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

Rule 4 - Contact with the enemy

Contact with the enemy

Line of sight is two squares. The corps cavalry screen is one square in front of the corps.

When two corps come within three squares of each other they will halt to await further orders. The corps commanders will be notified and must confirm what they want to do next.

Campaign Battles

All campaign battles will be fought by Paul and Jan

Map to Table

The wargames table is three squares wide by three squares deep.

A corps on move orders will retreat if an enemy on “engage” approaches them, until the corps commander changes his movement order to “engage”.

Reinforcements

Any corps can be moved to reinforce a battle providing they are close enough. The corps commander orders his corps to “engage” onto one of the squares in the battle.

Rule 3 - Map Movement

Campaign Map

This is the only map which will be used during the campaign

Each square is the same as a scenic square on the wargames table.

Red roads are main supply routes

Rivers can only be crossed by bridges

Hills, woods and broken ground are all difficult terrain and will impose move penalties if crossed other than along the roads.

Daily Movement

On roads – three squares
Off roads in open terrain – two squares
Off roads in difficult terrain – one square

Campaign movement and movement orders

CinC will issue orders to corps commanders for the next campaign day

Corps commanders will issue a movement order for each movement phase of that day

Each day is divided into three movement phases.

Move 1 – 0800 to 1200
Move 2 – 1200 to 1600
Move 3 – 1600 to 2000

Rule 2 - Corps Commander

Role of Corps Commander

He must carry out the CinC objective to the best of his ability. However how he does it is up to him.

He will decide his daily march route, how to react to changing circumstances and protect his supply depot. This is a named town. Each town can support only one corps. There must be a road from the main supply route (red road) to the town and from the town to the corps.

Movement orders

He will issue movement orders each campaign day. They should include his destination and which squares he will cross to get there.

Example of movement orders

Subject : 6 French corps movement for 1 May

6 corps will move from Halbeck to Colbitz.

Route is F2-E2-H2

Rule 1 - Commander in Chief

Role of CinC

He is responsible for planning the campaign, resupply and command in multi corps battles.

He must give each corps commander an objective. This is normally a town or a terrain feature such as a bridge.

I will allocate the main supply base and a forward supply base for each corps at the start of the campaign. If one of these is lost to the enemy I will consult with the CinC to choose an alternative.

CinC orders

He must be within 8 map squares to issue orders

He will issue an order each campaign day.

It will confirm where his HQ is to move to, and by which squares he intends to move.

It will also confirm the next objective for each corps commander. The exact route they use will be up to them.

Example of Daily orders

Subject : French CinC orders for 3 May

HQ – move from Helstedt to Seehausen – B5 to C5 to D5 to E5

4 corps – move from Halbeck to Colbitz – search for enemy
5 corps – move from Seehausen to Magdeburg – search for enemy
6 corps – move from Groningen to Calbe– search for enemy
13 corps – remain at Helmstedt – army reserve