22nd April 1814 – Battle of Reinsfeld

Reinsfeld Campaign area

Three Russian corps have orders to attack Reinsfeld

1^st and 2^nd corps are full strength

4^th corps have one brigade absent on garrison duty

Three French corps have orders to hold

2^nd corps have one brigade absent on garrison duty

8^th and 20^th corps are full strength

Russian - 44000 infantry, 3000 cavalry and 90 guns

French - 44000 infantry, 3000 cavalry and 90 guns

Table at start of wargame

Russian Brigades    11 infantry     3 cavalry       3 artillery

French Brigades      11 infantry     3 cavalry       3 artillery

4^th Russian corps arrive on table start of move 1

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Russians advance

French cavalry advance to recce and “spot” the Russian blinds

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Russians continue to advance

French deploy in town and on hills

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Russians continue to advance

French artillery open fire on Russian gunners, no casualties

Move 4 -1100 to 1200

Russian cavalry division formed by joining 1 and 4 brigades

French cavalry division formed by joining 2 and 6 brigades

French artillery continue to fire on Russian gunners, no casualties

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French artillery hit Russian gunners, who lose 10% casualties but pass morale test

Russian artillery fire on infantry behind crest of hill, no casualties

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Russian halt advance, to allow their artillery to soften up the enemy infantry on hill

French artillery continue to fire on enemy gunners

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Russian and French artillery exchange fire, no casualties

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Russian and French artillery exchange fire, no casualties

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Russian and French artillery exchange fire, no casualties

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

1st and 4^th Russian corps advance to attack

2 Russian gunners hit again by artillery, but pass morale with 20% casualties

2 French gunners hit by artillery, pass morale with 10% casualties

Leading brigade of 4^th Russian corps hit by artillery, pass morale with 10% casualties

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

2 Russian gunners receive another artillery hit and rout with 30% casualties

2 Russian infantry support fail their morale and join the gunners in rout

1^st and 4^th Russian corps continue to advance

20 French infantry are hit by artillery, pass morale with 10% casualties

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

1^st and 4^th Russian corps continue to advance

Russian reserve cavalry are ordered to support them

1 Russian infantry hit by artillery and pass morale with 10% casualties

20 French infantry again hit by artillery, pass morale with 20% casualties

Move 13 – 2000 to 2100

4^th Russian corps infantry advanced to the foot of the hill

The leading brigade was charged, and routed, by the French Guard cavalry

The supporting brigade broke and joined the rout

The Russian reserve cavalry charged the French Guard cavalry

The French were forced to retire shaken, disordering their reserve brigade

1^st Russian corps suffered further casualties to their leading brigade

With the rout of 2^nd and 4^th Russian corps the attack was called off

Cavalry melee and rout of 4^th corps

The French Guard cavalry charge, and rout, 4^th Russian corps

The Russian reserve cavalry counter charge

The French Guard retire shaken, but are covered by their reserve brigade

Game Summary

The French hold a strong defensive position

The town and hills on either side provide good cover

The Russians deploy out of artillery range

They then move their artillery forward to fire on the infantry on the hills

In doing so the gunners come under fire from the French artillery

The French prove the better gunners, the Russians suffer more casualties

The Russians move forward to attack in three columns

The northern column is destroyed by artillery fire

The centre column is destroyed by the French Guard cavalry

The southern column is ordered to abandon the attack

As night falls Sacken orders the Russian Army to retreat

French lose 800 infantry and 100 gunners, 1 brigade is shaken

Russians lose 1600 infantry and 300 gunners, 4 brigades are in rout