Nap Campaign: The 2nd Battle of Ainsworth (Prussia) Part 3

And the result of the Prussian Army Break Test is:-

Normally this would be the end of the game. However, this is a campaign! Whatever happens on the battlefield now could affect future events. I therefore created rules for this eventuality. This is an extract:

Alternative effect when Army Breaks: If appropriate for scenario, instead of it being the end of the game when the Army has broken, the following applies:

1. Any 'Broken' or 'Faltering' brigades rout and if no enemy likely to be able to contact them they disperse.
2. Any future Brigade Morale tests with a 'Broken' or 'Faltering' result = dispersed as (1).
3. Any retiring units become 'Broken'. Test in following turn, if successful revert to 'Retire'. If fail disperse as (1).
4. -1 For initiative tests
5. -1 Orders test
6. 'Hold' result may 'Retire'
7. -1 for all morale checks including Brigade tests.

I use this as an option in a game. Some games I simply call it a day if one side breaks and there is little to be gained from carrying on. In this particular battle there could be serious consequences for Blucher. There are only two bridges over which his army must traverse to reach safety. A significant portion of his force is on the opposite side of the board to those bridges. He must use those units still in good order to hold off the French for as long as possible to allow his army to escape. If he fails this could signal the end for the Prussians. Or at least dangerously reduce the Prussian Army in size.

This third and final part will cover the Prussians desperate fight to save themselves and the equally desperate French to inflict a crushing blow on Blucher.

As the Prussian Army morale begins to collapse, the units heavily engaged at the far flung corners of the battlefield, are blissfully unaware of the turn of events. In a remarkable charge, the 2nd Pomerania Landwehr cavalry (middle top) launch themselves at the 2nd Cuirassiers who counter-charge. The confidence of the latter soon evaporates as the Prussian cavalry possess an unexpectedly high level of aggression. The elated Prussian Landwehr cavalry defeat the Cuirassiers who are forced to retreat. With horses blown the Prussians must retire to their own lines to recover.

Friccius' 3rd Westphalia Landwehr and Schmidt with the Fusilier Battalion of the 9th Infantry (both bottom left), are now in full retreat having been defeated by Jamin's Brigade. Sohr and the 3rd Hussars (middle left) begin to pull back fearing being cut off.

Reckow's 2nd Elbe Landwehr (middle) bravely fight on but mounting casualties from French artillery causes them to falter. 

View from the French side towards Reckow.

As the Prussian army starts to break, Napoleon orders the general advance. He issues specific orders to Vandamme and Foy to advance in haste towards the bridges. He intends to cut off the line of retreat and hopefully capture the bulk of the Prussians. Here the last of the French cavalry on their left advances out onto open ground.

Hake is not yet aware of events elsewhere and orders Lettow's 10th Infantry Regt and Braunschweig's 2nd Neumark Landwehr to attack the Middle Guard. The first charge is promptly halted by the opening volleys from the Grenadiers of the Middle Guard with one battalion of the 10th Retreating (middle top). A second charge is equally unsuccessful as the first ranks fall to repeated musket volleys. 

BATTLEFIELD ADJUSTMENT

It was now necessary to 'shunt' the battlefield north to encompass both bridges. This was to add 9" to the Prussian side and reduce the French side of the board by 9" (which was now clear of French troops). Hence the battlefield was now changed to this:

The only additional terrain features are the cottage and farm. The river is too deep to ford.

To make it more clear I have included here the terrain to the north (not represented on the tabletop) which shows the route of the river. As can be seen, the Prussians are trapped in squares '22' and '23'. The Prussians have now retreated to the left of the farm in '23' with Vandamme's 3rd Corps and Foy's Division pressing them from the south and east.

This then is the adjusted board with the two bridges (the western bridge is in the top right corner just about visible). 

Reckow's Elbe Landwehr (middle) have been attacked by Corsin's Brigade from Lafol's 8th Division (now free from its prolonged attack on the farm). With his brigade at half strength this was the final straw for the Conscripts and they broke. They could hold their heads up high though for what such inexperienced troops achieved. You will see from the proliferation of green micro dice signifying morale tests just how parlous a state the Prussians were in. Events were moving too fast for Blucher to form a coordinated rear guard. He could only cobble together whatever units were still in good order and try and form defensive lines.

A closer look at what was the Prussian centre and has now become their left, shows Foy's battalions making direct assaults for the first time on them (middle) which are met with a blast of musketry. Battalion and company commanders are working hard to shore up morale on all those Prussian units to the rear of that action. In the top left the Empress' Dragoons has charged into a line of the 7th Infantry Regt with Seydlitz fighting alonside them.

Here we see an overview of the Prussian right and Blucher's attempts to form a new line running diagonally across the battlefield to keep the bridge (bottom right) clear.

All those units not formed are routing from the battlefield and are heading for the nearest bridge.

