In the last issue we looked at the French plan, setup, and leaders. In this installment we will cover the Russian setup, leaders and the game in play. Let the carnage begin.

THE RUSSIAN DEPLOYMENT:

Paul Billings commands the Left. For this game the left is defined as extending from the stream below Semonovskaya to the south map edge. His leader is Tuchkov and his forces are VITT corp, III corp, Moscow Militia, and the Combined Grenadiers. Paul deploys the VITT corp and their artillery in the Fleches and his skirmishers in and around the Utitsa hill and town. The III corp and Militia setups are somewhat restricted by the setup and they basically setup behind the woods. Paul has just over 100 units, the same number as Terry and Warren without the Poles.

Rowdy Scarlett is the head man for the Russians in the center. His leader is Kutusov and his forces are the VII corp, Art. Reserve, IV cav, 1/2 of VI corp, and the Guard (V corp). Rowdy deploys the VII corp in Semonovskaya and on the Redoubt Hill as far forward as the Wolfpits. How many American Civil War games have Wolfpits? The artillery of the VII deploy in the town. The cavalry, guard, and reserve artillery all set up around their designated areas, well behind the line.

We were not aware at the start that Rowdy would control part of VI corp, but this makes a coordinated defense of the plateau below the Redoubt easier. Rowdy has about 113 units at the start although he would be reinforced in the Gorki area early by all of Jim's foot guns (11 more batteries ). This is about the same number of units that I ended up with because I ended up turning over Junot's VII corp to Keith around turn ten.

Jim Best commands the North for the Russians. His sphere of control is from Zakartsi to the mapedge. Which edge? The one that his army is currently tied to, usually the North. Jim's leader is Platov the Bulletproof or so it seems. His forces are 1/2 VI corp, IV corp, IT corp, I cav, IT cav, III cav, and Platov's Cossacks. WOW! The Russian overall leader usually keeps III cav which starts in the center and moves the I cav to the Reserve. Jim's deployment foretells of a massive cavalry and horse arty. rush to turn the French left. The Russians will follow this rush with their infantry. This is not a surprise except that the forces are massive for this task.

The Russians will have few reserves once a French attack has developed. Jim has about 110 units. It is not unusual to see this many units in the North, its just the mix of units. Jim has 37 cavalry units which total over 260 stacking points. Keith has about 90 stacking points in 23 units including his reserve. OUCH!

THE RUSSIAN PLAN:

"What plan?" The Russians say. The Russian logic is perfect, if they don't have a plan then we can't fool them into changing it. This also causes the French to consider changing their well laid plans. AARGH!

PHASE ONE - TURNS 1-7:

THE SOUTH:

Terry pushes the IV cav out in front of Warrens troops so that he can clear the skirmishers out of Utitsa town and the hill. This early move works and Paul does not push Karpov's Cossacks of III corp into the woods. Paul was satisfied with pushing the Militia and a few Combined Grenadiers, ( CG hereafter ) into the woods and did not quite seal the mapedge.

Terry seizes the opportunity to turn over IV cav to Warren. Warren pushes IV cav 6 to 7 hexes into the woods before Paul reacts to stop them. Warren will have to rush his dragoons into the IV cav positions ASAP so that we can hold our gains here without losing this vital arm of our cavalry. The unfortunate aspect of this early gain is that Ney will have to use the Guard Lancers early if he wants a lance bonus.

At the Fleches, Paul strengthens his deployment as most of III corp and the CG move around the woods and take up reserve positions behind the VII corp. It looks like Paul could be serious about defending here and this could really screw-up the French plan of fighting an early artillery duel. Ney begins to take on a grim pallor at Napoleon's order to brush aside that mob on the hill so that the artillery duel can begin. Ney boldly pushes his horse guns to within 200yds of the southernmost Fleche. The late 24th Legere made this possible.

After blasting the Russians to bits for two turns they wised-up and retreated one hex to where our guns couldn't see them. Where is The IV cav when you need them - chopping trees down in the Utitsa. The 2nd Lancers of the Guard got blasted trying to clear the hill but were finally successful when the cavalry of the III corp made the scene. At the end of this initial phase of battle the Grand Battery deployed and unleashed a 10-1 attack with a + 14 modifier. A 65 before the adds, net 8 guns in one swell foop!

THE CENTER:

That unmodified 65 got the duel off to a rousing start. The only other thing I did was push the second Div of I corp through the woods and into the ravine below the redoubt and gather the Army Reserve into a central position between Shevardino and the Kamenka. You have to watch these guys like a hawk. I mean MY TEAMMATES, they'll rob you blind while you go get a beer or a burger.

THE NORTH:

The Lifeguard Skirmishers in Borodino are brushed aside by I div I corp and the IV arty I commanded these troops in this initial action because I wanted to kill as many Guard here and not have to face them later. Rowdy unlimbered a grand battery across from Borodino as expected. The purpose of this is to sweep the area north of Borodino and slow the French advance through here unless the French want to sacrifice a lot of their skirmishers.

I then unlimbered a small grand battery of foot guns and howitzers in Borodino to keep the hill below the Redoubt clear. Keith has to rush his cavalry straight to the north mapedge to try to keep the Cossacks from penetrating the expanse of woods at the northwest corner of the map. He moves the rest of IV corp in echelon to the north of Borodino. The VIII corp crosses the Kalotcha and moves up behind Borodino.

I do not intend to give these to Keith but would rather keep them for the assault on the redoubt. Se La Guerre! Jim sees that he can reach the woods but takes a more aggressive approach when he realizes how much more cavalry he has. Jim decides to go over, into, and through Grouchy's cav.

Platov's initial attack brutalizes several French cavalry, but they buy just enough time for the French horse guns to bark out a much needed reply. Grouchy anchors his left flank on the woods that Platov refused to take and this lets the lead units of IV corp infantry link with his right and form square. The ball is in Jim's court now as he has the option to assault Keith's squares with cavalry or wait until his horse guns and infantry arrive.

LOSSES:
FRENCH approx. 50
RUSSIAN approx, 70
This is a good early ratio for the French.