The Battle of Neustadt

CAMPAIGN BACKGROUND

Tactical Map 23 June 1813

Neustadt is a village just east of the river Saale south of Gera.

Neither side has garrisoned the village and both are determined to prevent the other from taking possession of it.

3^rd corps from each army have orders to take and hold the village.

WARGAME

Photo 1 – French left and Russian right

Top of the table is north to Gera.

Left road to Saalfeld

Right road to Greiz

Bottom road to Gefeld

Map squares

D10, E10, F10

D11, E11, F11

D12, E12, F12

Game objective is to capture village of Neustadt

French corps (Paul) enters on Saafeld (left) road

Russian corps (Jan) enters on Greiz (right) road

BATTLE REPORT

Photo 2 – skirmish fight for Neustadt

Both sides have sent their best brigade to take the village. Both have suffered casualties, but both are fighting on. Cavalry and artillery are facing each other. It will be down to the luck of the dice which sides wins this part of the game.

Photo 3 – cavalry melee

With both sides on Engage orders, the cavalry had to enter into melee. The cuirassiers have routed the Guard Cossacks, but an infantry brigade in square prevents any French advance.

In Neustadt both sides have replaced the original infantry brigades, and the fight for the town continues.

Casualties on both sides are mounting.

Photo 4 – French attack

The French follow up their cavalry success by advancing their infantry on the right. A second infantry brigade moves towards the town and skirmishes with the garrison, who are now outnumbered two to one. All of the French brigades have received casualties.

The Russians replace the brigade in Neustadt and continue to keep their hold on the town.

Photo 5 – Nightfall

Despite casualties the Russians hold Neustadt until nightfall. They manage to keep the enemy cavalry at bay by forming square. On the opposite flank their 12 pound artillery outgun the French 9 pounder.

With nightfall the French withdraw behind the river Saale.

EFFECT ON CAMPAIGN

This was a pretty ineffective battle.

Both sides received heavy casualties and neither side could gain a distinct advantage.

The French withdrew back over the river, leaving the Russians in control of Neustadt.


GAME NOTES

Game played August 2009.
Paul commanded the French.
Jan commanded the Russian

The house fighting rules were used a lot, and proved up to the job.
In future both brigades will be Disordered when they interpenetrate

Campaign Diary

11 July 1813 – End of Campaign

Russian army take up position to hold Leipzig and road to Dresden

French army too weak to resume advance, Napoleon orders halt on line of river Saale.

11 July 1813 - End of Campaign

10 July 1813

Russians continue to withdraw towards Leipzig

French consolidate their hold on the river Saale

9 July 1813

Russians withdraw towards Leipzig

French cross the river Saale at Bernburg and Naumburg

8 July 1813

Russians race for the Saale bridges in panic, covered by 1 and 2 corps who hold bridge at Halle.

French enter Halle and move north and south to find unguarded bridges over the Saale.

7 July 1813 – Battle of Halle

Both sides had concentrated their entire army for this the largest battle of the camapign. The Russians put up a fierce fight for Halle, but the could not stop the French from achieving a notable victory.

7 July 1813 - Battle of Halle

6 July 1813

Russians concentrate at Halle

French march to Halle

5 July 1813 – Russians occupy Halle

Kutuzov orders all corps to concentrate at Halle

Napoleon orders all corps to move on Halle

4 July 1813 – Russians cross river Saale

Russians now control east of river Saale

French move north along western bank of Saale towards Halle

3 July 1813

Kutuzov orders his army to move north to open Leipzig road

French break contact and transfers his army west of river Saale

2 July 1813

Napoleon’s attack across the Saale is in tatters, and he orders a withdrawal back to the west bank.

Kutuzov allows his weary corps to rest at Rohenburg and calls a his corps commanders to a conference to decide on their next move.

1 July 1813 – Battle of Rohenberg

Napoleon must strike before the Russians can concentrate, he orders two of his corps to take Rohenberg and drive the Russians away from the Dresden road.

