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Friday, August 30, 2013

7th March 1814 – End of Neuss Phase – Prussian





The campaign objective was to take and hold the town of Neuss

1st March 1814            Start of campaign                                                      label 10
3rd March 1814           French victrory in battle of Neuss                             label 11
7th March 1814           French victory in battle of Elsdorf                            label 11
7th March 1814           Campaign ended in French victory                           label 11

The campaign was fought between 25 June and 30 August 2013

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

7th March 1814 - Battle of Elsdorf




Elsdorf Campaign Area
3rd French corps has orders to attack Elsdorf
9th French corps has orders to move to E04 on engage
13th French corps has orders to halt at C02 on hold
3rd Prussian corps has orders to halt at E01 on hold
4th Prussian corps has orders to hold Elsdorf and establish a supply depot

French                                     Prussian         
48000 infantry                         31600 infantry                       
3000 cavalry                           2000 cavalry              
90 guns                                   60 gunners


Table at start of wargame
Elsdorf is the town centre right
Unnamed village centre top
Unnamed farm centre bottom

3rd French will arrive at the start of move 1
9th French will arrive at the start of move 6
French CinC will arrive centre left start of move 6
Prussian CinC will arrive centre right at the start of move 4

Prussians can not react to 9th corps until they arrive on table



Move 1 – 0800 to 0900
13th French had to change their orders from Hold to Engage to advance clear of pass
3rd French move towards the centre to avoid Prussian artillery and make room for 9th French
4th Prussian redeploy to meet 3rd French
3rd Prussian advance to engage 13th French



Move 2 – 0900 to 1000
13th French deploy artillery and cavalry to protect column as they leave pass
3rd French deploy cavalry as the rest of the column move around the village
4th Prussian send one brigade to garrison Elsdorf
3rd Prussian send one brigade to garrison farm, remainder of corps advance



Move 3 – 1000 to 1100
13th French send brigade to contest farm
3rd French continue to advance west of the village
4th Prussian  extend perimeter to join with 3rd corps
3rd Prussian one brigade occupies farm, remainder advance to engage 13th corps



Move 4 – 1100 to 1200
3rd Prussian cavalry charge Polish lancers and win melee
4th Prussian artillery open fire on 3rd corps, no casualties
13th French artillery rout Prussian hussars with 10% casualties
3rd French send one brigade to occupy village



Move 5 – 1200 to 1300
13th French  send second brigade to engage farm
3rd French advance to pin Prussians as 9th corps near battlefield
4th Prussian  change orders to hold now that they have joined with 3rd corps
3rd Prussian cavalry continue to rout, change corps orders to hold



Move 6 – 1300 to 1400
13th French advance to engage 3rd corps
3rd French advance to engage 4th corps
9th French arrive on battlefield
Blucher orders 4th corps to retreat
4th Prussian receive infantry casualties, artillery fire on enemy infantry
3rd Prussian receive infantry casualties, cavalry rout from field


Move 7 – 1400 to 1500
13th French orders changed to attack and told to take farm
3rd French orders changed to attack and advance on town
9th French  continue to advance on engage orders
4th Prussian shaken due to enemy artillery
3rd Prussian shaken due to enemy artillery




Move 8 – 1500 to 1600
13th French storm farm and approach 3rd corps
3rd French rout infantry and gunners of 4th corps
9th French approach town
4th Prussian continue to hold town, but half of corps in rout
3rd Prussian garrison shaken and retreat  to centre of farm



Move 9 – 1600 to 1700
13th French lost firefight with 3rd Prussians, brigade routs
3rd French ordered to ignore town and attack 3rd Prussian
9th French  ordered to attack town
4th Prussian still hold town but half of corps in rout
3rd Prussian taken a lot of casualties but still hold their ground




Move 10 – 1700 to 1800
13th French regroup ready to continue attack
3rd French attack and rout 3rd Prussian
9th French attack town and rout 4th Prussian
4th Prussian cavalry covers rout and retreat of corps
3rd Prussian corps breaks and routs

Game Casualties
French suffer 2800 infantry casualties
They also have one infantry brigade in rout
Prussians suffer 7200 infantry, 100 cavalry and 100 gunner casualties
They also have one cavalry and eight infantry brigades in rout

Game Summary
A decisive French victory

It also highlights, once again, the likely result of fighting a battle with uneven odds.
In this case even three to two odds resulted in heavy casualties on the smaller side against very light casualties for the stronger.