Post by mark1 on Apr 23, 2017 15:38:18 GMT
Battle of Montereau.
Background:
Following the events of the morning of the 17th Feb (see battle of Mormant scenario) Napoleon decided top split his forces to carry on pursuit of the retreating Allied corps and to force a crossing over the river Seine at Nogent, Bray and Montereau. Victor's II corps was tasked with securing the Montereau, however he was held up by action at Villeneure against a retreating Bavarian force under Wrede. After pushing back the Bavarians Victor decided to halt his forces in order to rest them having marched 17 miles that day. Napoleon ordered a rapid advance on Montereau at 15:00 but this was ignored.
Schwarzenburg needed to delay Napoleons advance and on the evening of the 17th directed Wurttemberg to hold the crossings at Montereau until the end of the 18th Feb. Wurttemberg decided to defend the ground to the north of the Seine on the Surville heights, whihc dominates the twin bridges on the Seine and Yonne rivers. At the centre of his defense was the village of Villaron, where he stationed 2 batteries of artillery 1 6pdr the other 12pdr in addition 3 light infatry regiments. to the right of the batteries was an Austrian battalion (form Zachs regt.) On his left flank was the his cavalry, the Archduke Ferdinand Hussars on the extreme left, and the Wurtemberg cavalry regt #5. Behind these was a single battalion form the Collerado Regt. and a horse artillery battery.
Behind Villaron was stationed von Doring's Wutrtemberg brigade. Further south at the chateau was Schaefer's Austrian Brigade supported by two half batteries. On the extreme right below the heights was a battalion of the 9th Jagers and a squadron of the Archduke Ferdinand Hussars. On the south bank of the river was Hohenlohe's brigade and Jett's cavalry brigade.
The Battle:
Around 9:00 Chataux's division arrived from forges and attacked the village of Villaron. This attack was beaten back and it's French commander fell. Soon afterwards Duhsme arrived and also launched an attack on the village to be again thrown back. Victor decided to wait for reinforcements. These duly arrived at 11:00 in the form of Gerard's Reserve of Paris. In addition to the reinforcements and ADC came direct from Napoleon informing Victor that he was being stripped of command and replaced by Gerard. Napoleon had learnt of Victor's decision the day before to halt the advance and decided to take matters into his own hands.
Gerard's force did not fully arrive until 12:30. Gerard decided to soften up the Allied defenses and organised a battery of 40 guns to pound the allies line. At the same time Pajol and Patchod arrived on the French right. Gerard attacked the village a third time but was thwarted by the arrival of von Doring's reserve.
Between 2-3:00 pm Napoleon arrived on the battlefield with the Old Guard and Guard artillery. He immediately organised a fresh attack. Patchod's National guard were to turn the Allies left flank, whilst the remaining II corps forces supported by the Gendames were to attack Villaron. The Reserve of Paris were to outflank the Allies right and attack the chateau. The Guard Artillery were to support the French attacks.
It was during the increased artillery fire and teh renewed French attacks that Wurttemberg decided that he could no longer hold out till evening and ordered a withdraw with Schaefer's force acting as cover. The orderly withdraw suddenly ends up as free for all and seeing this Napoleon launches his service squadrons and Pajol launches his cavalry force against the fleeing Wurttemberg infantry. The cavalry crash into the dis-organised allies and a rout ensues.
The Austrian forces around the chateau are surrounded and forced to surrender. The bottleneck of the Wurttemberg troops is compounded as Napoleon orders his Guard artillery on the heights and bombards the fleeing forces on the bridge. On the southern bank Hohenlohe's force is ordered to support their fleeing comrades. This results in total chaos. Artillery fire form the southern bank directed at the Guard Artillery results in a near miss for Napoleon the remark attributed to him that the bullet (sic) destined for him has yet to be cast! The shattered IV corps heads eastwards towards the rest of Schwarzenburg's army. The French forces enter Montereau and the pursuit grinds to a halt.
French casualties @4000, Allies 3,500 captured, 2500 casualties.