Kutuzov orders 2^nd corps to abandon Gera and move to support Rohenberg.

1 July 1813 - Battle of Rohenburg

31 June 1813

Outflanked in the south, Kutuzov orders his four corps to concentrate on the Dresden road and abandon Leipzig.

All four French corps have now crossed the river Saale, but are widely separated, whereas the Russians hold the central position.

30 June 1813 – French cross river Saale

3^rd Russian corps at Neustadt forced to retreat to Greiz as 2^nd and 3^rd French corps march on Neustadt.

Kutuzov arrives at Gera and orders his four corps to abandon the Leipzig road and concentrate on the Dresden road.

29 June 1813

Napoleon shifts his army south to outflank the Russian line along the east bank of the river Saale.

28 June 1813 – Battle of Lutzen

Westphalians cross river Saale and attack Lutzen, but are unable to defeat Russians. After a fierce battle the Westphalians retire to Halle.

28 June 1813 - Battle of Lutzen

27 June 1813

Napoleon allows the garde to rest in Weimar while he ponders his next move.

Despite his defeat at Weimar, Kutuzov occupies a strong position along the east bank of the river Saale.

26 June 1813 – Battle of Weimar

Napoleon commits the Imperial Garde to retake Weimar and force the Russians back across the river Saale. In a close fought battle the 4^th Russian corps held Weimar right to the end. The garde cavalry were beaten by the Russian cuirassiers, and three of the four garde infantry brigades were shaken. As night fell the sole garde infantry brigade finally pushed the Russians out of Weimar. A relieved Napoleon had halted the Russian advance and regained control of the west bank of the river Saale.

26 June 1813 - Battle of Weimar

25 June 1813 – Russians cross river Saale

French withdraw to Jena and Russians occupy Gera.

Napoleon is one days march from Weimar

Further north the Russians cross the river Saale at Naumburg and occupy Weimar

24 June 1813 - Battle of Gera

Filled with confidence after their victory at Neustadt, Kutuzov orders an attack on Gera, to deny the French their only bridgehead on west bank of the river Saale

24 June 1813 - Battle of Gera

23 June 1813 – Battle of Neustadt

French and Russians both race to take Neustadt. Russians reach it first, but are attacked before they can take possession. In a lengthy fight for the town the French fail to evict the Russians and have to retreat during the night

23 June 1813 - Battle of Neustadt

22 June 1813 – Russians enter Leipzig

The Russian Army arrives at the river Saale and Kutuzov occupies Leipzig

French are heavily outnumbered and particularly vulnerable at Gera.

3 corps is ordered south to Saalfeld to hold the right of the French line.

21 June 1813

Kutuzov is alarmed to receive first reports that Napoleon is approaching the river Saale. Orders his four corps to push ahead to reach the river Saale and take up defensive positions between Leipzig and Zwichau

Napoleon and the Imperial Guard is still four days from the river Saale.

He only has one corps on the west bank at Halle and a second on the east bank at Gera.

A third has been ordered to move to Jena to support the bridgehead at Gera.

He has issued orders that the river must be held at all costs.

20 June 1813

Kutuzov arrives in Leipzig, where he plans to stop for a couple of days to allow his corps to reach their concentration areas.

Napoleon arrives at Fulda and orders Imperial Guard to Erfurt and 3^rd corps to Neustadt on the river Saale.

19 June 1813

Russian cavalry patrols confirm French holding their position at Halle and Gera.

French reinforcements continue to arrive at Fulda.

18 June 1813

The Russians continue their leisurely march towards the river Saale, unaware of any French movement

.

Napoleon receives reports from Gera of Russian movements on the Dresden to Leipzig road.

Sends orders to his forward corps to hold their positions but not to react to enemy movements.

17 June 1813 – Start of Campaign

The Russian Army departs from Dresden on the Leipzig road.

Napoleon anticipates the Russian movements, and departs from Paris to join the Imperial Guard at Fulda..