Here Friccius' 3rd Westphalia Landwehr (bottom right) are streaming towards the nearest bridge. Others have to run the gauntlet of fire from Jamin's Brigade (top left). And in that respect, Sohr's 3rd Hussars (middle) have disturbingly faltered after suffering heavy casualties from that fire.   

Several units break from the Prussian centre. Schwerin with the 1st Cavalry Brigade of the 4th Corps Reserve seeks to plug the gap (top and middle right).

In the middle left Groben's Brigade has faltered which means that it will break in the next turn. Stengel (middle bottom) still has control of his Fusilier battalion of the 19th Infantry. Bauduin's Brigade now advances clear of the wood (middle and top). 

Hake's attacks on the Middle Guard (top right) had finally come to an end without any of his units able to make contact. The Middle Guard Grenadiers and stood steadfast and calmly poured fire into every attack. With morale collapsing and more French columns appearing on his left, Hake ordered the retreat. Sydow's cavalry brigade (middle) continued to defy the odds and was still routinely engaging with the French cavalry. His numbers however were dwindling. The three Prussian battalions in line (bottom left) is Fischer's 1st Silesia Landwehr. His slowness in getting his troops forward now proved to be a blessing in disguise. It enabled him to form an effective defensive line free of French interference and somewhere for the Prussian unit ahead of him to aim for.

The view from behind the French 3rd Corps as they begin their drive to cut off the main Prussian force. In the background right of the photo can be seen Prussian streaming from the battlefield over the nearest bridge.

A closeup of those fleeing Prussians with the French not far off from cutting this potential escape route.

Blucher's new defensive line takes shape. A clear command structure has begun to break down as brigades have become intermingled or destroyed. Formations have to be cobbled together with whatever units are in the vicinity still able to fight.

On the Prussian right an artillery battery has been attached to Fischer's line (bottom middle). Ahead of them, units of Hake's Brigade stream from the valley with French columns advancing menacingly in the distance. Sydow's Cavalry Brigade with Watzdorff's 8th Hussars continue to engage French Cavalry but Sydow knows that it is only a matter of time before they are destroyed. For the French they are increasingly frustrated that they have not been able to mount a single large knockout blow. The difficulty deploying out onto the open ground compounded by relentless Prussian charges prevented them from forming up a significant force. It has therefore been down to individual cavalry regiments dealing with their own engagements which has limited the French advantage.

At last a solid looking cavalry line had been formed by the French. Blancard had lined up his brigade of Carabiniers alongside the 6th Chasseurs. Vathiez leads his 2 regiments of Lancers past the rear of the Carabiniers. Ahead of the cavalry line, the 1st Chasseurs with Hubert had just defeated one of Sydow's Landwehr Cavalry regiments.

An overview at the end of Turn 17 (1.15p.m.). 

The next turn sees Fischer open his lines to let retreating troops through on the Prussian right flank. Some are in good order, others are routing.

To the left of Fischer, the Prussian cavalry continues to surprise. Watzdorff redeems himself after the earlier stupidity and charges the 1st Carabiniers with his 8th Hussars (middle left). The Carabiniers counter-charge and in the subsequent clash the elite troopers are put to the sword! They are forced to retreat after suffering heavy casualties. It is fortunate for them the the Prussian horses are blown. They will have to retire to their own lines to recover. 

Elsewhere the fortunes are with the French cavalry. As Schmalensee's 1st battalion of the 3rd Neumark Landwehr emerges retreating from the wood (middle top) it is charge and almost annihilated by the 6th Chasseurs.

Bottom left - more routing Prussian troops.

Blucher has formed up the 4th Corps reserve artillery (bottom right) and has also placed the 1st Silesia Landwehr Cavalry from Sydow's Brigade under the command of an ADC to act as a reserve.

Thile's 3rd Silesia Landwehr (middle right) are holding the line along with artillery batteries.

Stengel with the Fusilier battalion of the 19th Infantry (middle top) face an unequal exchange of musketry with Bauduin's Light infantry.

The Prussian 1st Uhlans from Schwerin's 2nd Cavalry Brigade counter-charge the heavy Grenadiers a Cheval of the Guard. The initial impact is inconclusive with both sides embroiled in a second round of melee. The Lancers will have lost the benefit of their lances in the second round however.

Elsewhere more Prussian units stream towards the route to safety with other formed units retreating to form new defensive lines.

Over to the Prussian left, the last of the Prussian left flank are passing the eastern bridge. The French have been slow to follow up with the 3rd Corps causing a traffic jam! Vandamme urges his Brigade commanders to get a move on. Guiton is attempting to get his Cuirassiers clear of the infantry to engage the retreating Prussians. 

Sydow's 3rd Cavalry Brigade are now reduced to just one Landwehr unit which has been charged by the Carabiniers. The others have finally broken leaving the hapless retreating Prussian infantry at the mercy of French cavalry. Here the 1st Chasseurs have ploughed into routing Landwehr (middle of photo) causing carnage. The Prussian infantry columns still in good order cannot afford to form squares with French infantry advancing towards them. They have to push on hoping their columns will be sufficient to see off any cavalry attacks.

