Hello All,
The CSGA gathered to play out the Battle of Eylau (1807) from the Napoleon's Battles scenario book. The battle was epic and it was bloody. Here are some statistics.
There were eight players, 2 hours to set up, 1400 figures, 10 hours of play, 11 turns completed, and a field riddled with broken formations. In the spirit of the snowy combat I present a pictorial report in black and white. The link to color pictures is below.
The opposing forces ready to begin. The Russians are emplaced on their ridgeline with artillery batteries all along the front. Lasalle's light cavalry division is holding the French far left flank.
Here we see the leading edge of Davout's III Corp on the French right along with the Cavalry Corp lead my Marshal Murat.
The opening French turn went quietly enough at first. Units edged closer to the Russian line while avoiding the vast amount of enemy artillery. The majority of French commanders thought the turn was complete when suddenly, and without warning, trumpets were heard on the French right. What was this!?
Marshal Murat had approached a Brigade of Cuirassiers and with the simple phrase "Follow me!" charged alone, and unsupported, into the entire mass of the Russian cavalry. We were in such a state of shock, that the event was never properly recorded in the historical archives. We are very certain it looked exactly like this….
The Marshal being more brave then smart had failed to account for the Russian battery emplaced inside Serapalten. The 12-pound battery punished the Cuirassiers for their audacity, by sending round shot into their flank as they crossed the field.
Despite the damage, the armored horsemen could not be stopped, especially with a blood crazed Gascon leading the way. They routed the Russian cavalry on the hill, but they were now blown and exposed. The Russian response came as no surprise . On the Russian following turn the entire left wing cavalry charged the disordered Cuirassiers with General Gallitzin at their head.
Seeing the plight of their Marshal a brigade of light cavalry charged the Russians and Marshal Davout, very reluctantly, ordered General Maurlaz to attack with the III Corp cavalry. The battle had just begun and two divisions of cavalry were locked in combat on the French right already.
Do you see the lack of amusement on Marshal Davout's face?
By the end of the swirling combat the Russian left wing cavalry had been routed. The Cossacks of Gallitzin's command had performed the best; repulsing Muralez‘s attempt to hit the flank of the Russian Dragoons.
On the opposite side of the battlefield, the Russians were taking an A-historical approach to a defensive battle and Sacken's 3rd and Essen's 8th divisions stepped off the ridgeline to confront Marshal Soult.
Soult faced immense pressure from the Russian right wing. The fighting in, and around, the village of Eylau was intense. Napoleon was forced to pay close attention to his left flank and at one point ordering his Guard Chasseurs-a-cheval into the Russian mass to relieve pressure on IV Corp.
Back on the French Right, the Russian 14th Division established a defense position on the high ground and woods North of Serapalten. Davout with his 1st Division on the board and the majority of the cavalry reserve was positioned to continue the attack.
Gudin and Friant routed the 14th Division off the high ground and kicked the Russian Jaegers out of the woods.
The French now took aim at the hinge of the Russian defensive position, the town of Serapalten. Augereau's Corp had slowly skirted the Russian artillery to avoid the fate of its historical predecessor. VII Corp now turned to attack Seraplaten along with assistance from III Corp.
The first attack is repulsed. The Russian artillery is causing heavy losses and French cavalry is hacking apart the Russian infantry.
The second assault begins.
The Russians finally break.
This was the turning point of the game. Soult's defense of Eylau had exhausted the Russian right wing. Bennigsen was establishing a new line of defense around his HQ to meet Augereau and Davout.
Unfortunately the units available were exhausted and brittle. The Prussians had arrived but their forces would only delay the ultimate outcome. Having lost their artillery the Russian Infantry could not match the ability of the French skirmishers. Lastly, the Old Guard was still available to Napoleon. As such after 5 hours of "game time" the game was called.
"The Fate of general Lasalle"
A special mention must go out concerning the famous hussar, General Lasalle. The light cavalry under General Lasalle charged into the Russian right wing with great Élan. Its reward for such bravery was to be torn apart by Russian artillery. Adding insult to injury, while attempting to reform it was assaulted by Platov's Cossacks. The division ultimately reformed and then charged back into combat. By the end of game nothing was left of Lasalle's original four thousand troopers. The brave Hussar led the final charge only to be captured by the Cossacks. The French lament the lost of such a capable commander and they hope the Cossacks would not be too cruel to him. Maybe a substantial ransom will return the brave cavalrymen to the Emperor's service.
I hope you enjoyed the report.
All the pictures can be seen here
link
The color pictures can be seen here
link
Thank you
looks at the new U.S.S. Constitution for Black Seas.
