18th April 1814 – Battle of Arracourt

Arracourt Campaign area

Four Austrian corps have orders to attack Arracourt

1^st corps have two brigades missing due to garrison or casualties

2^nd corps have two brigades missing due to garrison or casualties

3^rd corps have one brigade missing due to casualties

4^th corps have one brigade miss and many casualties

Three French corps have orders to hold and resupply

3^rd corps have one brigade missing due to casualties

15^th corps have one brigade missing on garrison

21^st brigade has one brigade missing due to casualties

Both armies still have considerable casualties due to the earlier battle at Arracourt

The French are attempting to resupply and reinforce

The Austrians have opted for a surprise attack.

Austrian - 39600 infantry, 3800 cavalry and 117 guns

French - 35200 infantry, 2900 cavalry and 90 guns

Table at start of wargame

Austrian Brigades    10 infantry    4 cavalry       4 artillery

French Brigades      9 infantry      3 cavalry       3 artillery

1^st Austrian arrives in E04 start of move 5

4^th Austrian arrives in E05 start of move 1

3^rd French arrives in C05 start of move 1

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

 3 French ordered to deploy on left of 21 French

21 French deploy cavalry to spot 3 Austrian

2 Austrian deploy cavalry to spot 15 French

3 Austrian have to move through town to deploy

4 Austrian ordered to deploy on right of 3 Austrian

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Austrian CinC decides to wait until 1 corps arrives before he attacks

2 and 3 Austrian ordered to hold

4 Austrian ordered to move behind hill to outflank French

3 French move over hill towards farm

15 French send brigade to occupy village

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

All corps advance and start to deploy

15 French send infantry to occupy village

Move 4 -1100 to 1200

All corps continue to advance and deploy

4 Austrian ordered to engage farm

2 Austrian artillery cause 10% casualties on infantry, who pass morale test

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

4 Austrian move onto hill

3 Austrian artillery hit infantry, who pass morale with 10% casualties

2 Austrian artillery hit garrison, who pass morale with 10% casualties

1 Austrian arrive on table and move towards town

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

1 Austrian ordered to deploy between 2^nd and 3^rd corps

2 Austrian artillery hit garrison again, they pass morale with 20% casualties

French artillery fire on enemy gunners, no casualties

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

3 French artillery hit infantry who are shaken with 20% casualties

15 French send new brigade to replace garrison of village

21 French win skirmish in woods, Austrians retreat with 10% casualties

1 Austrian advance in the centre

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

21 French lancers charge hussars, Austrians retire shaken

3 Austrian hussars charge and rout disordered lancers with 10% casualties

4 Austrian shaken infantry rout, supporting cavalry and infantry join rout

2 Austrian artillery hit garrison, who pass morale with 30% casualties

15 French abandon village

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Austrians advance to attack

3 Austrian infantry charge woods, but are repulsed with 10% casualties

1 Austrian artillery rout garrison from village

3 French advance to engage hill

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

3 French cavalry charge and rout artillery on hill

21 French artillery hit infantry, who pass morale with 10% casualties

The attack grinds to a halt

The French have won in the north

The Austrians have won in the centre

It is a draw in the south

Game Casualties

French lose 4400 infantry and 200 cavalry

Austrians lose 2800 infantry, 200 cavalry and 12 guns

Game Summary

The French advance to secure the woods and village in the centre

The Austrians are content to hold their ground until 1^st corps arrive

As soon as 1^st corps arrive the Austrians advance to attack

4^th corps (on the Austrian left) are smashed and routed

1^st and 3^rd (in the centre) halt when 4^th corps rout

2^nd and15th French draw in the south.

Both armies break contact and retreat

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

Austrians 14,200 casualties and 5 brigades in rout

French 15,000 casualties and 2 brigades in rout