17 June 1813 – Start of Campaign

Movement Orders

11 July 1813 – End of Campaign

1 Russian – hold borna

2 Russian – hold leipzig

3 Russian – hold worlitz

4 Russian – hold altenburg

1 French – hold naumburg

2 French – hold bernburg

3 French – hold gera

14 Westphalian – hold halle

11 July 1813 - End of Campaign

10 July 1813

1 Russian – move to borna

2 Russian – move to leipzig

3 Russian – move to worlitz

4 Russian – move to altenburg

1 French – move to naumburg

2 French – move to bernburg

3 French – move to gera

14 Westphalian – move to halle

9 July 1813

1 Russian – move to leipzig

2 Russian – move to lutzen

3 Russian – move to kothen

4 Russian – move to zeitz

1 French – hold halle

2 French – move to nordhausen

3 French – move to naumburg

14 Westphalian – move to bernburg

8 July 1813

1 Russian – move to lutzen

2 Russian – hold saale bridge

3 Russian – move to bernburg

4 Russian – move to naumburg

1 French – move to halle

2 French – move to halle

3 French – move to weimar

14 Westphalian – move to nordhausen

7 July 1813 – Battle of Halle

1 Russian – hold halle

2 Russian – hold halle

3 Russian – hold halle

4 Russian – hold halle

1 French – move to halle

2 French – move to halle

3 French – move to halle

14 Westphalian – move to halle

7 July 1813 - Battle of Halle

6 July 1813

1 Russian – hold halle

2 Russian – move to halle

3 Russian – move to halle

4 Russian – hold halle

1 French – hold allstadt

2 French – move to allstadt

3 French – move to attstadt

14 Westphalian – hold allstadt

5 July 1813

1 Russian – move to halle

2 Russian – hold naumberg

3 Russian – move to halle

4 Russian – move to halle

1 French – move to halle

2 French – move to weimar

3 French – move to jena

14 Westphalian – hold allstadt

4 July 1813

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – hold gera

3 Russian – move to naumberg

4 Russian – move to halle

1 French – hold weimar

2 French – move to jena

3 French – move to saalfeld

14 Westphalian – move to allstadt

3 July 1813

1 Russian – move to lutzen

2 Russian – move to gera

3 Russian – move to zeitz

4 Russian – move to naumberg

1 French – move to weimar

2 French – move to saalfeld

3 French – move to neustadt

14 Westphalian – move to halle

2 July 1813

1 Russian – hold zietz

2 Russian – rest rohenburg

3 Russian – rest rohenburg

4 Russian – hold gera

1 French – move to Jena

2 French – move to neustadt

3 French – move to greiz

14 Westphalian – hold lutzen

1 July 1813 – battle of Rohenburg

1 Russian – hold zietz

2 Russian – move to rohenburg

3 Russian – move to rohenburg

4 Russian – move to gera

1 French – move to gera

2 French – move to rohenberg

3 French – move to rohenberg

14 Westphalian – move to lutzen

31 June 1813

1 Russian – move to zietz

2 Russian – hold gera

3 Russian – move to rohenburg

4 Russian – move to gera

1 French – hold jena

2 French – hold neustadt

3 French – move to greiz

14 Westphalian – move to lutzen

30 June 1813

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – hold gera

3 Russian – move to greiz

4 Russian – move to gera

1 French – move to jena

2 French – move to neustadt

3 French – move to plauen

14 Westphalian – move to naumberg

29 June 1813

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – hold gera

3 Russian – hold neustadt

4 Russian – hold naumberg

1 French – move to jena

2 French – move to saalfeld

3 French – move to gefeld

14 Westphalian – hold halle

28 June 1813 – battle of Lutzen

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – hold gera

3 Russian – hold neustadt

4 Russian – move to naumberg

1 French – enter weimar

2 French – hold jena

3 French – hold saalfeld

14 Westphalian – move to lutzen

28 June 1813 - Battle of Lutzen

27 June 1813

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – hold gera

3 Russian – hold neustadt

4 Russian – move to naumberg

1 French – enter weimar

