6th April 1814 – Battle of Diest

Diest Campaign area

2^nd Prussian corps have orders to attack Diest

7^th French corps have orders to move south towards Hasselt

The French are forced to stand and fight or risk a flank attack

Prussian           12,000 infantry            1,000 cavalry                 30 guns

French               12,000 infantry           1,000 cavalry                 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

Prussian  Brigades     3 infantry         1 cavalry           1 artillery

French Brigades          3 infantry         1 cavalry           1 artillery

Both corps start on the table

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

French turn to face Diest and send cavalry to cover redeployment

Prussians advance towards the town, send their cavalry to counter enemy cavalry

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Both armies deploy their side of the town

Cavalry face each other south of the town

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Prussian infantry enter southern half of Diest.

Cavalry and artillery manoeuvre for best supporting position

 

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

5 and 6 Prussian infantry enter town

9 and 10 French infantry skirmish, no casualties

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Skirmish continues in town

5 Prussian infantry receive 10% casualties, pass morale test

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Prussian change orders to attack

5 Prussian infantry lose melee and retire shaken with 30% casualties

9 French infantry win melee and are disordered with 10% casualties

6 Prussian infantry win melee and are disordered with 10% casualties

10 French infantry lose melee and rout with 30% casualties

11 French infantry (reserve) fail morale and are shaken

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Prussian change orders to engage

6 Prussian infantry skirmish, no casualties

5 Prussian infantry fail morale and rout

9 French infantry skirmish 6 Prussian infantry 10% casualties

6 Prussian infantry fail morale and rout with 20% casualties

11 French infantry rally from shaken

General Bulow accepts defeat and orders his corps to retreat towards Hechtel

Game Casualties

7 French corps lose 1,600 infantry

2 Prussian corps lose 2,000 infantry  

Game Summary

2 Prussian corps advance to take the town

7 French corps turn to face the enemy and advance towards the town

Due to the difficult terrain this is an infantry battle

Neither the cavalry nor artillery have space to operate

Both sides enter the town on engage orders and fight a prolonged skirmish

General Bulow orders his infantry to attack to decide the matter

The Prussians win the melee, and change their orders to engage again

The French fight back and rout two Prussian brigades

After a hard battle the Prussian corps retreats