The Battle of Dahme 4 Sept 1813

Two French corps under Ney and Marmont engage a combined Russo-Austrian army consisting of a Russian cavalry corps and an Austrian infantry corps.  This battle happens in between the battles of Seyda and Baruth, within 5kms of Seyda and about 20kms from the Baruth battle.
The battle has an extra element of spice added to it by the presence of the Saxon corps under Thielmann that defected from the French cause earlier in the campaign.  They are part of the Austrian corps.

The battlefield with the Russian cavalry corps in the foreground right confronting Marmont's corps on the left.  In the distance the Austrians have taken up a position on a line of hills.  Marshal Ney will need all his courage to evict them from this position.  The yellow dice do their best to spoil the photo (and will dice badly all game as punishment)

A close up of the Austrian corps.  Thielmann's Saxon division is skulking squarely in the middle of the formation.  Are they afraid of their erstwhile allies or getting their new paint job chipped? 

Ney bravely sends his corps forward ("Don't worry boys.  I'm right behind you!") against the massed Austrian and Russian batteries on the heights.   The read (wavering) and yellow (disorderd) markers show the early effect of the Allied gunners.  Ney's corps will fail to advance off thei start line for most of the game as the enemy gunnery proves too effective (and their general's recoery rolls ineffective).  On the left, Austrian Jaegers bravely hang onto the village, but French numbers are being brought to bear in an attempt to evict them.

In the centre, the French commanders send in the Hessian Guard against the pivot of the Allied line between the Russian cavalry corps and the Austrians.  Cossacks are sent forward to harry their advance but are driven back by musketry.  Those yellow dice again....

On the French left a huge cavalry fight develops.  This proves to be a see-saw fight as successive brigades are flung into action.  Generally the attacking unit manages to defeat it's counter-charging opponent but is then in turn flung back by the enemies fresh reserve brigade.  Who will run out of troops first? 
In the background the French have seized the village.  A French infantry brigade is trying to outflank the Austrian hill position but it will be left exposed if the French cavalry don't see off their Austrian counterparts.

Another view of the French left and the cavalry fight.  Disordered and wavering markers across the French line in the distance are testament to the Austrian gunnery (and the lack of subtlety in Steve's markers :-)

Over on the opposite side of the battlefield the Russian cavalry have succeeded in looking threatening enough to prompt the French infantry to form square, effectively halting any attack the French may have been thinking of launching.

In the centre the Hessian Guard are making slow progress but the Austrian high command is starting to worry about this developing attack and start to deplete their forces on the hill to deal with this new threat.  But Ney's corps is firmly bogged down with lots of pink markers that just won't go away.

Numbers have won the day in the cavalry fight on the left and the exposed French infantry brigade has routed after being jointly assaulted by cavalry and infantry.  Their orders to pull back never came through as their Divisional commander was killed by a stray cannon ball (they can do that!).   In the background, further disaster has struck Ney's corps.  Thielmann's Saxon Hussars (those Saxons!) have charged the wavering French line and created a chain of routs, including the infantry in the village.  The French left collapses ignominiously.

The French collapse from a different angle.  The Saxon hussars can be seen in the centre of where the French line once stood.  The mayhem is reflected in the fact that those yellow dice have turned red.  In the background the Hessian Guard continue to push forward, but at this point the French commanders decide to call off the attack and attempt to effect a retreat and minimise their losses.  Fortunately Marmont's corps is intact and will be able to shield Ney's fleeing corps from the worst of the pursuit.

The Allies win the day and the French are dealt a bloody defeat.  What had looked like being a desultory artillery duel, with the potential to slip into a second day - which could have heralded the arrival of the victorious French Guard on the Allied left flank - saw a sudden collapse on the French side, precipitated by a well timed Saxon cavalry charge.

Victorious in the centre, but defeated on both flanks, the Allied commanders must decide on their next move.  Do they pause and regroup, or do they press home the advantage where they have it, but then risk exposing their flanks.  What about the French?  Will the Emperor play the customary gamble or does he attempt to first concentrate his dispersed corps.  His supply lines back to Wittenberg are a potential concern as a strog Allied push against his right will drive him away from his depots.

The next few days will be crucial.

The Battle of Seyda 4 Sept 1813

An Austrian corps under Schwarzenberg bravely (foolishly?)  force marches to block the French Guard from falling on the flank of the main Allied army at Dahme.  The battle starts in the late afternoon.  Will one side be able to force a result before nightfall?

The armies deploy off set from each other with the Austrians on the left.  Their right flank is protected by the river, with the Grenadiers on the hill and a Division unusually deployed way off to their left, in an effort to split up the smaller French Guard force.

The Guard advance but the Austrians are not sitting back either and their right wing swings around.  Initially the French ignore the Austrian division deployed out to the left, conserving their strength for the attack on the hill. 

Austrian Jaegers on this flank advance forward and threaten the unprotected French line of supply.  This forces the French to divert a brigade of lancers to block their move.



