September AAR

We got together for game of ESR in September. We utilized New Recruit rather than the unit cards. We had enough Austrian troops to change the take on 1813. This week we returned to the Wachtmeister’s basement to use his wonderful, bar-height gaming table! This is less space than my other AARs but sooo much easier on the back. There were only four of us this week, so it was plenty of room for manuver.

Situation

Napoleon abandoned his army in Russia to reform the army in Poland and Germany. The Austrians declare war and send their armies northward. The Russians continue their relentless march to the west. The Russian armies are a shell of their former selves; the pursuit has taken a toll on their ability to maintain logistics.

French Marshal Souham, III Corps must protect the logistics base around the main city. This means keeping the Russians and Austrians at bay. Furthermore, blunting one of the allied forces will greatly influence the new alliance. Should Marshal Souham break one of the two allied contingents this will be rated a French victory.

Russian general Gorchakov has the support of the new alliance and has been ordered by the Czar to cooperate with the Austrians. The Austrian commander, general Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen, with the larger forces has assumed command. As non-Russian aristocracy, the general Hohenlohe, will have a challenge with general Gorchakov.

All terrain pieces other than villages and towns are Rough terrain. Roads are unimproved and offer no movement bonus. Villages and towns are Dense terrain. The modeled villages on the hilltops are Dense terrain inside of the marked hedge/wall perimeter.

For setup, the allies need to declare where they are entering. The French will setup first, deployed, in any formation flanking the main town.

To start out game quickly, all Forces start with initial Objectives and Directives. The French must start on Defend.

The goal of the scenario was the central town.

Opposing Forces

We used three fictional orders of battle, inspired by the 1813 campaign.

French Forces

1813 III Corps[55Cohesion / 202.5Threat]

ESR Force [55 Cohesion, 202.5 Threat] (France)

NAME	ROLE	OPTIONS
Force Commander	Force Commander	Commander [3Cohesion / 4Threat] 1x Souham [3Cohesion / 4Threat] Cmd Unit Souham Categories Force Commander Faction: France
(4) FR Corps Réserve/Parc d’Artillerie	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x FR Général de Brigade de Cavalerie Légère [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 2x FR pdr Artillerie à Pied [2Cohesion / 14Threat] 1x FR pdr Artillerie à Cheval [1Cohesion / 6Threat] Unit FR 6-pdr Artillerie à Pied (x2)FR 6-pdr Artillerie à Cheval Cmd Unit FR Général de Brigade de Cavalerie Légère Categories Formation Artillery Faction: France
(10) 8th – FR Division d’Infanterie	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 3Threat] 1x FR Général de Division d’Infanterie [1Cohesion / 3Threat] 7x FR Infanterie de Ligne [7Cohesion / 24.5Threat] 2x FR pdr Artillerie à Pied [2Cohesion / 14Threat] Unit FR Infanterie de Ligne (x7)FR 6-pdr Artillerie à Pied (x2) Cmd Unit FR Général de Division d’Infanterie Categories Formation Artillery Faction: France Infantry
(16) 9th – FR Division d’Infanterie	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 3Threat] 1x FR Général de Division d’Infanterie [1Cohesion / 3Threat] 2x FR Infanterie Légère [2Cohesion / 8Threat] 11x FR Infanterie de Ligne [11Cohesion / 38.5Threat] 2x FR pdr Artillerie à Pied [2Cohesion / 14Threat] Unit FR Infanterie Légère (x2)FR Infanterie de Ligne (x11)FR 6-pdr Artillerie à Pied (x2) Cmd Unit FR Général de Division d’Infanterie Categories Formation Artillery Faction: France Infantry
(14) 11th – FR Division d’Infanterie	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 3Threat] 1x FR Général de Division d’Infanterie [1Cohesion / 3Threat] 2x FR Infanterie Légère [2Cohesion / 8Threat] 9x FR Infanterie de Ligne [9Cohesion / 31.5Threat] 2x FR pdr Artillerie à Pied [2Cohesion / 14Threat] Unit FR Infanterie Légère (x2)FR Infanterie de Ligne (x9)FR 6-pdr Artillerie à Pied (x2) Cmd Unit FR Général de Division d’Infanterie Categories Formation Artillery Faction: France Infantry
(8) FR Mixed	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x FR Général de Brigade de Cavalerie Légère [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x FR Dragons [1Cohesion / 3Threat] 6x FR Chasseurs à Cheval [6Cohesion / 12Threat] Unit FR DragonsFR Chasseurs à Cheval (x6) Cmd Unit FR Général de Brigade de Cavalerie Légère Categories Formation Cavalry Faction: France

