8th April 1814 – Battle of Bad Kreuznach

Bad Kreuznach Campaign area

French lines of communications have been cut

They must defeat the Russian army and rout them+

They can then turn west and reopen their lines of supply

If they fail they must surrender

8, 14 and 20 French corps have orders to attack Oppenheim

1, 3 and 4 Russian corps have orders to attack Bad Kreuznach

Russian           24,000 infantry           3,000 cavalry              90 guns

French             35,200 infantry           3,000 cavalry              90 guns

Table at start of wargame

Russian  Brigades       6 infantry        3 cavalry         3 artillery

French Brigades          9 infantry        3 cavalry         3 artillery

All corps start on table on blinds and in column of march

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

1 Russian move onto hill in column of march

All other corps deploy into column of attack

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

1 Russian deploy into column of attack

They have not been spotted because they are behind the crest of the hill

All other corps have been spotted and replace blinds with figures

All other corps advance towards the centre

CinC changes 4 Russian orders from Engage to Hold

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

3 Russian infantry in woods 10% casualties from artillery, pass morale

CinC change 4 Russian orders from Engage to Hold

4 Russian cavalry withdraw out of artillery range

1 Russian spotted replace blind with figures

14 French enter woods and farm

20 French unlimber artillery

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

3 Russian artillery fire on farm, no casualties

3 Russian infantry skirmish farm, no casualties

4 Russian artillery fire on infantry, no casualties

1 Russian artillery unlimber

14 French advance in woods and farm

20 French artillery 10% casualties on infantry, pass morale

8 French artillery fire, no casualties

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

3 Russian artillery fire no casualties

4 Russian artillery fire no casualties, infantry skirmish no casualties

1 Russian artillery fire no casualties

14 French artillery fire no casualties, infantry skirmish no casualties

20 French artillery fire no casualties

8 French artillery hit infantry, 10% casualties pass morale

8 French skirmish gunners, 10% casualties pass morale

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

3 Russian infantry skirmish garrison, 10% casualties pass morale

4 Russian artillery hit infantry, 10% casualties fail morale and rout

1 Russian artillery limber and retreat, infantry draw melee

14 French infantry skirmish in farm and woods, no casualties

20 French change orders from Engage to Halt

CinC change 8 French orders from Engage to Attack

8 French artillery hit infantry, 20% casualties pass morale

8 French infantry charge hill and melee, result draw and both Disordered 

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

3 Russian skirmish town, garrison20% casualties fail morale and shaken

4 Russian artillery fire on square, no casualties

1 Russian cossacks charge cuirassiers, lose morale and retire shaken

1 Russian infantry lose melee and rout with 60% casualties

CinC orders 1 Russian to retire

14 French artillery fire on gunners, no casualties

14 French skirmish woods, no casualties

20 French artillery hit square, 20% casualties pass morale test

8 French skirmish hill, defenders lose 10% casualties fail morale and are shaken

CinC orders 20 French to engage

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

3 Russian skirmish woods and town, no casualties

4 Russian Artillery hit square, 10% casualties fail morale and shaken

1 Russian rally shaken Cossacks to disordered

14 French artillery hit gunners, 10% casualties pass morale

14 French replace shaken garrison with fresh brigade

14 French lancers charge and rout cosssacks with10% casualties

20 French artillery fire on square, no casualties

8 French charge and rout infantry on hill with 20% casualties

8 French cuirassiers charge and rout disordered Cossacks with 10% casualties

Russian CinC orders a general retreat

Game Casualties

Russians lose 4000 infantry, 200 cavalry and 6 guns

French lose 2000 infantry

Game Summary

The French have lost their main depot and supply road to France.

Abandoning their lines of communication they attack the Russians.

At the same time the Russians are advancing to attack the French

The French occupy the farm and woods in the north

In the centre they deploy in front of Bad Kreuznach but do not advance

The major fighting takes place on the southern flank

The Russians reach the hill first, but immediately come under attack

The French are stronger on this flank, and rout the defenders

With the loss of his right flank, and his left about to rout, Sacken orders a general retreat

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

Russians have 13,300 casualties  and five brigades shaken or in rout

French have 10,600 casualties and five brigades shaken or in rout