19th April 1814 – Battle of Waremme

Waremme Campaign area

13^th French corps is cut off from the rest of the French Army

They have lost heavy infantry casualties, spread through three brigades

They also have only one days supplies left

If they run out of supplies, they can not resupply

They would then have to surrender.

19^th  and 13^th corps are both ordered to attack Waremme

If successful 13^th corps will be able to rejoin the main Army

However 4^th Prussian corps have been ordered to engage 13^th French corps

Prussian - 16000 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 60 guns

French - 25200 infantry, 2000 cavalry and 60 guns

Table at start of wargame

Prussian Brigades   4 infantry      2 cavalry       2 artillery

French Brigades      7 infantry      2 cavalry       2 artillery

13^th and 19^th corps arrive on table at the start of move 1

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

13 and 19 French corps arrive on table

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Both French corps start to deploy north of the town

1 Prussian artillery limber and move between town and woods

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Both French corps advance to engage Prussians north of town

19 French cavalry advance to charge Prussian artillery

Move 4 -1100 to 1200

1 Prussian artillery fire on cavalry and miss

2 Prussian cavalry charge cuirassiers, who are poised to charge gunners

Cuirassiers lose melee and retire shaken

2 Prussian artillery hit infantry, who fail morale and rout

Nearby infantry fail morale and are shaken

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

1 Prussian artillery fire on shaken cavalry, who rally with 10% casualties

19 French artillery fire on cavalry, who pass morale with 10% casualties

4 Prussian artillery hit gunners, who pass morale with 10% casualties

13 Polish infantry test morale for shaken, fail morale and rout

Two nearby brigades (each with 30% casualties) fail morale and join rout

Polish Rout

All four Polish infantry brigades have routed

Their artillery are disordered with 10% casualties

Only the lancer brigade remains formed and able to cover the retreat

Game Casualties

French lose 100 cavalry

Prussians lose 800 infantry, 100 cavalry and 100 gunners

Game Summary

13^th Polish corps is cut off from the main French Army

They have run out of supplies and have heavy casualties from an earlier battle

19^th French corps is ordered to take Waremme and rescue 13^th corps

Waremme is held by 1^st Prussian corps, which is full strength

4^th Prussian corps is ordered to support them, but has only one infantry brigade

19^th French corps order their cavalry to charge the Prussian gunners

This is a risky move, but necessary in order to break through and reach 13^th corps

Prussian cavalry charge them, save the guns and forces the cuirassiers to retreat.

4^th Prussian artillery hit the nearest Polish infantry brigade, causing them to rout

A nearby Prussian brigades lose their morale and join the rout

The panic spreads to two Prussian brigades in reserve, each with 30% casualties

All four Prussian infantry brigades break and run away

With the rout of 13^th Polish corps the battle ends

19^th French corps abandon their attempt to break 1^st and 4^th Prussian corps

13^th Polish corps remain cut off from the main army

They have run out of supplies

All of their infantry have routed

General Decouz has no option but to surrender

With the loss of 13^th Polish corps Marshal Macdonald accepts defeat

The Prussians have won the Hasselt phase of the campaign

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

Prussian 6000 infantry and 300 cavalry.   Three brigades in rout

French 6400 infantry, 200 cavalry and 100 gunners.   Four brigades in rout