8th April 1814 – Battle of Kurutze

Kurutze Campaign area

3 British have orders to attack Kurutze

23 French have orders to attack Kurutze

British                              12,000 infantry            1,000 cavalry                 30 guns

French                              12,000 infantry           1,000 cavalry                 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

Both corps start the game on the table

British  Brigades         3 infantry         1 cavalry           1 artillery

French Brigades          3 infantry         1 cavalry           1 artillery

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

French move first, replace blind with figures

Two brigades move towards town, remainder move to the south

British move second, replace blind with figures

Mirror French deployment 

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

British move first, send infantry into town

Artillery and cavalry deploy to deter French advance

French move second.   Send infantry into northern part of town

Artillery deploy to fire on southern part

Cavalry withdraw out of range of the British guns

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

British move first, send cavalry to threaten French artillery

Infantry win skirmish in town, French suffer 10% casualties, pass morale

French artillery fire on garrison, 10% casualties, pass morale

French lancers charge dragoons, the melee is a draw with no casualties

French infantry skirmish in town, no casualties

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

French lancers lose melee and retire with 10% casualties and shaken

French artillery fire on garrison, no casualties

French infantry skirmish, no casualties

British artillery hit shaken lancers who rout with 20% casualties

Nearby gunners fail morale test  for nearby rout and are shaken

British infantry skirmish, no casualties

With the loss of his cavalry and artillery Daricau orders a general retreat

Game Casualties

British 400 infantry

French 400 infantry and 200 cavalry

Game Summary

Both corps have orders to attack Kurutze

British move first, send infantry towards the town and cavalry and artillery south

French react by a mirror movement

British enter both sections of the town, but the French only the northern one

French artillery fire on the southern section, causing casualties

French enter southern section and general skirmish takes place

British dragoons advance to threaten the French gunners

French lancers charge the dragoons, but lose melee and retire shaken

British artillery fire on the shaken lancers who rout

Nearby French gunners lose morale due to the rout and are shaken

With the loss of his cavalry and artillery the French commander retreats

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

British 2,900 casualties one brigade shaken

French 6,300 casualties four brigades routed and one shaken