4th March 1814 - Battle of St Jean

St Jean Campaign Area

7^th French corps have orders to hold St Jean

1^st British corps have orders to attack St Jean

French                                     British

16000 infantry                         16000 infantry                       

1000 cavalry                           1000 cavalry              

30 guns                                   30 guns

Table at start of wargame

Top centre - 7th French corps at St Jean

Bottom centre – 1^st British corps

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Both corps have similar numbers, but the French guns have longer range

So a frontal attack is out of the question

The British advance their right to occupy the farm

British artillery also unlimber near the farm to prevent the French advancing

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

The French have not reacted

British send all four brigades towards the farm

Cavalry remain to protect the gunners

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

British hussars move to join the main advance

French infantry redeploy to face the farm

Artillery limber and move to their left

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

French cavalry also move to their right

British cavalry halt and face towards St Jean

Portuguese infantry advance towards centre

Two British brigades now in farm

French infantry in centre suffer first artillery casualties

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French continue to deploy to their left

Infantry in the centre retreat into St Jean

British use farm as cover to move infantry to the centre

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

British gunners rout French infantry into St Jean

French cavalry redeploy to their right to counter British hussars

British garrison farm and continue to deploy in the centre

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

1^st British brigade advance from farm to threaten French gunners

25^th French brigade fail to rally and rout from the table

British corps advance

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

1^st brigade receive 10% casualties but continue to advance towards French gunners

2^nd brigade form square to protect infantry advance

French move infantry to their left flank to protect gunners

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

1^st brigade receive more artillery casualties and rout

British infantry approach town, but it is now garrisoned

British hussars advance behind infantry square

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

General Stewart orders his corps to attack

Highlanders and Portuguese storm St Jean and rout defenders

British hussars charge and rout French dragoons

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

General Daricau orders the remainder of his corps to retreat

Game Casualties

French suffer 2000 infantry and 200 cavalry casualties

They also have one cavalry and two infantry brigades in rout

British suffer 1200 casualties and have one brigade in rout

Game Summary

The battle started with a strong advantage to the French.

They had better cavalry and artillery, and a strong defensive position

The British forced them to redeploy by using the farm to outflank them

They then switched back to the centre and stormed the town.

1^st brigade attacked the French guns, and were routed with heavy casualties

But this diversion allowed the remainder of the corps to storm the town