reichenbach (may 1813)

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INTRODUCTION
After their defeat at Bautzen (20-21 may, 1813) the Allied retreated towards the south-east in two columns of weary soldiers in order to cross the Neisse River. Their rearguard, commanded by Eugen of Wurttemberg and comprising his 2nd Russian Corps, remained in Reichenbach and was catch by Reynier's VII Corps (not fighting in Bautzen) and the Latour-Mauburg 1st Cavalry Corps. Napoleon himself arrived to the battlefield and engaged the Guard Light cavalry, commanded by Lefevbre-Desnouettes and including the famous Red Dutch Lanciers. Their appear in the battlefield was a "new spectacle" for Wurttemberg, as it had been a long time since he did seen a force of French cavalry.
The OOB’s and the narrative have been taken from Nafziger and Digby and the maps from Google Earth and the 3rd Military Mapping Survey of Austria-Hungary (See Bibliography)
See also other Reichenbach Scenario designed by Lamont Anderson of the Colorado Springs Gamers Association (CSGA) for Napoleon's Battles.

TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION
 

 NBd Scenario for Reichenbach
     
Reichenbach
(Google Earth)		 Old map
(3rd Military Mapping Survey of Austria-Hungary)		 Table map
      
 The battlefield and the Allied deployment


DEPLOYMENT
French
VII is on the table, Saxons (Sx) at right and French (32) at left.
GC is on the table deployed
Napoleon 10.00 h (C1)
I 12.00 (C1)
Russians
II is on the table, Schachafskoy (3/II) at right and Pischnitzky (4/II) at left, and the cavalry at south
5 9.30 h (C5)
R 10.30 h (C5)
2C 11.30 h (C5)
Apply the OR 13.8.2 rule for Varying Time Arrivals starting two turns before the normal arrival turn. The order of march of each arriving corps must be diced out when the parent corps enters the table. The Corps/Division Commanders are with his leading unit. The artillery assets are with the second unit. All units appear in march column formation.

NAPOLEON IS COMMANDING!
The O.R.15.1.2. (NB2) is applied. i.e. the dispersal letters of all units are one letter better than normal; +1 is added to all fatigue numbers and the value of Napoleon in points is increased in one point per infantry or cavalry unit. However, the “death” or “capture” of Napoleon causes the automatic loss of the battle for his army (and also changes the world history!) .

 VICTORY POINTS
This is a rearguard Scenario. The objective of the Russians is to delay the advance of the French to allow his army the crossing of the Neisse River at Gorlitz (7 km from Markersdorf). At that month and latitude the sunset is 21.00 h, so the French have until 18.30 h to catch the greater number of Russians taking Marksdorf with the C5 end-road . The key points and the percentage of victory points allotted are Reichenbach (20%), Mengelsdorf (10%), Marksdorf (40%), the A4-C4 (20%) and C5 (10%) heights. Each Russian unit (infantry, cavalry or artillery) exiting the table in good shape is worth an additional 2.5% (there are 42 units in the Russian rearguard)
The point values are: French 796 vs. Russians 691. The multiplier for the weaker side (Russian) is 1.38 in both NB1 and NB2 (372 and 149 victory points respectively).

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
After suffering some losses, the Russians succeed in disengaging from the French Army crossing the Neisse River at Gorlitz. The best known episode of this combat was the dead of Duroc, Grand Marshall of the Palace and a close friend of the Emperor.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
- 3rd Military Mapping Survey of Austria-Hungary
- Foucart, "Bautzen, la pursuite jusqu'a l'armistice 22 mai-4 juin 1813", berger-Levrault, Paris, 1901
- Nafziger G. ‘'Lutzen and Bautzen. Napoleon's Spring Campaign of 1813”, The E
- Odeleben, "A circumstancial narrative of the campaign in Saxony in 1813", Murrary, London, 1820
Petre, F.L. "Napoleon's Last Campaign in Germany, 1813", John Lane Co, London, 1912
- Smith D. “The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book”, Greenhill Books, London, 1998
- Vane, C.W. "Narrative of the War in Germany and France, in 1813 and 1814", Colburn and Bentley, London, 1830
- Weil, M.H. "Campagne de 1813: La cavalerie des armées alliées", Baudoin, Paris, 1886
 

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