I do not believe that a wargaming article has been previously written by what you in the West would term a former member of the Red Army, so I hope that you bear with me during this piece if my English grammar appears poor. You will glean from my letter in the Editor's Letters Page that I am an intimate friend of Leon Parte from France and I would refer you to that letter for details of the references made during this treatise.

I will not bore any of you with the much-repeated background of the 1805 campaign. Rather I intend to put forward the battle of Austerlitz as a scenario to fight with the rules set of your choice, although a short synopsis of events will be in order.

As we all know the Third Coalition was drawn up by the European powers to oppose Bonaparte and was brokered primarily by English Prime Minister William Pitt. The Convention of St Petersburg was signed on April 11th, 1805 between Russia, Britain and Austria. Needless to say the military planning which was primarily dictated by the Austrians was a fiasco resulting in Mack surrendering at Ulm.

Following this disaster my Great-Uncle, General Count Sergei Yevgeinivich Maslennikov who had been attached to General Kutusov's staff as an English interpreter (see the letter in this issue) advised Kutusov to retire across the River Inn and this plan was backed by the whole of the General Staff. Kutusov finally agreed and the 58000 Russo-Austrian troops withdrew hoping to be reinforced by General Buxhowden's Army Corps of 30000 men. By the 23rd of November the Russo-Austrian Army was at Olmutz and had been joined by The Czar himself as well as the Austrian Emperor. The French were concentrating 32 miles South West of Kutusov at Brunn. Bonaparte determined to lure Kutusov into an attack at an area he had previously scouted around Pratzen and he chose the terrain almost as well as Kutusov would choose at Moscow 7 years later. The Frenchman's plan was to occupy the Pratzen Heights and Austerlitz with 53000 men hoping that the disparity in numbers - Kutusov totalling nearly 85000 - would lure an attack. He would then call up Davout and Bernadotte bringing his strength to within 10000.

During the Council of War which the Czar convened to discuss this change in tack, my Great-Uncle advocated an immediate attack before Bonaparte could be reinforced and in this he was wholeheartedly supported by every Russian bar Kutusov who had come under the influence of the Emperor Francis and demanded caution. The aggressive group was supported by several of the braver Austrian generals. Despite much attempted negotiating 0n the 28th November Bagration drove Murat's cavalry from Wischau and Bonaparte, realising he would be attacked, set his plan in motion. Soult was ordered to feign retreat by abandoning the Pratzen Heights and Austerlitz. His plan worked to perfection.

With the arrival of the Follow the Eagle IBM computer rules in Russia we have very much developed them to our own way of thinking. Essentially to fight the larger Napoleonic battles we transpose a Brigade for a Battalion. The effect is not as incongruous as it sounds and I can recommend it to all the readers as a splendid method of fighting large engagements. The important thing is to maintain the balance in arms, which we have achieved using Follow the Eagle, the army lists here being taken directly from the machine. If this list appears odd to you I would ask that you read my notes at the end before you condemn me out of hand.

INITIAL DISPOSITIONS

See map

THE OPPOSING PLANS

Just after midnight on the 2nd December the French were thrown out of Telnitz by Doctorov's 1st Column who in turn were ejected by the French 3rd Ligne Regiment. There was then a lull until 4 am when dawn heralded the deployment of the two armies. The Russo-Austrian plan developed by the Austrian Weyrother called for a massive attack against the French right under Buxhowden which would consist of five formations totalling about 60000 men. They were to take Telnitz and Sokolnitz and then roll up the French line from right-to-left. Langeron and Kollowrath would then attack frontally with 24000 men. On the right, Bagration was to keep the French left occupied so that it did not interfere with the annihilation going on in the centre. In reserve was Grand Duke Konstantin with the 8500 troops of the Russian Guard.

On the French side Lannes was to hold Santon and the left flank with his Corps whilst on the right Davout's arriving Corps (initially just Friant's Division and the Corps cavalry) along with a reinforced division under Legrand from Soult's Corps were to stem the massive Allied assault. Murat and the Reserve Cavalry were deployed to cover Lannes' right flank. The rest of Soult's Corps were to form up in the centre awaiting Bonaparte's order to attack the weakened Allied centre along the Pratzen Heights. Bernadotte's Corps was to simultaneously attack Blasowitz. In reserve were the Imperial Guard and Oudinot's grenadiers. All this deploying was carried out under cover of a thick mist and searingly cold temperature.

THE COURSE OF THE BATTLE

Buxhowden's attack began at a little after 6 am. Kienmayer's initial assault on Telnitz failed. The fight went on for an hour before the French retreated upon the arrival of Doctorov's Column. Doctorov then waited for Langeron to arrive but he had been delayed on the Pratzen by Prince Liechtenstein's Austrian Cavalry who had deployed out of position and were being sent to cover the centre. Prebyshevshki and Kollowrath then were stopped behind Langeron in their turn and a whole hour was lost to the delay which ensued, giving Friant's division time to fully deploy. Friant then attacked Telnitz through the mist and ejected the Austrians back over the Goldbach Stream. Langeron then finally arrived and the Allies retook Telnitz and then Sokolnitz as well. Prebyshevski then attacked the Castle and the Pheasantry in delayed accordance with the plan of action.

