Dittmansdorf

The following report covers a fictional engagement between French and Russian forces during 1813. The game was generated using the "Road to Glory" Scenario Generation system included in the new edition of the Volley & Bayonet rules. The armies comprise Heroics & Ros 6mm figures. Around 900 figures were deployed on a table measuring 1200mm x 900mm.

Maréchal Ney had managed to deploy his army of three weak Corps before the Russians had fully deployed for battle. The army comprised Marmont's VI Corps in the centre. On the French left was III Corps and on the right IV Corps. Napoleon had allocated a small reserve comprising an Old Guard Division under Curial and a Heavy Cavalry Division though they were yet to arrive on the field. The French army, though large, contained many recently raised conscripts. The Russians on the other hand were struggling to deploy for battle. In fact only their advanced guard was deployed though this was well positioned on a ridge. However, their line of communication was undefended and the rest of the army was, when the French began their advance, some two hours distant. Ney had an oppurtunity to defeat elements of the Russian army, but time was limited.

Above, the Russian advance guard can be seen ensconced on the ridge on their left flank awaiting the French.

With his dispositions completed around 2pm Ney ordered VI Corps and IV Corps to press forward and engage the Russian advanced guard deployed on the ridge line. Both corps were to form small converged batteries of around 36 guns to bombard the Russian lines. Bertrand's IV Corps, some 13,500 strong, was to pin the centre of the ridge, while Marmont's VI Corps, some 18,500 strong, was to oblique to the right and attack the more exposed right of the Russian advance guard.

Bertrand moved with haste to deploy his converged artillery and begin the bombardment. Immediately to the rear of the artillery was Fontanelli's Italian division and the 3rd Heavy Cavalry Division under Defrance. The term heavy being a little misleading as it comprised only converged dragoon regiments rather than cuirassier regiments. Bertrand's artillery was soon itself under heavy fire by Russian position batteries which hampered its deployment and prevented it effectively bombarding the Russians. Equally disconcerting for Bertrand was the withering fire bought down on Morand's conscripts. This division had foolishly attempting a feint on the Russian right. Morand's division, the 12th, was devastated by Russian fire and fell back in disorder.

Marmont's corps had to cover a greater distance and began to deploy around an hour after Bertrand corps. Marmont's artillery was better placed and soon engaged the Russian ridge line at a range of of only 400 yards. However, time was against the French and already Russian reinforcements were arriving. Lagrange's 21st Division advanced and boldly drove in a Russian cavalry screen before it was itself badly handled in a fire fight by advancing Russian infantry. The Russian infantry having advanced with a heavy screen of jaegers and supporting position batteries.

Marmont reformed his line before ordering in elements of Friederich's 22nd Division as well as the converged light cavalry of d'Hurbal's 2nd Light Cavalry Division. It was hoped that this rapid counter-attack would create panic in the Russian ranks.

The attack was however a complete failure. First the cavalry suffered at the hands of the Russian infantry and artillery who broke up their charge. Simultaneously the raw conscripts of Friederich's division pushed forward. Fighting desperately it looked as if the conscripts would secure victory, but they to were thrown back. The attacks by the IV and VI Corps were now clearly running out of steam.

The general battlefield situation is shown above. The Russians are on the right. The French right wing (Bertrand) is in the left foreground. Fontanelli's Italians can be seen supporting the IV Corps artillery. The French centre, shown on the left centre of the picture, comprises Marmont's VI Corps advancing along with his own grand battery. Curial's 2nd Old Guard Division and Doumerc's 3rd Heavy Cavalry are visible in the top left.

While IV Corps and VI Corps attacked the Russian left Ney had also ordered Souham's III Corps to engage the Russian centre. Or at least the line of communication on which the Russian main army was to advance down in the centre of the battlefield. Souham's III Corps was delayed by a series of marshy banked streams and woods. With some three miles to cover through sometimes difficult terrain the corps was late coming into action. In fact by the time it was deployed it was late afternoon and light was rapidly fading. Further, the Russians had finally started to arrive in this sector of the battlefield. The gap in the Russian line had been plugged. Souham would have to attack quickly to drive the Russians back and hopefully break the as yet unformed Russian divisions.

III Corps 8th Infantry Division was thrown in. The French infantry protected by a heavy skirmish screen advanced in dense columns. Brayer's veterans would be an example to the conscripts, or so Souham hoped. In support of Brayer's infantry the 2000 cavalry of Fournier's 6th Light Cavalry Division also charged forward.

Above, elements of 8th Division and 6th Cavalry Division charge the Russian right flank.

Yet again the Russians were fortunate and again the French were thrown back. The 8th Division suffering heavy casualties with one brigade being destroyed in its attack. Fournier's cavalry also suffered heavy casualties, a particular concern as Russian cossacks now extending the Russian line to the extreme right.

With darkness falling and hope of victory lost Ney reluctantly ordered a withdrawal. A seemingly advantageous situation and almost certain French victory had been lost by a solid Russian defence and the final arrival of Russian reinforcements. Three French infantry divisions and two cavalry division had suffered heavy casualties for little gain. Still, Ney took some comfort that while the provisional conscripts had suffered the most from the battle. His more experienced troops, including the reserve divisions, remained fit for further engagements in the coming days.