2 French – hold jena

3 French – hold saalfeld

14 Westphalian – hold halle

26 June 1813 – Battle of Weimar

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – hold gera

3 Russian – hold neustadt

4 Russian – hold weimar

1 French – move to weimar

2 French – move to jena

3 French – hold saalfeld

14 Westphalian – hold halle

26 June 1813 - Battle of Weimar

25 June 1813 - Russians cross river Saale

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – hold gera

3 Russian – hold neustadt

4 Russian – move to weimar

1 French – move to gebsee

2 French – move to jena

3 French – hold saalfeld

14 Westphalian – hold halle

24 June 1813 - Battle of Gera

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – move to gera

3 Russian – hold neustadt

4 Russian – move to naumberg

1 French – move to erfurt

2 French – hold gera

3 French – move to saalfeld

14 Westphalian – hold halle

24 June 1813 - Battle of Gera

23 June 1813 – Battle of Neustadt

1 Russian – hold lutzen

2 Russian – hold rohenburg

3 Russian – move to neustadt

4 Russian – move to naumberg

1 French – move to gotha

2 French – hold gera

3 French – move to neustadt

14 Westphalian – hold halle

23 June 1813- Battle of Neustadt

22 June 1813 – Russians enter Leipzig

1 Russian – move to lutzen

2 Russian – move to rohenburg

3 Russian – move to greiz

4 Russian – move to zeitz

1 French – move to dondorf

2 French – hold gera

3 French – move to Saalfeld

14 Westphalian – hold halle

21 June 1813

1 Russian – hold leipzig

2 Russian – hold altenbug

3 Russian – hold zwichau

4 Russian – move to borna

1 French – move to salzugen

2 French – hold gera

3 French – move to jena

14 Westphalian – hold halle

20 June 1813 - Napoleon arrives at Fulda

1 Russian – move to leipzig

2 Russian – move to altenburg

3 Russian – move to zwichau

4 Russian – move to colditz

1 French – hold fulda

2 French – hold gera

3 French – hold erfurt

14 Westphalian – hold halle

19 June 1813

1 Russian – move to colditz

2 Russian – move to zwichau

3 Russian – move to aue

4 Russian – move to chemnitz

1 French – hold fulda

2 French – hold gera

3 French – hold erfurt

14 Westphalian – hold halle

18 June 1813

1 Russian – move to chemnitz

2 Russian – move to aue

3 Russian – move to marienburg

4 Russian – move to freiberg

1 French – hold fulda

2 French – hold gera

3 French – hold erfurt

14 Westphalian – hold halle

17 June 1813

1 Russian – move to freiburg

2 Russian – move to marienburg

3 Russian – move to orienberg

4 Russian – move to freital

1 French – hold fulda

2 French – hold gera

3 French – hold erfurt

14 Westphalian – hold halle

17 June 1813 – Start of Campaign

Campaign Background

Germany 17 June 1813 – Start of Halle Campaign

Russian Army

The allied success in northern Germany has left Blucher in a very exposed position. Although he has captured Magdeburg, his left flank is open to an attack by Napoleon’s First French Army. He demands that Kutuzov bring the Russian Army forward from Dresden to Halle to protect his flank.

Kutuzov is less than eager to march forward against Napoleon in person. He has learned during the previous year just how dangerous that could be. However his Army has been allowed to rest for two weeks, while Blucher has borne the brunt of the fighting. His corps have been reinforced and there is no excuse not to move forward to support Blucher.

On 17^th May he orders a general advance over a wide front from Zwichau to Leipzig.

First French Army

For two weeks Napoleon has been expecting a Russian advance in support of Blucher.

He has been unable to join the army due to political and administrative problems in Paris. On 10 May he diverts reinforcements from the Imperial Guard to 3^rd Corps which is short of a full division of infantry. By 16^th May 3^rd corps is ready to take the field, and is in reserve at Erfurt. The Imperial Guard will remain at Fulda to await reinforcements.

