Campaign Move 15

Campaign Diary

1600 to 2000 5 June 1813

The French Garde and cavalry reserve have taken up position to hold Naumburg, the remainder of the French army have orders to march to Naumburg.

2nd, 3rd and 4th Russian corps have joined forces at Zietz, and 1st corps is marching south to join them.

At midnight Napoleon issues orders to hold Naumburg.

At midnight Kutuzov issues order to march on Naumburg

Campaign Note

As the player participation part of the campaign has now ended, I can show the positions of all corps as at nightfall on 5 June 1813.

Four of the ten players have failed to let me have their movement orders for this move, which is the reason that I have had to suspend the PBEM campaign. Rather than end the campaign at this point, I have decided to close it with a major battle. I have followed the orders received for Move 15 as closely as possible, and I have moved those corps without orders to provide a final battle in which both sides have a reasonable chance of winning.

The final battle will be fought for Naumburg. 1st French corps and the French cavalry reserve will be on Hold orders, all other corps will start the game with “Move to Naumburg” orders.

Campaign developments

Over the past three weeks it has become apparent that there has been a loss of interest in the campaign. Two players confirmed that they would no longer be able to continue with the campaign. A further two players failed to send in their movement orders despite at least two reminders. I have not heard from them since Christmas, so I must assume that they also have lost interest in the game.

The delay in the play whilst I waited, in vain, for replies has meant that the campaign has lost its impetus.

The campaign was moving towards a major battle, and I feel it would not be fair to ask the remaining six players to take on the added task of trying to sort out the complicated movements.

The campaign was within two moves of a major battle, and that would have been a good point to draw the campaign to a close.

I do not want to end the campaign on this sad note. A lot of players have put considerable work into it so far, and it would be very unfair on them. So I have decided to convert the PBEM to a solo campaign for the final two or three moves.

The PBEM will end on move 14, the last move for which I received all of the corps commander movement orders. That would be 1600 5 June 1813.

I have received orders for six corps for move 15, and I will issue the two missing orders myself. That will take the campaign up to 2000 5 June 1813.

There will then be a major battle starting on Move 16 0800 6 June 1813. This battle will bring the campaign to an end.

As the PBEM campaign has now ceased, and as hidden movement is no longer an issue, I will include a campaign map with move 15, which will show the locations of all commands at at nightfall on 5 June 1813.

I am sorry that this action has been necessary, particularly for those players who have supported the campaign to this point.

Campaign Move 14

Campaign Diary
1200 to 1600 5 June 1813

4 Russian Corps marching to Zeitz

Napoleon has crossed the river Saale between Naumburg and Gera. However his retreat from Zeitz has left the Imperial Garde and reserve cavalry seriously exposed at Naumburg. He has ordered his army to concentrate there.

Kutuzov has also ordered a concentration at Zeitz. However this will leave the vital supply routes from Lutzen to Leipzig and Rohenburg to Dresden undefended. If he cannot achieve a quick and decisive victory over the French the loss of both supply lines could prove disastrous.

Both armies are widely separated, and the French also have the river Saale to contend with. The Russians are on interior lines, and can expect to concentrate first. However they will then have to move against the French.

It is now a matter of who can concentrate first and seize the initiative.

Campaign Move 13

Campaign Diary

0800 to 1200 5 June 1813

French on the move

The campaign has entered a critical phase, with both armies moving into close contact. As this campaign involves hidden movement it is difficult for me to explain more without giving away information about the enemy.

The movement following the battle of Zeitz, and other cavalry contact reports at the end of Move 12, has lifted the veil slightly. Some commanders have become aware that they are somewhat exposed, others that they are too far from the centre of operations.

Commanders in Chief received their daily update at the end of Move 12, and have issued new orders to their corps commanders for Move 13.

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 11

Campaign Diary
1200 to 1600 4 June 1813
Battle of Zeitz

Campaign map at the start of the battle of Zeitz

This move saw the start of two battles. The first was Halle, which has already been published. The second was further south at Zeitz.

On move 8, 3 June 1813, 1st French corps and 2nd Russian corps had fought a minor action at Naumburg. The Russians were ordered to break off the action and retreat to Zeitz. There were no casualties in this combat.

The French cavalry maintained contact with the Russian rear guard during this retreat, and soon determined that the Russians were going to defend Zeitz. The also reported that 3rd Russian corps were marching towards Zeitz from Rohenburg.

General Friant decided to attack Zeitz. He was aware that the cavalry reserve were approaching from Halle, and would use them to delay 3rd Russian corps. He was confident that the Garde could take Zeitz before their reinforcements could arrive.

At first light the Garde Chasseurs drove in the Russian cavalry screen and the Garde advanced on Zeitz.

Campaign Move 11

Campaign Diary
1200 to 1600 4 June 1813
Battle of Halle

Campaign map at start of battle

Having received reports that the French cavalry screen has withdrawn from the bridge over the river Saale, General Langeron has ordered 1st Russian corps to cross the river Saale and attack Halle

As Marshal Victor approaches Halle he is informed of a large body of Cossacks approaching the bridge along the Lutzen road. He orders his corps to march through the town and hold the bridge at all costs.

