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Friday, November 7, 2014

10th April 1814 – Battle of Besancon



Besancon Campaign area

Bavarian have orders to attack
French have orders to engage and attack

Bavarian                            59,200 infantry               4000 cavalry                    120 guns
French                                55,200 infantry               4000 cavalry                    120 guns

Bavarian HQ                     move to D05 with 1 corps
1 corps                               move to D05 on attack
2 corps                               move to D04 on attack
3 corps                               move to D06 on attack
4 corps                               move to E05 on attack

French HQ                         move to E04 with 16 corps
4 corps                               move to E05 on attack
10 corps                            move to E04 on engage
16 corps                            move to E04 on engage
22 corps                             move to E06 on attack


Table at start of wargame

Bavarian Brigades          15 infantry         4 cavalry             4 artillery
French Brigades              14 infantry         4 cavalry             4 artillery

1 Bavarian       start in E05
2 Bavarian       arrive move 2 in F06
3 Bavarian       arrive move 5 in F06
4 Bavarian       arrive move 9 in F05

4 French           arrive move 1 in D05
10 French         arrive move 1 in D06
16 French         arrive move 9 in D05
22 French         arrive move 5 in E04

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
Bavarian cinc – change 1 corps orders to hold Besancon
Bavarina cinc – move to join 2 corps (off table top right)
1 Bavarian – deploy to hold town
4 French – arrive on table centre left
10 French – arrive on table top left

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
4 French – deploy from column of march
10 French continue to advance
1 Bavarian – infantry garrison town, cavalry move to recce south
2 Bavarian – arrive on table top right
Bavarian cinc – orders 2 corps to engage 10 French

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
2 Bavarian – deploy from column of march
4 French – advance to engage Besancon
1 Bavarian – artillery hit infantry, who pass morale with 10% casualties
1 Bavarian – cavalry charge and win melee, French retire shaken
2 Bavarian – deploy from column of march
Bavarian cinc – wait for 3 corps to arrive (off table top right)


 
Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
4 French - artillery hit town, garrison pass morale with 10% casualties
Bavarian cinc – orders 3 corps to engage 22 French
1 Bavarian – cavalry return to own lines
10 French – wait and see what enemy do
2 Bavarian – advance and spot 10 French, both corps replace blind with figures

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
4 French – advance towards town
10 French - change orders to hold
22 French – arrive on table (bottom centre)
2 Bavarian – continue to advance
3 Bavarian – arrive on table (top right)
Bavarian cinc – move to centre of army
1 Bavarian – artillery hit infantry, who fail morale and are shaken with 20% casualties
Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
1 Bavarian – rally shaken infantry
3 Bavarian – continue to advance
4 French – cavalry  opportunity charge and rout artillery with 20% casualties
10 French – dragoons charge light cavalry, who retire shaken
2 Bavarian – continue to advance
22 French – start to deploy
Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
Bavarian cinc – move to rally shaken cavalry
22 French – continue to advance
10 French – dragoons return to own lines
4 French – advance towards town
2 Bavarian – artillery hit infantry, who pass morale with 10% casualties
3 Bavarian – deploy from column of march
1 Bavarian – cavalry withdraw out of artillery range
Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
3 Bavarian – advance to engage 22 French
22 French – redeploy towards towards woods
2 Bavarian – Infantry skirmish, enemy 10% casualties and shaken
10 French – infantry skirmish, enemy 10% casualties and shaken
4 French – infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties
1 Bavarian – garrison skirmish, enemy 10% casualties pass morale
Bavarian cinc – move to join 4 corps (off table centre right)

 
 
Move 9 – 1600 to 1700
2 Bavarian – infantry skirmish, no casualties
Bavarian cinc – orders 4 corps advance between 2 corps and town
22 French – change orders to hold
3 Bavarian – advance towards 22 French
1 Bavarian – garrison skirmish, no casualties
4 Bavarian – arrive on table (centre right)
French cinc -  arrive on table (centre left)
16 French – arrive on table (centre left)
10 French – shaken infantry fail morale and rout, joined by supporting infantry

10 French corps rout
Shaken infantry (right) fail morale and rout
Supporting infantry (centre) fails morale and joins rout
Remaining infantry is shaken

With the loss of 10 corps the Marmont orders a general retreat

Game Casualties
French – 2000 infantry and 100 cavalry
Bavarian – 800 infantry and 200 gunners

Game Summary
1st Bavarian corps hold the city in strength
4th Young Guard attack the city
Their cavalry rout the Bavarian gunners
But their infantry unable to break the defenders
10th French and 2nd Bavarian slug it out on the northern flank
Eventually the French break, and the rout spreads
When Marmont arrives 10th corps is in rout and 4th corps stalled
He orders a general retreat

Total casualties, including from earlier battles,  at the end of the battle
French -  2,000, two brigades in rout and one shaken
Bavarian – 1,000 casualties,  one brigade in rout and one shaken
 


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