"The Campaign of 1816" Topic

The Battle of Reichenbach, May 1816

A proposed large, multiplayer scenario for
"Valour & Fortitude" V3.

Campaign Background

Following his hard-fought victory at Waterloo, Napoleon acted with his customary speed. Rather than allowing the Coalition to regroup, he launched a series of rapid offensives that drove the shattered Anglo-Allied and Prussian armies back across the Rhine. By the spring of 1816, France had regained the strategic initiative.

The eastern Allies now carried the burden of the war. Russian armies advancing through Prussia sought to unite with Austrian forces assembling in Bohemia before renewing the invasion of France. Napoleon recognised the danger immediately. If the Coalition armies combined, they would possess overwhelming numerical superiority. He therefore resolved to defeat them in detail before that junction could take place.

Lieutenant-General Konstantin Raevsky's VIII Corps had been ordered to conduct a deliberate fighting withdrawal towards the Bohemian frontier, delaying the French advance while the remainder of the Russian army retire to prepared positions. Choosing strong ground near the village of Reichenbach, Raevsky deployed his corps across a low ridge behind a shallow stream, determined to force Napoleon into a costly frontal attack.

For Napoleon, delay was unacceptable. Every hour increased the likelihood that Austrian columns would arrive to support the Russians. Confident in the quality of his troops and determined to regain the strategic initiative, the Emperor ordered Marshal Ney's II Corps to carry the Russian position while Bessières' Cavalry Corps sought an opportunity to exploit any breach. Behind them marched elements of the Imperial Guard, held in reserve for the decisive moment.

As the morning mist lifted over the Silesian countryside, both commanders understood that the coming battle might decide not merely the fate of a corps, but the future course of the 1816 campaign.
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I'm now developing this as a centrepiece battle of my 'After Waterloo' campaign and would welcome your thoughts.

Does this seem a plausible strategic situation for the spring of 1816?
If you were Napoleon, would you attack immediately or try to manoeuvre Raevsky out of his position?
If you were Raevsky, would you make a stand behind a stream and ridge or continue withdrawing towards Bohemia?
Should the French enjoy a numerical advantage, or is superior troop quality enough to justify the attack?
Finally, what terrain features would you expect to find on a battlefield where a Russian rearguard intended to delay Napoleon's advance? NB this is on the Prussian-Bohemian border.

Do you have all the figures you will need?
Then it's plausible. Not only that, nobody can look up (Google…) the actual battles to be prepared.

Nobody can tell you, if YOU do all the heavy lifting, that it's not plausible. Let them come up with it! 😄👍

TBH John, I started with the historical battle of Friedland & am tweaking it a bit (or a lot…).

This is my entire Napoleonic Russian army – 20 battalions of infantry etc – and about 60% of my French.

After I take on any feedback from here & with further thought, I'll finish writing the scenario.

I may well set it up next week, photograph it & ask for tactical advice.

Your good self included, there's a lot of canny wargamers here.

At this time a large part of the Austrian army is leaving Italy having just destroyed Murat's army. Perhaps Murat won and is pushing the Austrians out of Italy?

As for the battle, Having Cossacks attacking the flank and or Austrians show up late sounds about right.

Thanks, Jim. I'm leaving what the Austrians do up to my pal with the Austrian army. He's as cagey as the actual Austrians were so I'm not sure which way he'll jump.

As was true from 1812 onwards, Napoleon was only as good as his last battle. I think he'd *better* defeat the Russians.

The Battle of Reichenbach won't be fought until December, I think, as prior commitments (eg two Show games) will soak up available time. I will try to finish writing the scenario & setting up the table to see how it looks next week.

I look forward to your input.

It's 1816; I hope the Austrians roll out a couple of rocket batteries :^)

Cheers,
John

All in all, I play my home games like its 1816 and the Europeans failed to come to agreement and have at it again between the Allies.
I have no French units

The possibilities are endless & your approach, 14Bore, is very plausible.

One of my pals has a sizeable Polish army & where that might end up as our campaign progresses is very interesting.

It is a small point, but Marshal Bessières died in 1813. If you are changing history I suppose that you can change a lot but if your 'key point' is Waterloo …. ?