Second battle of Colbitz - Move 8

1500 to 1600

6 April 1813

Table at the start of Move 8

First – VI French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

6 command points

Artillery fire and hit the Prussian brigade on the right

Prussians test, and pass, morale for casualty

On the left 21 brigade enter the woods

Gunners manhandle guns towards the enemy

General repositions himself in the middle of the corps

Second - IV French corps

Orders – Hold

7 command points

Artillery move into position and unlimber facing approaching enemy

Reserve infantry move forward between the guns and the square

Third – 1 Prussian corps

Orders – Engage Farm

5 command points

Artillery fire on farm and cause casualties

Garrison test, and pass, morale for casualties

On the left a landwehr and line brigade skirmish with farm

General moves to centre of corps

Fourth– 4 Prussian corps

Orders – Halt

3 command points

On the right 14 brigade garrison Colbitz

The landwehr brigade are still unable to clear the town

Due to previous Poor Card the infantry are unable to deploy properly

Fifth – V French corps

Orders – Engage enemy south of Colbitz

7 command points

On the right the cuirassier brigade move forward to pin enemy infantry

The infantry group to the right of the artillery and move towards Colbitz

17 Brigade are Shaken but pass morale test and become Disordered

Sixth - Poor Card

Seventh – Prussian CinC

7 command points

Moves to join 2 corps but can not help with the Poor Card

When 2 corps turn comes they will have to miss it due to Poor Card

Had they missed their turn already, the CinC could have passed 4 CP

Eight - French CinC

8 command points

No action required

Nothing for CinC to do as all corps are on appropriate orders

Ninth– 2 Prussian corps

Orders – Hold

5 command points

Unable to issue orders due to Poor Card still in play

Rule Notes

1 Prussian corps have sent two infantry brigades to skirmish with the farm. Each time they fire the garrison can reply without use of CP. If the attackers are on Engage orders they can only skirmish or musket fire. Were they on Attack orders they could storm the farm. Skirmish fire is likely to be ineffective as each side require a total of 6 for a hit. On Attack orders a decisive result is much more likely, but also more risky.

Second battle of Colbitz - Move 7

1400 to 1500

6 April 1813

Table at the start of Move 7

First - French CinC

5 command points

No action required

Second – VI French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

5 command points

Cavalry turn to face Colbitz

Cavalry form line

Remainder of corps advance towards Colobitz

Third - IV French corps

Orders – Hold

6 command points

Limber artillery

Move artillery to face approaching enemy

Fourth – V French corps

Orders – Engage enemy south of Colbitz

6 command points

Artillery fire on infantry, total 7, miss

21 infantry brigade move to woods

Remainder of corps advance

Fifth – 1 Prussian corps

Orders – Engage Farm

7 command points

Artillery move and unlimber

2 and 4 infantry brigades move towards farm

1 and 3 infantry brigades move to right of farm

Reposition commander in centre of corps

Sixth– 2 Prussian corps

Orders – Hold

5 command points

Artillery fire on infantry, total 7, miss

Move cavalry

Move 7 infantry brigade towards woods

Move 8 infantry brigade to support artillery

Reposition general in centre of corps

Seventh– 4 Prussian corps

Orders – Halt

4 command points

Artillery fire on infantry, total 11, hit

Infantry test morale, total 2, Shaken

Move 14 infantry brigade into Colbitz

Move 16 infantry brigade through Colbitz

Eight - Poor Card

No effect, both Poor Commanders have moved

Ninth – Prussian CinC

6 command points

Change 4 corps orders to Hold

Rule Notes

Once more the two Prussian Poor Commanders were fortunate to move before the Poor Card was drawn. The Prussian CinC has now changed all of his corps commander orders and is available to support one of the Poor Commanders if necessary

Second battle of Colbitz - Move 6

1300 to 1400

6 April 1813

Table at the start of move 6

First – V French corps

Orders – Engage enemy south of Colbitz

6 command points

Artillery limber and move forward

All four infantry brigades move forward

Reposition general in centre of corps

Second – Prussian CinC

6 command points

Move to 1 corps

Change orders to “Engage Farm”

