Prussian Brigade 1812-13 Attacking Array

So, I`ve used my Heroics & Ros 6mm Prussians above to show the Prussian brigade of 1812 in attacking formation:
I`ve placed the brigade general in the first line in the usual position for a regulating battalion. The senior colonel is with the grenadiers (and on a white horse) in the third line reserve; his junior is with his first battalion of musketeers of his regiment in the centre of the second line.
This seems to make more sense having the brigade general change his position to wheel on either pivot, and it would be no different for a brigade general in any other army to do this and in this, even though the brigade general is obliged to alter his position according to circumstances the degree of control would still seem to be much better than it would be if the seven battalions and cavalry were arrayed in line, or even in two lines.
Alternatively, one could have the brigade general swap positions with the junior colonel of the brigade in the second line?

light/legere battalion in loose files, open order and extended order

the diagram shows an infantry battalion adopting; loose files, open order, and then extended order...
these intervals did vary form army to army.. but in the case of the game, a convention or general rule is necessary.

notes: so that people know which way around their units are...there are four bases to a standard infantry unit, the black base is the command base, the red one the grenadier/"heavy", and the green one is the voltigeur/"light" base.

game by tattergreis

see photos of tattergris` game at:

http://angelbarracks.forumup.com/viewtopic.php?p=6466&mforum=angelbarracks#6466

The Replay of Haslach-Jungingen.

The line up of players changed for our second game using this scenario yesterday.
We were joined by Andy, who was our Dupont in this replay. Malcolm volunteered to be Ferdinand and that made me Mack for the afternoon.
An experienced Napoleonic gamer, Andy's deployment was shrewdly defensive. He protected his division's right flank by placing his dragoons behind the infantry and at right angles to the line. His artillery was set up centrally opposing Ferdinand and the Hussars were placed to cover his left flank. The 1st battalion of the 9th Legere were held as a reserve and were given specific orders to counter attack at the first opportunity where there may be an enemy break-through or threat.
The battle began with Ferdinand's two brigades standing quite motionless in front of Haslach; only being disordered from time to time by the long range fire of the French artillery battery, posted to the right of the village of Haslach.
With some confidence, but without issuing any definite orders to von Loudon's infantry to carry on their advance much further beyond Jungingen, Mack took personal command of the Austrian cuirassiers to attack the French dragoons. The Austrian Chevauleger and an attached cavalry battery were left behind at Jungingen.
Despite the fire from a section of French horse artillery, Mack leading the Austrian heavies closed with the French cavalry; immediately routing the 17th Dragoon regiment. Being forced to test morale, the 15th however held on, but they were beaten in the next turn of combat and both French cavalry units were pursued.
This early success back-fired on me however, as the cuirassiers continued to pursue the routers off the battlefield. The Austrian left columns now became leaderless and a pause followed, during which Andy was able to re-set his defence of Haslach.
The threat of enemy cavalry in the rear of his division had passed, but there was still the possibility of attack from von Loudon's and Ferdinand's infantry.
In his re-organisation, Dupont ordered the 96th Ligne to take the position that the Dragoons had originally held, supporting them with the divisional artillery and shifted the 1st battalion of the 9th Legere to support the 32nd Ligne which was defending Haslach itself. After being pulled back in response to the earlier cavalry action, Colonel Rouvillois` Hussars were sent back to cover the French left just beyond the village of Haslach.
Ferdinand ordered the advance of Reich's and Werneck`s brigades. These were arrayed in two treffen (or battle lines) in line formation. Also after some delay, von Loudon had taken the initiative to attack the French right, but only with his first brigade.
The 8th and the 20th infantry regiments advanced taking fire from Dupont's divisional artillery. The two treffen were halted and routed in successive turns by medium range fire from the battery, the 20th infantry regiment who were the first to break rallying behind von Loudon's second brigade.
This failure left Ferdinand`s commands with the last chance for a victory.
On clearing a small wood on their right, Reisch and Werneck`s brigades formed square in response to the presence of the French hussars. After some pause the Austrians resumed their advance in square, deployed to line and issued skirmishers to protect their advance. Leaving four battalions of his right flank in square as protection from the French hussars, Reisch had changed his position and his regulating battalion to the 3rd Battalion IR15 Karl Riese; Werneck followed suit in the second line, with the 3rd battalion in his command.

Reisch`s line supported by Werneck`s then, moved forward in line, skirmishing with the voltigeurs of the 32nd 96th and tirailleurs of the 9th Legere. These gave ground until finally two assaults and a fire fight developed between the two opposing lines.
The first to be resolved was an assault on the French divisional artillery battery by the 1st Battalion IR17 Reuss-Plauen; this assault failed and the battalion was routed.
The second assault took place at a lightly built up area (a small hamlet) defended by the 2nd battalion of the 9th Legere, which was attacked by the 2nd and 3rd battalions of the IR17 Reuss-Plauen formed in two columns. The assailants were repulsed in some disorder.
And also in the first turn, the 3rd Battalion IR15 had started a fire fight with the 2nd battalion of the 32nd Ligne.
In the following two turns the condition of the Austrian battalions engaged gradually worsened and after a counter-attack by the 1st battalion of the 9th Legere, Reich's brigade was made to test its morale. This test was failed and Reich's command fell back, rallying behind that of Werneck.
There had perhaps only been two slight chances of an Austrian victoryin this game; if only Mack had rallied and retained control of the Austrian cavalry earlier in the game* and later if only the French artillery had failed to rout or disorder the 1st Battalion IR17 Reuss-Plauen. With the French artillery over-run and a broken divisional line with no reserve the command would have needed to test its morale until that break in the line had been filled, or covered. If Dupont had failed a divisional morale test he would have to withdraw one move, abandoning Haslach to the advancing Austrians.
So, it was a French victory within 3-4 hours, which was probably 2 ½ hrs playing time (with movement deductions for catering breaks; wine, coffee, cookies and pancakes etc…)
*In this game there was a special roll for the victorious Austrian heavies; 50:50 that they pursue the French dragoons off the field to raid and loot the divisional transport and baggage.

Haslach-Jungingen

I played out a variant of the Haslach-Jungingen scenario game ending.
I played "solo" from the point in our previous game when the Austrian attacks on the French left were finally beaten off.
In this case however, a French square was broken and the whole of Dupont`s line was made to test morale until it was forced to retire one move... during this time however, Mack taking personal command of his own regiment, after three turns of combat, beat the French Dragoons, pursued them and then rallied to rout the French Hussars.
By this time it was growing dark and having lost possession of Haslach, and his cavalry support driven off, Dupont ordered a withdrawal of his troops in square.
This proves that Mack can win in this scenario.
Although it was a defeat for the French, considering the costs, it was still not quite enough of a convincing victory for the Austrians within the conditions and the time limits that are set in the scenario; with Reisch`s and Werneck`s infantry commands beaten they were not in a good condition to break out from Ulm - and they had only fought a single French division.

Price Cut

The Rules are now only £10 Per Copy !


You`ll find them at:


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