Dresden (october 17, 1813)
saint-cyr tries to break the siege
INTRODUCTION
While Napoleon was finding
his fate around Leipzig,
Marshall Saint-Cyr was shut up in
Dresden with the I and XIV Corpss, closely watched by units of the
Russian Army of Poland (also known as Army of Reserve) commanded by
Osterman-Tolstoy.
On 17 October, Saint-Cyr decided to
attempt to break the siege, and launched an attack with four
infantry divisions and a weak light cavalry division from the
Grossen-Garten and the Moczinskischen Garten against the Russians
forces facing him and entrenched behind some redoubts. The Russian
forces were mainly composed by Opolchenie (militia) infantry,
Cossacks, Baskhirs and a small core of Russian and Austrian
regulars, and were easily routed by Saint-Cyr. However, and because
of the weak French cavalry, the Allied were allowed to withdraw and
the French were forced to take the initial positions.
This Scenario is based in that combat, and involves in the French
side, the 1st and 43rd Infantry divisions and the 10th Light Cavalry
division (as reinforcements). The Allied force is composed from the
Markov III’s Advance Guard (regular), the Opolchenie corps* (See
Note below) of Myromoc and Titov, the Bagration’s Cossack division
and a small Austrian brigade used as reinforcement.
Bibliography
- G. Nafziger, 1813 Leipzig. Napoleon and the Battle of the
Nations. The Emperor Press, 1996
- A.V. Viskovatov, Historical description of the clothing and
arms of the Russian army. V 18. Irregular troops and temporary
forces 1801-1825, Saint Petersburg, 1851 (Translated by Mark
Conrad, 2011)
http://marksrussianmilitaryhistory.info/Visk18.html
TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES
Alison's map
Esposito-Elting's map
Game map
The actual
battlefield
Russian deployment
French Deployment
Opolchenie
Scenario pdf file for 'Dresden'
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES
Summary of the oob
Allied Army
(Army Moral 50; Break point 17)
C-i-C
Osterman-Tolstoy
Advance Guard Muromoc and Titov
- Infantry: 6 battalions
Opolchenie Markov III
- Infantry: 7 battalions
- Artillery: 1 Position, 1 Light and 1 Horse battery
- Cossacks: 5 sotnias/regiments
Reinforcements
Austrian Brigade Chasteler
- Infantry: 3 battalions
French Army (Army Moral 39;
Break point 13)
C-i-C Saint-Cyr
1st Division
Cassagne
- Infantry: 5 battalions, 1 foot battery
43rd Division
Claparede
- Infantry: 10 battalions, 1 foot battery
Reinforcements
10th Light Cavalry Division Gerard
- Cavalry: 3 regiments, 1 horse battery
Notes
Notes The basic duration of the game is 24 Turns (3 hours). Bonus Turns
are allowed rolling 2D6 ( p. 66 of the e-Lasalle book). The French are
attacking and are the first side..
OPTIONAL RULES
Reinforcements
Use 2D6 for the Arrival Turn (p. 91 of e-Lasalle). The units arrive in
march column or attack column as desired.
Allied
Austrian infantry: Arrival Turn: 2D6; Arrival point D3-D4-D5-C5
(10%/20%/50%/20%)
French
10th LC Division: Arrival Turn: 2D6; Arrival point A1-A2-A3-A4-A5
(20%/30%/20%/20%/10%)
Opolchenie units
Opolchenie units have Unpredictable esprit and can begin the game in
Entrenchments in Line formation. (See p. 117 of e-Lasalle)
Optional rule for Cossacks (and other irregular cavalry)
(1) Irregular cavalry units may charge enemy units standing in 'march
column' formation.
(2) Irregular cavalry units must to pass a 'Discipline' test to initiate
the charge.
(3) If routed in 'decisive combat' the irregular cavalry unit is
immediately broken.
Victory conditions
As per Lasalle rule-book.
* Note about uniforms and flags
At the time of this battle (fall of 1813) many of the Russian Opolchenie
forces had changed their original uniforms and had an aspect more
similar to regular Russian infantry units. See the
Viskovatov book included in the Sources. See also the
Olpolchenie flags.
See a story version at the
Project Leipzig (1813)
blog
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES