- 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.
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.
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.
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.
