Nap Campaign: The Battle of Erfurt (Prussia)

As it has been a while since I played my Nap campaign, a reminder of the events that lead up to this battle can be found in the preceding post - Map Moves 21st to 22nd March.

The situation in this sector of the campaign. Blucher with the main Prussian Army is green 1 and 3. Napoleon is blue 1 and 3. This battle however takes place to the north east. The Prussian 14th Brigade (green 7) is en-route to reinforce Blucher when it is intercepted by Vandamme's 3rd French Corps (blue 9).

The Prussian Brigade commander, Ryssel, orders his men roused at first light ready to march to the Prussian capital. As dawn breaks French troops appear en-masse to the east and south east intent on intercepting them. Ryssel realises that Blucher risks being surrounded in the capital and sends a messenger to alert him on events unfolding on his north eastern flank. He intends to hold the French for as long as possible to allow Blucher to fall back (if that is what he decides to do!).

Vandamme at the head of the French 3rd Corps observes the Prussian troops deploying across his line of advance. To ensure Blucher remains trapped inside his capital he is determined to deal with this lesser Prussian force and quick order.

Continued -

THE BATTLE OF ERFURT

French v Prussians

Total French 802

CinC Vandamme

Total Prussians 307

CinC Von Ryssel

Scale = 6mm (Baccus)

Rules = General de Brigade (modified)

23rd March 1808

0900 hrs (max 32 moves)

ORDER OF BATTLE

TERRAIN

4'6" x 3'9" Table

17A4 (top left) – Open heathland, Pine woods. Village of Erfurt (capacity 120) Good Terrain

17A5 - Rough rocky terrain, cottage (cap 12). Difficult Terrain

17A9 (bottom left) – Rough broken terrain, cottage (cap 12). Difficult Terrain

17A10 – Firm grazing land, fences, river deep, stone bridge. Good Terrain

All Woods – Difficult Terrain visibility 6cm

Initial dispositions:

The calm before the storm.

Von Ryssel forms a defensive line with Erfurt protecting his left flank and a wood his right. Brandenstein with the 1st Pomerania Landwehr line the edge of the wood with Pewels and the 2nd Pomerania Landwehr in Erfurt. With the 11th Infantry linking the two the only reserves are a single squadron of 2nd Silesia Landwehr cavalry and a single battalion from the 2nd Pomerania Landwehr. With the French having to traverse difficult terrain to his front their artillery would be confined to the road. Ryssel therefore positions his single artillery battery at the east end of Erfurt to concentrate its fire on the road.

Vandamme knows the speed is of the essence if he is to ensure Blucher is trapped. He therefore orders an all out assault counting on weight of numbers to overwhelm the Prussians. Orders to each division are as per the photo. The cavalry brigade are to support the infantry taking any opportunity that presents itself to launch an attack.

Two views of Lagard's Brigade of the 11th Division.

French 11th Division and cavalry brigade.

French 11th Division

French 10th Division

French Right

French 8th Division

Prussian 11th Infantry in line and 2nd Pomerania Landwehr occupying Erfurt.

From behind Prussian 11th Infantry.

1st Pomerania Landwehr protecting Prussian right flank.

TURN 1:

The first turn did not go well for the French with numerous command failures. Here the 11th Division failed to move at all allowing the 2nd Cavalry Brigade under Vathiez to move out ahead of them.

The French centre and right also had a stuttering start. The Prussian artillery opens up on the limbered French battery on the road with questionable accuracy only scoring one hit. This generated a formation test by the French battery which it easily passed. Elsewhere skirmish screens exchanged shots with minimal results.

TURN 2:

Turn 2 was a little better for the French although it was still bedevilled by command failures. Vathiez moving his cavalry into columns of squadrons although being in rough ground they remained unformed.

The French advance in the centre and right now made steady progress out of the rocky terrain which slowed them down (half move distances). The 8th Division 6pdr battery deployed astride the road and escaped with no casualties from the continuing inaccurate fire of the Prussian artillery. Two French batteries were stuck on the road leading out of the hill cutting. 

