Following on from my Frontal Assault at Kulmbach scenario it would appear that many of you relish fighting a battle for reasons other than winning. How many of you identified 'Kulmbach' as Pickett's Charge on the third day of Gettysburg? Having tried that perhaps you might like to try the follow up and perhaps identify which historical battle inspired it. Allow me to set the scene.
Winter, 1812, Russia. You are Marshal Michel Ney, Duc d'Elchingen, Prince of the Moskowa, Bravest of the Brave, etc. and unfortunately commander of the rearguard of what once passed for La Grande Armee. Under your command are four battalions of veteran infantry, an adhoc light cavalry regiment and a battery of 8lb foot artillery. You are nearly 24 hours march behind the main body with no hope of support if attacked. Davout would probably come to your aid if he could, but the sporadic snow showers suggest his own tracks are already covered.
Still, you're a bit of a lad and the chaps love you and all that Imperial nonsense in Paris gets on your wick. At least the prospect of another scrap is only just around the corner. The trouble is that the only enemy nearby are Platov and a few of his Don Cossacks. Not really good material and certainly not what you are used to.
Anyway, it is just after day break on... what day is it today? One of the cavalry officers claims it to be a Wednesday but for some reason you think it might be a Sunday. Ahead of you is a small partially frozen river with a decidedly ropey looking wooden foot bridge over it. This is worrying. There are no signs at all of troop movement and it looks as if you may have become completely detached from the route of retreat. If so, then you will have to double back over the last hour's march which was completed in last night's gloom to see where you went wrong. Thank God that there aren't any proper enemy nearby.
IT IS NOW TIME FOR YOUR FIRST DECISION - SO IF YOU ARE PLAYING THE GAME MAKE IT BEFORE READING ON (You do want to enjoy yourself, don't you?)
The Bavarian Chevauleger Major Renault in command of your caval-ry suggests that he take his lads (Oh, they're HIS now eh?) back along the trail and finds the path more quickly, thus saving time. He has done all the scouting so far so what is it to be? Make your decision and trot on.
Once you have made the decision either way you rest the infantry for five minutes before turning around and heading back. One last thought though. That little bridge. Suppose it's your only escape route after all. Should you leave it undefended? You could leave Chef de Bataillon Bantonski and his Poles at the bridge just in case. Another decision. Make it and read on.
Twenty minutes later you are a mile down the road and thinking that this snow really does make even Russia look presentable. A proper fairytale look to the whole thing. What the Hell is that? Sergeant Le Beaurn, Renault's best scout is galloping towards you at full tilt with no regard for the safety of his mount. He practically broadsides to a halt in front of you and reports thus:
"Sire, Cossacks to the Southwest; Thousands of 'em." You still have time for the impressively unruffled way that the Sergeant reports the news, with beads of ice glistening his damned impressive whiskers. You can tell he is a hussar, even if he now dresses like a Ukrainian Gypsy. Le Beaurn estimates that the Cossacks are about 5 minutes off so you had better make a decision what to do. Looking around you see what troops you have available (Did you detach either of the units as proferred above? If so they are not initially available.
Have a look at the map of Table 1 to see what the terrain is like.
Two Options
In reality you have two options available: Either form square here and beat off this Cossack rabble - although there certainly are more than that dolt Renault claimed to be shadowing you. Never trust a reputed drunk, wasn't that what The Emperor always used to tell you - or retreat towards the bridge and the safety of the other side. You may have to abandon the guns at the crossing if the river is not fully frozen but they are only wood and metal, not flesh and blood and they would not be the first guns lost in this retreat. Your decision may be influenced by whether or not you left the Poles at the bridge. Then again it may not matter.
What will you do? Search your mind, you are a Marshal of France. Yes, a picture of the terrain around the bridge springs into your mind.
Take a look at the picture of the terrain on Table 2 and make a decision on which table you intend to fight on.
Made the decision? Then set up the relevant terrain and position your troops in the areas marked. Now let's see what difference your various decisions have made. As far as choice of table goes, you have no retreat from Table 1. You must stand and fight. However on Table 2 the foot bridge provides a safe haven to the other side. The ice on the river looks dubiously thin, so it's up to you if you risk crossing it with your guns. They certainly won't get over the bridge.
Right, that's all there is too it for the terrain. What about your potential detachments? If you sent Renault ahead with the cavalry then forget him. Hindsight will tell you that once out of sight and finding more Cossacks than he anticipated he has made for the main body without you. If of course you have kept him on a tight leash he will continue to obey orders. If you detached Bantonski he will only be available on Table 2. Deploy him as shown and use him as you see fit.
That is all there is to it for you. You have a maximum of 4 Veteran infantry batallions, one Average cavalry unit and a Veteran battery of six 8lb guns and two howitzers with plenty of ammunition. What about the enemy. Bad news there I am afraid. There are actually 8,000 Cossacks in units of 500 facing you. All are armed with muskets, mostly French, and although they are poor shots they can skirmish adequately. Consider them as high in basic morale, but loathe to charge formed infantry or guns and pretty abysmal shots. Yes I know you don't have 16 units of Cossacks, who does? Just dig out whatever you can find to represent them and enjoy yourself. Anyway, it's not the Cossacks that are going to be the problem. It's the two 12 gun 6lb Horse batteries that are going to be the problem.
Nobody said anything about this. Come on, Cossacks don't go around with regular artillery. So sue them. At this point find another wargamer who hates you and tell him what he is commanding. If you have the gall. Your objective is to live and get as many of your men out safely. If you live and get half out, then thumb your nose at the Cossacks and head for home. If you are with the last unit over the bridge then you have achieved greatness. If you did not abandon the guns at the river then they have achieved drowning (well, their crews have) as the ice is far too thin. And don't blame them. You are the Marshal and they had faith. If of course you abandoned the guns, then the lucky gunners will be naming their offspring Michelle.
If you picked Table 1 then your luck ran out.
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