Clash at Liebertwolkwitz

 

So for the May Sunday meeting at the Canberra Regional Wargames, I wanted a game that we could play though in reasonable time. I was also thinking a cavalry only battle. This may be due to painting up a lot of French cavalry recently. So the obvious scenario was Liebertwolkwiz. Yes, say that fast several times! So I was sent a orbit of the cavalry engaged in the historical battle and then bathtub it down to four brigades a side. I also ran our game orbit through a GDA2 points system to balance things out as best I could. Here also are the slides from the games briefing.

Starting Deployments

The table was clear of any real terrain. The French were able to deploy around the only elevated feature, a lor hill line that ran across their starting position. The town of Liebertwolkwiz  sat to the French Left. For our game it was considered garrisoned but off limits...not that that became an issue at any stage...

French light cavalry and guns deploy on the ridge.

The brigades of Kellerman (hussars and lancers) and Vial (Chasseurs) deployed on the French left with  Poniatowky's heavy cavalry (cuirassiers and dragoons) in the centre, then Tolinski  (lancers and chasseurs) on the right. 

On the other side of the table , the allied Russian and Prussian forces drew up. As we did not have any Russian miniatures, Prussian units were used. So Ill also be lazy and refer to the entire Allied units as Prussian.

The two regiments of Landwehr supported the two batteries on the Prussian left, with the two brigades under Count Pahlen (hussars and uhlans) and Kellerman (dragoons) positioned in the centre and then the Prussian heavy brigade (Cuirassier, dragoons and uhlans on the right. 

Charge the Guns!

The French, not wanting to sit idle advanced quickly, with a general advance along the line. However it quickly became clear that the Prussian artillery and Landwehr on the Prussian left was their first target.

Tolinski;s brigade moves forward, supported by a regiment of cuirassiers.

As Tolinski's brigade moved forward the Prussian guns opened up, round shot found their range in the advancing cuirassiers.  

The Prussian gunners commence their work.

The French brigade now had no choice but to advance as quickly as possible to  close the distance to the Prussian artillery.  Seeing this the Prussian dragoons under General Von Roeder surged forward, and charged the oncoming armoured French horsemen.  The shock of two battle hardened Prussian cavalry regiments charging home was too much for the cuirassiers who were stopped dead in their tracks and thrown back. 

Prussian Dragoons move to intercept the French attack.

The Dragoons halt the cuirassiers and drive them back.

The rest of the French attack did not falter, onward they rode, until they were in range and the final charge was sounded. The Prussian gunners now loaded canister and the 6 pounders, like an enormous shotguns poured shot after shot into the onrushing lancers.  The wall of horse, lance and men rushing in must have thrown off the gunners as shot after shot went wild bring down only a few of the charging French. And then the lancers were in amongst the batteries, hacking down the gunners as they tried to flee. The supporting Landwehr were powerless to help the gunners and retreated in confusion, only to be in turn charged but the French ,Chasseurs, the Prussian left flank was utterly swept away.

The French attack on the Prussian left is victorious. 

The Centre Crumbles

While the attack on the Prussian guns was proceeding, Von Roeders Dragoons, fresh from seeing of the French cuirassiers had to quickly turn to face the vengeful charge of the rest of the French heavy cavalry brigade. 

French cuirassiers, supported by dragoons move to hold the centre.

The furious attack of the heavy cavalry drove the Prussian Dragoons back in disarray as the hussars and uhlans of Count Pahlan's brigade raced forward to cover the dragoons. 

Prussian Uhlans and hussars try to stem the French tide.

But the French cuirassiers, drove on and smashed into the uhlans, throwing count Pahlans brigade back.

The French heavy cavalry is unstoppable.

The cavalry that had so valiantly smashed the Prussian guns and left flack now wheeled and drove into the Prussian centre. The Dragoons were now trapped between tow brigades of French horsemen.

The Lancers now slam into the flank of the hapless dragoons. 

With the Prussian left gone and now the centre being tolled up, it was clear that the French remained masters of the battle field. 

What happened to the Prussian Heavy Cavalry?

 Well may you, gentile reader, inquire as to the happenings over of the Prussian right? Here was deployed the pride of the Prussian cavalry. Veteran units of the 1913 campaign. Cuirassiers, Uhlans and Dragoons all arrayed in the garniture of war. For all their vaulted prowess the Prussian Heavy Brigade hesitated time and time again. Not being able to move forward. Was it lack of orders? Was it confusion amongst the officers? Who knows? Eventually the brigade moved forward. Opposite their position was the French Chasseurs under General Vial.  Again the Prussians hesitated, and eventually moved forward again. The Chaussures, weary of the Prussian Cuirassiers, elected to pull back keeping their distance. Yet again, confusion of the Prussian officers stopped the advance. 

The Prussian Heavy Brigade is unable (or unwilling) to advance. 

By the time the Prussian Heavy Brigade sorted itself out, the French were in control of most of the field. It was a wise time to retire and look to fight another day.