Post by mark1 on Apr 20, 2017 12:40:55 GMT
Another obscure one! Details are sparse but this is my take on the battle gleaned from what information is out there so you can get it on the tabletop. It is also the prelude to the much delayed report on Montereau (it is coming along ....honest).
Background: Napoleon has just given Blucher a series of bloody noses and forced Blucher's army to go on the defensive, meanwhile the Austrian Army slowly marches towards Paris. Napoleon decides he must act now to prevent this and reluctantly breaks off contact with Blucher with the intention of crossing the Seine and defeating Schwarzenberg's army in detail as it is strung out in line of march.
The Battle of Mormant
Napoleon joins forces with Victor , Oudinot and MacDonald at Guignes on the 17th and identifies Wittgenstein’s advance guard division under the command of Count Pahlen at the village of Marmont. Wittgenstein had already had orders from Schwarenberg to retreat over the Seine and was in the process of concentrating his forces in response to the threat from Napoleon.
Pahlen found himself isolated and decided to form a line of battle behind the Mormant, sending 2 battalions to occupy the village and hold up the French advance and decided he was going to have to attempt a fighting withdraw. He organizes his force as follows: His remaining 5 battalions Revel Estonia, Tenguinsk Regts and 26th 25th Jaegers either side of the road leading from Mormant to Grandpuits formed in column or square formation plus skirmishers (the 2 battalions in Mormant are from Revel, Selenguinsk), His artillery (12-14 guns) covering the road. He forms his cavalry in 2 wings 4 cossack regiments/squadrons to the south of the road and to the north of the road the Soumy and Oviopol Hussars and Tchougouieff Uhlans (9 squadrons in total). Pahlen's total force was 2-2500 infantry with 1800 cavalry. In addition to this there are 5 squadrons of Austrian cavalry from the Austrian division of Hardegg behind the village of Grandpuits. Hardegg has already committed to retreat and will not advance to support his ally. The five squadrons are of the Austrian Joseph Hussars and Schwarzenberg Uhlans.
The French forces consist of Victor's II Corps supported by Oudinot's VII corps (probably not involved in the fighting) Drouot's guard artillery and the cavalry formations of Kellerman and Milhaud. Victor's divisions were organised as follows Duhesme Gerard and Chateu running north to south of the road to Mormant in cloumn formation. Kellerman was south of road, Milhaud to the north. Drout's artillery were limbered up in support on the road.
The battle started with Gerard advancing against the Russians in Mormant at 5:00am . At this stage Pahlan had already started to retreat. The Russians were kicked out of the village and then set upon by Milhaud's cavalry and forced to surrender. Napoleon started to direct the battle and through his cavalry on both wings at the retreating cavalry. Druot's guns (32) were called up and opened up on the Russian cavalry who abanded the field. The cossacks fled through Guignes with Kellerman's cavalry in pursuit. The rout of the cossack disorganized the Austrian cavalry formation stationed in the area and they too routed.
The remaining Russian force attempted to reach the relative safety of Guignes but found themselves surrounded by by French cavalry and their squares both charged by cavalry and raked by artillery.
Pahlen lost 2114 infantry, 30% of his cavalry 12 guns and 40 caissons. Gerard lost 30 men in storming Mormant, Kellerman and Milhaud reported losing 150 men. Napoleon was now set to push on to find a crossing over the Seine.
Order of Battle:
French Forces
Commanding Officer: Napoleon
II Corps Commanding Officer: Marshal Victor c.6500 men
1st Division GdD Duhesme c. 2500
2nd Division GdD Chateau c.1500
Reserve of Paris Gerard c.2000
Artillery 40 guns c.500
V Cavalry Corps Milhaud
Pire Light Cavalry Div. c600 (3rd Hussars, rest Chasseur a Cheval).
Briche Heavy (Dragoon) Div. c.1300
VI Cavalry Corps Kellerman
Lhéritier Heavy (Dragoon) Div. c.1100
Trelliard Heavy (Dragoon) Div. c.2100*
Attached Guard Artillery Drouot 32 guns
(* If you are bored with the prospect of all that green Trelliard's division came from Spain and contained some units in brown replacement uniforms)
I would class the infantry as 2nd line in the main. Cavalry as line or in the case of Trelliard as veteran. Drout's Guard goes without saying.
