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.

Campaign Move 11

Battle of Halle

1200 to 1600 4 June 1813

Campaign Map to Wargames Table

Photo of wargames table at 1200 4 June 1813

Campaign background

2^nd French corps approached Halle at 0800 on 4 June 1813, and spotted a large body of Cossacks approaching the bridge over the river Saale along the Lutzen road. The bridge is to the east of the town, and Marshal Victor immediately ordered his corps to move through the town and secure the bridge

General Langeron had reached Lutzen two days earlier, and his corps was deployed to hold the town. A small body of French cavalry were deployed on the eastern end of the Halle bridge over the river Saale, and Langeron sent his Cossacks forward to observe and contain them.

Just after daybreak on 4 June 1813 Langeron was advised that the French cavalry were withdrawing over the bridge, and with their supports were move south along the western bank of the river Saale. They also reported a French column approaching Halle from the west, but no enemy actually in Halle itself.

Presented with this opportunity to take Halle, he ordered his corps forward with orders to cross the bridge and occupy the town. If they encountered any of the enemy they were to engage them.

French marching through Halle

French Order of Battle

2 French Corps Marshal Victor (A)

5 Infantry Brigade CB FB SB

6 Infantry Brigade CB FB SB

7 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB

8 Infantry Brigade CC FC SC

2 Corps Artillery CB 12 pounder

Russians approach Saale bridge

Russian Order of Battle

1 Corps General Langron (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 CB Light

Corps Artillery CB 12 pounder

Wargames Table

Halle is the town on the left, and the river Saale runs north to south in the centre. The vital bridge is in the centre of the table.

1^st Russian corps is approaching from the right on the Lutzen road. The head of the column is just leaving the woods. The Cossack brigade is at the eastern end of the bridge.

2^nd French corps is passing through Halle on the road leading to the bridge. Their cavalry brigade have been detached, so they are without cavalry support.

The road on the western side of the river is the Naumburg road.

The battlefield is quite crowded, with two farms, a large woods and two hills, one on the Naumburg road and the other to the south of the Lutzen road.