31st March 1814 – Battle of Arens

Arens Campaign area

French have orders to move to Arens on attack orders

British have orders to move to Arens on engage orders

British             12,000 infantry                       1000 cavalry               30 guns

French             12,000 infantry                       1000 cavalry               30 guns

5 British          move to E02 on engage orders

18 French        move to E02 on attack orders

Note                both corps have one infantry brigade detached on garrison duty

Table at start of wargame

British Brigades                      3 infantry        1 cavalry         1 artillery

French Brigades                      3 infantry        1 cavalry         1 artillery

5 British corps                        Arrive D02 start of move 5

18 French corps                      Arrive F02 start of move 5

Note – Wargame starts at 1200, when both corps arrive on the table

Move 1 – 1200 to 1300

Both corps deploy cavalry to protect their advance

Move 2 – 1300 to 1400

Both corps deploy north of the town

Move 3 – 1400 to 1500

Both continue to advance and deploy

Move 4 – 1500 to 1600

Both corps deploy out of long range artillery fire

Cavalry advance to cover deployment

Move 5 – 1600 to 1700

Polish lancers charge dragoons, British lose and retreat shaken

Artillery manhandle forward into long range

Infantry continue to deploy

Move 6 – 1700 to 1800

Lancers charge and rout shaken dragoons with 40% casualties

Dragoons rout into infantry, who also rout

Nearby British infantry form square to protect gunners

Murray orders his battered corps to retreat

Game Casualties

French suffer no casualties

British lose 400 cavalry

Game Summary

British advance towards Arens on Engage orders

They are forced to fight by French who are on Attack orders

A cavalry melee decides the battle before either side fully deploy

Polish lancers win extended melee and rout British dragoons

Nearby infantry lose morale and join the routed cavalry

British retreat before French can pin them

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

French none

British 400 cavalry and two brigades in rout