Napoleon's defeat of the Allies at the Battle of Dresden (August 26-27, 1813) brought the French very little fruits from their victory, followed as it was by defeats of Vandamme at Kulm, Mac Donald at The Katzbach, and Oudinot at Gross Beeren. Napoleon appointed Matrshal Ney to replace Marshal Oudinot in command of yet another drive towards Berlin. This lead to an engagement with elements of the Allied Army of the North, under the command of Crown Prince Carl-Johan of Sweden (the general formerly known as Marshal Bernadotte of France), on September 6, 1813. The battle began with an engagement between the troops of Bertrand and Tauentzien outside the village of Dennewitz. I will be hosting a six player Napoleonic game the Sunday after Thanksgiving, using Field of Battle, 2nd edition by Brent Oman/Piquet. It is going to be (very) loosely based upon the terrain and forces involved at in this battle, hence the title of Semi-witz!
"French"Army of Berlin - Marechal Ney LD 10
IV Corps, GD Bertrand LD 10
Infantry Division (Wurttemburg) - GD Franquemont LD 8
3 Wurttemburg Line DD6 CD10
1 Wurttemburg Light DD6 CD12
1 Wurzburg (3rd CoR regt) Line DD4 CD10
1 Wurzburg (3rd CoR regt) Line DD4 CD10
1 Wurttemburg 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD10
Infantry Division (Polish) - Dombrowski LD 10
1 Provisional Croatian Regt DD6 CD10
1 Provisional Croatian Regt DD6 CD10
4 Polish Line/Vistula Legion DD8 CD12
1 Polish 6# Foot Artillery DD6 CD12
1 Polish 6# Foot Artillery DD6 CD12
Cavalry Division, von Jett LD 8
1 Wurttemburg Chevau-Leger DD6 CD10
1 Polish Uhlan DD8 CD12
1 Polish Hussar DD8 CD10
IV Corps Artillery
1 French 12# Foot Battery DD6 CD12+1
VII Corps, Reynier LD 10
Infantry Division (Saxon) - Lecoq LD 8
4 Saxon Line DD4 CD10
1 Saxon Light DD6 CD12
1 Saxon Guard DD8 CD12
1 Saxon 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD10
Infantry Division (Italian) - GD Fontanelli LD 10
4 Italian Line DD6 CD10
1 Italian Light Infantry DD6 CD12
1 Italian Guard Infantry DD8 CD12
1 Italian 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
Cavalry Division - Von Lindenman LD 8
1 Saxon Hussar DD8 CD12
1 Saxon Cheavu-Lager Lancer DD6 CD12
1 Italian Guardia di Onore DD8 CD12
1 Italian Guardia di Onore DD8 CD12
VII Corps Artillery
1 French 12 # Foot Battery DD6 CD12+1
XII Corps - Marechal Oudinot LD 10
29th (Bavarian) Division - Raglovich LD 8
1 Bavarian Jager DD6 CD12
4 Bavarian Line DD6 CD10
1 Bavarian 6# Foot Battery
13th Infantry Division (Baden/Hesse) - Pacthod LD 10
2 Baden Line DD6 CD10
1 Baden Jager DD6 CD12
2 Hessian Line DD6 CD10
2 Hessian Line DD6 CD10
1 French 6# Foot Artillery DD6 CD12
Cavalry Division Beaumont LD 10
1 Bavarian Chevau- Leger DD6 CD10
1 Hessian Chevau-Leger DD6 CD10
Reinforcements:
XII Corps Artillery
1 French 12 # Foot Battery DD6 CD12+1
Reinforcements:
Infantry Division, GD Morand LD 12
1 French Legere DD8 CD12
4 French Ligne DD6 CD10
1 French 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
III Cavalry Corps - Arrighi LD 10
1 French Chasseur a Cheval DD6 CD10
1 French Hussar DD8 CD10
2 French Dragoons DD6 CD12
1 French 6# Horse Battery DD8 CD12+1
Allies: Army of the North - GL von Bulow LD 10
Von Bulow was functionally in charge of the battle for almost the entire day, thus he will serve as C-in-C
