4th April 1814 – Battle of Bad Kreuznach

Kreuznach Campaign area

Russians have orders to halt and resupply

French have orders to attack

Russian             30,000 infantry            2.700 cavalry                 90 guns

French               44,200 infantry            3,800 cavalry                 120 guns

Russian HQ     halt

1 corps              halt on hold

2 corps              halt on hold

3 corps              halt on hold, recce D06

4 corps              halt on hold, recce D05

French HQ       attack bad kreuznach

2 corps              move B05,C05,D05 on attack

8 corps              move C04,D04,E04 on attack

14 corps            move C06,D06,E06 on attack

20 corps            move C05,D05,E05 on attack

Note – 2 Russian corps have not rallied and will not take part in this battle

Table at start of wargame

Russian Brigades        6 infantry        3 cavalry         3 artillery

French Brigades          9 infantry        3 cavalry         4 artillery

Russian HQ                 start E05

1 corps                        arrive E05 move 1

3 corps                        start E06

4 corps                        start E05

French HQ                   arrive C05 move 1

2 corps                         arrive C05 move 5

8 corps                         arrive C04 move 1

14 corps                      arrive C06 move 1

20 corps                      arrive C05 move 1

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

French arrive on table on blinds

Russian cavalry deploy

1 Russian ordered to deploy left of Bad Kreuznach

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

French advance

1 Russian arrive on table

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

French advance

14 and 20 French spotted

4 Russian cuirassiers charge French chasseurs, French lose melee and retire shaken

1 Russian ordered to engage

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

French deploy

3 Russian spotted

Russian cavalry withdraw

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French advance

2 French corps arrive on table

14 French lancers charge Cossacks, who fail to counter charge

Cossacks are routed with 20% casualties

3 Russian artillery rout lancers with short range fire

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

French continue to advance

All three Russian corps are on the table and it is obvious how weak they are

3 Russian artillery cause 10% casualties to French infantry brigade

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

French advance

20 French artillery hit infantry, 10% casualties fail morale and shaken

4 Russian artillery rout infantry with 10% casualties

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

French advance

8 French skirmish line from woods, 10% casualties, fail morale and shaken

20 French cavalry charge artillery, lose 10% and retire shaken

1 Russian artillery fire on woods, 10% casualties and shaken 

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

1 Russian Cossacks charge guard grenadiers, Cossacks rout with 10% casualties

20 French infantry win skirmish, 4 Russian lose 20% casualties and are shaken

Sacken orders Russian army to retreat

Game Casualties

French lose 2000 infantry and 500 cavalry

Russians lose 1600 infantry and 400 cavalry

Game Summary

Both armies are weak due to battle casualties and detached garrisons

Despite this the French attack the resting Russians

The Russian artillery performs badly and fail to cause sufficient casualties to the French

4 Russian corps, in the centre, have three brigades missing

They quickly break from artillery casualties

Sacken orders a general retreat as soon as his centre is broken

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

French 8,800 casualties and 4 brigades in rout

Prussians 10,500 and 6 brigades in rout