2nd Battle of Johnsdorf - Blucher mauled

Marshal Vorwarts has been tamed by a combined French/Polish force under the joint command of Marshals Poniatowski and Oudinot.  The hardy Blucher tried to steal a march on the French before they could combine against him, but the plan backfired and he was forced to fight against a force seventy percent larger than his.  Despite the benefit of the terrain and a couple of redoubts, the Polish/ French numbers proved too much and the Prussian army is now in flight back to Berlin.  They are being hotly pursued by the vengeful cavalry of Marshal Oudinot, who the Prussians had given a bloody nose to only a few days previously.

A full battle report can be seen below.


The battlefield from the Prussian position.  Their left is anchored on a village, their right on a stream (which critically is fordable).  Dense forests and marshes break up the French deployment area.  The centre of the Prussian line is secured by a gentle hill, with two redoubts built between the hill and the village.  Oudinot's cavalry can be seen wending their way through the forest on the top right.  The Poles are top centre and left.  The other Richard can be seen at the top reaching into his pocket for encouragement, much needed in the face of such a formidable Prussian position.



A view from the French/Polish side.  The Prussian army is in a virtual square in the background, as masses of French cavalry and Polish infantry push forward through the marshes in the foreground.

The French cavalry advance in overwhelming numbers on the exposed Prussian right - but wait... that's not all.  A flustered ADC gallops up to Field Marshal Blucher to inform him of the arrival of a division of French cavalry on his right flank from across the river.  Mountains of abuse from Blucher are piled on the broad shoulders of the gods - how could this be....?

Two brigades of Cuirassiers supported by a battery of Horse Artillery arrive to further roars of foul play from the Prussian field marshal. The Prussian cavalry desperately realign themselves to contend with this new threat.  The Prussian gunners on the hill are feeling a little vulnerable, we suspect.

Meanwhile, on the Prussian left a Polish division prepares to eject a brigade of Prussian landwehr from the village, the key to the Prussia position.  But it won't be an easy fight for the Poles.

A birds eye view of the Prussian position as it starts to contract into a square.  One of the players mentioned the word Omdurman, but of course no-one had heard of that in 1813.  If only the Prussians had some gatling guns...

Back on the Prussian right, the French cavalry charge home, using their superior numbers to good effect.  The heavies clash in the foreground and will effectively exhaust each other.  But in the background, 2 brigades of French cavalry swamp the Prussian guns and will cause havoc as they pursue into the infantry near the guns who won't have time to form square.  The lone brigade of Prussian Hussars will be swept away in the pursuit as well.

Post the cavalry charge, a gaping hole has appeared in the Prussian right wing.  In the foreground, the Prussian landwehr in square staunchly resist the cavalry (and in fact will hold on until the very end, while all about them flee).

 

On Blucher's left, the Poles have formed into extended line to bring maximum firepower to bear on the Prussians garrisoning the village.  Two artillery batteries have also added their firepower.  The Landwehr hold on bravely, but eventually the Polish numbers prove too much and the Landwehr are ejected.  The Prussian line is now crumbling from both flanks and Marshal Vorwarts is starting to look backwards to his line of retreat.

A final view from the French/Polish position as the Polish infantry move in for the kill, while Oudinot's cavalry swarm over the Prussian right wing.

French lancers take the Prussian redoubt from the rear (calling to mind the quote of the day when Oudinot asked Poniatowski to make some space as Oudinot desired to insert himself...).  Prussian resistance finally collapses.  All that remains is for Blucher to try and save as much of his army as he can.  But this will be difficult as there are a lot of fresh French and Polish cavalry around.  Only the marshy terrain can help the Prussian fugitives now.

 

Little now stands between Napoleon and Berlin.  Will Prussia's allies arrive in time to rescue them, or will Prussia be forced to sue for peace and leave the Austrians and Russians alone to fight the French?