Campaign Move 12

Campaign Diary
1600 to 2000 14 June 1813

Zeitz at nightfall

General Langeron fails to take the Halle bridge and falls back to Lutzen, leaving 2^nd French corps in control of the town.

Further south general Friant with the Imperial Garde attempts to take Zeitz, which is held by 2^nd Russian corps commanded by general Sacken. The 3^rd Russian corps arrives during the battle, as does the French reserve cavalry division. Friant has hoped to take Zeitz before the reinforcements arrived, however he had to made a detour to his left to avoid 3^rd Russian corps, and this resulted in too much time being lost.

At nightfall the two armies are face to face and both commanders in chief will have to decide whether to continue the battle at daybreak.

Campaign Move 12

Battle of Zeitz
1600 to 2000 4 June 1813

Wargame Move Five – 1600 hrs

3^rd Russian corps and French cavalry reserve arrive on battlefield

Russian cinc move first

6 command points

Wait for arrival of 3 Russian corps

French left - cavalry reserve arrive

French cavalry reserve move second

Orders – Move to Zeitz

3 command points

Move towards town

Russian left - infantry deploy to meet French approach

2 Russian corps move third

Orders – Hold Zeitz

5 command points

Artillery out of range

Move infantry to west of town and form column of attack

Move general to centre of corps

French left - Garde march towards Zeitz

1 French corps move fourth

Orders – Move to Zeitz

7 command points

Cavalry observe town and 3 Russian corps

Move infantry towards farm through farm

Unlimber artillery

General move to centre of corps

Russian left - cossacks cover 3 corps arrival

3 Russian corps move fifth

Orders – Move to Zeitz

5 command points

Move cavalry, artillery and 3 infantry towards town

Wargame Move Six – 1700 hrs

Russian left - infantry deploy left of Zeitz

2 Russian corps move first

Orders – Hold Zeitz

5 command points

Out of artillery range

Move general to west of town

Deploy infantry west of town

Move general to centre of corps

Russian left - cavalry protect 3 corps flank

3 Russian corps move second

Orders – Move to Zeitz

5 command points

Move corps towards town

French left - Garde arrive at farm

1 French corps move third

Orders – Move to Zeitz

5 command points

Artillery fire on infantry and miss

Manhandle artillery forward

Move infantry forward

Russian cinc move fourth

6 command points

Move to join 3 corps commander

Change 3 corps orders “Move to pass”

Move towards 2 corps

French centre - reserve cavalry move towards pass

French cavalry reserve move fifth

Orders – Move to Zeitz

2 command points

Both brigades move towards pass

Wargame Move Seven – 1800 hrs

French left - Garde halt at farm

1 French move first

Orders – Move to Zeitz

7 command points

Change orders to “Hold Farm”

Artillery fire on infantry and miss

1 brigade occupy farm

Manhandle artillery forward

3 brigade form square

Russian cinc move second

4 command points

No orders issued

French centre - cavalry reserve arrive at pass

French cavalry reserve move third

Orders – Move to Zeitz

2 command points

Move commander into command range

Move dragoon brigade

Russian left - 3 corps start to deploy

3 Russian corps move fourth

Orders – Move to pass

5 command points

Move commander to centre of corps

Deploy cavalry into line

Move artillery and 2 infantry brigades

Russian right - 2 corps come under fire right of Zeitz

2 Russian corps move fifth

Orders – Hold Zeitz

7 command points

Artillery fire at square and 1 hit

Infantry pass morale test

Infantry form line

Wargame Move Eight – 1900 hrs

Russian right - brigade nearest Zeit is shaken

2 Russian corps move first

Orders – Hold Zeitz

5 command points

Fire artillery at square and miss

No other movement

Russian cinc move second

Move to commander 3 corps

Change orders to “Move to Zeitz”

Move to town

French centre - cavalry reserve join garde cavalry

French cavalry reserve move third

Orders – Move to Zeitz

3 command points

Move to high ground on left of pass

French left - Garde deploy to hold farm

1 French corps move fourth

Orders – Hold Farm

6 command points

Artillery fire on infantry and 1 hit

Infantry fail morale test and are Shaken

No further movement

Russian left - 3 corps move towards Zeitz

3 Russian corps move fifth
Orders – Move to Zeitz
4 command points
Move artillery and 3 infantry brigades

End of campaign move 12
At nightfall the battle is far from decided.

The Imperial Garde have failed to achieve their objective of defeating 2nd Russian corps before 3rd Russian corps can arrive. The garde artillery have not been effective, despite their better grade gunners. This has caused general Friant to hold his position rather than launch an all out attack. The garde cavalry have held their position throughout the battle, and this has caused the 2nd Russian corps to hold their position until reinforcements arrive.

The French cavalry reserve have been particularly unlucky in their dice throw, and have taken much longer to arrive in front of Zeitz. Because of this they have failed to delay the approach of 3rd Russian corps.

2nd Russian corps have held their own throughout the day. They have extended their right flank to delay the French garde.

3rd Russian corps have made much better progress than expected, partly due to the late arrival of the French cavalry reserve, but also due to particularly good dice for command points.