TURN 3:

The French left were still struggling to make headway but were gradually clearing the rough ground into the open terrain in front of the Prussian right.

Two photos of the French centre being the 10th Division. They continued to gradually clear the broken rocky terrain while their skirmishers exchanged fire with the Prussian skirmishers.

French and Prussian batteries exchanged fire with minimal results.

TURN 4:

An overview at the end of Turn 4. Finally success for the French command tests with all formations passing. The exceptions being the artillery batteries stuck on the road (top right on photo). It would appear the lead limber had shed a wheel holding up the convoy of artillery behind (artillery are confined to the road in this broken (difficult) terrain.

With battalions now clearing rocky and broken terrain they marched confidently towards the Prussian position.

The Prussian 11th Infantry await the approaching French 10th Division while their skirmishers exchanged fire.

French artillery began pounding Erfurt while 2 battalion columns of the 37th Line (right middle) prepare to charge the Prussian artillery. The latter though, loaded with canister swept the leading ranks away generating a morale test for the 2nd battalion which it passed easily.

The 2nd battalion of the 2nd Pomerania Landwehr occupying the church and its cemetary, look on as the French 8th Division approaches.

TURN 5:

Turn 5 saw the first charges of the battle as the French 8th Division began it's task of capturing Erfurt. The two smaller columns in the middle of the photo charged the Prussian artillery who evaded into the village abandoning their cannon. 

To the right, 4 battalions charged the 2/2nd Pomerania Landwehr defending the church and its cemetery. The Landwehr opened fire inflicting casualties on all 4 columns. 2 battalions faltered but the other two, the 1/15th and 3/15th Light battalions were not unformed by the two faltering battalions and charged home. The Landwehr stood their ground to receive them.

An overview at the end of the movement phase.

The French 10th Division approaches the thin line of the 2 11th Infantry battalions intending to batter their way through by sheer weight of numbers.

Meanwhile the 1st and 3rd battalions of the 15th Light infantry attack the cemetery walls defended by companies of the 2/2nd Pomerania Landwehr. They succeed in pushing the conscripts back into the church itself with heavy casualties.

Further to the French rear the lead battery finally gets moving only for the following battery to get stuck in the cutting!

A final shot of turn 5

TURN 6:

5 French battalion columns launch a charge at the 11th Infantry. The latter fire off murderous volleys with both battalions scoring high dice rolls. 13 casualties are inflicted across the 5 battalions.

The attack failed utterly. The 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 34th Line infantry retreated (middle of photo). On the left the 1/22nd Line halted and the 2/22nd Line faltered. The only successful battalion was the one that suffered the most, the 1/88th Line on the right. It passed its charge home test only to be unformed by the neighbouring battalion retreating.

The 1/15th and 3/15th Light battalions followed up their previous melee engaging the Landwehr holed up in the church. They succeeded in forcing their way in leaving the 2/2nd Pomeranians retreating from the village. The French success was tempered a little by the fact that Lafol had failed a command test leaving the rest of the division static.

Some photos now at the end of Turn 6. In the foreground is the continuing progress of the 11th Division.

Clear of the rough ground, Vathiez forms up his Lancers. 

The left flank of the 10th Division angling towards the woods. 

The steadfast 11th Infantry holding off the French. 

Another shot towards the mangled French columns.

TURN 7:

With the French centre (10th Division) decisively repulsed and the left (11th Division) failing to make much headway, Vandamme becomes increasingly concerned given the urgency of defeating this Prussian brigade to ensure Blucher is surrounded. The French right (8th Division) is having more success and it is here that Vandamme hopes to turn the Prussian flank.

Turn 7 opens with a charge of French troops in Erfurt from the church towards an adjacent building but lose their nerve half way and halt.

The 1st and 2nd battalions of the 37th Line infantry have more success and storm the building in the middle of the photo comprehensively routing the Landwehr occupants.

With the French capturing the eastern end of Erfurt, the Prussian occupiers are now appearing out of the western end. The unit in the middle are the artillery crew who have given up any idea of retrieving their cannon (I used infantry bases to represent them. At some point I may paint up some crew figures for this situation).

