This scenario was supplied by Ed White.

Background

The info here is taken from Chandler’s book and P. Heath’s book from Anchluss. I will skip the history, except to say it was a hard slog for the French, eventually they pushed back the Russians who escaped under cover of cavalry re-inforcements late in the day.

Orders of Battle

French Forces: Napoleon I C-in-C (AC, Monarch)

Guard Reserve Marshal Mortier

Old Guard Division, Gen Friant (DC), Exhaustion 5

• Brigade 1st & 2nd Gren. a Pied                M7 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ST
• Brigade 1st & 2nd Chass. a Pied               M7 [ ] [ ] [ ] ST

Middle Guard Division, Gen. Christiani (DC), Exhaustion 5

• Brigade Flanquer Gren & Chass.                M6 [ ] [ ] [ ] ST
• Brigade Fusilier Gren. & Chass.               M6 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] ST

Guard Artillery, Gen. Drouot (DC)

• I Art.                                        M7 Hvy [ ] [ ] [ ]
• II Art.                                       M7 Hvy [ ] [ ]
• III Art.                                      M7 Hvy [ ] [ ]

I Young Guard Marshal Ney (CC), Exhaustion 5

• Brigade Meunier                               M5 [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade Curial                                M5 [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade Boyer                                 M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
• I Art.                                        M6 [ ] [ ] [ ]
• II Art.                                       M6 [ ] [ ]

II Young Guard Marshal Victor (CC)

1st Division, Gen. Charpentier (DC), Exhaustion 4

• Brigade Lagrange                              M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade Monmarin                              M5 [ ] [ ] [ ]

2nd Division, Gen. Boyer de Rebeval (DC), Exhaustion 6

• Brigade Bigarre                               M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade LeCapitaine                           M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
• I Art.                                        M5 [ ] [ ]
• II Art.                                       M5 [ ] [ ]

Guard Cavalry, General Nansouty (CC), Exhaustion 5

• Brigade Colbert (2nd lancers)                 M7 [ ] [ ] Ln
• Brigade Excelmanns (Chass. a chev. & Drag.)   M7 [ ] [ ] [ ] Hvy
• Brigade Laferriere-Leveque                    M7 [ ] [ ] Hvy/Ln (Gren a chev. & 1st Lancers)

Allied forces, General Woronzov C-in-C (AC)

XII Corps General Wuitsch (CC)

First Line: 14th Infantry Division, Gen. Harpe (DC), Exhaustion 4

• Brigade Tula & Narva Inf.                     M5 [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade Tenguinsk & Eschland Inf              M5 [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade 25th Jagers                           M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] J
• I Art.                                        M6 [ ] [ ]

Second line: 24th Infantry Division, Gen. Swarikin (DC),Exhaustion 2

• Brigade Schirvan & Butirsh Inf, 19th Jagers   M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
• I Art.                                        M6 [ ] [ ]
• II Art.                                       M6 [ ] [ ]

21st Infantry Division, Gen. Laptiev (DC), Exhaustion 5

• Brigade Nerva & Petrovski Inf.                M5 [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade Littau & Podolian Inf.                M5 [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade 2nd & 44th Jagers                     M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] J
• I Art.                                        M6 [ ] [ ] Hvy

XIII Corps General ?

Third Line: 12th Infantry Division, Gen. Chowanski (DC), Exhaustion 5

• Brigade Smolensk & Narva Inf.                 M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade Aleropol & N. Ingermanland Inf        M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
• Brigade 6th & 41st Jagers                     M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] J

13th Infantry Division, Gen. Szeltzin (DC), Exhaustion 2

• Brigade Penza & Saratov Inf                   M5 [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ]
• I Art.                                        M6 [ ] [ ]
• II Art.                                       M6 [ ] [ ]
• II Art.                                       M6 [ ] [ ] [ ] Hvy