Order of Battle:
French : Commander in Chief Marshal Victor (until replaced by Gerard)
IICorps: Commander in Chief Marshal Victor (until replaced by Gerard)
1st Division: GdD Chataux (1500)
2 Brigades (6 battalions) 10 guns
2nd Division: GdD Duhesme (2200)
2 Brigades (6 battalions) 10 guns
Paris Reserves: GdD Gerard
1st Division: GdD Dufour (1400)
2 Brigades (7 battalions) 11 guns
2nd Division: GdD Hauelinage (2500)
2 Brigades (6 battalions) 6 guns
National Guard Division GdD Pacthod
1st Brigades GdB Rost (1600) 2 Regts.
2nd Brigade GdB Boute (1300) 2 Regts.
attached Gendames (800) 2 Battalions
Divisional Artillery 6 guns
Pajol Cavalry (1300)
1st Brigade Delort (460) 6 CaC regts
2nd Brigade Grouvel (476) 6 Dragoon regts
3rd Brigade Ducoetlosquet (400) 3 Hussar regts
Reserve:(Napoleon).
1st Old Guard Div Fiant (4500)
1st Brigade 1st &2nd Grenadiers a Pied
2nd Brigade 1st &2nd Chasseurs a Pied
Service Squadrons Polish Lancers, Grenadier a Cheval, Dragoons, Chasseur a Cheval (400)
Guard Artillery 30 guns
Allied:
IV Corps Crown Prince Wurttemberg
Advance Guard: von Albensleben (1000)
Cavalry Regt #5 (W)
Archduke Ferdinand Hussars (A)
1 Horse artillery 6 guns (W)
Brigade Stockmayer (2000)
Konig Jaeger Regt #9 2 battalions
Light Infantry Regt#10 2 battalions
Brigade Von Dorning (3000)
Infantry Regt. #2 2 battalions (W)
Infantry Regt. #3 2 battalions (W)
Infantry Regt. #7 2 battalions (W)
1 Foot Battery 6 guns
Brigade Schafer (2500)
Collerado Infantry Regt. 2 battalions (A)
von Zach Infantry Regt. 2 battalions (A)
2 Foot Battery 14 guns
Brigade Hohenloe (1500)
Infantry Regt. #4 2 battalions (W)
Infantry Regt. #6 2 battalions (W)
1 Foot Battery 6 guns
Background:
Following the events of the morning of the 17th Feb (see battle of Mormant scenario) Napoleon decided top split his forces to carry on pursuit of the retreating Allied corps and to force a crossing over the river Seine at Nogent, Bray and Montereau. Victor's II corps was tasked with securing the Montereau, however he was held up by action at Villeneure against a retreating Bavarian force under Wrede. After pushing back the Bavarians Victor decided to halt his forces in order to rest them having marched 17 miles that day. Napoleon ordered a rapid advance on Montereau at 15:00 but this was ignored.
Schwarzenburg needed to delay Napoleons advance and on the evening of the 17th directed Wurttemberg to hold the crossings at Montereau until the end of the 18th Feb. Wurttemberg decided to defend the ground to the north of the Seine on the Surville heights, whihc dominates the twin bridges on the Seine and Yonne rivers. At the centre of his defense was the village of Villaron, where he stationed 2 batteries of artillery 1 6pdr the other 12pdr in addition 3 light infatry regiments. to the right of the batteries was an Austrian battalion (form Zachs regt.) On his left flank was the his cavalry, the Archduke Ferdinand Hussars on the extreme left, and the Wurtemberg cavalry regt #5. Behind these was a single battalion form the Collerado Regt. and a horse artillery battery.
Behind Villaron was stationed von Doring's Wutrtemberg brigade. Further south at the chateau was Schaefer's Austrian Brigade supported by two half batteries. On the extreme right below the heights was a battalion of the 9th Jagers and a squadron of the Archduke Ferdinand Hussars. On the south bank of the river was Hohenlohe's brigade and Jett's cavalry brigade.
The Battle:
Around 9:00 Chataux's division arrived from forges and attacked the village of Villaron. This attack was beaten back and it's French commander fell. Soon afterwards Duhsme arrived and also launched an attack on the village to be again thrown back. Victor decided to wait for reinforcements. These duly arrived at 11:00 in the form of Gerard's Reserve of Paris. In addition to the reinforcements and ADC came direct from Napoleon informing Victor that he was being stripped of command and replaced by Gerard. Napoleon had learnt of Victor's decision the day before to halt the advance and decided to take matters into his own hands.
