What might have happened if Napoleon quickly understood the impossibility of negotiations? He would have seen the inevitability of withdrawing from Moscow. This scenario posits better scouting by Murat's cavalry (who had lost touch with Kutusov) and a quick decision to attack the Russian main army south of Moscow. This scenario starts on Sept. 24. At this time Napoleon's army numbered about 105,000 and Kutusov was still making his way to his base camp south of Tarutino. SCENARIO VI - Early Retreat from Moscow [219.] Game Start: 24 September Accumulated APs: French 10, Russian 14 Battle Scenario End Date: 14 November (inclusive) First Player: Russian Movement Commands Available: FRENCH 2, RUSSIAN 2. FIRST TURN: French 3, Russian 3. Vedettes Available (see para 69) French 5, Cossacks 11, Partisans 1 Supply Source Set-up for Battle Scenario: French - Mozhaysk (E2913) Russians - Kaluga (E3120) Paris Morale: 0 Battle Scenario Victory Condition: The French win (and the game ends) if Paris morale stands at +2 at the end of any Game-Turn. Leader appearing in this scenario: Bennigsen (see para 126) SET-UP Use the 19 October column on the Unit and Leader Manifests, as modified below: 1. Reduce the following Russian units by 1 SP from their 19 October strength: Bagavout, Borosdin, Konstantin, Raevsky, Shuvalov, Tutchkov, 5th Cavalry Corps. 2. Set-up the following leaders in a different location from their 19 Oct. position: French - Reynier, Gorodezna (W1336); Schwarzenberg, Brest (W1037); Victor, Smolensk (E1219); Murat (E3912). Russian - Kutusov, (E3716); Tschichagov, Lutsk (W1747); Steinheil (reinf. entering at W1901). 3. Tormassov Tschichagov assumed command of the 3rd Army in the south from Tormassov, who was ordered to join Kutusov on 24 Sept. Tormassov sets up in Lutsk as an unemployed leader, and so the units he is assigned on 19 Oct. must be given to Barclay (who remained with the army until Tormassov's arrival on 4 Oct.). Errata: Russian Unit Manifest, 19 Oct., Tutchkov i - with Tormassov. French Unit Manifest, 24 Aug., Reynier - with Schwarzenberg. Back to OSG News November 2002 Table of Contents Back to OSG News List of Issues Back to Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Operational Studies Group This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com