Snappy Nappy 2022 - Russia, 1812, the Northern Front: Set Up and initial moves

 Snappy Nappy 2022: Final List of Players, Commands, Starting Positions ... 

The French players were ... Kevin C, Steve T, Robert P, Mark H, Frank N, Alex O, and Nick M. 

The French commanders with their units started in the following locations:

Marshall Oudinot, Steve T. ... at Polotsk, engineer unit near bridges in Polotsk, with light cavalry, and spy.

1.  General Legrand, 6th Division, Nick M. ... at Borovka

2.  General Verdier, 8th Division (Castex's 5th Lt Cav Brigade attached), Mark H. ... Verdier is at Oboiarschina, Castex is just below Siwochina, these are starting on the same table top, yet separated.

3.  General Merle, 9th Division of Swiss (Corbineau's 6th Lt Cav Brigade attached), Kevin C. ... Merle and Corbineau, the Swiss are just north of Disna with the artillery and Corbineau's cavalry, the Croats and Dutch are garrisoning Disna just south of the river.

4.  General Doumerc, 3rd Cuirassiers, Steve T. ... at Polotsk covering all roads approaching, 2 Cuirassiers are northwest with 1 battery, 1 Cuirassier north with 1 battery, 1 light cav west, and 1 light cav northeast.

5.  General Von Deroy, 19th Division of St. Cyr's Bavarian 6th Corp, Alex O. ... not in the region yet.

6.  General Von Wrede, 20th Division of St. Cyr's Bavarian 6th Corp, Robert P. ... not in the region yet.

7.  General St. Cyr, starts with the Bavarian 6th Corp, Frank N. ... with Von Wrede, not in the region yet.

Additional Information ... Marshall Oudinot's French 2nd Corp are already across the Dwina River, and have been in motion most of June and July.  Marshall MacDonald's force is far to your west, and Napoleon with the forces of the main thrust to Moscow is far to the east.  The French are aware that the bridge at Drissa has been destroyed, have protected the bridge at Disna, and rebuilt two bridges at Polotsk.  Additionally, there is one redoubt northwest of Polotsk.  Napoleon has given orders to protect his north flank, and reach St Petersburg far to the North.

Also, the French had access to maps of the areas around Disna, Bononi, Polotsk, and Gamzelov.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

The Russian players were ... Karl N, Russ L, James S, Peter V, Brendan S, Mike S, and Dan B.

The Russian commanders started in the following locations ...

General Wittgenstein, Peter V. ... Drissa, behind Kakhoffski just south of town with engineer, light cavalry, and spy.

A.  General Kulnieff, Vanguard/Rearguard will start away from the Russian army, James S. ... infantry and foot artillery with Depot Guard cavalry at Swolna, Hussars and Cossacks with horse artillery at Mamonitchina, these are on the same table, yet separated.

B.  General Kazatchkowsky, 1st Line Command of Berg's 5th Division, Russ L. ... east of Drissa, artillery between town and the Drissa river, infantry east of the river.

C.  General Kakhoffski, 2nd Line Command of Berg's 5th Division (Balk's Cavalry Brigade attached), Brendan S. ... Drissa, just south of town, Balk's cavalry with horse artillery furthest south.

D.  General Sazonov, Reserves, Mike S. ... Pokajewsky ... just south and east of the town.

E.  Prince Repnin, Cavalry Reserve, Karl N. ... Pokajewsky ... covering all approaches to Pokjewsky and screening the infantry and artillery.

F.  Count Steinheil, Russian reinforcements, Dan B. ... Ratitzy, not on a table at start.

Additional info ... General Wittgenstein's Russian 1st Corp are mostly near Drissa with Repnin and Sazanov close by, and Kulnieff serving as the Vanguard/Rearguard to the east.  The Russian 1st Corp has been in retreat for most of June and July.  There are Russian forces far to your west, and Barclay De Tolley with most of the other Russian forces are attempting to stop Napoleon from reaching Moscow far to the east.  Wittgenstein's Engineering unit has seen that the bridge at Drissa has been destroyed.  The Russians are aware that the French 2nd Corp under Marshall Oudinot have been moving east along the Dwina River on the south bank.  General Barclay-De-Tolly has given orders to protect all the territory north of the Dwina River, and "beat the French".

