The Wargame

Marshall Ney has replaced Oudinot, after a further defeat at Dennewitz, and has decided to place his army on the left bank of the Elbe, defending all crossing points where possible. His headquarters is assigned to the town of Düben. He has placed Bertrand's IV Corps in charge of the defence the town of Wittenberg. For the game the western flank is held by the 38th Division of Bertrand's IV Corps, covering the crossing at Coswig.

In the game, Bertrand's Corps headquarters is situated at Wittenberg. However having a number of potential crossing points to cover, he has assigned the Cavalry Division Briche to cover Coswig and the district.

Crown Prince Bernadotte has sent General von Bülow to besiege Wittenberg and moved with the bulk of the army towards Wartenburg. However he has dispatched strong forces under the Prince of Hessen-Homburg to draw the Coalition forces attention, and if possible, force the crossing at Coswig. The forces as listed do not reflect the units in the known Orbats, rather they reflect the units that I had available for use. An expedient probably familiar to many readers.

The Briefing (as given to my opponent on the day)

The small town of Coswig stands mainly on the left bank of the Elbe, where that river flows from S.E to N.W. just before it begins to turn S.W. towards Wörlitz. Behind Coswig at a distance of 2 miles are the thickly wooded slopes of the Raguhn hills rising some 450 feet above the town.

Larger Version of Map (slow: 74K)

In front of the town, coming from the direction of Wiesenburg, lie the thickly wooded slopes of the Zahna hills. Rising to about 250 feet above the town, they are cut by a single main road.

This is the main road connecting Berlin via Wiesenburg, Coswig and Bitterfeld to Leipzig. There are a number of tracks off the main road prior to debouching from the hills. They allow the passage to infantry enabling them to move either side of the ridge, and thus move down the steep slopes terminating at the valley bottom where the Coalition forces have halted.

Prince of Hessen-Homburg

Commander of the forces assigned to you by General von Bülow. Having lost contact with the enemy forces over the last three days you have received these orders:-

To his illustrious highness General Prince of Hessen-Homburg;

From General von Bülow Commander 3 Corps

Highness you are requested to take your forces along the Bitterfeld Eisenbahn. You will reconnoitre the area around Coswig, where it is believed there are enemy forces. It is further requested that if in such a favourable position you are to engage and defeat any forces you find. You may find the Elbe crossing intact. The Commander in Chief urges you to preserve any such crossing and capture the town of Coswig.

You are supported on your left flank by Count Stedingk commanding the Swedish Corps, acting as our reserve. In the event of facing a strong enemy position and you require his assistance a messenger should be dispatched. His force will be on the Niemegk to Wittenberg road.

I have the honour to inform you that I shall be besieging the town of Wittenberg whilst the Commander in Chief shall be to my left forcing a crossing around Wartenburg. You are requested by the Commander to reach Coswig on the morning of the 9th and take the town. If there is little opposition you are to cross the Elbe and proceed along the left bank in the direction of Wittenberg. You should send your light cavalry patrols along the Leipzig road.

Written by Hauptman Roder for General von Bülow, whilst at Niemegk

Situation

On the evening of 8th September, you had halted your force in the hills above Wiesenburg. Your light cavalry patrolled out towards Coswig. You have received reports that the enemy outposts have been located on the Zahna hills. They have also reported camp fires away to your left flank .

At 5a.m. September 9th, you have set yourself at the head of your leading column marching from your overnight bivouac. You hope to clear the enemy outposts away before the Empire forces can react. You are unclear as to their numbers. The forces at your immediate disposal are as follows:-

3rd Brigade Hereditary Prince of Lippe
1st E. Prussian Regt	3 Battalions	2,105
2nd E. Prussian Regt	3 Battalions	2,005
1st Reserve Inf. Regt	3 Battalions	1,908
E. Prussian Jäger Battalion	1Company (detached)	160
2nd E. Pruss. Grenadiers	1 Battalion	625
1st Silesian Hussars	4 Squadrons	410
Foot Battery No. 5	8 Cannon	145
Total	7,358
5th Brigade General von Schroder
5th Silesian Inf. Regt.	3 Battalions	1,898
3rd Silesian Landwehr	3 Battalions	1,856
1st Silesian Reserve Regt	3 Battalions	2,005
3rd E. Pruss. Militia Cav.	4 Squadrons	432
Foot Battery No. 10	8 Cannon	152
Total	6,343
Reserve Cavalry General Oppen
3rd E. Prussian Dragoons	4 Squadrons	423
2nd E. Pruss. Ldwhr Cav.	3 Squadrons	373
Horse Battery No. 5	8 Cannon	210
Horse Battery No. 8	8 Cannon	199
Total	1,205
Total Forces	14,906

Victory Conditions

(Not shown to my opponent until after the game)

To lose: Fail to clear the river crossing.
To draw: Pin down all enemy forces and kill the Coalition Commander

Marginal victory: Control the east side of Coswig, and the bridge by the end of the game, prevent the Coalition forces from using it, kill the Coalition Commander.

Tactical Victory: Capture the Coswig bridge and the town. Clear any enemy you find from the river crossing, kill the Coalition Commander.

Strategic Victory: Clear all enemy from Coswig. Exit your cavalry Division off the Bitterfeld Bahn. Drive the Coalition forces away from river crossing, on the eastern side of the river, kill the Coalition Commander.

Empire Briefing

You are General Franquemont commander of the 38th Division, part of IV Corps. You have Prince Adam of Württemberg technically as your commanding officer. However you have been able to work with the prince over the past few months and he appreciates your abilities. For his part he acts as the focal point for the Württemberg forces, and he ensures their loyalty to the cause. Your forces consists of the troops of Württemberg, and you have access to the Hessen-Darmstadt Brigade on your flank. During the opening stages of the campaign you were able to marshal your forces, consequently they had suffered lightly from the rigours of campaigning. However your division was heavily involved in the Battle of Dennewitz, several formations received heavy casualties, requiring them to be combined into single units.

