7th March 1814 - Battle of Elsdorf

Elsdorf Campaign Area

3^rd French corps has orders to attack Elsdorf

9^th French corps has orders to move to E04 on engage

13^th French corps has orders to halt at C02 on hold

3^rd Prussian corps has orders to halt at E01 on hold

4^th 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

3^rd French will arrive at the start of move 1

9^th 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 9^th corps until they arrive on table

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

13^th French had to change their orders from Hold to Engage to advance clear of pass

3^rd French move towards the centre to avoid Prussian artillery and make room for 9^th French

4^th Prussian redeploy to meet 3^rd French

3^rd Prussian advance to engage 13^th French

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

13^th French deploy artillery and cavalry to protect column as they leave pass

3^rd French deploy cavalry as the rest of the column move around the village

4^th Prussian send one brigade to garrison Elsdorf

3^rd Prussian send one brigade to garrison farm, remainder of corps advance

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

13^th French send brigade to contest farm

3^rd French continue to advance west of the village

4^th Prussian  extend perimeter to join with 3^rd corps

3^rd Prussian one brigade occupies farm, remainder advance to engage 13^th corps

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

3^rd Prussian cavalry charge Polish lancers and win melee

4^th Prussian artillery open fire on 3^rd corps, no casualties

13^th French artillery rout Prussian hussars with 10% casualties

3^rd French send one brigade to occupy village

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

13^th French  send second brigade to engage farm

3^rd French advance to pin Prussians as 9^th corps near battlefield

4^th Prussian  change orders to hold now that they have joined with 3^rd corps

3^rd Prussian cavalry continue to rout, change corps orders to hold

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

13^th French advance to engage 3^rd corps

3^rd French advance to engage 4^th corps

9^th French arrive on battlefield

Blucher orders 4^th corps to retreat

4^th Prussian receive infantry casualties, artillery fire on enemy infantry

3^rd Prussian receive infantry casualties, cavalry rout from field

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

13^th French orders changed to attack and told to take farm

3^rd French orders changed to attack and advance on town

9^th French  continue to advance on engage orders

4^th Prussian shaken due to enemy artillery

3^rd Prussian shaken due to enemy artillery

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

13^th French storm farm and approach 3^rd corps

3^rd French rout infantry and gunners of 4^th corps

9^th French approach town

4^th Prussian continue to hold town, but half of corps in rout

3^rd Prussian garrison shaken and retreat  to centre of farm

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

13^th French lost firefight with 3^rd Prussians, brigade routs

3^rd French ordered to ignore town and attack 3^rd Prussian

9^th French  ordered to attack town

4^th Prussian still hold town but half of corps in rout

3^rd Prussian taken a lot of casualties but still hold their ground

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

13^th French regroup ready to continue attack

3^rd French attack and rout 3^rd Prussian

9^th French attack town and rout 4^th Prussian

4^th Prussian cavalry covers rout and retreat of corps

3^rd 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.