18th April 1814 – Battle of Diest

Diest Campaign area

Two French corps have orders to attack Diest

1^st corps has one brigade absent on garrison duty

7^th corps is full strength

The town is held by one Prussian corps

A second Prussian corps is within supporting distance

2^nd corps has one brigade absent on garrison duty

3^rd corps has 800 casualties

Prussian - 20000 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 30 guns

French - 28000 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

Prussian Brigades   7 infantry      2 cavalry       2 artillery

French Brigades      7 infantry      2 cavalry       2 artillery

1^st French arrives in D07 start of move 1

7^th French arrives in D08 start of move 1

3^rd Prussian corps arrives in E08 start of move 2

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

1 French ordered to take hill between village and town

7 French deploy out of sight of town 

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

 7 French ordered to take town

1 French deploy from column of march

3 Prussian arrive on table

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

1 French and 3 Prussian blunder into each other

7 French advance towards town

2 Prussian redeploy to meet attack

Move 4 -1100 to 1200

2 Prussian infantry receive 10% casualties from artillery fire

1 French cavalry charge and rout Prussian hussars with 10% casualties

French advance towards town

3 Prussian start to deploy, without any cavalry support

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French advance towards town

3 Prussian start to deploy, without any cavalry support

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

French artillery fire on town, no casualties

1 French advance towards town

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

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

2 Prussian cavalry charge guard chasseurs, who retire shaken

3 Prussian limber artillery and advance

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

2 Prussian artillery hit gunners, who make morale with 10% casualties

7 French infantry skirmish the town, no casualties

1 French turn to face 3 Prussian

3 Prussian halt and unlimber artillery

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

7 French infantry skirmish infantry, who rout with 20% casualties

1 French cavalry charge dragoons, who retire shaken

3 Prussian advance onto hill

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

1 French cavalry charge and rout shaken dragoons with 20% casualties

2 Prussian order general retreat

3 Prussian abandon their advance and order general retreat

Game Casualties

French lose 400 infantry and 100 gunners

Prussian lose 800 infantry and 300 cavalry

Game Summary

Two French corps launch a surprise attack on Diest

3^rd Prussian corps march to the sound of the guns

They advance against the flank of 1^st  French corps

1^st French corps turn and engage 3^rd Prussian corps

Meanwhile 7^th French corps press home their attack

They rout both Prussian cavalry brigades, and one infantry brigade

Both Prussian corps break contact and retreat.

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

French 5,700 casualties  

Prussian 7,100 casualties and four brigades in rout