Also, the Russians had access to maps of the areas around Drissa, Swolna, Wolinizi, and Katerinov.

Overall campaign map, for reference; the players were operating off this map as well. In the event, the roads to Danowiczy were in terrible condition, and it proved impossible to move there, much to the confusion, at times, of the Russians in particular, yet even the French spy attempted to reach it twice and couldn't. 

Table B - Borovka - General Legrand's French Division is ready to move out. 

Map for Borovka table

Table BB - Bononi

Map for Table BB

Table JK - Jakubowo. All quiet... for now!

Map for Table JK - the light green is soft ground, impassable for cavalry and artillery, move penalty for Infantry moving off road. 

Table O - Oboiarschina; Oh boy, I seen a French Division, in this case General Verdier. 

Map for Table O

Table GA - - Gamezlov; the Game is on, as GM Mark looks on with pleasure. The white poker chip indicates the villages are under Russian control at present - important for future supply checks!

Map for Table GA

Table DR - Drissa; Multiple Russian commands are present at the start of the campaign, including Wittgenstein himself,  Kazatchkowsky, Kakhoffski, Sazanov, and Prince Repnin's Cavalry Reserve. 

Map for Table DR

Table G - Golovitischa - French troops are pressing hard and fast North towards St Petersburg, along the main road. 

Map for Table G

Table W - Wolonizi, along the road from Drissa to Polotsk; Kakhoffski's command is seen marching East,  while the Russian Advanced Guard under Kulnieff traverses from one table to the next.

Map for Table W

Table K - Katerinovo; Prince Repnin's cavalry is pushing East towards Jakubowo.

Map for Table K

Table SP - Sebej  (in the far North - continuing North off this table leads to St Petersburg!) Note the snowy terrain (even in summer...)

Map for Table SP 

Table DI - Disna; Merle's Division, which includes 4 units of Elite Swiss infantry (cleverly disguised as Danes here - hey, they both wore red coats!) is deployed in a broad defensive position, as Kulnieff's Russians arrive on the scene from the North.

Map for Table DI

Table P = Polotsk; key French supply center; some troops are left to hold the toen against any surprise attck, and other await developments to see where they are needed most! 

Map for Table P

Table S - Swolna; Where Kulnieff started, and lots of Russian troops moving both South and East.

Map for Table S

Table Y - Yakovtsy; along an alternate North to South route to Golovitchitsa. 

Map for Table Y

General Sazanov and his Russians see plenty of French moving North will all haste. 

French General Verdier and Russian Prince Repnin both arrive on the Jakubowo table at the same time; the terrain doesn't favor the Prince's all cavalry command. 

General Legrand has his Division on the march Northward.

General Sazanov leaving Drissa.

 

Doumerc's Cuirassiers heading towards Disna; he leaves behind one group at Gamzelov. 

French on the move 

General Kazatchkowsky, aka Snappy Nappy author Russ Lockwood, has his troops moving East through  Katerinovo to support Prince Repnin's cavalry at Jakubowo. 

Russian troops, including C-in-C Wittgenstein, marching South through Wolinitizi, on their way towards Disna. 

All quiet at Polotsk!

Only a few more Russian cavalry traveling thru the Swolna area.

A few Opolochenie garrisoning Drissa.

General Merle, at Disna, finds himself now facing off against first one, then two, and ultimately three Russian commands, all coming via different routes. The first major engagement of the campaign is under way! "Well one advantage of red uniforms is that they hide the bloodstains!"

