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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

31st March 1814 – Battle of Arens



Arens Campaign area

French have orders to move to Arens on attack orders
British have orders to move to Arens on engage orders

British             12,000 infantry                       1000 cavalry               30 guns
French             12,000 infantry                       1000 cavalry               30 guns

5 British          move to E02 on engage orders
18 French        move to E02 on attack orders

Note                both corps have one infantry brigade detached on garrison duty

Table at start of wargame

British Brigades                      3 infantry        1 cavalry         1 artillery
French Brigades                      3 infantry        1 cavalry         1 artillery

5 British corps                        Arrive D02 start of move 5
18 French corps                      Arrive F02 start of move 5

Note – Wargame starts at 1200, when both corps arrive on the table
Move 1 – 1200 to 1300
Both corps deploy cavalry to protect their advance
Move 2 – 1300 to 1400
Both corps deploy north of the town
Move 3 – 1400 to 1500
Both continue to advance and deploy
Move 4 – 1500 to 1600
Both corps deploy out of long range artillery fire
Cavalry advance to cover deployment
Move 5 – 1600 to 1700
Polish lancers charge dragoons, British lose and retreat shaken
Artillery manhandle forward into long range
Infantry continue to deploy
Move 6 – 1700 to 1800
Lancers charge and rout shaken dragoons with 40% casualties
Dragoons rout into infantry, who also rout
Nearby British infantry form square to protect gunners
Murray orders his battered corps to retreat

Game Casualties
French suffer no casualties
British lose 400 cavalry

Game Summary
British advance towards Arens on Engage orders
They are forced to fight by French who are on Attack orders
A cavalry melee decides the battle before either side fully deploy
Polish lancers win extended melee and rout British dragoons
Nearby infantry lose morale and join the routed cavalry
British retreat before French can pin them


Total casualties, including from earlier battles,  at the end of the battle
French none
British 400 cavalry and two brigades in rout

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