Pultusk 1806

Now - I know from the comments that my public (😂) were expecting me to go for Auerstadt next, but I didn't, so here's a brief introduction to the battle of Pultusk. 

In 1806, Napoleon had sought to knock Prussia out of the war as quickly as possible because, as usual, his enemies were mobilising against him. In fact, the Russians were already on the march so although he did indeed defeat Prussia, the war was far from over. As the remnants of the Prussian army were seeking to combine with the advancing Russians, the French ploughed on into East Prussia/Poland to prevent that junction and meet the new threat. The French captured Warsaw on 28 November and the Russians fell back to re-group and consolidate.

With their usual disdain for their opponents, and lack of reconnaissance, the French continued to advance and when Lannes Corps Blundered into Bennigsen's troops in a snowstorm near the town of Pultusk, the French Marshal immediately ordered the attack.  Davout's III Corps was nearby but the Russians significantly outnumbered the French. I haven't had my Russians on the table for a while and I even painted some 1805 style jaeger for the game. Unusually in this battle you have an outnumbered force with almost no artillery attacking a large, well supported, enemy who remained largely passive...

Turn 1:

The French arrive on the western edge of the battlefield and what artillery they have opens up on the Russian batteries.

The French columns approach the Russian advanced positions.

The French artillery is rolled into position.

 

 

                                                        The Russian Battery replies!

With, perhaps, inevitable results.

Turn 2:

 

The French advance - rather more cautiously than historically. 

The Russians withdraw their cavalry while pushing forward some jaeger who flank the advancing column.

 

Turn 3:

The French advance on their right - they have to make a breakthrough if they are going to stand a chance. This Russian unit is pushed back but overall there is little progress.

Having advanced into the space vacated by their adversaries, the French brigade is now exposed. It is raked by cannon fire and counter-charged by Russian cavalry. The little blue dice to the rear of the unit denotes its remaining hit points. This is not good!

 

Turn 4:

Now desperate to make some headway, Lannes moves troops from his centre to support the right and crashes on again.

The small French cavalry forces charges to relieve the pressure.

The attack is moderately successful.

Turn 5:

The Russians launch some small scale spoiling attacks to hold up the French while they withdraw their artillery and disordered units behind the second line...

Turn 6:

By the rules of the game, this division is 'exhausted' and should not be allowed to advance towards the enemy but as this is pretty much all the French have I shall let them go on and see how they fare. 

They hold. 

To their left, their comrades drive the Russians from the high ground in the centre, though at great cost.

 

On the left, part of Davout's Corp have made an appearance and launched a forlorn cavalry attack on Barclay de Tolly's command.

The Russian artillery awaits...

The Russians are retreating but they have plenty left whilst the French are reduced to single strength points in many brigades.

Turn 7:

A swirling cavalry melee develops between the French dragoon division and Barclay de Tolly's horsemen.

The French push the Russians back!

Whilst on the right they occupy a village on the outskirts of Pultusk.

 Turn 8:

The cavalry melee continues and extends, drawing more units from both sides into the maelstrom.

Due to some rather lucky dice rolling the French prevail.

The Russians however, have greater numbers and counter-charge everywhere.

Turn 9: The End!

The French cannot hope to prevail against such numbers.

Their final attack fails...

Pultusk holds and, to be honest, was never in much danger!

In avoiding what I thought would be a one-sided game with little hope for one side, I have ended up with a game which was exactly that, but at least it was pretty much the historic result and I didn't have to paint any more Prussians!

Jena 1806

 So - as you can see from my recent posts, whilst I haven't been posting, I haven't been inactive. Since I finished my thesis though there has been an upswing in wargaming action! I do have pictures and notes for the games that occurred in the intervening period but it is, I think, easier to cover the recent action and then circle back to the older stuff if I get time.