Overnight Movement

If the battle continues to a second day both sides will be allowed to consolidate their position during the night, but not to advance. This will be greatly to the advantage of the Russians, as they can deploy ready to attack at daybreak. They now outnumber the French

The French are very close to the Russian positions. The three cavalry brigades outnumber the two Russian brigades. However the Russians have two artillery batteries to one French. They also have 65 infantry to 31 French infantry.

Campaign Move 11

Battle of Zeitz

1200 to 1600 4 June 1813

Wargame Move One – 1200 hrs

2 Russian corps in and around Zeitz

2 Russian corps move first

Orders – Hold Zeitz

7 command points

No movement, all in position

1 French corps marching towards Zeitz

1 French corps move second

Orders – Move to Zeitz

5 command points

Cavalry observe town

Corps move to the left of the pass to protect their right flank from Russian reinforcements

Russian cinc move third

4 command points

Move to join cavalry brigade

Wargame Move Two – 1300 hrs

1 French corps move to left of pass

1 French corps move first

Orders – Move to Zeitz

Cavalry observe town

4 command points

Corps move towards town

Russians move to counter French flank attack

2 Russian corps move second

Orders – Hold Zeitz

5 command points

Limber and move artillery

Move general to centre of corps

Move reserve infantry brigade to west of town

Russian cinc move third

4 command points

Move to centre of corps

Wargame Move Three – 1400 hrs

French start to deploy

1 French corps move first

Orders – Move to Zeitz

7 command points

Cavalry observe town

Corps move towards town and start to deploy

Russian cinc move second

5 command points

Remain in centre of corps

Russians react to French deployment

2 Russian corps move third

Orders – Hold Zeitz

Unlimber artillery

Move cavalry forward to protect artillery

Move second reserve infantry brigade to the west

Wargame Move Four – 1500 hrs

Russian cinc move first

4 command points

Move south to meet 3 Russian corps on Rohenburg road

French move towards Zeitz

1 French corps move second

Orders – Move to Zeitz

8 command points

Cavalry observe town

Move infantry and artillery forward

Infantry form column of attack

Russians move to left of Zeitz to counter French advance

2 Russian corps move third
Orders – Hold Zeitz
5 command points
Artillery out of range
Manhandle artillery forward
Move infantry square forward to support artillery
Move two infantry brigades to west of town

End of Campaign Move 11

At the end of the move the French Imperial Garde had failed to engage, let alone defeat, 2nd Russian corps. This was largely due to the need to move against the Russian right flank, in order to avoid the French right flank being in danger when 3rd Russian corps arrived.

Although isolated, the French cavalry brigade continued to hold their position on the right hand hill of the pass, which prevented the Russians redeploying more troops to their right flank to counter the Garde advance.

This was the best chance the French had of winning this battle. Form now on the odds would swing in favour of the Russian army as 3rd corps began to arrive along the Borma road. The arrival of the French cavalry reserve from Halle might make a difference, but only if they could arrive in time to delay 3rd corps arrival.

Campaign Move 11

Battle of Zeitz

1200 to 1600 4 June 1813

Campaign Map to Wargames Table

Photo of wargames table at 1200 4 June 1813

Campaign background

At first light the French guard cavalry attacked the Russian cavalry, overthrew them and chased them back to 2^nd Russian corps at Zeitz. At midday general Friant ordered the Imperial Garde to advance and take Zeitz.

The previous day 2^nd Russian corps had been ordered to break contact at Nurmburg and withdraw to Zeitz. They were now rested and combat ready and had orders to hold Zeitz.

French Order of Battle

1 French corps marching towards Zeitz

1 French Corps General Friant (G)

1 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB

2 Infantry Brigade CB FB SB

3 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB

4 Infantry Brigade CC FC SC

1 Cavalry Brigade CA Light

1 Foot Artillery CA 12 pounder

Russian Order of Battle

2 Russian corps in Zeitz

2 Russian Corps General Sacken (A)

5 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB

6 Infantry Brigade CB FB SB

7 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB

8 Infantry Brigade CC FC SC

2 Cavalry Brigade CB Heavy

Corps Artillery CB 12 pounder

Wargames Table

Zeitz is the small town on cross roads on the right. The river Saale can be seen top left.

2^nd Russian corps is deployed in and around the town with orders to hold it at all costs.

1^st French corps is marching on the Naumburg road on the left, with their cavalry brigade on the high ground overlooking Zeitz.

The road at the top goes to Lutzen and at the bottom to Rohenburg.

The battlefield includes three farms as well as Zeitz, and a strategically placed pass on the Naumburg road

Reinforcements

At 1600 the 3^rd Russian corps will reach the battlefield along the Rohenburg road, and the French cavalry division just south of the river Saale.

3 Russian Corps General Wittgenstein (P)

9 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB

10 Infantry Brigade CB FB SB

11 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB

12 Infantry Brigade CC FC SC

3 Cavalry Brigade CB Light

Corps Artillery CB 9 pounder

Reserve Cavalry General Exelmans (A)

2 Cavalry Brigade CB Medium

14 Cavalry Brigade CC Light