Move to 4 corps

Note – CinC has again left his Poor commanders to deal with the Poor Card

He is concentrating on directing the battle with change of orders

Third – VI French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

4 command points

Artillery move and unlimber

2 infantry brigades move closer to Colbitz

Four - French CinC

5 command points

No action required

Remain with IV corps

Fifth – 1 Prussian corps

Orders – Engage Farm

5 command points

Limber artillery and move towards farm

Cavalry turn to face enemy and form line

Move one infantry brigade towards farm

Sixth - IV French corps

Orders – Hold

5 command points

Artillery fire on cavalry, total 8, second casualty

Cavalry test morale, total 5, pass

Reposition general in centre of corps

Garrison farm

Advance infantry brigade in support of farm

Seventh - Poor Card

Eighth– 2 Prussian corps

Orders – Hold

6 command points

Corps commander unable to issue orders as Poor Card still in play

Ninth– 4 Prussian corps

Orders – Halt

3 command points

Move cavalry out of artillery range

Advance 15 brigade out of Colbitz

Move 14 brigade into Colbitz as garrison

Rule Notes

The Poor Card came up late (move 7), but so did both of the Prussian Poor Commanders (moves 8 and 9). At least 4 corps got to move at last, and were able to move their battered cavalry brigade (two casualties) out of artillery range. 2 corps failed to move, but they are better deployed than 4 corps to meet an attack.

Second battle of Colbitz - Move 5

1200 to 1300

6 April 1813

Table at the start of Move 5

First - French CinC

8 command points

Move to V corps

Change orders to “Engage enemy south of Colbitz”

Return to IV corps

Second– 2 Prussian corps

Orders – Engage Farm

5 command points

Move cavalry out of artillery range

Advance three infantry brigades

Third – Prussian CinC

5 command points

Move to 2 corps

Change orders to “Hold”

Fourth - IV French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

5 command points

Fire on enemy cavalry, total 7, miss

Move 15 infantry brigade into farm (4 moves)

Check morale for routed cavalry, total 2, continue rout

Note – 15 brigade allowed multiple moves as no enemy within 16”

Fifth - Poor Card

Sixth – 4 Prussian corps

Orders – Halt

4 command points

Corps commander unable to issue orders as Poor Card is still in play

Seventh – VI French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

5 command points

Limber artillery

Corps advance towards Colbitz

Note – now that enemy cavalry have withdrawn corps able to advance

Eighth – 1 Prussian corps

Orders – Move to Colbitz

5 command points

Change orders to Halt

Deploy four infantry brigades

Ninth – V French corps

Orders – Engage enemy south of Colbitz

4 command points

Artillery fire on square, total 5, miss

Move cavalry out of artillery range

Rule Notes

1 Prussian corps had to change their “Move” orders to “Halt” because they have reached Colbitz, their objective. They, and 4 corps, must now wait for new orders from the Prussian CinC

The Prussian CinC has had to abandon his Poor Commanders to the luck of the Poor Card in order to issue fresh orders to 2 corps. With two Poor Commanders he is always torn between managing the battle by the issue of orders, or passing his CP to a Poor Commander who would otherwise have lost his turn to the Poor Card.

Second battle of Colbitz - Move 4

1100 to 1200

6 April 1813

Table at the start of Move 4

First - French CinC

6 command points

Pass 4CP to 4 corps

Note – CinC wants 4 corps to act before the two approaching Prussian corps

Second – IV French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

4 command points

Cavalry charge enemy cavalry

Prussian cavalry test morale, and pass, to counter charge

Artillery move forward and unlimber

Leading infantry brigade form square in case cavalry lose melee

Cavalry Melee

French roll 2xD6 and score one on each!

French cavalry rout with two casualties

Prussian cavalry test morale to pursue, pass morale no pursuit

Infantry square pass morale for cavalry rout

Note – On Hold orders cavalry can charge any enemy within range.

The Prussian cavalry started the game with one casualty, so it made sense for the French to charge them. Had they won it would have been a severe setback to the Prussians.

Third – Prussian CinC

7 command points

Pass 4CP to 4 corps

Fourth – 4 Prussian corps

Orders – Halt

4 command points

Withdraw cavalry out of canister range

Reposition general

Move square to protect gunners

Fifth – V French corps

Orders – Engage farm

6 command points

Infantry form column of attack from column of march

Artillery advance and unlimber

Reposition general

Deploy infantry

Sixth – 1 Prussian corps

Orders – Move to Colbitz

7 command points

Withdraw cavalry out of canister range

Deploy corps to the east of Colbitz

Seventh - Poor Card

Eighth – VI French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

7 command points

Manhandle artillery into range of enemy cavalry

Deploy rest of corps out of charge range of enemy cavalry

Ninth– 2 Prussian corps

Orders – Engage Farm

5 command points

Corps commander unable to issue orders due to Poor Card still in play

Rule Notes

cavalry melee

The combat rules are designed to result in a draw or minor victory/defeat in most combats. However the roll of 2x6 or 2x1 will result in extreme results. The French cuirassiers were stronger in combat points, and rolled their 2xD6 with a plus 1 advantage. By rolling two 1s they had a total of 3. The result was that they lost two casualties and routed. The Prussians had no casualties, and were only Disordered until the end of the move. A harsh result, but one which has been knowingly included in the rules as a possibility. There has to be a chance of a convincing victory or a crushing defeat – even if it only happens very rarely.