In the centre, Habert pushes his 10th Division forward with several battalions now forming line. The Prussian 11th Infantry are pulled back to prevent being outflanked. However, the 1/11th Infantry nearest to Erfurt falter at the sight of the routing Landwehr from the adjacent building.

The 2/1st Pomerania Landwehr lining the wood fire on skirmishers screening the cavalry without success. To the right the 11th Division is still struggling against command failures to make a great deal of headway.

Turn 8:

A significant event develops in Erfurt when Pewels inexplicably orders his 2nd Pomerania Landwehr to retire from the village (rolled 2 x '1's and 1 x '2' , a significant command failure which forces him to retire if within charge reach of the enemy). This has exposed the left flank of the 11th Infantry.

The French 8th Division wastes no time in exploiting Pewel's cowardice and move through the village.

The French 2/88th Line of Gengoult's Brigade are the only troops withing charge reach of the faltering 1/11th Infantry. Seeking to take advantage of the shaky Prussians the 2/88th charge in column formation towards them (middle of photo). Against the odds, the 1/11th once again deliver a devastating volley despite the handicap of faltering. The 2/88th lose 5 casualties and are forced to retreat.

The 2/11th Infantry to the right are not so fortunate. They receive a volley from the French lines losing 4 casualties which forces them to retreat.

The 11th Division are nearly there!

TURN 9:

A drama unfolds!

An overview during turn 9.

Having abandoned Erfurt, Pewels is ordered to make a new defensive line in the woods to the west of the village.

2 shots of the French 8th Division steadily moving through Erfurt.

This time the French aim to make no mistakes. The 1/11th Infantry has not had time to rally from falter as the 1st and 3rd battalions of the 88th Line infantry charge into them. The two French battalions defeat the Prussian battalion inflicting 6 casualties and forcing them to retreat.

The Prussian centre now looks precarious although the 2/11th were rallied and a new defensive line begins to form.

On the French left, Vathiez leads his lancers on an outflanking move around the western end of the wood occupied by the 1st Pomerania Landwehr.

At last contact is made on the Pomerania Landwehr defending the wood, but not by the 11th Division! 2 battalions launch a charge, the 1/56th Line of the 11th Division, and the 2/70th Line from the 10th Division. The defending 1/1st Pomerania deliver an effective volley causing the 1/56th to falter. The 2/70th was made of sterner stuff and charged home (middle of photo).

Col Brandenstein joined the 1/1st Pomerania to stiffen their resolve. These were slightly better troops than their comrades in the 2nd Pomerania, being rated 2nd Line. The French battalion carved into them with easy and with such devastation they routed despite the presence of Brandenstein who desperately tried to rally them, but to no avail. 

In response to this rout, the 2/1st Pomerania lost their nerve and began to retreat. A brigade test followed which proved disastrous for the Prussians. The Brigade (Prussian Regt) broke. As both battalions were either routing or retreating both dispersed. This collapse of the Prussian right now left Von Ryssel in a perilous condition. 

TURN 10:

As the 8th Division advance beyond Erfurt, Billiard sees an opportunity to catch a Landwehr battalion who had lagged the rest of the Regiment. He launched 2 battalion columns at the rear of the 3/2nd Pomerania Landwehr. They about faced and received the charge. The French overwhelmed the conscripts causing heavy casualties and routing them.

In the centre the 2/11th Infantry was reforming as 3 French battalions poured fire into them. They absorbed the casualties and held their ground in the subsequent morale test.

Vathiez continues to make progress with the aim of intercepting any routing troops to inflict maximum damage.

A view of the 11th Division who are now advancing in the wake of the routing Landwehr.

TURN 11:

With the area now clear of Prussians, the 8th Division advance towards the centre to intercept what is left of the enemy.

With pressure building on the Prussian left flank, the 1/11th Infantry is ordered to pull back even though still unformed. There was a real danger it could have been caught and badly mauled.