Sent by your Corps Commander to hold the town and surrounding area at Coswig, you have taken the opportunity to rest and reorganise your forces. Your troops are as follows:-

720 695 568 561 640 628 652 605 105 112 74 460 396 603 596 302 85

1st Brigade General de Brigade von Stockmayer
1st Jäger zu Fuss	1 Battalion	199
1st Light Infantry	1 Battalion	199
Garde zu Fuss	1 Battalion	199
7th Infantry Regt.	1 Battalion (Combined)	199
Total	2,544
2nd Brigade General de Brigade Doring
1st Infantry Regt.	1 Battalion	199
2nd Infantry Regt.	1 Battalion (Combined)	199
5th Infantry Regt.	1 Battalion (Combined)	199
6th Infantry Regt.	1 Battalion (Combined)	199
Total	2,525
Divisional Artillery Colonel von Schroeder
1st Horse Battery	6 cannon	199
1st Foot Battery	8 cannon	199
3rd Foot battery	6 cannon	199
Total	291
Cavalry Division General de Division von Briche
1st Chevauxleger	5 Squadrons	199
3rd Jäger zu Pferde	4 Squadrons	199
Total	856
Hessen-Darmstadt Brigade Prince Emil of Hesse
Leib Regiment	1 Battalion (Combined)	199
Garde Fusilier Regt.	1 Battalion	199
Chevauleger	3 Squadrons	199
1st Foot Battery	4 cannon	199
Total	1,586
Total Forces	7,802

Larger Version of Map (slow: 92K)

The disposition of your forces are as follows;

Brigade Stockmayer: Controlling the bridge-head at Coswig
Brigade Doring: To the right of Brigade Stockmayer
Divisional Artillery: Controlling the bridge-head at Coswig
Cavalry Division: Second line behind the Brigade Doring
Hessen-Darmstadt Brigade: Defending Neu Coswig

Your Orders

You received the following report and instruction from Marshal Bertrand.

My Dear General, we are ordered by our Commander Marshal Ney, to contain any enemy action around the towns of Wittenberg and Wartenburg.

I require you to hold the river crossing at Coswig. The Prince Emil of Hesse is being dispatched to Neu Coswig, he provides the link between your forces and my headquarters. He also guards the Niemegk - Neu Coswig - Wartenburg road. The Prince of Moskowa has also stated that should an action appear propitious, it is his intention to recross the river and meet the enemy on the Zahna Hugel.

I have dispatched the Cavalry Division Briche to assist you in policing the river bank. You are to hold fast at Coswig and deny the enemy the crossing. I would advise you that it is not in our interests to engage the enemy at this time, you are therefore to avoid action if possible.

You are however to screen from the enemy our intentions and movements. You will accordingly put out a strong outposts to deny the enemy the advantage of discovering our dispositions . No further reinforcements can be sent you, if attacked you should retire upon the Berlin road, you should however let the Briche Division return along the Wittenberg road to provide a link between us.

Written by my hand this day 6th September 1813 Hauptman von Hünan at Corps Headquarters The Stadthus, Marktplatz Wittenberg

Signed (Marshal Bertrand)

You received these orders from your Corps Commander two days ago. He informed you that there was enemy movement in the direction of Niemegk. It is the intention of the army Commander to recross the Elbe and contest the high ground. You are required to protect the armies' left flank during any action across the Elbe.

Accordingly your forces were dispatched across the River Elbe covering the main Berlin Road and the village of Neu Coswig, itself on the road to Wittenberg. You are to act as a screen against the enemy forces attempting to emerge from the passes out of the hills overlooking the Elbe.

Late on the afternoon of the 8th you received a further message from your Corps Commander. The army plan has changed and Marshall Ney intends to fight a defensive action behind the line of the Elbe. Marshal Bertrand informs you it is his intention to remain in Wittenberg. You are therefore to hold fast at Coswig and avoid attacking the enemy. Bertrand further expressed a hope 'that the outpost at Neu Coswig had not been withdrawn'.

This last message has caused you some confusion, and you are now uncertain as to why your forces should remain on the north bank of the Elbe, considering the remainder of the army appears to be on the south bank. You would have preferred to destroy the bridge at Coswig and defend the crossing point from the south bank. However you always follow orders and are now preparing to make the best of it. Late in the afternoon your outposts report they have clashed with enemy cavalry patrols. Later in the evening your outposts report that they can see large campfires in the distance. You have alerted the troops and await the dawn.

Special Conditions for the Game

The Hesse-Darmstadt Forces are strictly defensive in nature. However should they be attacked they will defend themselves vigorously.

The Württemberg hereditary prince is somewhat headstrong. If the cavalry become involved, he will personally lead the regiments. The loss of the prince will have an immediate effect on the Württemberg cavalry, who will fall back away from the enemy, taking no further part in the action. They will if requested surrender. The loss of the Prince will also change all formations' orders to defend.

Any request by the Prussian commander for reinforcements from Count Stedingk will be met with a total refusal. The Swedes are reluctant to commit themselves to a battle so soon into the march from Berlin. The request if coming at the start of the battle (i.e. before the Prussians have identified what forces are in front of them), will reduce the victory condition by one level for the Coalition.

Coalition Victory Conditions

To Lose: Lose control of the town of Coswig and the bridge
To Win: Retain hold of the Coswig and the Bridge

More Battle of Coswig

Part 1: Historical Overview
Part 2: The Wargame
Part 3: The Battle