Just as everything seemed to be going soundly for the Allies Davout led an attack against Langeron which once more retook Telnitz and Sokolnitz. Friant then continued by attacking and forcing back Prebyshevski. By 10 am the whole French position on the right had been restored and Buxhowden's attack had failed. However, to go back an hour in the centre, as Bagration tentatively engaged Lannes Bonaparte ordered Soult to attack the Pratzen with his two remaining divisions. Kutusov was taken aback to see Soult's unexpected attack and he quickly ordered Miloradovitch and Kollowrath to pull back from Sokolnitz to defend Pratzen and the centre. A vicious argument then broke out in the Czar's staff between my Great-Uncle and Count Dolgorouki. Whilst Count Maslennikov suggested an immediate withdrawal as the plan was compromised Dolgorouki, always a snivelling toad, assured the Czar that all was well. Dolgorouki then accused my ancestor of cowardice and they had to be separated by Prince Adam Czartoryski in order that blood not be spilt. This incident began a feud which has lasted to the present day and which shows no signs of abaitment.

Before Pratzen could be occupied Saint-Hilaire's division drove through it and into Miloradovitch. By 11 am Soult had completely taken the Pratzen Heights. On the French left Lannes and Murat steadily drove back Bagration. By midday Bonaparte knew that Bagration was beaten, or at least toothless, and he ordered Bernadotte and all his reserves onto the Pratzen Heights to support Soult. At his time my Great-Uncle, who was an honorary Colonel of the Preobrazhensky Grenadiers, was dispatched to Grand Duke Konstantin as an aide to avoid him killing Dolgorouki (which would have done our cause no harm) and he became involved in the attack of the Russian Guards.

Having been continually stung by elements of Soult's artillery since the French occupation of Pratzen Konstantin ordered a full assault. Unfortunately the advance was led badly and the troops arrived disordered at the run. Even so they smashed through the first French line only to be halted by a dose of canister from the second. Having pulled up the 3000 Grenadiers retired in almost perfect order on Krzenowitz.

Following this the Russian Guard Cavalry rode over two French infantry regiments from Vandamme's division before clashing with elements of the Old Guard cavalry. The Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky Life Guards counter-attacked in support of their mounted brethren but a charge by the Old Guard Grenadiers a Cheval broke the Chevalier Guards and forced back the Russian infantrymen. It was at this time that my Great-Uncle was wounded and captured by Colonel Baron Leon Parte (a name you will undoubtedly recognise) the direct kinsman of this publication's esteemed contributor who was attached to General Rapp's entourage. I will spare you further details of this incident here and would refer you to my letter to your editor which I believe he may be kind enough to publish.

With the retreat of the Russian Guard the stage was set for annihilation but Marshal Bernadotte dawdled around Pratzen and the survivors escaped. At 2 pm Bonaparte wheeled his victorious centre right and fell upon the flank of Buxhowden's Wing at the same time coincidentally that Davout counter-attacked. The disorganised Allies were effectively driven from the field, with as many as 2000 men drowning in the frozen Satschan Lake when it was shelled by French artillery. The Third Coalition had been destroyed on the field of Austerlitz in Bonaparte's greatest battle. Over 9000 Frenchmen were casualties, but this number was dwarfed by the 27000 men missing from the Allied rosters, of which 12000 were prisoners.

REFIGHTING THE BATTLE

It may seem strange that the most refought battle of this period in my country should be one that we lost so badly, but on reflection this is not so strange. The nature of my people is such that mistakes are highlighted far more than success (something I would not have been able to say two years ago) and the desire to find a solution to setbacks is paramount.

As I have already stated a certain amount of latitude has been taken with the Orders of Battle in order to get a manageable battle and at the same time maintain the number of troops which actually fought. The attached army lists created with the Follow the Eagle rules but adaptable to the plethora of others that I believe you have access to, have units called Brigades, however you could equally give them regimental titles if preferred and reduce the numbers, although I can assure you that it will not unbalance the result. Indeed you may find it invigorating or entertaining to try out a different system for once. The game itself should begin at 6 am and continue until nightfall or a result is obtained.

I would recommend that you fight the battle by deploying historically as per the map and then amending orders as you see fit. The nature of the deployment should ensure that tactical planning is relatively similar to that taken historically, but after all it is most important to enjoy the game - although one would not think so from seeing the visages of some of my older colleagues - and it is in this light that I have written this article, although I must admit that the idea for the subject came to me from the Editor via our mutual friend Leon Part‚ knowing that it is my personal favourite. The map you see is drawn by me as I was unable to obtain permission to copy the official diagrams used in the Kriegsspiel games here. Nevertheless, they are sufficient and indeed are probably more achievable for the average wargamer.

TROOPS OFF THE TABLE

There are none, all troops are deployed initially although it should be noted that thick mist enveloped the field at it's beginning. I would suggest some sort of screen separating the two armies until troops come into visibility.

TERRAIN

The Satschan lake is frozen and for the purposes of the battle is best treated as difficult terrain. You may be able to make prov- isions for breaching the ice with artillery. The Goldbach stream is relatively shallow throughout and judging by the amount of French artillery deployed on the Pratzen Heights should pose little problem to movement. All the villages have light buildings except the castle and its grounds which are medium or even heavy.

NOTES

The first thing you will probably comment on are the unfamiliar looking Army Lists. This is a large battle that would take many castings and a vast amount of time and space to fight realistically at regimental level. I have written these army lists so that you might like to fight the battle along my suggested guidelines within a reasonable time frame. The lists owe as much to the American company Avalon Hill's game Napoleon's Battles as anything else and could be used in accordance with those rules with little amending.

Using Follow The Eagle you may be surprised just what an interesting and enjoyable game you get. In any case, I hope that you find an alternative point of view intriguing.

Austerlitz 1805 Order of Battle: French
Austerlitz 1805 Order of Battle: Allies

Battle of Three Emperors Austerlitz 1805 Jumbo Map (slow: 169K)