Cavalry Division, Gen. Benkendorf (DC), Exhaustion 3

• Brigade Pavlograd & Elizabethgrad Hussars     M5 [ ] [ ] Lt
• Brigade Sumi & Grodno Hussars                 M5 [ ] [ ] Lt
• Brigade Melnikov Cossacks                     M5 [ ] Lt, Skm
• I Art.(Horse)                                 M6 [ ] [ ]

Cavalry Corps General Wassiltchikov (CC)

2nd Hussar Division, Gen. Lanskoi (DC), Exhaustion 2

• Brigade Achtir & White Russia Hussars         M5 [ ] [ ] Lt
• Brigade Mariopol & Alexandria Hussars         M5 [ ] [ ] Lt

3rd Dragoon Division, Gen. Pantchouliev (DC), Exhaustion 2

• Brigade Kurland & Smolensk Dragoons           M5 [ ] [ ] Md
• Brigade Tver & Kinburn Dragoons               M5 [ ] [ ] Md
• I Art.(Horse)                                 M6 [ ] [ ]

Cossack Division, Gen. Karpov (DC), Exhaustion 2

• Brigade Cossacks                              M5 [ ] [ ] Lt, Skm
• Brigade Cossacks                              M5 [ ] [ ] Lt, Skm

Notes:

1. ST - shock troops; J - Jager brigades which can break down into skirmisher bases; Lt, Md, Hvy - cavalry/artillery weight; Skm - cavalry skirmishers; Ln - lancers
2. French brigades can deploy a skirmisher base and have grenadiers present.
3. The ORBAT has been adapted slightly for V&B. Ney’s ‘Corps’ has been represented by 3 brigades as has the French cavalry ‘Corps’. The Young guard are classified as more Young than Guard but upgrading them to morale 6 would give the French a better chance.

The Battlefield

The battlefield is about 6,000 yds by 4,500 yards. Along the top (long) axis of the board is a slope running from the top left corner to a point one third down the right edge. The French infantry and Guard cavalry made assaults up this slope. Half way along the top edge is the town of Ailles at the bottom of the slope. The slope and low ground is wooded to the right Ailles. The slope leads up to a plateau.

A road runs along the long axis from the left side to the right side half way down the 2 sides. On the road, one third of the way in from the right edge is the farm (village) of Hurtebrise, this was fortified by the Russians. At the right side if the table the plateau is restricted to a narrow tongue about 500 yds wide. This tongue runs half way along the long axis of the table, the slope then turns at 90 degrees to leave the table half way along the bottom table edge. Hurtebrise farm is therefore within this tongue and prevents enemy troops moving past it when occupied.

Along the bottom edge, one third in from the left edge is the town of Paissy. A road runs from the town to the other road.

Deployment

French: There are 3 entry points A (at Ailles), B (the top right hand corner), C (the road on the right edge). The French enter as follows:

• 10 am - A, Boyer , Meunier; B Excelmann & Colbert
• 11 am - A, Curial; C, Boyer de Rebeval
• 12 am - B, Friant, Christiani, C, Laferriere, Charpentier, Drouot

Russian: Infantry drawn up in 3 lines (as indicated in the ORBAT), on the plateau where it widens out, facing the right edge. The farm is garrisoned by a base of Jagers supported by a Hussar skirmisher.

Benkendorf’s cavalry covered the right flank. Wassiltchikov’s Corps starts off table. The artillery from the first and second lines covered the neck of the tongue and the town of Ailles. The artillery of the 3rd line was in front of the 3rd line infantry.

The Russians are stationary at the start of the game.

The game begins at 10am, French move first. The French must drive the Russians off the table to win. If they fail the Russians win. The game can be ended at 5pm, or alternatively, dusk falls at 6pm and nightfall at 7 pm. In the latter case Wassiltchikov enters at 4 pm. The arrival 6 fresh cavalry brigades late in the day may unbalance the game. Historically they were used as a rearguard to cover the retreating Russian infantry.

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