Snappy Nappy Campaign-in-a-Day 2022; Pregame, Turn 4

 Results for the Snappy Nappy 2022 Pre-Game Reconnaissance Turns, Part 4 of 4.

This post includes the mechanical results for each Turn 4 movement  point and the corresponding story piece results with the latter being titled in blue for what the French received, in green for what the Russians received, and in red for what both sides received.

Also, their are associated maps, and these have been coded with colored arrows, 2 Blues and Purple for the French with Red for their spy, 2 Greens and Yellow for the Russians with Orange for their spy.  The following is a list of the units with their corresponding colors on the maps.

For the French ... 

Castex's Chasseurs ... Dark Blue

Corbineaux's Chasseurs ... Medium Blue

Doumerc's/Oudinot's Light Cavalry ... Purple

The French Spy ... Red

For the Russians ...

Kulnieff's Hussars ... Medium Green

Balk's Dragoons ... Light Green

Wittgenstein's Light Cavalry ... Yellow

The Russian Spy ... Orange

- - - - - -

PRE-GAME RECON, TURN FOUR

Movement Point 1 ...

French ...

1.  Castex's Chasseur Scouts in Kochanowichi move to Mushino without incident.

2.  Corbineau's Chasseur Scouts in Disna move to Leonpoul via the the South bank of the Dwina river looking for bridging attempts, find no bridging attempt, as well as a ford at Leonpol that can be passed by cavalry, although infantry and artillery wouldn't be able to cross there.

3.  Doumerc's/Oudinot's Light Cav scouts in Kochanowichi move to Palikusechina-Mumonitschina, and are bounced back to Kochanowichi where they encounter Balk's Dragoon Scouts, a skirmish occurs, 2 dice are rolled for each side's killed and wounded, resulting in the French holding the village.

4.  Spy moves from Drissa to Swolna, finds infantry, cavalry and artillery.

Russian ...

1.  Kulnieffs Hussar Scouts move from Danowiczy to Bieloe without incident.

2.   Balk's Dragoon Scouts move from Drissa to Kochanowichi, and are bounced back after encountering French Light Cavalry scouts, and skirmish occurs with 2 dice rolled for each side's killed and wounded, resulting in the French holding the village.

3.  Wittgenstein's Light Cav Scouts move from Danowiczy to Bieloe without incident.

4.  Spy from Ropna to Gamzelov without incident.

- - - - - -

Story Piece Results ...

Spys At Swolna ...

The three men on horseback reached the T intersection, and took the path that would allow them to get to Swolna.  As they proceeded beyond the connection of those two roads, the light cavalryman who trailed behind Doumerc's Aide De Camp with the anti-Czarist Russian guide out in front of both, heard noise behind them.

As the light cavalry man looked over his shoulder, he let the two ahead of him know of the sounds he heard, and it didn't take the guide long to get them off the trail to one side, and out of sight as best as possible.  Shortly afterwards Russian dragoons were seen coming from Drissa and heading in the direction of the village of Kochanowichi.

Having successfully stayed out of sight, the team of three continued on their journey.  When they arrived at a good distance from the bridge that crossed the Swolna River and into the village there, this time it was the guide who noticed the next group of Russians, and these were infantry guarding the crossing point and spread out along the edge of the river.

It didn't take the Aide De Camp long to motion the group for backing up.  Then after using the same disposition the three had used in the woods at Drissa, out came the Aide De Camp's spy glass, and he was able to locate blue coated Hussars, along with additional cavalry and infantry located in the village of Swolna itself.

However, with very little cover in the area, they decided not to push their luck, and retreated further back down the road from which they came.

The Spy, and the Scouts ...

Filip rode Apostol out to the main road that went between Polotsk and all the way north to Drissa.  As he proceeded north to Gamzelov he couldn't help but notice the amount of foot prints, horse hooves, and even artillery wheel ruts that led north.