Russian Forces

1813 I Corps[31.5Cohesion / 120Threat]

ESR Force [31.5 Cohesion, 120 Threat] (Russia)

NAME	ROLE	OPTIONS
Force Commander	Force Commander	Commander [1Cohesion / 2Threat] 1x Gorchakov-2 [1Cohesion / 2Threat] Cmd Unit Gorchakov-2 Categories Force Commander Faction: Russia
(13) 5th Division – RU Pehotnaya Diviziya	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x RU General-Leytenant Pehotnaya Diviziya [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 4x RU Yegerskiy [4Cohesion / 16Threat] 8x RU Pehotniy [8Cohesion / 28Threat] Unit RU Yegerskiy (x4)RU Pehotniy (x8) Cmd Unit RU General-Leytenant Pehotnaya Diviziya Categories Formation Faction: Russia Infantry
(13) 14th Division – RU Pehotnaya Diviziya	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x RU General-Leytenant Pehotnaya Diviziya [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 4x RU Yegerskiy [4Cohesion / 16Threat] 8x RU Pehotniy [8Cohesion / 28Threat] Unit RU Yegerskiy (x4)RU Pehotniy (x8) Cmd Unit RU General-Leytenant Pehotnaya Diviziya Categories Formation Faction: Russia Infantry
(4) RU Rezervnaya Artilleriya	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x RU General-Leytenant Grenaderskaya Diviziya [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x RU Batareynaya Artilleriyskaya [1.5Cohesion / 11Threat] 2x RU Legkaya Artilleriyskaya [2Cohesion / 16Threat] Unit RU Batareynaya ArtilleriyskayaRU Legkaya Artilleriyskaya (x2) Cmd Unit RU General-Leytenant Grenaderskaya Diviziya Categories Formation Artillery Faction: Russia

Austrian Forces

1813 Austrian I Corps[56Cohesion / 175.75Threat]

ESR Force [56 Cohesion, 175.75 Threat] (Austria)