Allied Forces
Commander Officer: Pahlen
3rd DIV:
Brigade
Colonel Schelwinsky: Reval Infantry Regiment, two battalions, Selenguinsk Infantry Regiment, one battalion c.1000
Brigade
Colonel Roth: 26th Jäger Regiment, one battalion, 25th Jäger Regiment, one battalion c.700
14th DIV:
Brigade
Generalmajor Ljalin: Tenguinsk Infantry Regiment, one battalion,Estonia Infantry Regiment, one battalion c.700
Artillery: 6 Horse artillery, 8 Foot artillery.
Rudinger:
Soumy Hussar Regiment:500
Olviopol Hussar Regiment:400
Tchougouiev Uhlan Regiment: 400
Cossack Brigade (4 weak Regts): 500
Unattached (from von Hardegg)
Archduke Joseph Hussar Regiment Nr. 2 c.200
Schwarzenberg Uhlan Regiment Nr. 1 c.300
I would class the infantry 2nd class possibly give line status to the jagers, Hussars and lancers line.
General War-gaming Notes:
I have roughly guessed/estimated the unit strengths above based on what literature I had to hand and the internet. Accurate figs. due to unit attrition during the campaign are probably hard to come by. As I use General de Brigade Rules I would use 24 fig battalions for the French and Russians, rather than go too small on unit size. I didn't include the unit sizes for the French cavalry but I would tend not to have individual units larger than (16-18 figs, it was 1814 after all!) The French repeatedly attacked the Russian squares and I think you will need a decent unit size to achieve success here. The Austrian cavalry are on hold orders and cannot get involved directly. If attacked they will retreat. I would tend to assume that the Russian guns start the game limbered with a view on withdrawing from the French with infantry support on their flanks. They would have moved at the same rate as the infantry to maintain this support. The marsh in front of Grandpuits is impassible to cavalry.
Victory conditions: French Total victory if you capture the artillery and rout the Russian force. Partial victory if control the village of Grandpuits and rout 1/2 Russian force. Russian Total victory if retreat 1/2 your force and artillery past Grandpuits and exit table in order. Partial victory if in control Grandpuits at the end of the game i.e. delaying Napoleon's advance to the Seine crossings.
Historical Alternative: Allow von Hardegg to take an active supporting role. In addition to the cavalry above 2 units of Grenz and 1 unit of Jagers arrive at Grandpuits. These forces are only triggered once the Russians pass Bisseaux wood. Victory conditions remain the same.
Background: Napoleon has just given Blucher a series of bloody noses and forced Blucher's army to go on the defensive, meanwhile the Austrian Army slowly marches towards Paris. Napoleon decides he must act now to prevent this and reluctantly breaks off contact with Blucher with the intention of crossing the Seine and defeating Schwarzenberg's army in detail as it is strung out in line of march.
The Battle of Mormant
Napoleon joins forces with Victor , Oudinot and MacDonald at Guignes on the 17th and identifies Wittgenstein’s advance guard division under the command of Count Pahlen at the village of Marmont. Wittgenstein had already had orders from Schwarenberg to retreat over the Seine and was in the process of concentrating his forces in response to the threat from Napoleon.
Pahlen found himself isolated and decided to form a line of battle behind the Mormant, sending 2 battalions to occupy the village and hold up the French advance and decided he was going to have to attempt a fighting withdraw. He organizes his force as follows: His remaining 5 battalions Revel Estonia, Tenguinsk Regts and 26th 25th Jaegers either side of the road leading from Mormant to Grandpuits formed in column or square formation plus skirmishers (the 2 battalions in Mormant are from Revel, Selenguinsk), His artillery (12-14 guns) covering the road. He forms his cavalry in 2 wings 4 cossack regiments/squadrons to the south of the road and to the north of the road the Soumy and Oviopol Hussars and Tchougouieff Uhlans (9 squadrons in total). Pahlen's total force was 2-2500 infantry with 1800 cavalry. In addition to this there are 5 squadrons of Austrian cavalry from the Austrian division of Hardegg behind the village of Grandpuits. Hardegg has already committed to retreat and will not advance to support his ally. The five squadrons are of the Austrian Joseph Hussars and Schwarzenberg Uhlans.
The French forces consist of Victor's II Corps supported by Oudinot's VII corps (probably not involved in the fighting) Drouot's guard artillery and the cavalry formations of Kellerman and Milhaud. Victor's divisions were organised as follows Duhesme Gerard and Chateu running north to south of the road to Mormant in cloumn formation. Kellerman was south of road, Milhaud to the north. Drout's artillery were limbered up in support on the road.
