17th April 1814 – Battle of Besancon

Besancon Campaign area

All corps have orders to move as shown on the map

All corps have attack orders

The Bavarian intention is to redeploy in order to attack on 18 April

The French intention is to attack on 17 April

Bavarian - 54000 infantry, 4000 cavalry and 120 guns

French - 53500 infantry, 4000 cavalry and 120 guns

Table at start of wargame

Bavarian Brigades   13 infantry    4 cavalry       4 artillery

French Brigades      13 infantry    4 cavalry       4 artillery

1,2 and 3 Bavarian corps start on the table

4 Bavarian corps arrive  E05 move 1

2 Bavarian cavalry arrive E07 move 1

3 Bavarian cavalry arrive E04 move 1

4 Bavarian cavalry arrive E05 move 2

4, 16 and 22 French corps arrive move 1

10 French corps arrive C06 move 4

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

4, 16 and 22 French corps arrive on table (left) in column of march

1 Bavarian corps ordered to deploy between farm and woods

4 Bavarian corps moves through town in column of march

Detached Bavarian cavalry return to join corps

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Both armies deploy from column of march into column of attack

All are just outside “spotting distance” (when stands are replaced by figures)

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

French advance, both sides are within 20” and replace blinds with figures

French deploy and prepare to attack

Bavarians deploy and occupy farm (top) and village (bottom)

 

 

Move 4 -1100 to 1200

10^th French arrive on table (top left)

4^th French move south of hill to make room for them to deploy

French artillery unlimber and prepare to support attack

4^th Bavarian continue to depoy and order town garrison to join them

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Artillery open fire, but no casualties

French advance and skirmish woods (top) and village (bottom)

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

French infantry attacking village are shaken by artillery and skirmish casualties

French and Bavarian infantry in the centre receive artillery casualties

Bavarian infantry in the woods are routed by skirmish fire

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

French artillery continue to bombard farm (top)

French win skirmish fight for the woods (centre)

Bavarians send second brigade to hold woods

French lose skirmish for village (bottom)

Leading brigade rout, corps redeploy to continue attack

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

French advance to attack farm (top)

Skirmish continues for woods (centre)

Bavarians send second brigade into village (bottom)

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

10 French cavalry charge artillery, but are forced to retreat with 10% casualties

Fighting continued around the farm

4 French artillery rout two Baden infantry brigades

Fighting continues in the woods

22 French hussars charge Bavarian light cavalry, melee is a draw

Fighting continues around village

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

Figthing continues around farm

4 and 16 French press home their attack in the centre

Bavarians routed from the woods

French cavalry charge and break Bavarian cavalry in the centre

Supporting infantry join the rout

Fighting continues around the village

With the centre lost, and eight brigades in rout, Wrede orders a general retreat

Game Casualties

Bavarians lose 4800 infantry and 300 cavalry

French lose 3600 infantry and 200 cavalry

Game Summary

The Bavarians do not expect to fight until the next day

However they quickly recover and deploy to meet the French attack

They move forward to hold the line from the farm to the village

The French attack the village, but only pin the farm and woods

4^th corps is ordered to move south and deploy between the hill and the woods

This is to make space for 10^th corps to deploy on the French left

The initial French attack on the village is driven off

The attack in the centre is for possession of the woods.

The main French attack is between the village and the woods

French cavalry and artillery break and rout the centre

Wrede is forced to order the Bavarian Army to retreat

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

Bavarian 5,100 casualties and 8 brigades in rout

French 2,900 casualties and 1 brigade in rout