Rule 14 covers cavalry v cavalry combat

Second battle of Colbitz - Move 3

1000 to 1100

6 April 1813

Table at the start of Move 3

First – VI French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

5 command points

Cavalry advance 10”

Remainder of corps advance 12” behind cavalry

Note – cavalry are now within charge range of enemy cavalry, and remainder of the corps are deployed in column of attack.

Second – VI French corps

Orders – Engage Colbitz

5 command points

Artillery advance and unlimber

Infantry change formation from column of march to column of attack

Note – corps have deployed out of charge range of enemy cavalry, as their own have been detached.

Third – 2 Prussian corps

Orders – Engage Farm

5 command points

Artillery advance and unlimber

Change infantry from column of march to column of attack

Reposition general

Infantry start to deploy facing VI French

Fourth - French CinC

8 command points

Move 40” to join IV corps

Change orders from Engage Colbitz to Hold

Note – IV corps is isolated and could be attacked by two Prussian corps. CinC wants to bring up V and VI corps to supporting distance before they continue to advance on Colbitz.

Fifth - Poor Card

Sixth – V French corps

Orders – Engage farm

5 command points

Cavalry advance to western edge of farm

Remainder of corps advance 16” in column of march

Note – corps can only risk advancing close to enemy in column of march because they have cavalry to screen their march.

Seven – 4 Prussian corps

Orders – Halt

5 command points

General unable to issue any orders due to Poor Card still in play

Eighth – 1 Prussian corps

Orders – Move to Colbitz

5 command points

Cavalry form line from column

Cavalry advance to cover corps march

Remainder of corps advance 8” in column of march

Infantry change from column of march to column of attack

Nine – Prussian CinC

5 command points

Pass 2 CP to 4 corps

Note – Blucher has remained with 4 corps so that he can pass command. He has a low dice throw, and it takes 2 CP to pass command. So 4 corps will only have 2CP

Ten – 4 Prussian corps

Orders – Halt

2 command points

Move artillery and deploy to face west

Note – this corps is facing IV corps from the south and V corps from the west. Their cavalry and leading infantry brigade are facing IV corps, the artillery V corps. The Poor card is causing havoc in their deployment

Rule Notes

Once more the Poor Card is causing much confusion for the Prussians, and particularly 4 corps who have been affected twice.

In a larger battle, where both sides usually have at least one Poor commander, the effect is widespread. In a single corps battle we do not use the Poor Card, unless both generals are Poor. It is unfortunate that the two Poor commanders in this battle are both Prussian

Second battle of Colbitz - Rearrange Table

Area covered by wargames table at the start of the battle/wargame

When I selected the wargames table I expected the main fighting to take place in the centre of the two armies, as shown in the map above. I expected that the centre of the fighting would be square 1504. This would allow space on the table for all corps to arrive and deploy.

However due to the two Prussian Poor commanders failing to move at all during move one, the French were allowed to make multiple moves. By the end of move two it was clear that the Prussians would be pinned in and around Colbitz. This would make it impossible for 1^st Prussian corps to arrive on the table.

Area covered by the wargames table at the start of Move 3

So I have decided to extend the table north and east as shown in the above map. The centre of the battle is now 1606, Colbitz itself

New table at the end of Move 2

4 corps is in Colbitz in the centre of the table.

Behind them 2 corps is moving west behind the town.

To their left 1 corps is arriving from the north east.

The leading brigades of IV corps is arriving from the south

Both V and VI corps will arrive form the left or west.

From the south - left of table.

V corps is about to arrive nearest camera.

Their cavalry are covering their approach

VI corps is about to arrive just north of them

Colbitz in on the right

From the south – centre of table

Cuirassier brigade is covering the approach of IV corps

Colbitz is directly ahead of them

From the south – right of table

There are no French in this square

Directly ahead 1 Prussian corps is approaching Colbitz

From the north – left of table

1 corps is approaching Colbitz

From the north – centre of table

4 corps is pinned in Colbitz

Behind them 2 corps is moving to the right of Colbitz

From the north – right of table

V corps will arrive nearest the camera

VI corps will arrive to their right

VI cavalry are protecting the approach