Mollersdorf : a Shako scenario

Once again we are in Germany in 1813.  In the aftermath of Lutzen the Prussian and Russian forces are falling back, closing on their supporting formations.  The French (and allies) are naturally moving forward quickly, hoping to turn this retrograde movement into a rout.  Close to Mollersdorf the Russian rearguard, (1 division of infantry and 1 of light cavalry), has chosen to take up a delaying position to give the main army more time to escape.  In pursuit is Vandamme's provisional corps, (3 divisions of infantry and a light cavalry brigade), with orders to give the enemy no respite.

An overview of the table.  Mollersdorf is on the left with the main road leading west passing through the villages of Klein Prim and Prim (the latter is nearest to the French deployment zone on right hand side of the table).  The Russian player can deploy anywhere in the area from Prim back to Mollersdorf.  Troops not visible from the French deployment zone can be marked on the map.  In total the Russians have 10 battalions of infantry (in two brigades of 5) and 5 skirmisher stands, 4 are with the rearguard under Markov, the most westerly brigade and one with Kamensky nearer Mollersdorf.  The cavalry under Ulanius has 4 light cavalry regiments and two small units of cossacks.  Borisov, the Russian commanders has orders to delay the French as long as possible.

Vandamme has 24 battalions in 3 divisions under Dupas, Dumonceau and Mouton.  Pully commands the cavalry brigade of 4 light cavalry 'regiments; all of which are under-strength and 2 are composed of new recruits.  The French have two divisions arriving on turn one and they can deploy anywhere within the rectangle shown on the map.  Each of the remaining divisions arrive after a delay of 2 or 3 moves, determined by a die roll.

A roll of the dice allocated command of the Russians and he  I deployed his troops on the map.  I then deployed the divisions of Pully and Dupas in the rectangular area astride the road.  Dupas was to attack Prim while Pully was to cover the area between the northern lake and the wood.  Once I had done this, Steve deployed Ulanius' division near the marsh and stream, a single battalion in Prim with a gun and skirmisher stand next to the road.

The French ready to advance

Ulanius bars the way

With the skirmishers leading the way, Dupas' division  advanced on Prim.  Some casualties were inflicted by the Russian artillery, but the first attack was made by the two battalions from the 9th legere.  As they charged home they were met by a deadly volley from 1st battalion 26th jaeger which stopped them in their tracks.  The French rallied, but to their right the 1st battalion 8th jaeger advanced round Prim to threaten their flank.  Dupas immediately ordered the battalions of the 54th line to counter this threat.  By the road, the 2nd battalion 46th, flanked by other battalions of the regiment, charged the Russian skirmish line sweeping them away.  Ignoring a discharge of canister they then charged the artillery, capturing the guns and driving off the few gunners who had survived their charge.

The attack on Prim develops

Pully was following his orders and covering the flank of Dupas' attack; however, Ulanius' division had artillery support and this was beginning to find the range.  With his raw recruits showing signs of wavering, Pully began to gradually pull back.  This encouraged the Russian cavalry to push forwards north of the lake, seeking to outflank the French force.  Vandamme ordered Pully to counter this threat and the French cavalry moved left onto the low hill to the west of the lake.  Leading the Russian advance was a unit of Don Cossacks, these were charged by the 13th Hussars, but the raw recruits were bested by the Cossacks who, jeering,  moved aside to let the mounted Eger carry on the attack.  The Eger were charged by the 4th Chasseurs a Cheval, who drove them back in disorder and then, maintaining their order, returned to the ridge to await the next Russian attack.

The cossacks drive back the French hussars

Dumonceau's division now arrived and Vandamme ordered them to advance on Mollersdorf  by the northern route, bypassing the villages.  As they advanced they came under fire from skirmishers in the woods and  some battalions veered off in an attempt to clear this irritant.  They of course became enmeshed in a messy fire fight in the woods and were lost to the main advance.  In front of Dumonceau he could see a field battery, (belonging to Kamensky) and the horse battery attached to the cavalry.  Their fire was having limited effect and so the French continued to advance.  The balance of power changed slightly when the cossacks moved right to support the artillery.  Some of the raw French recruits began to hesitate and the orderly advance broke up.  Seizing their chance the Bug Cossacks charged the nearest French unit, the 3rd battalion 10th line.  Their attempt to form square was too slow and carnage followed as the infantry were speared or cut down.  A few survivors made it back to their lines, but the majority lay on the field. Waving a captured fanion, the cossacks returned to their lines.

A field day for the cossacks

Over at Prim Dupas' attack was running into trouble.  The 46th's attack, which had captured the battery had drawn the attention of more Russian troops.  From the wood the 2nd battalion 8th jaeger fired volleys into the flank of the French battalions.  More skirmishers emerged to snipe at the officers and from behind Prim the 2nd battalion 26th jaeger emerged, to join the fray.  The 2nd battalion 46th now found itself isolated and attacked from both flanks.  Losses in the battalion mounted and the troops began to edge backwards.  This 'edging' inevitably gained speed and before long the surviving men were running back to their lines.  To the south of Prim, the 54th's attempts to cover the flank of the attacks on the village were faltering.  The 1st battalion had  had to withdraw because of high casualties and the 2nd battalion was struggling to hold its ground against the scything volleys delivered by the Russian jaeger battalion.  Attacks on Prim continued.  Four or five were made, but each one foundered against the rock solid defiance of the defenders.  Losses continued to rise, (approaching 50%) and then suddenly, the French resolve cracked and Dupas' remaining battalions retreated.  As Dupas tried to rally his men, Mouton's division arrived and Vandamme wasted no time in ordering it forward towards Prim, partly to deter the Russians from following up their success and partly to provide some shelter for Dupas' men.

On the left, Pully was still holding his ground, but again losses were approaching significant levels.  Attacks by the Vladimir and Siberian Uhlans had been repelled but at some cost.  The 4th Chasseurs a Cheval and the Lancers were both at the end of their tether and the 13th Hussars were still shaky after their earlier contact with the Cossacks.  With only the weakened 2nd Hussars in any state to fight, Pully sent a status report to Vandamme.  The commander, seeing the chaotic state of Dupas' command and the apparent strength of the Russian position decided, reluctantly, to call of the attack and request reinforcements from headquarters. 

A valiant defence by the Russians which rightly won the day.