreat as they took it upon themselves to do that pronto. As Halkett fell back with his broken Brigade he consoled himself with the fact that for conscripts, they had done remarkably well. With more support he might have just seen off the French!

While these events were unfolding, on the opposite flank Bourgeois had launched his attacks on the two woods. Both battalions of the 28th line attacked the westernmost wood, the two of the 105th line attacked the other. Both attacks were initially repulsed by steady musket fire from the Hanoverian Light battalions. Bourgeois was concerned with the ease in which both attacks failed with his entire Brigade failing to come into contact. The 28th failed a second time but the 105th had more success.

The second charge by the 105th was far more successful with both battalions ploughing on through a hail of musket fire to make contact with the Grubenhagen Light Bn. The melee proved decisive and with the Hanoverians routing pursued through the wood by the victorious French.

The 28th, having failed for a second time was given a rousing speech by Bourgeois. He urged them on for a 3rd time which proved far more successful finally driving the Luneberg Light battalion from the wood.

Bruno's Brigade sweeps around the open Hanoverian right flank threatening their rear.

Von Estorff in the meantime is still scratching his head! But he does have a nice uniform.

Pressure was building on what remained of Kielmansegge's Brigade. He gradually fell back fearing he was going to be cut off but that was a process that proved very difficult to do under constant pressure. A charge by the French 4th Lancers failed to break a Hanoverian square but all this served to delay him even further.

Von Estorff finally had something to do. Dubois' Curassiers Brigade hoved into view and began a slow trot in his direction. As the Cuirassiers steadily built up speed it occurred to him that they might be being charged. One of his officers diplomatically suggest to him that they might want to counter attack. "Good idea, CHARGE" he shouts waving his sword airily about him. As both sides clashed the Hussars fought for their lives. Estorff might be a blockhead but he did not lack courage and was fighting alongside them. The sheer weight and numbers of the French cavalry told in the end resulting in the Hanoverian Hussars being pushed back. The ferocity of the fight though left both French cavalry regiments with blown horses preventing them from pursuing the Hussars. The latter however, were still fully formed and Estorff was rather startled when they cheered him!

To the right of Estorff, Kielmansegge's situation was becoming increasingly desperate. As fast as one crisis was resolved another formed. He did receive an unexpected visitor though in the shape of Gobrecht.

Gobrecht had participated in a charge by the 3rd Lancers on a Hanoverian artillery battery. A blast of canister stopped the charge in its tracks and unhorsed Gobrecht who unceremoniously pitched up next to a rather startled Kielmansegge. "I suppose I am your prisoner" stated Grobrecht. "I suppose you are" replied Kielmansegge.

With Bruno's cavalry sweeping around his rear, Kielmansegge sounded a general retreat. It was now a case of preserving what he could.

Events overtook him as Kielmansegge's Brigade finally broke. With French troops hot on his heels, Kielmansegge with Grobrecht in tow made their way towards the Hanoverian rear.

Over on the Hanoverian left there was no resistance left as the remnants of both Landwehr Brigades streamed towards Sharpsborg. It was now over for the Hanoverians with the only formed unit still left being Estorff's Hussars! Seeing the general direction of travel of what was left of the Hanoverian army he decided that that was the most prudent way to go. His regiment left the field with heads held high!

A footnote: The adventures of Gobrecht. As the Hanoverian's disintegrated, Kielmansegge had more on his mind than the whereabouts of Gobrecht. In the chaos that followed he found himself alone and decided to take the opportunity to return to his Brigade. After all he had not given his parole!

The battle was concluded at 1300 hours or 8 moves. Grouchy was pleased although a little surprised at the stubbornness of some of the Hanoverian Landwehr.

Result - A decisive French victory

There is now some post battle paperwork to be concluded. That of casualty calculation. A D6 is rolled for each unit and modifications added for the unit's quality. Casualties in battle are those killed, seriously wounded, lightly wounded and those who have run off! Clearly those armies that have fled the field will be at a disadvantage as any wounded they leave behind will be captured or worse! Therefore an additional modification is added or subtracted depending on the outcome of the battle. A decisive victory gains the winning side a bonus. A losing side receives a negative factor. A draw or the victor in a narrow victory (i.e. the losing side surrenders the field but in good order) there is no modifier. The resultant modified score is referred to a chart which gives the number returned to the unit the following day. So in this game, if these units were to be involved in another action the same day there would not have been enough time to recover casualties. 

Orbats showing losses and casualty recovery:

My apologies to any descendants of von Estorff!

  Stand by for the next installment - THE BATTLE OF GREYSANDS....................