4th Prussian Corps - Tauentzien LD 10
1st Brigade - Dobshutz LD 8
1 Prussian Grenadier DD8 CD12
2 Prussian Line DD6 CD10
2 Prussian Reserve DD4 CD10
2 Prussian Landwehr DD4 CD8
1 Leib Hussars DD8 CD10
1 Uhlan DD6 CD10
1 Landwehr cavalry DD4 CD10
1 Prussian 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
4th Prussian Brigade - Von Thumen LD 12 +1
2 Prussian Line DD6 CD10
2 Prussian Reserve DD4 CD10
2 Prussian Landwehr DD4 CD8
2 Prussian Dragoon DD6 CD12
1 Prussian Landwehr cavalry DD4 CD10
1 Prussian 6# Foot Battery
Corps Artillery
1 Prussian 12# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
Russian Corps - Winzingerode LD 8
21st Division - Laptiev LD 8
2 Russian Jagers DD8 CD10
4 Russian Line DD8 CD 8
1 Russian Hussar DD8 CD10
1 Russian Cossack DD4 CD8
1 Russian 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
1 Russian 6# Horse Battery DD6 CD12
14th Division - Voronsov LD 8
2 Russian Jagers DD8 CD10
4 Russian Line DD8 CD 8
1 Russian Dragoon DD6 CD12
1 Russian Uhlan DD6 CD10
1 Russian 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
1 Russian 6# Horse Battery DD6 CD12
Corps Artillery
1 Russian 12# Foot Battery DD6 CD12+1
Swedish Corps - Carl Johann, Crown Prince of Sweden LD 8
1st Division Posse LD 12
1 Swedish Jager DD6 CD12
4 Swedish Line DD6 CD10
1 Swedish Guard DD8 CD12
1 Swedish 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD10
2nd Division Sandels LD 8
1 Swedish Jager DD6 CD12
4 Swedish Line DD6 CD10
1 Swedish Grenadier DD8 CD12
1 Swedish 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD10
Cavalry Division Lagerbring LD 8
Swedish Light Dragoons DD6 CD10
Swedish Dragoons DD6 CD12
Swedish Life Cuirassiers DD8 CD12
All Russian Artillery units have 3 UI instead of the usual 2 UI
2) Bernadotte's "Precious Swedes"
Swedish Infantry units have only 3 UI each, Swedish Cavalry 2 UI each. Swedish Artillery has the usual 2 UI each
3) "The Bravest of the Brave"
After at least one "French" unit has been routed or destroyed, on subsequent Leadership Cards, Ney must roll his LD vs a D*. If the D8 is higher, Ney MUST attach himself to any infantry Division of his choice within his Command Radius. All infantry in that Division get an UP! to both their Combat and Defense Die types while Ney is attached, and will use his LD for Movement and Rallying. Ney uses a D12 for Survival tests while attached, and The French use a D6 for Army Leadership while Ney is attached to a Division. If Ney passes the roll, he may CHOOSE to attach himself as above, or if already attached, may CHOOSE to detach himself and regain overall control of "French" forces, in which case Ney's LD will once again be used for Army initiative (and Army Morale) rolls.
4) Brent's "No Maneuver Card" rule.
No Maneuver cards are placed in the deck. Units can maneuver or change formation on Move cards for the price of 1 move segment. On Move cards with won even rolls, the maneuver/formation change is free. Finally, and most significantly, ordered cavalry can melee on Move cards. Disordered/out of command cavalry still requires either a Melee or won even roll on a Move card.
5) Move 1 Command Card
This card will allow one command of each *player* on that side to move.
