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.
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| 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) |
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| 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? |
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| 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. |
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| 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.... |
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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. |
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| 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 :-) |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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.
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