When he reached the village of Gamzelov, where the main road leading north and eventually all the way to St. Petersburg was located, it didn't take him long to see that there was almost no traffic going in the direction of Drissa.  Instead, the road traffic that had come before him, and that he'd been observing along the way, it seemed to all pass off and along the road that branched off to the north.

Filip's original plan was to head for Baravucha, but now he wasn't so sure that such was the way to go to find more of the enemy.  Filip pulled out a bit of food for himself and Apostol before finalizing his choice.

Little did he know, but even the Wittgenstein's Light Cavalry scouts, and those from the Grodno Hussars, were also encountering the same kind of tracks heading north as they arrived in Bieloe to rest their horses while they all had their lunch as well.

From "The North Flank of The Russian Campaign in 1812",  by I.B. Storey ...

"Late in the morning, the French cavalry scouts reached Drissa on the south bank of the Dwina to find the bridge that had been burned earlier in July had not been replaced.  And for the moment, there didn't seem to be any Russian activity in the town.  At the same time, from both French and Russian reports, both sides noticed each other, with the French cavalry continuing on toward their goal in the north, and the Russians positioned south of the town being spotted with all the various military branches represented, and closely situated in their encampment.

Meanwhile, French light cavalry scouts descended into Palikuschina, and it wasn't long before a group of Cossacks were encountered near Mamonitschina, yet being backed up with some Russian infantry, the French returned to Kochanowichi accordingly.  However, as the light cavalry arrived, they found that scouts from Balk's dragoons were coming in from the direction of Drissa, and it appears that a sharp skirmish occurred, for both sides reported casualties in their reports on the fighting that occurred within the streets of the village.  The Russians had 6 killed and 4 wounded, the French had 2 killed and 5 wounded, and this brought the retreat of the Russian dragoons back to Drissa."

- - - - - -

Pre-Game Turn 4, Movement Point 2 ...

French ...

1.  Castex's Chasseur Scouts in Mushino to Kochanowichi, and arrive without incident, except to back up the Doumerc's/Oudinot's light cavalry that return here.

2.  Corbineau's Chasseur Scouts stay at Leonpoul establishing a screening position at the ford, and without incident. 

3.  Doumerc's/Oudinot's Light Cav Scouts in Kochanowichi move to Disna, fight a skirmish with Balk's dragoon scouts, are bumped back, and reinforced by Castex's scouts.

4.  Spy moves from Swolna to Wolinizi, and arrive without incident.

Russian ...

1.  Kulnieff's Hussar Scouts from Bielow to Boratchina, encountering an infantry and artillery encampment before going back to Bielow.

2.  Balk's Dragoon Scouts to Kochanowichi, encounter scouts form the 23rd Chasseurs, and are bumped back to Drissa.

3.  Wittgenstein's Light Cav Scouts from Bieloe to Boratchina encountering an infantry and artillery encampment before going back to Bielow.

4.  Spy moves from Gamzelov to Baravucha arrives without incident.

- - - - - -

More Story Piece Results ...

A Skirmish Between Drissa and Kochanowichi ...

Balk's cavalry scouts headed out from Drissa again.  As the dragoons were on the way to Kochanowichi, their captain saw scouts from the 23rd Chasseurs ahead under the mid afternoon sun, and this time blades were drawn, and horses sent into a gallop.

However, the French scouts saw it coming.  Their captain was just as quick with his commands as the Russians had been with theirs, and the clash in the middle was quick and brutal.

Six more Frenchmen died, 3 Russians.  One Chasseur that had been wounded kept himself on his horse, and managed to wound another dragoon, making the Russian total injured at six, although the French captain had enough, and a retreat was ordered.

What remained of Balk's scouts attempted to follow, yet as they and the French neared Kochanowichi, another group of French cavalry scouts had apparently arrived into the village ahead of them all.  It didn't take the Russian captain long to choose giving up the pursuit, and return in the direction they had started.

Pickets at Boratchina ...

