The next session was set in 1806, and imagined a follow-up engagement with forces largely similar to the 1805 scenario. Pictures of the initial battlefield and the ending positions are below.
This battle ended after only four turns when the British-Russian side conceded defeat, and left the field to the French and their Scottish-Irish-Bavarian allies. The British losses were very high, and if not for six (!) one-stand units left on the tabletop, the disparity in victory points would have been much higher.
Russian losses
1,800 cavalry
0 infantry
5 artillery batteries
English losses
3,420 cavalry
24,000 infantry
4 artillery batteries
French losses
3,600 cavalry
14,400 infantry (including 1,200 Irish)
3 artillery batteries
Total victory points for the Anglo-Russian side: 0 for objectives + 165 for destroying enemy units = 165 points
Total victory points for the French and French-Allied side: 300 for objectives + 323 for destroying enemy units = 623 points
Commentary
The French were organized into three large corps commanded by Ney, Davout and Lannes. The French also had a cavalry reserve corps under Murat and a small guard corps under Bessieres. This side featured ease of movement -- the number of activations available each turn was equal to the number of formations.
The weakest French corps - the one on their far left under Ney - conducted a tactical withdrawal, moving slowly to the rear and center. On the far right a strong corps under Lannes, augmented with a division of dragoons fought a heavy engagement against Moore's Light Division, also augmented with two British cavalry divisions. The British elected to cede this flank to the French, and the main result was a great loss of cavalry on both sides and relatively few casualties otherwise. The French were able to collect all of the objectives available on this flank too.
The main French blow fell in the center. Napoleon was able to launch Davout, Murat, and elements of the guard against a relatively thin British line. Because the British also advanced aggressively in the center before their Russian allies could engage, the French could apply nearly their entire effort on a small number of British divisions each turn, tearing them apart with both musket and artillery fire.
The British and Russian commands were all unwieldy. Each commander could activate only two formations each turn, and the Russians had four formations, and the British had 10 (but two commanders). The command situation limited what this side could do, leaving them in a position best suited for localized counterpunching v. broad movements and mass action. The best situation might have been a steady advance on the British far fight by Kutusov and his four divisions while focusing both British commanders in the center so that four British divisions could be moved freely each turn (along with four brigades or batteries).
The (fictional) aftermath of this drubbing is that the British sue for peace. Napoleon accepts, ending the blockade of the Continental System, and creating French client states in Scotland and England. The Spanish continue to ally themselves with the French. Everything is looking very rosy for the Emperor. However, their are storm clouds to the east where Austria and Germany are concerned about growing French power. And they may be able to find a willing partner to take action in Russia...
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| Battlefield view. Anglo-Russian force is on the left and the French and French-Allied force is on the right. |
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| French Cavalry Reserve under Murat. |
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| French Guard Corps. |
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| Extreme French left. Corps of French-Allied troops under Ney. Bavarians, Scots, and Irish! |
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| Extreme French right under Lannes. His corps was joined by a French dragoon division before play began. |
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| Extreme British left. Dundas is in the bottom left corner. The British Light Division under Moore suffered few casualties, but also caused few. The supporting infantry division in the center-right counter-marched the first few turns, and saw little action. Two British cavalry divisions joined this flank prior to the start of the battle. |
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| The British center under the Duke of York. This entire force was nearly destroyed by Davout and the French guard. One player called it the English Jena-Auerstedt. |
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| The Anglo-Russian far right. Kutusov has four large divisions. One is green, and one is elite, but the other two are regular line. Unfortunately for the British, the Russians were not able to engage before the battle was lost. Only the Russian Guard Cavalry fought, and then were destroyed by two French heavy cavalry brigades (which were also destroyed in the process). |
