29th March 1814 – Battle of Rougemont

Rougemont Campaign area

Both corps have orders to attack

Bavarian - 48000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

French - 40000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

Bavarian HQ   move to E05

1 corps            move to E05 on attack

2 corps            move to F05 on attack

3 corps            move to E06 on attack

4 corps           rest and resupply 3 days

French HQ       move to F05

4 corps            move to E07 on attack

10 corps          move to E04 on attack

16 corps          move to E05 on attack

22 corps          move to F05 on attack

Note – 4 Bavarian and 4 French corps will not take part in the battle

Table at start of wargame

Bavarian Brigades - 12 infantry, 3 cavalry, 3 artillery

French Brigades - 12 infantry, 3 cavalry, 3 artillery

Bavarian HQ     start on table                      

1 corps               start on table

2 corps              arrive F05 move 1   

3 corps               arrive E06 move 5  

French HQ           start on table                                   

10 corps              arrive E04 move 5   

16 corps              arrive D05 move 1

22 corps               start on table          

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

CinC move to join 2 Bavarian and 16 French to issue deployment orders

All four corps are on blinds to hide movement and deployment

1 Bavarian cavalry have been deployed to recce 22 corps

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

22  corps has been spotted and must remove blind and place figures on the table

CinC have moved to issue deployment orders to 10 French and 3 Bavarian (both off table)

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

22 corps cavalry advance and spot 1 Bavarian corps

22 corps infantry enter Rougemont

16 corps cavalry advance to recce the approach of 3 Bavarian corps

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

1 Bavarian artillery open fire on Rougemont, but no casualties

2 Bavarian corps place figures on the table so that they can deploy

2 corps cavalry advance to recce the approach of 10 French corps

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

3 Bavarian and 10 French corps arrive on table on blinds

Both have deployed cavalry to prevent enemy cavalry spotting them

2 Bavarian corps starts to deploy

16 French corps have been spotted and replace card with figures

1 Bavarian infantry skirmish the town supported by artillery, but no casualties

Town garrison skirmish with 1 Bavarian, again no casualties

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Both 3 Bavarian and 10 French continue to move towards the centre

2 Bavarian continue to deploy

Both still protected by their cavalry screen

1 Bavarian infantry and artillery continue to engage the town, still no casualties

Town garrison skirmish with 1 Bavarian, again no casualties

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

3 Bavarian and 10 French both spotted and replace card with figures

1 Bavarian continue to skirmish town, two brigades receive casualties, one is shaken

French garrison receive 10% casualties to artillery fire and are also shaken

2 and 3 Bavarian advance to engage enemy

French CinC orders his corps to hold rather than engage.

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

22 French sends fresh brigade to replace shaken brigade

1 Bavarian artillery cause shaken brigade to rout, remaining two brigades are shaken

10 French garrison farm and withdraw out of artillery range

2 Bavarian advance and redeploy artillery

16 French and 3 Bavarian exchange artillery fire, but no casualties

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

1 Bavarian storm Rougemont

22 French garrison of three brigades rout

Bavarian CinC orders a general attack

French CinC orders a general retreat

French Rout

Three French infantry brigades are broken and rout from the town

Behind them the Bavarians enter the town and pursue them

Game Casualties

French lose 1200 infantry

Bavarians lose 1200 infantry

Game Summary

The battle was decided by the town fighting in the centre

The flank corps exchanged artillery fire, but did little damage

22 French corps took the town and placed two brigades in garrison

2 Bavarian corps attacked with four infantry brigades supported by artillery

The infantry engaged in a prolonged skirmish fight, with little effect

It looked bad for the Bavarians when one of their brigades broke and routed

The Bavarian gunners manhandled their guns to short range

One French brigade was shaken, and a third brigade sent to reinforce the town

The Bavarians pressed home their attack, and the remaining two French brigades routed

With his centre broken the French CinC ordered a general retreat

Total casualties, including from earlier battles,  at the end of the battle

French 1200 infantry and three brigades in rout

Bavarian 1200 infantry