Campaign Move 10

Campaign Diary
0800 to 1200 4 June 1813

3rd Russian corps on the march

A busy morning as both armies react to reports and contacts with the enemy

In the north French cavalry patrols are withdrawn from the eastern bank of the river Saale and the Cossacks move forward to take the abandoned bridge.

Further south the Russians withdraw east and occupy Zeitz. The French move cautiously eastwards.

But the real confusion is in the south. For no apparent reason the French abandon the town of Gera and move back towards Jena. The Russians in this area are redeploying and do not take advantage of this opportunity.

Campaign Move 9

Campaign Diary
1600 to 2000 3 June 1813

French reinforcements on their way to the river Saale

The Russians broke off contact at Naumburg and withdrew along the road to Zeitz. It wasearly in the battle and there were no casualties on either side. The French are now in possession of Naumburg.

The French have also crossed the river Saale further south and occupied Gera.

Apart from the brief engagement at Naumburg, the Russians have not attempted to stop the French from crossing the river Saale.

At the end of 3 June Napoleon is well pleased with the progress he has made. He has established two bridgeheads over the river Saale and is well placed to continue his advance on Dresden.

Campaign Move 8

Campaign Diary

1200 to 1600 3 June 1813

Campaign map at start of battle

1st French corps cross the river Saale and approach Naumburg. Their cavalry immediately clash with cavalry from 2nd Russian corps. Both sides have orders to occupy the town, which results in the first battle of the campaign.

Campaign Move 7

Campaign Diary
0800 to 1200 3 June 1813

French corps approach river Saale

French cavalry cross river Saale and move eastwards. They are soon in contact with Russian cavalry and deploy but await further orders. Napoleon is too far to the rear to take personal command of the situation, and the decision whether to engage is left to the corps commanders on the spot.

Campaign Move 6

Campaign Diary
1600 to 2000 2 June 1813

Napoleon meets with his corps commanders in Erfurt

Napoleon is reported to have arrived in Erfurt. The main road from Fulda is crowded with military supply convoys and large numbers of marching troops all heading east. All post houses and local government buildings have been taken over by the French authorities, and all mail seized.

Campaign Move 5

Campaign Diary
1200 to 1600 2 June 1813

French corps nearing Erfurt

French troops entered Erfurt and imposed a curfew on the civilian population. Despite this there are reports of wide spread looting and abuse of civilians. Throughout the surrounding countryside French patrols are collecting food and material from villages and farms. Despite this the local population are understood to prefer the presence of French to Russian troops.

Campaign Move 4

Campaign Diary
0800 to 1200 2 June 1813

1 Russian corps enter Leipzig

Large crowds of civilians left Leipzig and headed for Halle as the Russians approached the city. The King of Saxony has declared that he will remain neutral during this campaign, but that has not stopped the Russian Cossacks from creating havoc amongst the civilian population. Nor taking possession of Leipzig There are reports that Leipzig contained large amounts of military stores and equipment, which is now in Russian hands.

Campaign Move 3

Campaign Diary
1600 to 2000 1 June 1813

French army on the march

Both armies made good progress during the first day, but no contact was made between them.

Reports reached Imperial Headquarters of masses of Cossacks spreading alarm and panic amongst the towns and villages to the west of the river Saale. The French ambassador at Dresden confirmed that Kutuzov has left the city with his entire army heading towards Leipzig on the great Dresden to Halle road.

Few reports reached Kutuzov about French intentions or activities, as the Prussian towns people and villagers avoided the Russian’s like the plague. He was confident that if he continued his march west he would eventually meet with the French, and equally confident that when he did he would defeat them.

Campaign Move 2

Campaign Diary
1200 to 1600 1 June 1813

Kutuzov reviews the Russian army at Dresden

For two months Kutuzov had rested his weary army which had driven Napoleon back from Moscow the previous year. Most were ill and had to be replaced by reinforcements from Russia.

Each of the four corps contained an elite grenadier brigade, and most were well trained. But few had any experience of war.

The recent defeat of Blucher at Magdeburg had forced Kutuzov to move west to the river Saale in order to protect the strategic left flank of the broken Prussians. His men were anxious for an opportunity to finish what their comrades had begun the previous year.

Campaign Move 1

Campaign Diary
0800 to 1200 1 June 1813

Napoleon reviews First French Army at Fulda

In late May Napoleon arrived at Fulda with the Imperial Garde. He immediately reviewed the First French army, with which he would march east towards the river Saale

The Imperial Garde was not the same as the elite body which Napoleon had led into Russia the previous year. They were mainly veterans from Spain, plus the best of the new conscripts.

The remaining two French corps were also built around cadre’s from Spain and consisted mostly of garrison troops, navy personnel and raw recruits.

The Westphalian corps contained survivors from the Russian campaign, men from the coastal garrisons and yet more conscripts.

On 1 June 1813 they marched east and began the Halle campaign of 1813