23rd March 1814 – Second Battle of Bad Kreuznach

Bad Kreuznach Campaign area

Five French corps launch a surprise attack on Bad Kreuznach

The Russian Army have orders to rest and resupply

Russian           59,200 infantry           4000 cavalry               120 guns

French             51,200 infantry           4000 cavalry               120 guns

Russian HQ     move to bad kreuznach

1 corps            move to D05 on hold

2 corps            halt and resupply from bad kreuznach

3 corps            halt on hold, recce E07

4 corps            halt and resupply from bad kreuznach      

5 corps            halt on hold

French HQ       move to C05

2 corps            move to C06 on attack

8 corps            move to C04 on attack

14 corps          move D08, E07 on attack

20 corps          move D08, E08 on engage

26 corps          move C05 on engage

Table at start of wargame

Russian Brigades        15 infantry      4 cavalry         4 artillery

French Brigades          13 infantry      4 cavalry         4 artillery

Russian HQ                arrive D05 move 1

1 corps                        on table at start

2 corps                        arrive E05 move 2

3 corps                        on table at start

4 corps                        arrive E05 move 2    

5 corps                        on table at start

French HQ                 arrive C05 move 1

2 corps                      arrive C06 move 1

8 corps                      arrive C05 move 2

14 corps                    arrive D07 move 2

20 corps                    arrive C07 move 2

26 corps                    arrive C05 move 1

Notes

Both sides have small corps

These can be amalgamated with a larger corps before or during the wargame

To do so the CinC must meet with both corps commanders to confirm the change

5 Russian corps is one such, and comes under command of 1 Russian corps

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

2^nd and 26^th French corps arrive on table

3^rd Russian corps ordered to hold farm and right flank

1^st Russian corps ordered to hold farm to centre

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

8^th, 14^th and 20^th French corps arrive on table

2^nd and 4^th Russian corps arrive on table

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

26 French corps is placed under command of 8 French corps

4 Russian corps is placed under command of 2 Russian corps

Both armies continue to advance

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Both armies start to deploy

Both Russian and French artillery open fire

Russian infantry receive 10% casualties and are shaken

French infantry receive 10% casualties but pass morale test

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French artillery cause 800 infantry  casualties

Russian artillery cause 400 infantry casualties

Both armies continue to deploy

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

French artillery no casualties

Russian artillery cause 400 infantry casualties

20 French corps under command of 2 French corps

Both armies continue to deploy

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

2 French corps ordered to advance and engage the enemy

2 Russian corps receive infantry casualties from artillery fire

2 Russian corps move cavalry to their right flank

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

8 French corps ordered t o advance and engage the enemy

8 French corps receive gunner casualties from artillery fire

2 Russian corps receive infantry casualties from artillery fire

Farm garrison receive casualties from artillery fire

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

1 Russian Cossacks lose melee and rout

1 Russian infantry receive casualties from artillery

14 French ordered to advance and engage the enemy

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

14 French infantry behind woods shaken by artillery

1 Russian square casualties from artillery

2 Russian gunners run to square when charged by cavalry

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

2 Russian infantry casualties from artillery

2 Russian square casualties from skirmishers

3 Russian garrison of farm rout from artillery and skirmish fire

14 French shaken infantry rout and take two brigades with them

Sacken orders a general retreat

14 French Corps Rout      

Shaken French infantry (centre) fail morale and rout

Two nearest brigades test morale, both fail, both join rout

3 Russian Corps Rout

Garrison of farm receive 40% casualties and rout

Cossacks lost cavalry melee and are in rout

Second brigade (left) have suffered skirmish casualties and rout

Game Casualties

French lose 3,600 infantry, 100 cavalry and 3 guns

Russians lose 6,000 infantry and 100 cavalry

Game Summary

Marshal Victor orders a surprise attack with all five corps

General Sacken has ordered his army to rest and resupply

However all five of his corps are concentrated around Bad Kreuznach

Both armies combine their smaller corps to form three large corps per side

The largest Russian corps is on their left flank

The largest French corps is in the centre

The French attack in the centre, and the Russians are unable to redeploy in time

General Sacken orders a retreat before the French can break his centre

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

Russian 6,100 casualties and three brigades in rout

French 5,000 casualties and four brigades in rout