It had now been late in the day, and the sunlight was dropping off fast.  The French trooper had been in the saddle for a good while, and everyone was getting tired.

The grizzled captain had led his Hussars up the road, and north towards Boratchina.  The scouts from Wittgenstein's own unit brought up the rear, yet shortly along the ride found the Hussars had halted, and the captain of the light cavalry moved his men off to one side.

Then two captains met, and various pointing begins.  They see infantry and artillery positions silhouetted ahead in the last few minutes of the rapidly dimming daylight, and a good distance away up on the ridge in front of them.

Then French musket shots crack out, and in an uneven line of sound, one after another.  The two captain's heads turn immediately, see one cavalryman fall from his horse, a few more take bullets in arms and legs.

Orders are shouted, and various troopers frantically get their horses into motion again.  Two Hussars are daring enough to drop from their horse to pick up a fallen comrade, put him across one of their own horses, and one takes a bullet through his shoulder.

The grizzled captain takes a last look back towards the ridge they had been viewing, and sees men running here and there, while far off shouting is occurring.  He looks around one more time, and then follows his men into the darkness back towards Bieloe.  

Back at French Headquarters ...

General Doumerc had been operating as Chief of Staff for the last few days, and he had been receiving reports from the various cavalry scouts, which was giving him a good sense of where the Russians were encamped, as well as other information, and of course casualty reports, too.  He cringed for a moment, before shaking the ugliness of war from his mind, and instead back to his professional responsibility.

The cavalry scouts had apparently found significant forces near Drissa, and Swolna.  Beyond that, enemy scouting groups had been encountered multiple times near Disna, had almost caught some Hussars on the bad roads near Danowizcy, and there'd been some skirmishes more recently, plus the pickets taking out a few of those that had gotten as far as Boratchina.

However, the summer sun had returned, and Doumerc wiped his brow again as he viewed the completed second bridge.  Next there were rounds to be made with the various cavalry units under his command, a meeting to be had with Oudinot, and eventually ... he knew there'd be more casualties in the days ahead. 

Back at Russian Headquarters ...

General Wittgenstein was having another lunch under the white awning outside the front of his tent. It had most recently protected him from a summer rain, and as much as it had been from the hot sun that had now returned.

Over the last few days, the notes from the various cavalry scouts had kept coming in for his review.  They had found that the division of Swiss at Disna had now crossed the Dwina River.  And from the newest report said that another French division had already gotten all the way to Boratchina.

There had also been small skirmishes between the Russian scouts with similar enemy groups of cavalry.  Balk's troopers were the most recent, and had to break off from a minor victory when another French group had appeared on the scene, while the Grodno Hussars had nearly got their scouts caught a couple of days ago between the same two French scouting groups on the bad roads near Danowiczy.

So not only had Oudinot's forces not stayed south of the river, but his scouting units had gotten quite close, and the General knew that he would need to start moving his own men into motion soon.

- - - - - -

AFTERWARDS

Somewhere Between Drissa and Polotsk ...

A lone rider, looking more like a Russian farmer than anything else, had brought his mount to a halt as he reached the top of a slight slope well off to the north side of the road.  But the horse didn't look of typical farm stock, and instead the kind of horse that one would issue to a cavalryman. 

As that lone rider sat and watched, three riders were proceeding southeasterly along the road below, and a good distance south of the crest that he'd stopped his horse upon.  The front rider was in Russian peasant dress, and was looking towards him as the middle rider, dressed in a very dark blue overcoat, turned his head wearing a French officer's cockade hat, and then upwards to see the lone rider's position as well.

The trailing third rider, dressed in French cavalry green, stopped his horse, and turned his head to see what the front two riders were looking at.  Then the French officer reigned in his horse, reached for his side pouch, and pulled out his spy glass.

But before the long range viewing piece could be put to the French officer's eye, the lone rider kicked his horse into motion, then turned it quickly, disappeared behind the back side of the hill, and was gone.

Snappy Nappy Campaign-in-a-Day 2022: Pregame Turn 3

Results for the Snappy Nappy 2022 Pre-Game Reconnaissance Turns, Part 3 of 4.

This post includes the mechanical results for each Turn 3 movement  point and the corresponding story piece results with the latter being titled in blue for what the French received, in green for what the Russians received, and in red for what both sides received.

Also, their are associated maps, and these have been coded with colored arrows, 2 Blues and Purple for the French with Red for their spy, 2 Greens and Yellow for the Russians with Orange for their spy.  The following is a list of the units with their corresponding colors on the maps.

For the French ... 

Castex's Chasseurs ... Dark Blue

Corbineaux's Chasseurs ... Medium Blue

Doumerc's/Oudinot's Light Cavalry ... Purple

The French Spy ... Red

For the Russians ...

Kulnieff's Hussars ... Medium Green

Balk's Dragoons ... Light Green

Wittgenstein's Light Cavalry ... Yellow

The Russian Spy ... Orange

- - - - - - - - - - - -

PRE-GAME RECON, TURN THREE

Movement Point 1 ...

French ...

1.  Castex's Chasseur Scouts in Danowiczy go to Siabki, encounter cavalry scouts of the Grodno Hussars, and succeed in taking the village.

2.  Corbineau's Chasseur Scouts in Disna go to Danowiczy, and they encounter Balk's Dragoon cavalry scouts, and are bumped back.

3.  Doumerc's/Oudinot's Light Cav Scouts in Danowiczy go to Siabki, encounter same cavalry as Castex, and succeed in taking the village.

4.  Spy in Philippovo go to Wolinizi without incident.

Russian ...

1.  Kulnieff's Hussar Scouts in Antonova to Siabk, encounter both of the French scouting units from Turn 2, and are bumped back.

2.  Balk's Dragoon Scouts in Balin to Pokajewsky.

3.  Wittgenstein's Light Cavalry Scouts in Lozovka to Gamzelov, but encounter scouts from the 20th Chasseurs again, and are bumped back.

4.  Spy in Bononia to Ekimania ...  with Ekimania and Polotsk separated by only the river and two bridges, one blocked by cavalry from Doumerc's Cavalry Reserve units, and the other under construction is not currently usable, then the spy could use his second movement point to attempt to find a way around Polotsk if desiring travel beyond for Turn 4.

- - - - - -

Story Piece Results ...

View From A Farmer At Siabki ...

The old farmer had been outside this morning tending to his crops, after a good rain had fallen the previous afternoon, and into the evening,  Now the breaking clouds were bringing back some sunshine, but that wasn't the only thing coming to the sleepy village of Siabki.

He had heard the French Emperor was coming to Russia this summer, and he had been joined by some extra hot temperatures in July.  Yesterday's rain had been a welcome relief for the plants in farmer's fields, but the old man wasn't convinced the French riders showing up today would be bringing as much happiness as the rain had brought.

The horsemen in their green uniforms had arrived from the southeast, which confused the aging farmer because he always understood that France was west of here.  And there weren't just one group, but two of them that stopped to rest their horses, while their two commanders met each other in between, and atop their mounts.

He couldn't hear the conversation, the cavalrymen were a good bit and too far away, but fingers were pointed, pickets posted while the rest had lunch, and a pair of riders sent back in the direction of where they'd all come from.  Except that was nothing compared to the commotion that occurred when some Russian Hussars in blue were spotted wearing their fancy blue coats on a slight rise to the west of the village.

It didn't take long for the French captains to start shouting for the men of their commands to mount, and then get both units into an orderly formation as quickly as they could.  The old farmer's eyes went back to the western horizon, and saw what must have been a Russian officer raise his hand in a swirling motion, and then disappear with his troopers back out of sight from the village below.

- - - - - -

A Third Outing Between Lozovka and Drissa ...

The captain of scouts from Wittgenstein's Light Cavalry decided he would see if an early enough start out of camp might get a jump on the crossroads to the south west today, and allow for them to proceed on their way, or perhaps find a good place to ambush a French scouting unit if they encountered one again.  But neither was meant to be, and for the third attempt in a row to search beyond the intersection, they again ran into a bunch of French green coats on horseback.

This time the Russian captain had succeeded in getting his men a little further along to reach where the roads joined each, but still found elements of the 20th Chasseurs coming up from the direction of Disna again.  Being that screening was their first priority when it came to encountering the enemy, so he turned the traveling column into another skirmish line immediately.

Meanwhile, the French Chasseurs had arrived up the southwest road again, although not in time to see which way the Russian cavalry might be going.  However, their captain responded quickly in seeing the Russian cavalry spreading out for covering the road way, as well as the fields on either side, and ordered his own men to mirror what the enemy had done.

And so as the sun appeared out from in between the breaking cloud cover, it seemed the stalemate was continuing.  Neither side was going to risk direct confrontation, and neither side was able to continue beyond where they had met each other at the crossroads previously.

- - - - - -

Movement Point 2 ...

French ...

1.  Castex's Chasseur Scouts in Siabki, and arrive in Kochanowichi without incident.

2.  Corbineau's Chasseur Scouts in Disna go to Danowiczy, again encounter Wittgenstein's Light Cavalry, and are bumped back to Disna (a six sided die was thrown for each side to determine the casualties for a quick skirmish, and the Russians won 5 to 3 in casualties).

3.  Doumerc's/Oudinot's Light Cav Scouts in Siabki, and arrive in Kochanowichi without incident.

4.  Spy goes from Wolinizi to Drissa., and arrives to locate a whole bunch of Russian infantry, quite the artillery park, and a little bit of cavalry.

Russian ...

1.  Kulnieff's Hussar Scouts in Antonova go to Daniwiczy, and arrive a good bit before another Russian arrival.

2.  Balk's Dragoon Scouts in Pokajewsky go to Drissa, and arrive without incident.

3.  Wittgenstein's Light Cav Scouts in Lozovka again encounter scouts from the 20th Chasseurs, and after a small fight at the road leading to the north, the cavalry manage to slip off, and reach Danowiczy (a six sided die for each side to see what the resulting casualties might be for a quick skirmish, and the Russians won 5 to 3 in casualties).

4.  The Spy in Ekimania attempts to get around Polotsk, but with both bridges impossible for him to cross, and way too many cavalry trooping around, the spy proceeds north to Ropna, finds a decent enough spot to make the crossing, and will start there on Turn 4, which is sort of like being at Polotsk, except without the heck of a lot of Cuirassiers and Light Cavalry covering all the directions leading into Polotsk.

- - - - - -

More Story Piece Results for Turn 3

The 4th Attempt Between Lozovka and Drissa ...

Both the captain of Wittgenstein's Light Cavalry, and the captain for the French 20th Chasseurs decided to waste no more time riding away from the intersection of the two roads between Lozovka and Drissa.  Both leaders initially barely blinked, and only called back their troopers just slightly enough to stay within eye shot of the enemy, and then sent messengers back to give word of the continuing standoff.

As the afternoon began, the clouds continued to clear, and the heat started its return with the sun.  Water cans were brought out, and each side tightened their line in order to give a select few every half hour or so a break from sitting in the saddle, a brief relief for the men, and their horses.

When both side's messengers returned, the captains of both armies received their orders.  And the standoff continued.

As the last light of the long summer day approached, the Russians sought a way to get around on their left flank, but the French mirrored their motion on their own right flank.  The Russian lieutenant in charge of the attempt tried to make a run for it. but the French troopers responded, and a short skirmish  and turning action occurred.

