The Battle of Vyazma, part 1 (?)

     One week ago, Jared hosted a Napoleonic game using the new Battle Command rules by Brent Oman. Thomas fell prey to a last minute minor illness, so it was left to Jared, Nick and I. Nick, playing in his first "Field of Battle" style game, chose to command the French, and I thus commanded the Russians trying to cut off Davout's rear guard. Wikipedia has a good summary of the battle, which was fought on November 3, 1812, as the French were retreating towards Smolensk.

 

The initial set up; Davout's men, forming the Rear Guard of the retreating Grande Armee, seen in the squarish deployment in the foreground, are in danger of being cut off from the main body. They need to reach Vyazma, the village at the upper right, where Eugene's troops are posted. The troops on the tray are the Russian immediate pursuers, a swarm of cossacks, followed by some infantry and artillery. By the terms of the scenario, the French gain one Morale point for each of Davout's units that make it to the halfway point, and a second for each unit that makes it to Vyazma. The pieces of paper indicate various locations where additional Russian forces may enter during the game. Talk about running the gauntlet! Some limited French reinforcements can also be expected arriving at Vyazma. 

The French get lucky with their card draws and options rolls, and make haste to reach the relative protection of the nearest village and woods, which can mitigate the threat from all of that Russian cavalry! I use the 4 regiments of horsemen (2 Russian Dragons - yuck, pooey pooey blech!) and one each of Hussars and Uhlans. starting on the field to threaten the left of the French advance. My supporting horse artillery gives good service. We Russians do love our Artillery!

Where are those darned Cossacks, who were supposedly "in hot pursuit"?  They are still the box; must have found a stock of Vodka somewhere! Fire from the Horse battery routs one of Davout's regiments with heavy losses (note the 3 rocks), but some of his men have already made it halfway to Vyazma with little other Russian interference. French morale rises a bit!

Some of Eugene's men  (left foreground) move out from Vyazma to succor their brothers in Davout's command.  They have nearly linked up! "Proklyatiye!"

French Chasseurs scoot out of the way of the Russian artillery. They are pretty well out of position now, however. 

French reinforcements in the form of some Poles arrive at Vyazma. 

Gde moi tovarishchi? "And where are *my* comrades?"

My Russian Dragoons charge the wandering Chasseurs in the rear; typical performance for Russian Dragoons - they lose both of the first 2 rounds (where they cannot suffer losses, but do become disordered in the process), and then are thrown back!

Russian Cossacks, emerging from their drunken stupor, finally arrive, chasing Davout's men. 

The second Russian Dragoon unit, seen routing from heavy losses. They were at the edge of the woods, and the French infantry moved forwards and blasted them with point blank musket fire (note the smoke in the woods), and then withdrew. 

Still more French reinforcements arrive in March Columns - some of Eugene's Italians now. 

The Russian Hussars and Uhlans are proving more effective than the despicable Dragoons, but one of the cavalry Brigadiers is hit; his troops cannot move until a replacement is named!

At last, a mass of Russian reinforcements have arrived to the left of Davout's line of advance (retreat). The Dirtbag Dragoons are seen at the edge of the table at the lower left...

Meanwhile, the Hussars, Uhlans, and Cossacks have managed to eliminate most of Davout straggling units, the speed of the weary French  having slackened!

Eugene and Davout continue to act aggressively; they think they may be able to win this battle! Doing so might slow their pursuers, and enable move of the retreating Grande Armee to escape to the West. 

Russian infantry "pursuers" finally make their appearance, having eveidently shared the Vodka with the Cossacks. Wait, Cossacks sharing... ?

A Russian foot battery has gained a position to Eugene's flank; the Viceroy seems unconcerned. He is focused on the chance to defeat the Russian reinforcements that have deployed between the Swamp and the central woods. 

 

Russian reinforcement advance S-L-O-W-L-Y, while the Russian cavalry reform in the center, one of the Colonels having been assigned as acting Brigadier. 

The French charge, while the Russian guns fire as they advance! 

After the charge is sorted out, one of Davout's units is routed, but the other overruns the Russian battery shrugging off heavy casualties from double cannister fire in the process! The Russian defensive line is looking pretty thin... although help is on the way... sort of!

Eugene's infantry move to the attack; they cannot quite reach the Russian position. The exposed Russian infantry fire at the columns, but evidently their hands were numb and their powder wet, the shooting having little impact upon the determined French!The Russian batter to Eugene's flank fired at the flank of a supporting French foot battery, but evidently was supplied by the same contractor, producing little more than clouds of  dense, black smoke. As for the Dastardly Dragoons; they failed to rally, and have "left the building"!

At this point, time ran out for the real life participants. Hopefully this exciting game can be completed at a future outing! Perhaps the Iron Marshal and the Viceroy can yet prevail? On the Russian side, still more troops are believed to be in waiting. Until then, do svidaniya!