French pressure gradually builds.

As Guiton's Cuirassiers finally clear the infantry logjam, the Prussian 11th Hussars see the impending threat. In order to buy the retreating Prussians time, they charge into the Cuirassiers (middle). It was their final action as the Cuirassiers made short work of them. They did though hold up the French cavalry for another valuable move.  

Blucher orders the reserve artillery batteries (middle) to retreat and make their way to safety. This valuable artillery would be needed in the future. 

The French 3rd Corps.

A Prussian line forms and with the additional troops retreating in good order from the left this will leave more options open for defensive positions.

A menacing view of the pursuing French.

As the Prussian line shrinks it is a race against time to save as much of their forces as possible.

The French left flank.

More of the French left.

The Prussian escape route is to the right of the house top left.

It is now the start of turn 21 (2p.m.). As Prussian routing units head for the bridge morale is breaking down among many of the units on the left of the new Prussian defensive line (the white micro dice indicate units that are about to rout in the next compulsory phase. 

The Prussian right flank is a source of concern for Blucher.

A closer look (unfortunately rather blurred), show the desperate defensive lines thrown up by local commanders. They are being harried by French cavalry and now the infantry columns loom large.

A few photos of the current situation:

The next turn spells potential disaster for the Prussians. The centre has suddenly dissolved. Blucher is faced with morale so brittle that any event can trigger a cascading effect on surrounding units as they break for safety. 

Napoleon had been deliberately holding back the centre to allow the 3rd Corps cut off the Prussians but as the Prussian line has shrunk and the 3rd Corps took longer to advance than anticipated, he decides it is time for an all out assault.

The Prussian right collapses under the combined assaults of infantry columns and cavalry. The 1st Chasseurs (top middle) have destroyed a Prussian column and pursues to inflict yet more casualties.

Blucher's staff convince him it is time to leave or face capture which, they felt, would surely condemn Prussia to total defeat. He reluctantly accepts this advice and command of the Prussians is passed to the senior officer, the 4th Corps commander Bulow. He is however caught up in the crush to cross the last remaining bridge. Also worryingly for the Prussians, the 4th Corps reserve artillery is still on the wrong side of the bridge (middle).

Watzdorf (bottom left), for all his initial failings, has redeemed himself by keeping the 8th Hussars in good order and intervening at important times. Here he is still holding the line having been charged by the 3rd Cuirassiers. Unfortunately they faltered as the Cuirassiers charged and therefore there would be no doubt about the outcome of the melee. It was their final action as the Cuirassiers carved into them and they broke. 

To the right of this action (bottom middle), Hubert continued his rampage with the 1st Chasseurs. They now contacted the last of Creilsheim's battalions, the Fusiliers of the 15th Infantry. Yet another unit was added to the 1st Chasseurs tally as they massacred the helpless Prussians. 

Blandowski (upper middle) bravely attempts to hold the Prussian right with his last battalion, the 1/2nd Silesia Landwehr. They falter as they are charged by the 1st Chasseurs, and with Blandowski in the front line they miraculously repulse the attack. 

There are a multitude of senior Prussian commanders here dangerously close to being captured or killed in their attempt to hold the line. The two 3 figure round bases to the right are the 13th Brigade commander, Hake, and the 16th Brigade commander, Hiller. At the bottom middle is the new Prussian commander, Bulow.

The chaos at the bridge as more and more units join them. Here Pirch considers himself far too valuable to be left behind (bottom middle).

On the left of the Prussian line, individual units fight on. Sohr is still there with his 3rd Hussars having played an important role throughout the battle (middle). A Landwehr battalion forms square in the face of the Empress' Dragoons.

A second defensive line is formed to try and protect the escape route.

An overview of what is left indicates that the formation of the second line (right) 

may prove rather fruitless!

A few more photos of the current situation:

The next turn proved to be dire for the Prussians. With ever fewer units still capable of fighting the French cavalry began running amok.

Blucher's staff and escort force their way through to safety, closely followed by Pirch. The artillery follows in their wake.

Several Prussian units form squares and on the right, fleeing Landwehr pass through the wood in an effort to avoid the cavalry.

It is now the end of turn 24 (3p.m.). I decided to call it a day as by now I was just playing a massacre which is not a great deal of wargaming fun! With hindsight I should have counted most of those Prussians on the wrong side of the bridge as captured as in reality they would have thrown down their weapons at this point. Some massacres did occur but they tended to be a rarity. Lets just say that Napoleon refused to countenance murder and called off his troops. 

As it is the Prussians are severely damaged and are now fleeing towards their capital. 

CASUALTIES:

The situation by nightfall:

The Prussian capital is to the north in square '8'.

RESULT - A DECISIVE FRENCH VICTORY

NEXT - MAP MOVES