Allies: Army of the North - GL von Bulow LD 10
Von Bulow was functionally in charge of the battle for almost the entire day, thus he will serve as C-in-C
4th Prussian Corps - Tauentzien LD 10
1st Brigade - Dobshutz LD 8
1 Prussian Grenadier DD8 CD12
2 Prussian Line DD6 CD10
2 Prussian Reserve DD4 CD10
2 Prussian Landwehr DD4 CD8
1 Leib Hussars DD8 CD10
1 Uhlan DD6 CD10
1 Landwehr cavalry DD4 CD10
1 Prussian 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
4th Prussian Brigade - Von Thumen LD 12 +1
2 Prussian Line DD6 CD10
2 Prussian Reserve DD4 CD10
2 Prussian Landwehr DD4 CD8
2 Prussian Dragoon DD6 CD12
1 Prussian Landwehr cavalry DD4 CD10
1 Prussian 6# Foot Battery
Corps Artillery
1 Prussian 12# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
Russian Corps - Winzingerode LD 8
21st Division - Laptiev LD 8
2 Russian Jagers DD8 CD10
4 Russian Line DD8 CD 8
1 Russian Hussar DD8 CD10
1 Russian Cossack DD4 CD8
1 Russian 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
1 Russian 6# Horse Battery DD6 CD12
14th Division - Voronsov LD 8
2 Russian Jagers DD8 CD10
4 Russian Line DD8 CD 8
1 Russian Dragoon DD6 CD12
1 Russian Uhlan DD6 CD10
1 Russian 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD12
1 Russian 6# Horse Battery DD6 CD12
1 Russian 12# Foot Battery DD6 CD12+1
Swedish Corps - Carl Johann, Crown Prince of Sweden LD 8
1st Division Posse LD 12
1 Swedish Jager DD6 CD12
4 Swedish Line DD6 CD10
1 Swedish Guard DD8 CD12
1 Swedish 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD10
2nd Division Sandels LD 8
1 Swedish Jager DD6 CD12
4 Swedish Line DD6 CD10
1 Swedish Grenadier DD8 CD12
1 Swedish 6# Foot Battery DD6 CD10
Cavalry Division Lagerbring LD 8
Swedish Light Dragoons DD6 CD10
Swedish Dragoons DD6 CD12
Swedish Life Cuirassiers DD8 CD12
Terrain:
The Agger River is a Class 2 stream. All the hills are class 2, as are the woods. The towns are all class 3 terrain.
Deployment:
The basic deployment will be pretty straight forward as seen above. Field of Battle Has an interesting system for pick up/fictional battles to add a little variety to the setup, which I have never used. I am going to use a modified version of this to make teaks to the basic scenario and deployment. It involves a series of rolls for Fate and Command Decisions. I will resolve these prior to the game ()and probably detail the process in a separate blog post. This may change the deployments to some degree, and could cause some troops to arrive on the table late.Reinforcements:
The French have some additional troops arriving - Morand's French Infantry Division and Arrighi's Cavalry Corps. After any adjustments to the scenario are made, the French players must decide which of the three roads each of these will enter on (they can use different roads or the same road for both); the road to Gohlsdorf, the road to Dennewitz, or the road Rohlbeck. When each French MOVE Card is turned, roll a D3 for BOTH formations (D6: 1,2 = 1, 3,4 = 2, 5,6 = 3). If the roll for that command is less than or equal to the current Move card, the command may enter at the designated road, in Column of March. In the (unlikely) event that the road entry point should be occupied by enemy troops, the reinforcements may not enter until the road entry point is recaptured. Both will remain independent commands - only their command group officer and Ney may rally them, make LD rolls for Movement, etc.Special Rules:
1) Huge Russian BatteriesAll Russian Artillery units have 3 UI instead of the usual 2 UI
2) Bernadotte's "Precious Swedes"
Swedish Infantry units have only 3 UI each, Swedish Cavalry 2 UI each. Swedish Artillery has the usual 2 UI each
3) "The Bravest of the Brave"
After at least one "French" unit has been routed or destroyed, on subsequent Leadership Cards, Ney must roll his LD vs a D*. If the D8 is higher, Ney MUST attach himself to any infantry Division of his choice within his Command Radius. All infantry in that Division get an UP! to both their Combat and Defense Die types while Ney is attached, and will use his LD for Movement and Rallying. Ney uses a D12 for Survival tests while attached, and The French use a D6 for Army Leadership while Ney is attached to a Division. If Ney passes the roll, he may CHOOSE to attach himself as above, or if already attached, may CHOOSE to detach himself and regain overall control of "French" forces, in which case Ney's LD will once again be used for Army initiative (and Army Morale) rolls.
