10th April 1814 – Battle of Besancon

Besancon Campaign area

Bavarian have orders to attack

French have orders to engage and attack

Bavarian                            59,200 infantry               4000 cavalry                    120 guns

French                                55,200 infantry               4000 cavalry                    120 guns

Bavarian HQ                     move to D05 with 1 corps

1 corps                               move to D05 on attack

2 corps                               move to D04 on attack

3 corps                               move to D06 on attack

4 corps                               move to E05 on attack

French HQ                         move to E04 with 16 corps

4 corps                               move to E05 on attack

10 corps                            move to E04 on engage

16 corps                            move to E04 on engage

22 corps                             move to E06 on attack

Table at start of wargame

Bavarian Brigades          15 infantry         4 cavalry             4 artillery

French Brigades              14 infantry         4 cavalry             4 artillery

1 Bavarian       start in E05

2 Bavarian       arrive move 2 in F06

3 Bavarian       arrive move 5 in F06

4 Bavarian       arrive move 9 in F05

4 French           arrive move 1 in D05

10 French         arrive move 1 in D06

16 French         arrive move 9 in D05

22 French         arrive move 5 in E04

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Bavarian cinc – change 1 corps orders to hold Besancon

Bavarina cinc – move to join 2 corps (off table top right)

1 Bavarian – deploy to hold town

4 French – arrive on table centre left

10 French – arrive on table top left

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

4 French – deploy from column of march

10 French continue to advance

1 Bavarian – infantry garrison town, cavalry move to recce south

2 Bavarian – arrive on table top right

Bavarian cinc – orders 2 corps to engage 10 French

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

2 Bavarian – deploy from column of march

4 French – advance to engage Besancon

1 Bavarian – artillery hit infantry, who pass morale with 10% casualties

1 Bavarian – cavalry charge and win melee, French retire shaken

2 Bavarian – deploy from column of march

Bavarian cinc – wait for 3 corps to arrive (off table top right)

 

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

4 French - artillery hit town, garrison pass morale with 10% casualties

Bavarian cinc – orders 3 corps to engage 22 French

1 Bavarian – cavalry return to own lines

10 French – wait and see what enemy do

2 Bavarian – advance and spot 10 French, both corps replace blind with figures

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

4 French – advance towards town

10 French - change orders to hold

22 French – arrive on table (bottom centre)

2 Bavarian – continue to advance

3 Bavarian – arrive on table (top right)

Bavarian cinc – move to centre of army

1 Bavarian – artillery hit infantry, who fail morale and are shaken with 20% casualties

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

1 Bavarian – rally shaken infantry

3 Bavarian – continue to advance

4 French – cavalry  opportunity charge and rout artillery with 20% casualties

10 French – dragoons charge light cavalry, who retire shaken

2 Bavarian – continue to advance

22 French – start to deploy

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Bavarian cinc – move to rally shaken cavalry

22 French – continue to advance

10 French – dragoons return to own lines

4 French – advance towards town

2 Bavarian – artillery hit infantry, who pass morale with 10% casualties

3 Bavarian – deploy from column of march

1 Bavarian – cavalry withdraw out of artillery range

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

3 Bavarian – advance to engage 22 French

22 French – redeploy towards towards woods

2 Bavarian – Infantry skirmish, enemy 10% casualties and shaken

10 French – infantry skirmish, enemy 10% casualties and shaken

4 French – infantry skirmish garrison, no casualties

1 Bavarian – garrison skirmish, enemy 10% casualties pass morale

Bavarian cinc – move to join 4 corps (off table centre right)

 

 

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

2 Bavarian – infantry skirmish, no casualties

Bavarian cinc – orders 4 corps advance between 2 corps and town

22 French – change orders to hold

3 Bavarian – advance towards 22 French

1 Bavarian – garrison skirmish, no casualties

4 Bavarian – arrive on table (centre right)

French cinc -  arrive on table (centre left)

16 French – arrive on table (centre left)

10 French – shaken infantry fail morale and rout, joined by supporting infantry

10 French corps rout

Shaken infantry (right) fail morale and rout

Supporting infantry (centre) fails morale and joins rout

Remaining infantry is shaken

With the loss of 10 corps the Marmont orders a general retreat

Game Casualties

French – 2000 infantry and 100 cavalry

Bavarian – 800 infantry and 200 gunners

Game Summary

1^st Bavarian corps hold the city in strength

4^th Young Guard attack the city

Their cavalry rout the Bavarian gunners

But their infantry unable to break the defenders

10^th French and 2^nd Bavarian slug it out on the northern flank

Eventually the French break, and the rout spreads

When Marmont arrives 10^th corps is in rout and 4^th corps stalled

He orders a general retreat

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

French -  2,000, two brigades in rout and one shaken

Bavarian – 1,000 casualties,  one brigade in rout and one shaken