I didn't quite refight all the battles in the 1809 campaign but after Wagram I fancied something a bit different so I painted a small Prussian army in 1806 uniform and had a crack at Jena. This battle is seen by some as one of Napoleon's greatest triumphs, but the emperor was in fact in the wrong place and only facing a small Prussian rear-guard, rather than the main army as he thought. Therefore this game was a bit of challenge. Obviously the French are going to win, their numerical superiority is enormous but can they win quickly enough? The Prussians are fighting a rear-guard action but can they slow the French enough and how will I represent France's loose cannons; Ney & Murat?

- A rather poorly lit overview of the battlefield. The Prussian defenders wait anxiously in their forward positions while the leading French units make their way up the pass from Jena and onto the plateau above.

Turn 1:

The historic battle began around 6:30 a.m. with the Prussians on the plateau falling back before the lead elements of the Grande Armee (this site doesn't seem to do accents!!). It is now 7 a.m. This is Lannes' V Corps, who formed the left of the French formation.

And this is IV Corps, under Soult who formed the French right.

Turn 2:

The Prussians stage a tactical withdrawal.

The French follow.

Lead elements of Gazan's Division (V Corps)

Suchet's Division (also V Corps) occupies the recently vacated village of Closewitz.

Turn 3:

The French continue to advance.

The Prussians have retreated far enough and now organise themselves to offer resistance. 

Their artillery engages the advances columns but to little effect.

Turn 4:

Augerau (VII Corps) has now arrived and his troops push up to occupy the Dornberg Hill in the centre.

Soult moves up, protecting the flank of V Corps and threatening Von Holtzendorf on the Prussian left.

Prussian cavalry advances in response.

 

 The Prussian artillery fires again, to greater effect, whilst the skirmish lines of both sides are heavily engaged.

Turn 5:

The French continue to advance towards the waiting Prussians who pound them mercilessly with their artillery and contest every inch desperately. 

The French are taking heavy casualties.

Soult's columns make little headway against the Saxon & Prussians grenadiers.

One of Lannes' Brigades is completely destroyed, whilst St Hilaire's division on the right is close to 'exhaustion'.

Turn 6:

The French advance has stalled and the situation remains largely unchanged.

Marshal Ney has arrived to rescue the situation but as he was extremely unpredictable in the historic battle I randomised his movement and his Corps (VI) were supposed to have arrived last turn but didn't move and they now advance at half speed, blocking the road from Jena.

Augerau's VII Corps is suffering from the intense bombardment.

Things are no better on the French right where St Hilaire's Division has had to retreat and bombard Von Holtzendorff's grenadiers from a safe distance.

Soult's other division (Leval's) edges forwards into a hail of Musketry.

The Prussians remain on the defensive

Whilst their cavalry launches a series of spoiling attacks to keep the French off guard.

And Von Ruchel's Corp has been sighted on the road to Kapellendorf.

Turn 7 (Midday):

Ney finally advances...

Clearing the way for Lasalle.

His Chasseurs trot onto the plateau.

Given fresh hope by these reinforcements, the French attack across the whole front.

The Prussians hold...

... and counter attack.

The French are driven back.

Turn 8:
The advance of Ney has cleared the road allowing more French reinforcements onto the battlefield.

Murat arrives with so many dragoons that I had to undertake some emergency painting - that's four divisions! 

Plus some heavies!

Ney's Corps heads for the action, but is it too late?

As if that were not enough, the artillery of the Imperial Guard thunders up.

The French attack again with whatever intact units they have left and make some gains.

The Prussians continue to counter-attack, making particular use of their cavalry.

Historically the battle ended at this point but I will carry on for a bit and see what happens. As can be seen from this overall shot, the Prussians are holding on quite well.

Turn 9:

The Emperor himself has arrived on the battlefield.

Lasalle is sent off on a wide flanking march.

The Guard   Artillery is sent to create a grand battery in the centre.

And the columns roll forwards once again.

Screened by Murat's masses on their right.

But... having done their job, the Prussians begin an orderly withdrawal.

Their cavalry keeps the French in check.

The sledgehammer has failed to crack the walnut. There is no way the Prussians can defeat the vast horde before them but they have inflicted heavy casualties on them and delayed them for nine hours. Honours must go to the Prussians here.