thiessen (September 3, 1813)
waiting for ney
INTRODUCTION
Routed at Gross Beeren, Oudinot’s Army of
Berlin is retiring, cautiously pursued by Bernadotte, towards
Wittenberg in the north bank of the Elbe. The Prussian advance guard
of the Borstell’s 5th Brigade, accompanied by Bulow, commander of
the Prussian 3rd Corps, is pursuing the rearguard of the Bertrands’s
IV Corps that is deployed near Thiessen in the road to Wittenberg.
At 6 a.m. of September 3, the 5th Brigade along elements of the 6th
Brigade and the Dobschutz’s brigade (from the Tauentzien’s IV Corps)
started its attack against the Italian and Wurttemberg troops of the
Bertrand’s Corps. After a combat of several hours and unsupported by
Bernadotte, Bulow decided to break the fight and retired unmolested
by Bertrand. The next day, Ney would arrive to take command of the
Army of Berlin.
This Lasalle Scenario is based on that combat.
Bibliography
- F. Nafziger. “Napoleon
at Dresden: The Battles of August 1813”. The Emperor Press,
Chicago, 1991
-
Nafziger Orders of Battle Collection. Combined Arms Research
Library.
- G. Fabry ””Étude
sur les opérations du maréchal Oudinot, du 15 août au 4 septembre
1813, Gross-Beeren ““ Paris, 1910
Maps
GeoGREIF (Maps 090733; 090734; 090743; 100711; 100712; 100721;
100713; 100714 and 100723) ;
Napoleon Series 1;
Napoleon Series 2.
TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION
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TO THE BATTLE IN PICTURES
Map of the area
General Henri Gatien Bertrand
Game map
The
actual table-top battlefield
The initial deployement
Scenario pdf file for 'Thiessen'
GO
TO THE BATTLE IN PICTURES
Summary of the oob
French Army
C-i-C Bertrand French IV Corps
15th Division Fontanelli
- Infantry: 6 battalions
- Artillery: 1 Foot battery
38th Division Franquemont
- Infantry: 6 battalions
- Artillery: 1 Foot battery
24th Light Cavalry Brigade Jett
- Cavalry: 2 regiments
- Artillery: 1 Horse battery
Reinforcements
15th Division 3rd Brigade Moroni
- Infantry: 3 battalionss
12th Division Morand
- Infantry: 2 battalionss
29th Light Cavalry Brigade Wolff
- Cavalry: 3 regiments
- Artillery: 1 Horse battery
Prussian Army (Army Moral 51;
Break point 17
C-i-C Bulow
5th Brigade Borstell
Advance Guard von Thümenn
- Infantry: 2 battalions
- Cavalry: 1 regiment
- Artillery: 1/2 Foot battery
Detachment Beier
- Infantry: 2 battalions
- Cavalry: 1 regiment
- Artillery: 1/2 Horse battery
Main body 5th Brigade Merkel
- Infantry: 4 battalions
- Artillery: 1 Foot battery
Reserve 5th Brigade Schoon
- Infantry: 3 battalions
Reinforcements
6th Brigade Kraft
- Infantry: 4 battalions
- Cavalry: 1 regiment
- Artillery: 1 Foot battery
Main body 4th Brigade Dobschutz Kraft
- Infantry: 3 battalions
- Artillery: 1 Foot battery
Cavalry 4th Brigade Kroost
- Cavalry: 2 regiments
- Artillery: 1/2 Horse battery
Notes:
The basic duration of the game is 24 Turns (3 hours). Seven dice are
used, instead five, to test Army Moral. Bonus Turns are allowed rolling
2D6 (p. 66 of e-Lasalle book). The Prussians are attacking and are the
first side.
OPTIONAL RULES
Deployment and Reinforcements
French units Fontanelli’s command
must be deployed on the Thiessen area (C1-C3). Franquemont’s must be
deployed in the Eupen area (C3-C5). The Jett’s cavalry is near Trajhun.
Bertrand is in Trajhun The reinforcements may enter in: Moroni: D1w-D1s
(60%/40%); Wolff: D2-D3 (50%-50%); Morand: D4-D5s-D5e (40%/30%/30%)
Prussian units
Thümenn’s advance guard is deployed in A1-A2; Beier’s detachment in A5;
Merkel and Schoon enter in A3 and A4, respectively, in Turn 1. Bulow and
Borstell are with Merkel or Schoon. The reinforcements may enter in:
Krafft’s 6th Brigade: A3; Dobschutz and Kroos (4th Brigade) A5e-B5
(30%-70%).
All reinforcements follow the Lasalle arrival rules (p.
91 of e-Lasalle).
Cossacks (Optional rule)
1) Irregular cavalry units may charge enemy units standing in
'limbered' or 'march column' formation in open terrain.
2) Irregular cavalry units must to pass a 'Discipline' test to initiate
the charge in open terrain.
3) If routed in 'decisive combat', the irregular cavalry unit is
immediately broken.
Victory conditions
The French aim is to reach the duration limit of the game (24 turns)
without breaking. The Prussian aim is the opposite one. There are no
Objectives
See a story version at the
Project Leipzig (1813)
blog
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES