The Battle of Konin, Spring 1807: Day 1

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, I went to Jared's home for a Napoleonic game using Field of Battle, 3rd edition. The game was an encounter battle between the French and Russians in the Spring of 1807, taking place after the winter slaughter at Eylau but before the Battle of Friedland ((June 14, 1807). General Bennigsen, wary of a flanking advance by Napoleon, sends Major General Rybak to secure the vicinity of Konin. For his part, Napoleon plans to threaten such a move but make his primary advance elsewhere. He dispatches forces under General de Division d'André to take control of Konin, but makes no mention of the fact that his advance is diversionary!

The day is still young when French and Russian forces begin converging on the village of Konin for many directions! General d'André has 2 of his commands now on the field, whilst General Rybak's are lagging somewhat, with just one command to be seen...  so far!

    The set up for the game was that each side had six commands, and four possible entry routes. Before the game, we diced for sides and as a result,  I commanded the French, and Jared the Russians. Each of us then designated on the map of the battlefield when and where each of our commands would come on, with the following restrictions:

1) On one turn (MOVE card) only, TWO commands could enter at the same time, from the same or different routes. 

2) At least three of the roads had to be used, and no more than two commands could arrive via any one road. 

The game used Jared's excellent 15 mm figures; the red beads indicate infantry units that have not used their first fire bonus yet. 

General Ryzbak's Map; the entry point and turn for each command are noted. TYhe other scibles are Night Moves (see end of this post). 

General d'André's map; same idea different style. C3T4 means Command 3 enetes on Turn 4 along road 1 (on the sketch). 

The French bring on their 3rd command, whilst the Russians still have only one on the field. 

General Ryabk's 2nd command arrives on his Right, while he ponders his maneuvers. 

"You shall take your Cavalry Division and harass the enemy!"

4 French Commands are now on the field, with the arrival of the heavy artillery on French Left Center. The Russians are catching up, with a lot of Cavalry directed towards their own Left. Poor Command rolls have prevented the French command on their Far Right from deploying or advancing!

"Nom de dieu", thinks General d'André, "that isolated command on my right is looking in serious trouble!"

He uses his LEADERSHIP (card) 2 deploy most of his infantry in squares, whilst alone elite Leger outfit maintains line formation, its flanks secured by said squares. The accompanying battery unlimbers, but the restrictions necessitated by the card mean they have no real filed of fire at present!

The French and Russians advance in the Center, whilst the 5th French command, consisting entirely of cavalry enters in the left center. 

The battle unfold with artillery exchanging fire in the center, and both sides bringing on their final commands on the French Left/Russian Right. 

The French squares are peppered with Russian infantry and Artillery fire! 

The Legere unit faces and delivers a crushing initial volley, routing the opposing Russian infantry! 

Mid battle overview. 

General LeBlanc, commanding the French right flank command, is struck down (on an ARMY MORALE) card. His entire force is now Disordered!

On the French Right, a Triple magic move results in the (line) Polish lancers charging home upon the detested Russians!

In the manner of Russian Dragoons everywhere, they stream to the rear in a panicked Rout, while the Lancers coolly reign in (they rolled even) and maintain their  order. 

Polish infantry infiltrate the woods, with one unit firing point blank into the flank of a Russian unit. Alas, a low roll means the tough Russki's shake it off without comment! More French cavalry pour out along the French left center. 

Better late than never - the final Russian command starts to make some ground on their Right. Ominously, more of the numerous Russian artillery unlimber and prepare to bombard the French!

Back on the French right, losses to  Russian artillery fire have thrown one of the squares into Disorder. 

French infantry and Artillery moving to relieve some of the pressure on their beleaguered compatriots; including a point blank volley into some Cossacks! Meanwhile, the opposing batteries in the center continue to batter one another's troops. 

Situation on the left after French cavalry rout the opposing Russian Hussars, and the Russian infantry pulls back. 

At this point, night fell, and the fighting for the day was over! 

We made a Night Move, including a rally attempt. All LD dice were down 1, down 2 if any movement towards the enemy was made. Failure to win the roll resulted in no movement, while a roll of "1" would indicate units getting lost in the dark, resulting in random displacements in both direction and distance.

The French right flank command managed to redeploy and improve their position, whilst one of the Russian cavalry commands blundered, with the units moving of in various directions! 

Situation on the other side of the field after the night moves. The plan is to fight Day 2 with several players on each side shortly after Christmas...