The (fictional) Battle at Kulmbach Mill was fought on May 1st 1993 by a group of Tacoma, Washington wargamers at a facility provided by the American Eagles of Tacoma Hobby Shop. The scale was 15mm Napoleonics based at 1:60, using the rule set Battles For Empire from Battles for Empire Publications. The action started at noon and lasted until 7 p.m. None of the players had used this rule set before and most of them had not participated in a Napoleonic scenario. The use of hidden moves and "Fog of War" techniques added to the realism and excitement of the engagement. General Scenario: (June 1809) Believing that Napoleon was completely preoccupied with the conquest of Spain, the War Council in Vienna convinced the Aus-trian Emperor that the time was ripe to attack France. In April the Austrian armies, under Archduke Karl, invaded Bavaria. Napoleon's reaction to this attack was swift. By the end of May, his Grand Armée, with its Confederation of the Rhine allies, had defeated the Austrians in several battles. The door to Vienna was open, except for an Austrian army bottled up in Rastibon (Regensberg). Napoleon could not allow such a large enemy force to remain in his rear, astride his lines of communication so the Grand Armee laid siege to Rastibon. The French siege train was located in Nurnberg and started marching south. The army's line of communication ran northwest from Rastibon to Wurzburg, and then along the Main River to Frankfurt. Tasked with protecting it were France's allies: Bavaria and Wurttemberg. The Bavarian contingent under Major General Wrede, occupied the fortified position north of Rastibon, covering the bridge over the Weisswasser River near the mill at Kulmbach. The Wurttemberg IV Corps, under the command of Prince Otto, was escorting the siege train from Nurnberg. On June 5th, a palace revolt, led by Grand Duke Albert, deposed King Friedrich Wilhelm of Bavaria and imprisoned him in the citadel at Munich. Albert, who was pro-Austrian, declared himself Regent, withdrew Bavaria from the Confederation of the Rhine, and declared war on France. Instructions to the Bavarian Commander Scenario (8 June 1809): You are Major General Graf von Wrede, commanding the Bavarian I Corps astride the road between Nurnberg and Rastibon. You have received two dispatches in the last 48 hours. The first was from Grand Duke Albert explaining the situation in Munich and placing you and your troops under the command of Archduke Karl of Austria. The second dispatch was from Archduke Karl instructing you to hold your position and stop any reinforcements from joining Napoleon. One of your aides-de- camp has just ridden in from Nurnberg with the information that Prince Otto's TV Corps is only a day's march away, and will probably be in front of your position by dawn tomorrow. Terrain (Map 1) The Weisswasser River north of the Kulmbach Mill is only fordable at a point one mile from the bridge. South of the bridge, the river is fordable by infantry at any point; however, artillery can only cross at the ford. Large Map 1 (53K) Jumbo Map 1 (slow: 86K) North of the Nurnberg-Rastibon road is a water-filled shallow ditch easily crossed by infantry, but impassable to artillery The Kulmbach mill is a strongly-built stone buIlding. The farm house and inn are made of wood. The woods are very dense and visibility is limited to 50 yards The orchard and animal corrals have stone walls around them. The marsh is passable by infantry only. West of your position (off the table) the farm land is flooded and impassable to all arms. Tactical Restrictions: Your position batteries must be placed in the redoubt or behind the palisades on the two hills. They cannot be moved (you haven't enough horses) You may not deploy any units north of the Nunberg-Rastibon road, except in the inn, where you may position a battalion of light infantry. You may deploy no more than one regiment in the redoubt. Instructions to the Wurttemberg Commander Scenario (8 June 1809): You are Prince Otto of Baden-Wurttemberg, commanding the IV Corps of Napoleon's Grand Armee. For several days your corps has been escorting the army' s siege train on its slow, plodding journey from Nurnberg. This morning you received a message from Napoleon's headquarters, delivered by an Imperial Aide de Camp. The situation in Munich was explained to you and you were ordered to attack the Bavarian force blocking the road to Rastibon. After riding ahead of your corps and conducting a recon of the Bavarian position, you have decided to conduct a frontal assault. Even though the enemy has a strong, fortified position. you do not have the time or artillery to conduct an extended bombardment (the siege train guns are not available for your use) Terrain (Map 1) The Weisswasser River north of the Kulmbach mill is only fordable at a point one mile from the bridge South of the bridge, you are aware only of the one ford near the marsh. The woods are very dense and visibility is limited to 50 yards. The farm land south and west (off the table) of the Nurnberg- Rastibon road is flooded and impassable to all arms. Tactical Restrictions: You must launch your attack from the north. One Division (at least) will attack on either side of the river. Your units on the east side will have crossed the river at the ford north of the bridge. You may initially deploy your units no further south than the southern edge of the woods. You may deploy your units at night and be prepared to attack at dawn. (Note: the Imperial Aide-de-Camp.. who brought the dispatch this morning.. has departed your headquarters. He rode east looking for a French Division which is marching toward Rastibon to join the Emperor.) Instructions to the Commanding General, French 