The clash was very brief, a couple of handfuls of cavalrymen on each side.  The fighting wasn't fierce, and instead much more of a chasing, running, and some attempted slashing that saw only the rare sword finding it's target as the sun set into the western sky.

Five Frenchmen wouldn't be returning to France for their Emperor, and three Russians lay on their homeland for the Czar.  They weren't the first of Napoleon's invasion, wouldn't be the last, and both of the opposing forces retreated into the dark.

- - - - - -

The Sun Also Sets in Drissa ...

The anti-Czarist Russian guide in Oudinot's employment often had his horse out ahead of the ones being ridden by Doumerc's Aide De Camp, and the light cavalryman that accompanied both of them through enemy territory, just in case.  It had been a long ride from Polotsk, the heat making it tough on the morning of their first day out, and the rain didn't make it much easier that afternoon.

When the rain had cleared, the twisting westerly roads were swarming so much with various Russian cavalry running here and there, that quite a number of seek and hide locations were needed along the way making slower than preferred progress occur.  And then when the guide mentioned they were close to Drissa, he then also suggested that the best route to get close enough for a good view without getting caught from this direction was to head for the woods northeast of the town.

And now they'd found themselves moving through dense thickets and lots of under growth, which made it late in the day before they were in a position to see the enemy encampments to the west of Drissa.  Doumerc's Aide De Camp stayed low as he approached the forest's edge, along side of him the light cavalryman tagged along, and meanwhile the guide sat atop his horse further back holding the reigns of the other horses.

The Aide had a spy glass to his eye, and slowly scanned the horizon to his southwest.  There was a lot of what seemed to be regular infantry units sprawled out all over, and to the east side of the Drissa River, and it looked like far more then a ton of artillery parked behind the infantry, while being between them, the river, and the town.

He also could view north of the town, and there wasn't anything present in that area except a small group of cavalry that arrived from the north.  Whether or not that was important wasn't going to be possible to determine, because the sun also sets in Drissa.

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To Cross or Not To Cross At Polotsk ...

The journey for Filip, and his horse Apostol, had been quite the haul.  The rain had cleared upon arriving in Ekimania, but there were more problems regarding how he was going to proceed from there.

Knowing that Polotsk was just over the river, Filip at first decided to find a good and safe spot to tie his horse up accordingly, and then walk the rest of the way into reconnoiter the town.  As it turned out, he probably could have taken the horse with him, for the only French encountered were the cavalry guarding the route over the only bridge that was completed.  Engineers were  working on the second bridge further up river, and they were guarded by a small unit of light infantry, but there weren't any enemy units on the south side of the River Dwina currently.

Filip waited for a bit in a good hiding spot, and saw the various bridge guards change around noon.  However, he couldn't foresee things would be any easier for crossing the river here when there were various groups of cavalry also posted just to the west and east of town on the roads running alongside the river.

So seeing the the water near and under the bridges seemed swift and too freely running, and cavalry troopers were  swarming all over the place, Filip decided to chat with some locals about how he might find a way across.  Then he returned to his horse on the south side of town, and proceeded northwesterly, and along the general course of the river.

At one point he looked out across the water from a slight rise, and could see further beyond Polotsk to view what seemed like more units of cavalry protecting the roads flowing from the north, plus a small artillery park, and a redoubt as well.  He would remember to report that he hadn't seen any infantry except for that small unit of light troops protecting the engineers working on the upper bridge.

Then Filip looped his horse in a semi circle route of travel to get back to the river further down its flow, and eventually located the village of Ropna.  One of the locals had mentioned that the river got wider and slower there, and it might be possible for him to make it safely across.

It took awhile to search and find where it might make sense to give swimming a go.  When he found a spot, he didn't give his horse a moment to think, dismounted, led him into the water, and the swim across the wide Dwina River began.

The water's depth seemed way too deep for infantry, and certainly not artillery.  The swim was a bit of touch and go keeping one's head above the water, but after an effort, Filip managed to get himself and his horse to the other side.