NAME	ROLE	OPTIONS
Force Commander	Force Commander	Commander [2Cohesion / 2Threat] 1x Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen [2Cohesion / 2Threat] Cmd Unit Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen Categories Force Commander Faction: Austria
(14) AU Infanterie Division	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x AU Generalleutenant Infantrie [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 3x AU Jägere [3Cohesion / 12Threat] 10x AU Infanterie [10Cohesion / 32.5Threat] Unit AU Jägere (x3)AU Infanterie (x10) Cmd Unit AU Generalleutenant Infantrie Categories Formation Faction: Austria Infantry
(14) AU Infanterie Division	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x AU Generalleutenant Infantrie [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 3x AU Jägere [3Cohesion / 12Threat] 10x AU Infanterie [10Cohesion / 32.5Threat] Unit AU Jägere (x3)AU Infanterie (x10) Cmd Unit AU Generalleutenant Infantrie Categories Formation Faction: Austria Infantry
(10) AU Infanterie Division	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x AU Generalleutenant Infantrie [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 9x AU Infanterie [9Cohesion / 29.25Threat] Unit AU Infanterie (x9) Cmd Unit AU Generalleutenant Infantrie Categories Formation Faction: Austria Infantry
(10) Light Division – AU Mixed	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x AU Generalmajor Kavallerie [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 2x AU Grenzer [2Cohesion / 6Threat] 3x AU Dragoner [3Cohesion / 6Threat] 3x AU Ulanen [3Cohesion / 9Threat] 1x AU Würst Artillerie [1Cohesion / 6Threat] Unit AU Grenzer (x2)AU Dragoner (x3)AU Ulanen (x3)AU Würst Artillerie Cmd Unit AU Generalmajor Kavallerie Categories Formation Artillery Cavalry Faction: Austria Infantry
(4) Reserve Artillery – AU Mixed	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x AU Generalleutenant Infantrie [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 2x AU Position-Batterien [3Cohesion / 20Threat] 1x AU Leitche Artillerie [1Cohesion / 2.5Threat] Unit AU Position-Batterien (x2)AU Leitche Artillerie Cmd Unit AU Generalleutenant Infantrie Categories Formation Artillery Faction: Austria
AU Reservieren Division	Formation	Commander [1Cohesion / 1Threat] 1x AU Generalleutenant Infantrie [1Cohesion / 1Threat] Cmd Unit AU Generalleutenant Infantrie Categories Formation Faction: Austria

The Battle

Marshal Souham’s battle plan was simple: split the allies, keep them apart and defeat them in detail. He detail one French Formation the unenvious duty to hold the right against the Austrians while he personally led the left flank against the Russians.

General Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen personally led the Austrian Force on the allied left (French right). He detailed the recalcitrant Russian commander to attack, straight-ahead and tie down the French forces. “Engage, but don’t die, we will need you for the final push.” General Gorchakov interpreted this order, written in French, and translated by his aide, “a demonstration on the right and I will send word if I need you.” General Hohenlohe’s staff is forced to write in French since the General Gorchaakov’s aide does not speak German and his own aide speaks no Russian.

Turn 1, Setup of the French. The Russians have declared their advance on the north side of the town.

Turn 1, setup of the French, southern flank. This is the Austrian entry point.

Marshal Souham personally positioning his batteries and siting each of his batteries!

End of turn 1, this is the extent of the Russian (foreground) and Austrian advance.

Turn 2. The French roll for change of orders in the South.

In the north, Marshal Souham orders an aggressive defense, pushing his forces towards the Russian advance.

The Russians advance slowly, knowing that they cannot engage these French forces piecemeal. Significantly, General Gorchakov finds himself outnumbered by artillery and his guns are not yet deployed!

Turn 3, in the south, General Hohenlohe is finding it tough going through the Rough terrain. He understands that the Russians are not enthusiastic for this battle, especially under his command, but also knows that he cannot afford to have them defeated in detail. This forces his deployment to cover a wider front than he might have wanted. The forest and fields covering the area between the Russians and Austrians is greatly slowing his advance. He deployed outside of the fields to prevent the French from advancing on him without sufficient units to absorb a local counter-attack.

Turn 3, the Russians and French engage, while the Austrians deal with the Rough terrain. Note the French horsemen east of the town, deployed and ready to pounce. This forces the Russians and Austrians to deploy early, further slowing their advance. This also forces the Russians to deploy to protect their flank from maruding horses.

By turn 5, the Russians are transitioned to Defend and are looking for orders to advance. This does allow the Austrians time to catch up and bring pressure on the French right.

Austrians stuck in, enthusiastically!

Turn 6, the Russians were losing the artillery duel and temporarily pulled back a Formation to rest.

Turn 7, the pause in Russian pressure allowed the French to reinforce the center ultimately placing 3 Formations against a single Austrian formation. While the Austrians continued to push on the allied left, the center could not hold.

Turn 7, this was a great move by Marshal Souham. The Regulating Unit moved towards the Objective. The remaining Attacking units quickly filled in to contact the leftmost Russian Formation. This force them to Withdraw.