I wasn’t there when this battle took place. The Czar had been counselled into turning to face the French, largely at my urging. Wittgenstein (me) was elsewhere so I was safe from any stray cannon balls.
What happened during battle? I honestly have no idea except that we held off a serious attack by Ney’s corps and caused them a lot of damage but in the process lost some artillery and a fair proportion of our grenadier division. Conrad wisely chose to disengage, which thanks to our superior numbers and quality of cavalry he was able to do without further loss. Casualties were about even at 7,000 or so French and 8,000 Russians and Prussians. We were outnumbered considerably but if I am correct we have lots of reinforcements on their way, so should be able to better absorb the losses.
The rules used were Snappy Nappy which are quite brutal if I remember from the time I last played them.
Here are a few shots of the game, taken by a spy satellite and played at Nigel’s war room.
I can’t say much more but the massed ranks of Nigel’s 15mm collection look splendid.
The Allies have completed their turn 4, and we await the next French move.
The Battle of Dresden. Anon account by one who was there.
ReplyDeleteThe Russian and Prussian forces were deployed across a series of low hills and in the river valley, with large massed batteries to the fore.
Eugene boldly lead his Corps to assault the Allied Left, in a series of cavalry and infantry attacks and after much heavy fighting, captured the hill upon which it was anchored. Ney lead his Corp to attack the Allied centre, wisely skirting the massed allied artillery on the Allied Right. Towards the end of the day, he personally lead two bayonet charges which crushed the Russian Grenadier Division. Ney's artillery, despite being out numbered was able to batter the Allied Right and massed batteries, with little loss. This was clearly too much for the Allies who withdrew rapidly, leaving a dozen guns behind as trophies for the French. An indecisive clash, mainly due to the unwillingness of the Allies to contest the French advance, althought the Allies losses were rather higher than the Russian account suggests.
Vive L'Emperor
great looking game
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