His plan of campaign is to march on Leipzig, which is the junction of the Prussian and Russian armies. He will defeat Kutuzov and drive the Russians away from the Prussian Army. . He will then turn north and strike at Blucher and drive him back towards Berlin. Within two weeks he expects to be in Berlin.

On 17^th May the Russian army start their march from Dresden to the river Saale, and Napoleon departs from Paris to join the Imperial Garde at Fulda.

The Halle campaign has started.

Halle Campaign Area at start of campaign

Russian Army

Russian Army – Commander in Chief Marshal Kutuzov

There are six commanders – 1 CinC, 4 corps and 1 reserve

First Russian Corps – General Langeron

Commander – average

Infantry – 2 good, 2 average

Cavalry - poor

Artillery – good

1 Corps Average +2

1 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB

2 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB

3 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB

4 Infantry Brigade CB FC FC

1 Cavalry Corps CC Light

1 Corps Artillery CA 12 pounder

Second Russian Corps – General Sacken

Commander – average

Infantry – 2 good, 2 average

Cavalry - average

Artillery – good

2 Corps Average +2

5 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB

6 Infantry Brigade CA FB SA

7 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB

8 Infantry Brigade CB FC SC

2 Cavalry Brigade CB Heavy

2 Corps Artillery CA 9 pounder

Third Russian Corps – Wittgenstein

Commander – poor

Infantry – 2 good, 2 average

Cavalry - good

Artillery – average

3 Corps Poor +1

9 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB

10 Infantry Brigade CA FB SA

11 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB

12 Infantry Brigade CB FC SC

3 Cavalry Brigade CA Light

3 Corps Artillery CB 12 pounder

Fourth Russian Corps – General St Priest

Commander – poor
Infantry – 2 good, 2 average
Cavalry - average
Artillery – average

4 Corps Commander Poor +1
13 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB
14 Infantry Brigade CA FB SA
15 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB
16 Infantry Brigade CB FC SC
4 Cavalry Brigade CB Heavy
4 Corps Artillery CB 9 pounder

First French Army

First French Army – Commander in Chief Emperor Napoleon

There are six commanders – CinC, 4 corps and reserve

1^st French Corps – General Friant

Commander – Gifted

Infantry – 3 good, 1 average

Cavalry –good

Artillery – good

1 French Corps Gifted +3

1 Infantry Brigade CA FB SA

2 Infantry Brigade CA FB SB

3 Infantry Brigade CA FC SB

4 Infantry Brigade CB FC SC

1 Cavalry Brigade CA Light

Corps Artillery CA 12 pounder

2^nd French Corps – Marshal Victor

Commander – average

Infantry – 1 good, 3 average

Cavalry – average

Artillery – average

2 French Corps Average +2

5 Infantry Brigade CA FB SA

6 Infantry Brigade CB FB SB

7 Infantry Brigade CB FC SB

8 Infantry Brigade CB FC SC

2 Cavalry Brigade CB Medium

Corps Artillery CB 9 pounder

3rd French Corps – General Souham

Commander – average

Infantry – 1 good, 3 average

Cavalry – average

Artillery – poor

3 French Corps Average +2

9 Line Brigade CA FB SA

10 Line Brigade CB FB SB

11 Line Brigade CB FC SB

12 Line Brigade CB FC SC

3 Cavalry Brigade CB Heavy

Corps Artillery CC 9 pounder

14th Westphalian Corps – Marshal Marmont

Commander – poor

Infantry – 1 good, 2 average, 1 poor

Cavalry – poor

Artillery – poor

14 Westphalian Poor +1

5 Line Brigade CA FA SB

6 Line Brigade CB FB SA

7 Line Brigade CB FB SB

8 Line Brigade CC FC SC

14 Cavalry Brigade CC Light

Corps Artillery CB 9 pounder