Reichenbach joined the 2/11th Infantry in the centre to steady them as they faced a charge by 3 French battalions. Once again the Prussian musketry proved themselves firing off a deadly volley inflicting casualties on all 3 battalions. All failed to charge home with one retreating, another faltering and the third halting.

Behind and to the left of the 11th Infantry, the 3 conscript battalions of the 2nd Pomerania Landwehr are dissolving into a mess. A brigade morale check is initiated resulting in a 'broken' brigade. The close proximity of the board edge means that they disperse from the battlefield. This is a heavy blow for the Prussians and it is now a case of attempting to pull all units off the battlefield safely rather than continue to try and delay the French.

The routing 1st Pomerania Landwehr burst out of the woods directly in the path of the French Lancers. Fortunately for them, Vathiez has failed a command test and therefore does not take advantage of the situation.

Seeing the predicament of the 1st Pomerania, the squadron of Silesian Landwehr cavalry move over to support them.

Dufour's Brigade of the 11th Division move through the now vacated woods.

Two photos of the centre showing the ever decreasing Prussian forces. The Prussians now had to take and Army morale test which they passed.

TURN12:

 The French 8th Division are now free to move on the Prussian centre.

A French charge on the unformed 1/11th Infantry results in the Prussians routing before contact is made.

The 8th Division moving towards the centre with the routing 1/11th Infantry in the foreground.

An overview of the centre at the end of turn 12.

The failure of Vathiez to activate allows the 1st Pomerania Landwehr to exit the battlefield unmolested. The Silesian Landwehr cavalry move to ensure they are screened.

At the end of turn 12 another army test for the Prussians which they again pass.

TURN 13:

Turn 13 sees what the French hope to be the final destruction of the 11th Infantry. 2 battalions charge the front of the 2/11th with the 2/56th Line from the 11th Division, having moved through the wood, charges the flank of the Prussian battalion. Another effective volley causes one battalion to falter but the other 2 charge home. The 2/11th does not wait for contact failing the morale test and retreating.

The Silesian Landwehr launch a charge at the 5th Lancers who counter-charge with Vathiez at their head. There really could only be one outcome with the Silesians being carved up by the more experienced lancers. They lost 5 of the 9 involved resulting in immediate dispersal. The 5th Lancers suffered from blown horses so once again would not be able to cut off any Prussian line of retreat.

At the end of turn 13 the Prussians took another Army morale test which they failed. The entire army, or what was left of them, routed from the field with no French troops close enough to intercept them.

An overview at the end of the battle.

Although this was a decisive French victory they failed to deliver the destruction they were hoping for. They were dogged with command test failures particularly for the first half of the battle. At the crucial moment, Vathiez failed his test twice which would have seen the Lancers reining death and destruction among the breaking Prussians. The 11th Infantry were also lucky to escape without being wiped out which looked like a distinct possibility at one stage. Morale failures actually helped them to extract themselves from a rapidly deteriorating situation.

The casualty tally demonstrated the missed opportunity for the French. Both sides lost equal numbers with the Prussian 11th Infantry battalions proving to be particularly effective with their musketry. It is only a combination of better quality troops and a decisive victory that enabled larger numbers of French to be recovered.

TROOP LOSSES:

So the battle ends with the Prussians routing westwards pursued by the French 3rd Corps.

A note about the new-look labels. I trialled a green background on the Prussian labels to see if it blended in better with the green terrain boards. The answer was 'no' with the black being less conspicuous so I will stick with the latter. I was concerned that the unit details being reduced to abbreviations would make them difficult to decipher being so small. It is true to say that they are not as clear as the larger labels but I managed fine. I may try and make the letter denoting the troop quality a little more conspicuous by using a bold font. I did briefly mix up which units were under which commander. 

The smaller labels definitely improved the look on the tabletop but I will aim for a compromise between the old and the new. Under the old labels I had 3 lines of type (commander, unit name, unit quality). Increasing it from one to two lines allows me to include the full commander name with the unit name and quality on the 2nd Line. Will try this out next time.

NEXT: Map Moves