Gerard's force did not fully arrive until 12:30. Gerard decided to soften up the Allied defenses and organised a battery of 40 guns to pound the allies line. At the same time Pajol and Patchod arrived on the French right. Gerard attacked the village a third time but was thwarted by the arrival of von Doring's reserve.
Between 2-3:00 pm Napoleon arrived on the battlefield with the Old Guard and Guard artillery. He immediately organised a fresh attack. Patchod's National guard were to turn the Allies left flank, whilst the remaining II corps forces supported by the Gendames were to attack Villaron. The Reserve of Paris were to outflank the Allies right and attack the chateau. The Guard Artillery were to support the French attacks.
It was during the increased artillery fire and teh renewed French attacks that Wurttemberg decided that he could no longer hold out till evening and ordered a withdraw with Schaefer's force acting as cover. The orderly withdraw suddenly ends up as free for all and seeing this Napoleon launches his service squadrons and Pajol launches his cavalry force against the fleeing Wurttemberg infantry. The cavalry crash into the dis-organised allies and a rout ensues.
The Austrian forces around the chateau are surrounded and forced to surrender. The bottleneck of the Wurttemberg troops is compounded as Napoleon orders his Guard artillery on the heights and bombards the fleeing forces on the bridge. On the southern bank Hohenlohe's force is ordered to support their fleeing comrades. This results in total chaos. Artillery fire form the southern bank directed at the Guard Artillery results in a near miss for Napoleon the remark attributed to him that the bullet (sic) destined for him has yet to be cast! The shattered IV corps heads eastwards towards the rest of Schwarzenburg's army. The French forces enter Montereau and the pursuit grinds to a halt.
French casualties @4000, Allies 3,500 captured, 2500 casualties.
Order of Battle:
French : Commander in Chief Marshal Victor (until replaced by Gerard)
IICorps: Commander in Chief Marshal Victor (until replaced by Gerard)
1st Division: GdD Chataux (1500)
2 Brigades (6 battalions) 10 guns
2nd Division: GdD Duhesme (2200)
2 Brigades (6 battalions) 10 guns
Paris Reserves: GdD Gerard
1st Division: GdD Dufour (1400)
2 Brigades (7 battalions) 11 guns
2nd Division: GdD Hauelinage (2500)
2 Brigades (6 battalions) 6 guns
National Guard Division GdD Pacthod
1st Brigades GdB Rost (1600) 2 Regts.
2nd Brigade GdB Boute (1300) 2 Regts.
attached Gendames (800) 2 Battalions
Divisional Artillery 6 guns
Pajol Cavalry (1300)
1st Brigade Delort (460) 6 CaC regts
2nd Brigade Grouvel (476) 6 Dragoon regts
3rd Brigade Ducoetlosquet (400) 3 Hussar regts
Reserve:(Napoleon).
1st Old Guard Div Fiant (4500)
1st Brigade 1st &2nd Grenadiers a Pied
2nd Brigade 1st &2nd Chasseurs a Pied
Service Squadrons Polish Lancers, Grenadier a Cheval, Dragoons, Chasseur a Cheval (400)
Guard Artillery 30 guns
Allied:
IV Corps Crown Prince Wurttemberg
Advance Guard: von Albensleben (1000)
Cavalry Regt #5 (W)
Archduke Ferdinand Hussars (A)
1 Horse artillery 6 guns (W)
Brigade Stockmayer (2000)
Konig Jaeger Regt #9 2 battalions
Light Infantry Regt#10 2 battalions
Brigade Von Dorning (3000)
Infantry Regt. #2 2 battalions (W)
Infantry Regt. #3 2 battalions (W)
Infantry Regt. #7 2 battalions (W)
1 Foot Battery 6 guns
Brigade Schafer (2500)
Collerado Infantry Regt. 2 battalions (A)
von Zach Infantry Regt. 2 battalions (A)
2 Foot Battery 14 guns
Brigade Hohenloe (1500)
Infantry Regt. #4 2 battalions (W)
Infantry Regt. #6 2 battalions (W)
1 Foot Battery 6 guns
