Encounter at Rauna, a fictional Great Northern War scenario using the Ga Pa rules

It has been some time since the Prince August figures last appeared on the table so this week I devised a scenario involving a Swedish ambush of a Russian force advancing towards Riga.  It also gave Steve and I the opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with the Ga Pa rules.  A general view of the table layout is seen below.

The Russian column is led by a brigade of 3 regiments of dragoons commanded by Anatoly Rostov, (one of the regiments has been sent to investigate the village of Rauna).  Next are two brigades of infantry, each of six battalions.  The first is under the command of Feodor Golitzin, the second is commanded by Count Alexander Tolov, (a recent appointment due to Palace connections).  Between them is the commander of the expedition Prince Michael Morevsky, he has changed the order of march drawn up by his staff in to ensure that his personal baggage is safely under his personal view. The artillery, originally placed between the infantry brigades has been relegated to the rear of the column.

The Swedish force is heavily outnumbered. but does have the advantage of surprise.  It comprises 2 regiments of horse, (Abo and Upplands), 4 battalions of infantry, (Dal, Jonkopings,Viborgs and Smalands) and a light gun.  The gun is concealed at the edge of the wood top right, the cavalry are behind the wooded hill closest to the Russian dragoons and the infantry are concealed in the woods and broken ground lower right.  Von Kressow the Swedish commander has ordered the artillery commander, Captain Blyborg, to open fire at the Russians once they are in close range.  When he hears the artillery fire Baron Creutz, commanding the cavalry, is to move round the hill and charge the Russians.  Kressow himsellf will choose the moment to order Major General Fehman to attack with his infantry.

Golitzin urges his men forward

The Russian objective is to press on to Riga, brushing aside any enemy forces which attempt to bar their way.  For the Swedish force the objective is inflict as much damage on the enemy as possible without incurring heavy casualties themselves.

Rostov was caught unawares by the sudden artillery bombardment of his leading unit the Sibersk Dragoons.  Fortunately, the first rounds caused few casualties, but as the smoke cleared Creutz's leading regiment, Abo, was charging home.  The ineffective pistol volley from the Russians was ignored by the Finnish troopers as they closed.  Although shaken by the impact, the larger Russian unit managed to stand its ground and against the odds force the Finns to fall back to reform.  Relief was only temporary as Upplands now charged.  Rostov's heart swelled with pride as this attack was also repulsed by the Sibersk Dragoons.

The DSibersk Dragoons drive off the Upplands regiment

Behind Rostov, Golitzin had been considering how to manoeuvre his columns into line to face the Swedish cavalry should the dragoons be driven back.  However, an aide galloped up with news that an attack was coming from the right.  Turning, Golitzin saw a line of blue-clad infantry advancing out of the woods, redress their ranks and then move forward again with purpose.  The orders were given for the leading brigade (2 battalions of the Tula regiment and one of Novgorod) to turn to face this threat.  The battalions made the manoeuvre, but, being newly raised, lost their dressing.  As the officers pushed the men into line, the Swedish advance closed in.  On the right of the Swedish line was the Smalands regiment.  They fired a volley into the Sibersk dragoons, causing significant casualties.  The dragoons were then hit by a salvo from the Swedish artillery and were driven back in disorder, disordering the Vladimir Dragoons who were behind them.  As Rostov galloped over to rally the Vladimir Dragoons he saw that the Moscow Dragoons had abandoned the search of Rauna and were moving to rejoin the brigade.

Smalands leads the Swedish infantry attack

In the centre of the column, Prince Michael was concerned about his baggage.  Requisitioning a battalion of the Narva regiment from Count Tolov, he ordered them to protect the wagons as they were taken to Rauna.  Once this was done he ordered Golitzin's second brigade to turn to face the Swedish infantry and advance in support of the first brigade.  Although they too were newly raised, they achieved the manoeuvre adequately and stepped forward with a will.  At the rear of the column Count Tolov had received no orders from  Prince Morevsky, but assumed he should follow the brigade to his front so he too turned his leading brigade to the right with orders to support Golitzin's men.  As he moved forward Count Tolov saw that the left of the Swedish line was unsupported and he therefore ordered his second brigade to swing to the right over a wooded ridge so that they could then attack the open flank.  Unfortunately he had miscalculated the difficulties of marching through the rough terrain and for the rest of the action his men struggled to force their way forward.

Prince Michael Morevsky with his baggage

Prince Michael was waiting for his artillery to move forward, confident that his guns would tear the thin Swedish line to shreds.  However, an aide, dispatched to hurry them along returned to say that the guns were bogged down at a river crossing and would take several hours to arrive.  "Well, we will have to do it with the bayonet !" he replied and sent out orders for the infantry to push forward.

Smalands drive back a battalion 

At the head of the column, the Vladimir Dragoon regiment was having a torrid time.  Fired on by the artillery and Smalands and then charged by the reformed Upplands regiment they fled in disorder.  Rostov now had his hands full trying to rally all three of his regiments as the Moscow regiment had been disorderd by the fleeing Sibersk regiment.

All along the line the infantry squared up to an exchange of volleys.  In most cases the Swedes gained the upper hand due to their experienced infantry.  The newly raised Russian battalions were not used to battle and when the Swedes levelled their pikes and bayonets and charged, the Russians were driven back in disorder.  Prince Michael joined his brigade commanders rallying the fleeing units, but it was akin to trying to stem the tide.  Golitzin's brigade was down to three battalions holding the line, Tolov had four, but three of them were struggling through the woods.  The opposing cavalry units were all disordered, the last viable Swedish unit, Upplands, had been moving towards the baggage wagons, but had been repulsed by a volley from the battalion of the Narva regiment .  The reformed Sibersk Dragoons were faced by the Jonkopings regiment and under artillery fire and forced to withdraw also.

The Russian battalions flee in disorder

Prince Michael saw that his wagons were safely on their way back towards the main camp and therefore ordered Golitzin to take command of the rearguard whilst the remains of the column streamed back down the road.

Narva save the baggage wagons

For his part Von Kressow was generally satisfied.  The enemy had sustained significant casualties whilst his own infantry had suffered few losses.  The artillery had acquitted itself well, but baron Creutz's cavalry had been ineffective, more was expected of them.  A Swedish victory, but Von Kressow knew that the Russians would be back.

A very satisfying scenario, even though I commanded the Russians.  The quality differential between the forces allowed the Swedes (outnumbered 3 to 1), to defeat their opponents.  In later campaigns the quality difference is much less marked and the Swedes find things much more difficult.  We altered the command ratings to those given in Pike and Shotte, Swedes rated 7 to 9, Russians 6 to 8.  In our next Ga Pa game we will try two more amendments

1  Giving a modifier on orders if the general is attached

2  Troops routed through by units of a lesser quality do not need to test for dispruption