12 April 1814 – Battle of Hasselt

Hasselt  Campaign area

Prussian have orders to attack

French have orders to hold and redeploy

Prussian         21,600 infantry         1,900 cavalry             60 guns

French             19,200 infantry         2,000 cavalry             60 guns

3 French         orders to hold

4 French         orders to move towards Maastricht

13 Prussian    orders to move into F03 on engage

19 Prussian    orders to move towards Liege

When 13 French enter F03 they come under fire from 3 Prussian

4 Prussian and 19 French immediately march to the ”sound of the guns”

Table at start of wargame

Prussian Brigades      6 infantry      2 cavalry        2 artillery

French Brigades        5 infantry       2 cavalry        2 artillery

3 Prussian      start in E04

4 Prussian      enter F04 start of move 2

13 French      start in F02

19 French      start in E02

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

13 French – advance on to hill

19 French – change orders to “support 13 corps”

3 Prussian – wait to see what French do

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

3 Prussian – wait to see what French do

Prussian cinc – order 4 corps to support 3 corps

4 Prussian – arrive on table (top right)

13 French – deploy from column of march

19 French – advance towards Prussians

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

13 French – deploy on hill, cavalry advance to recce

Prussian cinc – orders 3 corps to halt until 4 corps in position

19 French – continue to advance towards Prussians

4 Prussian – deploy behind woods

3 Prussian – wait for 4 corps to deploy

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

13 French – wait for 19 French to deploy

19 French – continue to advance

Prussian cinc – no orders

4 Prussian – advance through woods

3 Prussian – wait for 4 corps to deploy

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

13 French – change orders to Engage and advance

3 Prussian – Wait for 4 corps to clear woods

19 French – continue to advance

4 Prussian – continue to move through woods

Prussian cinc – change 3 corps orders to Engage

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

19 French – continue to advance

Prussian cinc – change 4 corps orders to Engage

4 Prussian –dragoons charge and rout lancers with 10% casualties

3 Prussian – deploy to advance

13 French – artillery rout dragoons with 10% casualties

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

13 French – advance

3 Prussian – advance

19 French - advance

4 Prussian – advance

Prussian cinc – no orders

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

4 Prussian – advance and skirmish, no casualties

13 French – win firefight, enemy rout with 50% casualties

19 French – cuirassiers charge and rout hussars with 20% casualties

3 Prussian – artillery hit infantry, who are shaken with 10% casualties

Prussian cinc – orders general retreat

Game Casualties

French lose 1200 infantry and 100 cavalry

Prussians lose 1200 infantry and 300 cavalry

Game Summary

Neither army was expecting to fight a battle

The advance of 13 French corps prompted a response

3 Prussian corps was reinforced by 4 corps

19 French corps reinforced 13 corps

Both sides had to cross difficult terrain

The opening cavalry melee on the right resulted in the loss of both brigades

13 French advanced and prevented the Prussian artillery clearing the woods

After a brief firefight 4 Prussian corps retreated back into the woods

19 French cuirassiers routed the Prussian hussars

This prompted Blucher to order a general retreat

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

French 8,500 casualties 1 brigade in rout and 1 shaken

Prussian 5,200 casualties 3 brigades in rout