Crash!  With an impact heard all the way back in Paris, the Guard smash into the Austrian line.  These grognards are not worried by the fact that the enemy are uphill and tough grenadiers.  With bayonets, butts and teeth an Austrian Grenadier brigade is routed.  However, their age is starting to tell and the Old Guard need to get their breath and are unable to follow up this success.



Austrian Grenadiers showing the French Guard what a clean pair of heels looks like



A broader perspective of the battlefield with the Young Guard having stalled, the Old Guard assualting the hill, and in the distance the Chasseurs of the Guard have been given the afternoon off from guard duties by their Emperor and are using their free time to sabre some Austrian gunners.

The Austrian hussars bravely move up to threaten the French Old Guard but artillery fire from their flank forces them back.

At this point both sides draw a huge breath.  The Austrians manage to rally a routing unit, the Guard retire slightly to regroup.  The Young Guard remain a little shaky and fresh Austrian brigades move up to capitalise, while the Old Guard put their teeth back in and prepare to show the Austrian Grenadiers what real mettle looks like.  In the distance, the Austrian conscripts make threatening gestures because they have been ordered to, hoping the French Guard won't notice.  Their efforts are rewarded by the diversion of a brigade of Young Guard and the Guard Chasseurs to deal with them.  This has the effect of turning the conscripts lilly white uniforms brown, but also draws away valuable troops from the French main assault.  The outcome of the battle remains in the balance.

The French attack first and break an Austrian unit in the centre under the combined weight of the cream of the French Guard - the Old Guard and the Grenadiers a Cheval.  "The gods" continue their charge and sweep away a unit of Austrian cavalry and this proves to be the final straw for the Austrian army.  With their line of supply taken they are forced to retreat cross country.  Fortunately for them they held on until almost nighfall and the French are unable to conduct an effective pursuit.

The brave Austrian corps under Schwarzenberg has done its job of keeping the Guard off the flank of the main battle but they will now have to pull back and regroup before they can fight again.


The Battle of Baruth 4 Sept 1813

 Just south of the village of Baruth, the Russian army finally enters the campaign, clashing with a French corps commanded by General Bertrand.  Both commanders know that they have reinforcements arriving through the course of the day but they are not sure when.  The Russians take up a defensive posture and invite the French to "come and get them".

Not the best photo from our intrepid reporter (hey it's 1813!) but an overview of the battlefield with the Russians on the left.  They are dangerously strung out and will pay the price for their folly.  In the distance, the heavy French right wing can be seen beyond the village, eagerly awaiting their orders to pounce on the exposed Russian left.  The advantage of larger armies attacking - this whole wing was only deployed after the Russian army was already on the table).

A close up of the French right wing - 2 brigades of cavalry and 2 brigades of infantry

The Russian left starts to fall back to delay the impact - "Where are the Grenadiers?!" their commander is heard to cry.  Those intrepid warriors are still marching up to the battlefield and only likely to arrive after noon.  Can the Russians in their extended position hold out this long?

The French close like wolverines on an Arctic Hare.  With the support of artillery and 3 more infantry brigades the French are looking unstoppable.

And as it turns out they are unstoppable.  The first Russian brigade breaks and routs under the weight of French close range fire.  The other Russian brigade stands to face the onslaught, but not for long.

It's all over before midday.  The Russian left has disappeared, followed swifltly by the centre.  Any thoughts of fighting on in anticipation of the arrival of the Grenadiers is disspelled as the Russian commander realises he needs to save something from the disaster or risk losing his whole army.  The Russians are last seen fleeing east and the French pursuit is only tempered by the presence of the Russian Grenadiers just behind the battlefield.  A convicing win for the French, one that they need as the Allied armies are starting to combine and threaten to overwhlem them with numbers.

4 Sept 1813 - The Day of the Three Battles

Reports from the front are that, following the exit of Prussia from the war, the Allies have decided the time for tap dancing is over and an aggressive tango is in order, with every Allied army being flung in the general direction of the French.  This has resulted in a storm of combat all happening on the same day - 4 September 1813.

Battle 1 (The Battle of Dahme)

Pahlen’s Russian cavalry corps encountered two French corps under Marmont & Ney converging on the Seyda/Dahme road.  The Russians skilfully fell back south towards the support of the oncoming Austrian corps commanded by Meerveldt and joining with them, the Allies have turned to fight the French due west of Dahme.

Battle 2 (The Battle of Seyda)

Hearing that Marmont & Ney were engaged,  the French Guard under Dumoustier (but with Napoleon in attendance we know who will really be in command…) marched to the sound of the guns hoping to fall on the Allies left flank.  However, the Austrian CinC, Schwarzenberg, had the same idea and force marching to the battlefield, has crashed into the French Guard a mere 5kms from the other battle.

Battle 3 (The Battle of Baruth)

Further east, a French corps under Bertrand have encountered a Russian corps under Gortchakov. Scouts are informing both sides that help is on the way and as the battle unfolds they can expect reinforcements to appear.  How many and how soon remains unclear.

Time will now freeze while the generals attempt to shake off the demands of real life and find the time to fight these battles.  All the after action reports will follow soon.