BATTLE of BORODINO
A one-half hour briefing was given by the commanders of each side with the battle starting at 10:00am as scheduled. Opening action centered in the Utitsa area with the Westphalians starting to advance on Utitsa. The visible French strength was in the Utitsa area but the Russians believed that this was just a strong diversion and that the serious attack would still come in the center. Still due due to the size of the attack it was necessary for the Russians to shore up their left with reinforcements of horse artillery and a division from Raevsky's Corps. The opening shots of the battle were fired by the Russian Guard Artillery at Grouchy's Cavalry Corps. Not a significant point except for an old Chinese proverb: "Last unit painted equal first unit off table" or something like that.
Meanwhile in the center and around Borodino there was little offensive actions. The French pulled back some artillery from around the Fleches and pulled back the advance infantry at Borodino. At that point having been assigned the defense of Borodino, I was muttering something about 12 years worth of painting and not even a token attack in my area. There was Poniatowski sitting back drinking the "Real Thing" and Munching on Frito-Lays. Well it should be a fun battle to watch. At last around turn 4 Davout's and Poniatovski's Corps started forward, with both taking heavy losses especially from their Corps Cavalry.
The Westphalian advance continued on the French left. It was methodical, well supported by artillery, but slower than what "Napoleon" had intended. While this was happening Russian reinforcements were starting to work their way over to the Utitsa area. To counter this movement of reinforcements an attack was ordered against the Fleches. Ney's advance was lead by the Wurttemburg Division. It was going up against a mere 96 guns (12lb) and as expected barely made it across the Semionovka stream before having to withdraw.
By turn number 8 the general situtation was (1) on the French left the Westphalian attack was just starting to develope, delayed mostly waiting for artillery support. (2) Eugene's Corps had sent cavalry forward to scout the large woods area and discovered the oscow militia. (3) The Wurttemburg attack had been turned back at the Fleches. (4) Davout's attack against the Great Redoubt was well under way with both Reserve Cavalry Corps crossing the Semionovki to the left of the redoubt and in position to attack. This cavalry action had been countered by moving forward the Russian IV Cavalry Corps. (5) Poniatovski's advance against Borodino had been stopped. All in all the opening 8 turns of the battle had gone well for the Russians. They had feared a rapid att ck against their left and the qualty advantage that the French cavalry possessed. In these opening actions the French had taken heavy cavalry loses ( especially on their left) and the attack against Utitsa was slow in developing.
With 8 turns done by noon it was time for a short lunch break and the battle was resumed at 12:30pm. French and Russian cavalry were moving directly toward each other near the redoubt, but expected clash took some strange turns at that point. All of a sudden the lead French division, when even with the redoubt, wheeled in place to take the line of guns on the flank, A golden opportunity if ever there was one!! Sitting on the French flank was the 4th Russian Cavalry Division of hussars, lancers and dragoons. 3600 sabers glistening in the sunlight, horses being restrained. But for some unknown reason ( no iniatative) Major-General Efim Tschaplitz's division failed to move!!! The result was the French rolled over 48 guns around the redoubt. While this was happening the 4th Division continued to wait ....3600 sabers glistening in the sunlight, horses being restrained!! Finally the Russian cavalry came into action to fight off the remaining French cavalry. By then the French attack had captured the redoubt, but a counter attack by the VI Corps recaptured the redoubt.
Ney's attack against the Fleches contined, but met fierce artillery Fire. Finally as the day wore on the Guard Artillery was brought forward, and with this support the south most Fletche was taken. A counter attack by the II Corps recovered this at the close of the day. The major French sucesses were being made in the Utitsa sector. Utitsa itself finally fell with help from the French Guard. The French kept pushing the Russian force back slowly caving in this flank. Eugene's attack in the woods area met unexpected delays inflicted by the Moscow militia! Yes, the same militia that I received a call in the wee hours of the morning..."this is crazy ...I can't believe I'm painting militia... .They can't do anything ...I have not even painted the Russian Guard yet"!! Any way the lead French division collided with the Moscow Militia and the French were thrown back in disorder! The French regrouped and eventually ran over the militia without further problems.
As the battle came to an end at 6:00pm the Russians were still in strong positions at Borodino, Great Redoubt and the Fleches. The Russian left flank had beenpushed back to line A on game map. The Russian Guard was moving to establish a defensive line at the rear of the woods. Bearing down on the few Russian units around the Old Smolensk Road was several divisions of French cavalry and it appeared just a matter of time before they would be exiting the table moving toward the Russian rear areas. A good time to end the battle as units in the other areas of the battlefield were pretty well fought out.
It was pretty well agreed that the French had acheived a tactical victory as the Russians would have to eventually pull back from their positions, thou there was no reason to expect nothing but an orderly withdrawal. On a strategic level the decision would rest on the Russian side. French loses had been heavy against the various "pinning" attacks, especially in the cavalry.
Future offensive action on the part of the French would be difficult with the loses to the cavalry. Russian losses were greatest in the artillery, yet their cavalry and infantry were still in fighting shape. Anyway the walk back home for the French would even be longer this time as Marshall Ney was "lost" toward the end of the day trying to hold the Fleches!!
SUMMARY
Following the game we had a barbecue, complete with a "Borodino" cake. Plenty of what ifs and I should have were traded back and forth. As was expected there were a few suggestions on how to improve the rules. Unexpected was the fact that these suggestions made sense. On the whole we were quite pleased with the rules. The game had moved quite fast all day and we ended up completing 16 turns or 8 hours of the battle. When the battle ended all the reserves had been committed or used, with the out come of the battle evident.
The 1-100 scale had provided a very picturesque battle yet kept the number of figures and area needed within reach. For those who entered the hobby of wargaming wishing to refight the major battles of history, I hope this article might be of some help.
Battle Report: Refight of Borodino 1812
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© Copyright 1986 Hal Thinglum
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