14th Infantry Division (Note: the other players did not know that this unit was going to participate in the battle.) Scenario (8 June 1809, 6 pm.) : You are the commanding general of the French 14th Infantry Division. Your division is marching south from Amberg to join the Emperor at the siege of Ratisbon. You have just bivouacked your brigades for the night, and are sitting down to dinner with your staff officers and brigade commanders. General de Brigade Rochelle, an Imperial Aide-de-Camp, arrives and informs you about the situation in Bavaria and Prince Otto's attack on the Bavarian position at the Kulmbach mill. You are ordered to force march your division to support the IV Corps' attack. You are presently located about twenty miles from the battle area. Between your location and the Kulmbach mill is the Schwartzkopf Forest. There is a narrow track through the forest. If you depart within the hour, you should arrive at the battle area shortly after dawn tomorrow. You send the squadron of Polish lancers, which is attached to your division, ahead to reconnoitre the route. General Rochelle will accompany them. Kulmbach Battle Report As dawn broke over the mill at Kulmbach and the morning fog began to lift, Prince Otto launched his attack against the Bavarian positions. Large Map 2 (57K) Jumbo Map 2 (slow: 93K) On his left flank, the 1st Infantry regiment assaulted the inn while the 2d Brigade advanced to turn the Bavarian's right flank. West of the river, the 24th Division's 1st Brigade launched a wave attack to take the mill. On its right. the 2d Brigade advanced in line formation toward the ditch. The 4th Pontoon Bridge Company, which had been attached to the 24th, moved to the river north of the mill and started throwing a bridge across the Weisswasser. A mile to the east of the battle area (off the table), the Polish lancers emerged from the Schwartzkopf Forest, advanced into the plain and deployed into skirmish order. General Rochelle, with a small escort, left the squadron and started riding hard for the Wurttemberg corps. This movement was observed by the brigade commanders on the eastern flank of both corps. Both commanders immediately sent their ADCs to report this appearance of an unidentified force to their division commanders. (Umpire's Note: throughout the battle there was no discussion between commanders unless their figures were in base-to-base contact. Information, enemy sightings, etc. , was given to the commanders who could observe these events. It was up to them to pass that information on to their superiors. Subordinate commanders were to follow their last orders to the best of their ability.) As the 23rd`s 2d brigade advanced, the commander of the Bavarian 10pdr howitzer battery, positioned to the rear of the inn, realised that his flank was exposed and started prolonging his guns around to the right. This battery had initially been positioned in the redoubt, however, it was replaced by a 6pdr battery, whose horse teams were used to move the howitzer battery to its present position. General Wrede intended for the howitzers to sweep the bridge with canister or bombard the Wurttembergers crossing the ditch. On Prince Otto's right flank, General Sharpstein's 2d brigade advanced to the ditch and halted just outside the range of the enemy guns on the hills. His 1st brigade's assault on the mill was successful and anchoring the left of their line on the mill, the brigade started to swing around to engage the Bavarians across the river. The Bavarian light infantry battalion which had been pushed out of the mill was reforming near the bank of the river, masking the fire from the battery positioned on the other side. East of the bridge, General Kassidyberg's 1st Inf. Regt. forced the Bavarian 7th Lt. Inf. Bn. out of the inn, even though one of the regiment's battalions had been repulsed during the attack. With the inn in enemy hands and an enemy brigade advancing on their position the 10pdr howitzer battery limbered up and withdrew south along the Rastibon road. Observing the Wurttembergers advancing past the inn, possibly turning the corps' flank, and believing the horsemen to the east to be Austrian Uhlans, The commander of the Bavarian reserve decided to leave his hidden position in the woods and advance against the enemy to his front. His initial orders from the corps commander had been somewhat vague, "Engage the enemy at your discretIon." Off to the east, the French 17th Legere had emerged from the forest and deployed as a regiment in skirmish order. They were followed shortly by the division's 8pdr battery. The lancers had advanced to within 1/2 mile of the Bavarian right flank. The Bavarian reserve brigade commander's ADC informed the corps commander of the cavalry approach and General Wrede dispatched one of his own ADC s to determine who they were. On the Wurttemberg side, General Rochelle has found Prince Otto and advised him of the arrival of the 14th Division. Much joy and sighs of relief among His Highness' staff. On the Bavarian right, the reserve brigade exited the woods, deployed into line formation, and with the elite Tyrolean Jager regiment leading, advanced to meet the Wurttembergers. In support of this advance, the 10pdr howitzer battery unlimbered on the Jagers left flank. The brigade's 6pdr horse battery galloped forward and unlimbered to support the advance on the right. Following the Jagers out of the woods was the Grenadier Guard regiment. The two opposing forces clashed just south of the inn. Having rallied after their repulse from the inn, the 7th Light Inf. Bn. charged the building and evicted the Wurttembergers who had been celebrating their success wIth large quantities of the inn's excellent