14th April 1814 – Battle of Arracourt

Arracourt Campaign area

Three French corps have orders to attack Arracourt

3^rd corps have one brigade missing due to casualties

15^th corps have one brigade missing on garrison duties

21^st corps have one brigade missing due to casualties

One Austrian corps has orders to hold Arracourt

Two more corps are within supporting distance

2^nd corps has heavy casualties and one brigade on garrison duties

3^rd corps is full strength and has orders to hold and resupply

4^th corps has one brigade in Arracourt as garrison

Austrian - 37600 infantry, 3000 cavalry and 90 guns

French - 36000 infantry, 3000 cavalry and 90 guns

Table at start of wargame

Austrian Brigades           10 infantry         3 cavalry             3 artillery

French Brigades              9 infantry           3 cavalry             3 artillery

3, 15 and 21 French corps start on the table

3 and 4 Austrian corps start on the table

2 Austrian corps arrive E04 start of move 5

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

French arrive on table and advance towards Arracourt.

Austrians retreat into town and farm

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

French continue to advance in column of march

Austrians wait to see what  French will do

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

French 15^th and 21^st corps advance towards town

3^rd corps move towards farm Austrian cinc rides south to meet 2^nd corps (off table)

Move 4a – 1100 to 1200

French advance within artillery range, blinds are replaced by figures

15^th corps (left) secure village, artillery move on to hill

21^st  corps (centre) prepare to attack town

3^rd corps (right) send one brigade to secure right hand village

Austrian cavalry move to counter enemy cavalry top left

Move 4b – 1100 to 1200

The table has been extended to the right

This is to move Arracourt  to the centre of the table

It also allows space for 2^nd Austrian corps to arrive bottom centre

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

French deploy to attack town

15^th Polish lancers charge 3 artillery

Austrian dragoons counter charge

Lancers lose melee and retire shaken

Austrian artillery open fire on enemy gunners, no casualties

2^nd corps arrive on table and advance behind 4^th corps

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

French continue to advance

3 artillery fire on Austrian square, infantry pass morale with 10% casualties

Polish lancers retreat behind infantry and rally

2^nd Austrian corps continue to advance towards centre

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

2^nd Austrian corps deploy behind town, facing north

French artillery fire on town garrison, no casualties

3^rd artillery fire on infantry again, who rout with 20% casualties

4^th Austrian withdraw artillery nearer to farm.

 

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

French continue to advance

15 artillery hit garrison, who pass morale despite 10% casualties

Austrians now under great pressure

The town garrison hold despite artillery casualties

But south of the town 4^th corps are giving way

4^th cavalry charge young guard cavalry, but lose melee and retire shaken

Garrison then fire on young guard, who pass morale despite 10% casualties

Schwartzenberg orders 2^nd corps to fill the widening gap between 3^rd and 4^th corps

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

3 French artillery fire farm garrison, who pass morale with 10% casualties

3 French infantry skirmish the farm, no casualties

15 French infantry skirmish town garrison, who pass morale with 20% casualties

French CinC orders 15 French to storm garrison

2 Austrian advance to close gap between 3 and 4 corps

3 Austrian cavalry charge lancers, who retire shaken

Town garrison skirmish attacking infantry, no casualties

4 Austrian skirmish attacking infantry, no casualties

4 Austrian has only one infantry brigade and corps cavalry to hold farm and left flank.

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

French artillery continue to fire on both the town and both farms, but no casualties

In the north shaken cavalry retire behind infantry and ralle

In the centre two infantry brigades storm town, lose melee and retire shaken

In the south guard cavalry charge and rout gunners

Austrians continue to hold, despite heavy casualties

In the north town garrison holds, despite 40% casualties

In the centre dragoons charge and rout guard cavalry with 20% casualties

In the south farm garrison hold, remainder of corps in rout

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

French attack falters

In the north artillery again fail to cause any casualties to the town garrison

In the centre one of the shaken infantry brigades routs, the second rallies

In the south infantry skirmish farm but fail to take it

Austrians in position to hold southern flank

A fresh brigade is sent to replace the town garrison

2^nd corps deploy between the town and the farm

In the south the farm garrison hold on despite 20% casualties

 

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

French attack fails

In the north artillery once more fail to cause any casualties to the garrison

21 lancers are routed by Austrian dragoons

In the centre the artillery have more success, and cause 10% casualties to the garrison

One infantry brigade also storms the town, but are repulsed with 20% casualties

In the south Infantry also storm the farm  and are repulsed with 20% casualties

Austrians hold town and farm

The battered garrison of the northern town section are replaced with a fresh brigade

Both town sections fight off infantry attacks

2^nd corps deploy between the town and the farm

4^th corps hold the farm with one brigade, the remainder are in rout

Game Casualties

French corps lose 3200 infantry and 400 cavalry

Austrians lose 4800 infantry, 200 cavalry and 200 gunners

Game Summary

Two Austrian corps hold the town and the farm to the south

Three French corps open the attack

One corps moves to pin the farm, the other two attack Arracourt

The Austrians hold the town against artillery and infantry

The y also hold the farm, but suffer heavy casualties

2^nd Austrian corps arrives just in time to plug the gap between the town and the farm

The main French attack falls on the northern section of Arracourt

The Austrians hold town throughout the day, and replace the garrison.

A final French infantry attack on the town and farm is beaten off

At nightfall the Austrians have suffered more casualties than the French

But they still hold both Arracourt and the farm

The French army is in disorder and Mortier orders them to retreat

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

French 12,100 casualties and 4 brigades in rout

Austrian  11,400 casualties and 5 brigades in rout