4) Brent's "No Maneuver Card" rule.
No Maneuver cards are placed in the deck. Units can maneuver or change formation on Move cards for the price of 1 move segment. On Move cards with won even rolls, the maneuver/formation change is free. Finally, and most significantly, ordered cavalry can melee on Move cards. Disordered/out of command cavalry still requires either a Melee or won even roll on a Move card.
5) Move 1 Command Card
This card will allow one command of each *player* on that side to move.
Looks interesting! I wish a continent did not separate us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jon, and... likewise!
DeleteI concur with Jon, would love to be there as well, and command the Saxons!
ReplyDeleteYou'd be very welcome to bring your magnificent Saxons! Jean-Louis Phlippe de Reynier, perhaps?
DeletePhil, that would be a fun road trip, no?
Delete@Pete, Jean-Louis Phlippe de Reynier :o) like this name!
Deletewe all know Reynier was Swiss, but which one, German-Swiss, Italian-Swiss or French-Swiss? :o)P
@Jon, I agree a fun trip indeed!
Well, his real name was Jean-Louis-Ebénézer de Reynier; I'd make that a lot more on the French side than the German or Italian!
DeleteVisiting the Pacific Northwest is on the long range list for me, along with plenty of others.
Reynier born at Lausanne, Western Switzerland about 90 miles, more or less, from the French border...makes him french speaking Swiss :o)
DeleteDoubtless he was fluent in German as well, hence the appointment to command the Saxons. He may well have been fluent in Italian as well, as He was Minister of War for Naples for a few years as well!
DeleteGood looking battle, looking forward to the battle report
ReplyDeleteIan
It should be colorful, if nothing else!
DeleteThis looks like it's going to be an enthralling bout Peter. Look forward to seeing ths bold.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Carlo; it looks like we'll have a full house - Roger, Barry, Greg, James, Jared, and Mike.
DeleteHi there,
ReplyDeletethis looks excellent, right up my street! I'm very tempted to play this scenario exactly as you have written early next year at our club. This will be great to follow as it unfolds, have fun.
best wishes, Jeremy
Thanks; I'll do the pregame rolls in the next few days, which may or may not result in some minor adjustmemnts
DeleteLooks nice, very nice...and I love Swedish troops so...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Phil. I have a rather large Swedish army (all "new" Minifigs); this should put virtually the entire Swedish force on the table!
DeleteInteresting looking scenario with a nice collection of different forces. Looking forward to seeing this played out.
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of the Badeners, a few too many Poles, and a few other minor aberrations, all the troops listed were at or near Dennewitz for the actual battle... and then some. The French and Prussians are deliberately over represented, and the location of the Corps is not necessarily as it was in actual fact (the Russsians and Swedes saw very little fighting, among other things). *Very* loosely based on Dennewitz, as I said! :-)
DeleteThis looks like it is going to be fun. As an aside, you could also have a mini skirmish game between Von Bulow and Bernadotte in a windmill. I don't think they actually came to blows, but it sounded pretty close to it.
ReplyDeleteI could well imagine that! Although I am no fan of Bernadotte, he had a tough mission - his Swedes were irreplaceable, failed management of the campaign might cost him his Swedish throne, and he still harbored hopes of replacing Napoleon on the throne of France, and was thus loathe to inflict decisive losses on his former countrymen.
DeleteI actually thought the same thing Peter and, given that his family is still on the Swedish throne today, I think history has proven that caution was the better part of valour as far as he was concerned.
DeleteConsidering that of the crowned heads of state at the end of the Napoleopnic Wars, only those of Sweden, Denmark, and England retained their crowns to the present day, albeit all now ceremonial, he perhaps chose wisely (and was fortunate not to gain the throne of France after all!). By all accounts he was a far better Swedish King than he was a French Marshal!
DeleteLook forward to the AAR
ReplyDelete