beer. Ownership of this structure would change hands several times during the course of the battle. General Wrede's ADC, sent to identify the approaching cavalry, realised too late that they were not Austrians. As he turned his horse around to escape from the lancers, a lucky shot from one the troopers carbines killed his mount. Scrambling to his feet and drawing his sword, his last sight was the sun shining off the eagle of the 17th Legere, as he was cut down by an officer from the squadron. The Poles had an intense dislike for anyone who turned against their Emperor. In the centre, south of the mill, the 24th division's 1st Brigade continued to trade volleys with the Bavarians across the river. Because of the close proximity of their own troops, the battery in the redoubt was unable to provide supporting fire. Also, the 12pdr battery behind the palisades west of the redoubt could not turn their guns far enough to the right to engage the Wurtten-burgers behind the mill. The 24th Divisions 2d Brigade remained out or range of the 12pdr battery on the hill. As the regiments of the French 14th Division poured out of the Schwartzkopf Forest and deployed into battalion attack columns, the Bavarian commander could see that they were preparing to attack his right flank. The increased volume of cannon fire from the right also indicated that his reserve had been committed too early. He immediately dispatched an ADC to order the reserve brigade commander to disengage and turn to meet the new threat from his right. Still thinking that the force on his right were Austrians, the reserve brigade commander was concentrating on hIs fight with the 23rd Division. His Jagers had pushed back the Wurttembergers first line into the next regiment of the 23rd Division's 2d Brigade. The 10pdr howitzer battery, firing canister at point blank range, was wrecking havoc in their ranks. Prince Otto had the joined the 23rd Division commander, and seeing General Kassidyberg' s line start to falter, decided to commit part of his reserve. Moving forward at the double came the Fuss Jager regiment and the corps' 12pdr reserve battery. Encouraged by this support, General Kassidyberg' s troops stood their ground and one battalion charged the 10pdr howitzer battery, forcing the gunners to abandon their guns. Disregarding his new orders from General Wrede, the Bavarian reserve commander threw the Grenadier Guards into the fray. In the centre near the mill, the Bavarian 6th Inf. Regt. left its position behind the abatis and advanced to assist the 2d Light Inf. Bn. This action turned into a maelstrom of hand-to-hand fighting which continued to mask the defenders' batteries. Seeing that the orders to his reserve commander were not being followed, General Wrede sent his chief of staff to take command of the reserve. The reserve brigade commander refused to relinquish command, so the chief of staff drew a pistol from his saddle holster and terminated the brigadier's career. To support the extraction of his reserve from the action, General Wrede personally lead the 20th Division's 2d Brigade out of the orchard and against the Wurttembergers around the inn. The remainder of the Wurttemberg reserve brigade was launched by Prince Otto to counter this new attack. As what remained of the Bavarian reserve attempted to disengage. General Wrede's advance faltered. Realising that the day was lost, The Bavarian commander sent orders to the 19th Division to abandon its position and withdraw to the southwest. As the 20th Division fell back under pressure, the skirmish line of the 17th Leger approached the woods east of the road. The Bavarian gunners manning the position batteries fired a final shot before spiking their guns as the Wurttembergers poured across the river. The road to Rastibon was open. Bavarian I Corps Order of Battle (Note: All regiments have two battalions; each battery has six guns.) Total: 24 battalions, 36 guns 19th Infantry Division 1st Brigade 1st Light Infantry Battalion 1st Infantry regiment 9th Infantry regiment 2nd Brigade 3rd Light Infantry Battalion 4th Infantry regiment 10th Infantry regiment 1st Line Battery (6pdr Foot) 20th Infantry Division 1st Brigade 2d Light Infantry Battalion 3rd Infantry regiment 6th Infantry regiment 2nd Brigade 7th Light Infantry Battalion 12th Infantry regiment 14th Infantry regiment 2d Line Battery (6pdr Foot) Corps Reserve Brigade Tyrolean Jager regiment Grenadier Guard regiment 1st Light Battery (6pdr Horse) Corps Reserve Artillery 5th Line Battery (12pdr Foot) 6th Line Battery (12pdr Foot) 9th Line Battery (10pdr How) (Position Batteries) Wurttemberg IV Corps Order of Battle (Note: each regiment has two battalions, each battery has six guns.) Total: 22 battalions, 30 guns. 23rd Infantry DIvision 1st Brigade 1st Infantry regiment 2d Infantry regiment 2nd Brigade 3rd Infantry regiment 4th Infantry regiment 2d Foot Battery (8pdr) 24th Infantry Division 1st Brigade 5th Infantry regiment 6th Infantry regiment 2nd Brigade 7th Infantry regiment 8th Infantry regiment 3rd Foot Battery (8pdr) Corps Reserve Brigade Light Infantry regiment Fuss Jager regiment Foot Guard regiment 1st (Guard) Horse Battery (6pdr) Corps Reserve Artillery 2d Horse Battery (6pdr) Reserve Foot Battery (12pdr) 4th Pontoon Bridge Company French 14th Infantry Division Order of Battle 1st Brigade 17th Legere 30th Infantry regiment 41st Infantry regiment 8pdr Foot Battery (8 guns) 2d Brigade 51st Infantry regiment 61st Infantry regiment 2d Squadron, 3rd (Polish) Chevauleger Lanciers Back to Table of Contents -- First Empire #15 Back to First Empire List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1994 by First Empire. 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