The battle started with Gerard advancing against the Russians in Mormant at 5:00am . At this stage Pahlan had already started to retreat. The Russians were kicked out of the village and then set upon by Milhaud's cavalry and forced to surrender. Napoleon started to direct the battle and through his cavalry on both wings at the retreating cavalry. Druot's guns (32) were called up and opened up on the Russian cavalry who abanded the field. The cossacks fled through Guignes with Kellerman's cavalry in pursuit. The rout of the cossack disorganized the Austrian cavalry formation stationed in the area and they too routed.
The remaining Russian force attempted to reach the relative safety of Guignes but found themselves surrounded by by French cavalry and their squares both charged by cavalry and raked by artillery.
Pahlen lost 2114 infantry, 30% of his cavalry 12 guns and 40 caissons. Gerard lost 30 men in storming Mormant, Kellerman and Milhaud reported losing 150 men. Napoleon was now set to push on to find a crossing over the Seine.
Order of Battle:
French Forces
Commanding Officer: Napoleon
II Corps Commanding Officer: Marshal Victor c.6500 men
1st Division GdD Duhesme c. 2500
2nd Division GdD Chateau c.1500
Reserve of Paris Gerard c.2000
Artillery 40 guns c.500
V Cavalry Corps Milhaud
Pire Light Cavalry Div. c600 (3rd Hussars, rest Chasseur a Cheval).
Briche Heavy (Dragoon) Div. c.1300
VI Cavalry Corps Kellerman
Lhéritier Heavy (Dragoon) Div. c.1100
Trelliard Heavy (Dragoon) Div. c.2100*
Attached Guard Artillery Drouot 32 guns
(* If you are bored with the prospect of all that green Trelliard's division came from Spain and contained some units in brown replacement uniforms)
I would class the infantry as 2nd line in the main. Cavalry as line or in the case of Trelliard as veteran. Drout's Guard goes without saying.
Allied Forces
Commander Officer: Pahlen
3rd DIV:
Brigade
Colonel Schelwinsky: Reval Infantry Regiment, two battalions, Selenguinsk Infantry Regiment, one battalion c.1000
Brigade
Colonel Roth: 26th Jäger Regiment, one battalion, 25th Jäger Regiment, one battalion c.700
14th DIV:
Brigade
Generalmajor Ljalin: Tenguinsk Infantry Regiment, one battalion,Estonia Infantry Regiment, one battalion c.700
Artillery: 6 Horse artillery, 8 Foot artillery.
Rudinger:
Soumy Hussar Regiment:500
Olviopol Hussar Regiment:400
Tchougouiev Uhlan Regiment: 400
Cossack Brigade (4 weak Regts): 500
Unattached (from von Hardegg)
Archduke Joseph Hussar Regiment Nr. 2 c.200
Schwarzenberg Uhlan Regiment Nr. 1 c.300
I would class the infantry 2nd class possibly give line status to the jagers, Hussars and lancers line.
General War-gaming Notes:
I have roughly guessed/estimated the unit strengths above based on what literature I had to hand and the internet. Accurate figs. due to unit attrition during the campaign are probably hard to come by. As I use General de Brigade Rules I would use 24 fig battalions for the French and Russians, rather than go too small on unit size. I didn't include the unit sizes for the French cavalry but I would tend not to have individual units larger than (16-18 figs, it was 1814 after all!) The French repeatedly attacked the Russian squares and I think you will need a decent unit size to achieve success here. The Austrian cavalry are on hold orders and cannot get involved directly. If attacked they will retreat. I would tend to assume that the Russian guns start the game limbered with a view on withdrawing from the French with infantry support on their flanks. They would have moved at the same rate as the infantry to maintain this support. The marsh in front of Grandpuits is impassible to cavalry.
Victory conditions: French Total victory if you capture the artillery and rout the Russian force. Partial victory if control the village of Grandpuits and rout 1/2 Russian force. Russian Total victory if retreat 1/2 your force and artillery past Grandpuits and exit table in order. Partial victory if in control Grandpuits at the end of the game i.e. delaying Napoleon's advance to the Seine crossings.
Historical Alternative: Allow von Hardegg to take an active supporting role. In addition to the cavalry above 2 units of Grenz and 1 unit of Jagers arrive at Grandpuits. These forces are only triggered once the Russians pass Bisseaux wood. Victory conditions remain the same.
