Campaign Move 11

Battle of Halle

1200 to 1600 4 June 1813

Wargame Move One – 1200 hrs

Cossacks cross bridge to attack French as they emerge from Halle

Russian corps move first

Orders - Move to Halle

5 command points

Change orders to Engage

Cossacks are disordered crossing the bridge

Leading infantry and artillery move closer to bridge

French artillery unlimber under protection of infantry square

French corps move second

Orders – Move to bridge

5 command points

Cossacks unable to opportunity charge as disordered

Leading infantry brigade move forward and form square

Guns move forward and unlimber

Wargame Move Two – 1300

Very important who moves first as cossacks are within canister range of French artillery

French artillery fire cannister on cossacks

French corps move first

Orders – Move to bridge

4 command points

Change orders to Hold Halle

Artillery fire canister on cossacks – one hit

Cossacks roll for morale (6) fail and are Shaken

Infantry move through Halle

Cossacks lose morale and rout

Russian corps move second

Orders – Engage

5 command points

Move commander within range of cossacks

Orders cossacks back over bridge

Move artillery forward

Move commander to centre of corps

Test cossacks morale (1) fail and Rout

No friendly close enough to have to test morale

Wargame Move Three - 1400

French take up position to cover the Halle bridge

French corps move first

Orders – Hold Halle

7 command points

No enemy in range of artillery

Move infantry and deploy in front of Halle

Manhandle artillery forward

Russian artillery unlimber and corps advance beyond woods

Russian corps move second

Orders – Engage

7 command points

Change orders to Move to bridge

Move artillery and unlimber

Move infantry out of woods

Test morale for cossacks, fail, continue to Rout

Wargame Move Four – 1500

Russians deploy out of artillery range

Russian corps move first

Orders – Move to bridge

7 command points

Commander too far away to fire guns

Move all infantry towards bridge

Move commander to centre of corps

Test cossacks morale, fail, continue to Rout

French deployd to meet any attack over the Halle bridge

French corps move second
Orders Hold Halle
5 command points
Artillery fire on artillery, miss
Manhandle guns forward
Deploy infantry in front of Halle


End of Campaign Move 11

2nd French corps are now in a strong defensive position and their artillery cover the only available bridge over the river Saale. In these circumstances any attack across the bridge must end in disaster for the Russians.

It is clear to general Langeron that he can not longer hope to force a crossing of the river Saale, let alone attack Halle. To remain where he is would only invite further casualties from the French artillery. He orders his corps to retreat towards Lutzen.