Maloyaroslavets 1812 AAR

On October 22, 1812, Russian General Kutuzov belatedly learned that Napoleon’s Grande Armee had already abandoned Moscow. The French were marching south to Kaluga. Retreating on a southwestern route would allow the 100,000 survivors of the Grande Armee to find warmer weather and a land not yet ravaged by the brutal 1812 campaign. Hoping to cut off the French columns and force them to turn west instead of south, Kutuzov ordered 13,000 men under Dokhturov to stop the enemy from crossing the Lutza River on the road to Kaluga. After an all-night forced march, Dokhturov’s corps arrived at the village of Maloyarslavets at dawn on October 24. They drove a small French vanguard from the town but could not dislodge the French from their precarious bridgehead on the river bank. At 10:00am, Prince Eugene’s IV Corps began to arrive in force with the intention of recapturing the strategic town.

French Aim:  Expand the bridgehead by securing the heights of Maloyaroslavets.

Russian Aim: Hold the Lutza River line until Kutuzov can arrive with the main army.

Maloyaroslavets and the Monastery are major objectives.

Opening Moves

The Russians opening two turns see them moving as fast as possible to take Maloyaroslavets before the French can get reinforcements up.

On the Russian right flank Likhachev's 24th Division advances past the hamlet of Marino, with a brigade marching quickly towards Maloyaroslavets, and two brigades crossing the stream. Likhachev's artillery follows up slowly.

On the Russian left flank Kaptsevich's 7th Division advances past the hamlet of Nemztovo. A brigade and the artillery have taken the road while the remaining brigades have forded the stream. The French artillery opens fire on the leading Russian brigade without effect.

Platov's cossacks arrive on Turn 2 and move to threaten the French right flank.

Broussier's 14th Division moves to bolster the French right flank. Broussier has decided to try and ford the river rather than use the bridge to avoid the congested township.

Half of Ornano's light cavalry Division moves to guard the French right flank.

Guilleminot's 13th Division prepares to meet the Russian attack from a strong defensive position on the Maloyaroslavets heights.

On the French left flank, Guilleminot has positioned a battalion of light infantry in the Monastery courtyard.

Turn 3

Turn 3 saw the Russian right flank continue its' advance with Likhachev pushing a brigade up the road with the supporting artillery while the remaining division plodded across the stream.

On the Russian left flank, Kaptsevich likewise pushed a brigade and the artillery along the road while the rest of the division crossed the stream. The French artillery scored a hit on the lead battalion but it stood firm.

On the far left Platov's cossacks have arrived and push hard to threaten the French right flank.

Broussier's Division reaches the Lutza River and 1 battalion finds a ford to cross. 

Pino's Division arrives on the French left flank and they advance to try and cross the river to the left of the Monastery. Lecchi's Italian Division also arrives and heads straight up the road to reinforce Guilleminot's Division defending Maloyaroslavets.

Turn 4

Likhachev's artillery softened up the French light infantry in the Monastery after which a musketeer battalion closed to melee the weakened battalion. The rest of the Division found a spurt of speed and formed an imposing line in front of Maloyaroslavets faced by only 1 French battalion!

Turn 4 also saw Raesvky's Corps arrive with Vasilchikov's 12th divison in the lead reinforcing the attack on the Russian left flank.

Kaptsevich's artillery sent one of the French battalions on the heights scurrying back to cover. Two russian battalions closed with the French battalion guarding the main entry into Maloyaroslavets.

Platov's sends half his cossacks forward to the river together with a horse artillery battery. Ornano's French light cavalry move to cover the French right flank from the cossack threat.

Broussier gets one battalion across the river but the rest of the Division have to wait until they find a ford to cross.

Lecchi's Italians move quickly to try and help Guilleminot's left flank. Pino's division reaches the Lutza River and must wait to find a ford.

Guilleminot's position looks precarious as the centre battalion is pushed back by artillery fire. The Russian's are coming!

Guilleminot's left flank is under similar pressure. Help can't come fast enough.

Turn 5

Commences with an attack by Likhachev's Russians on the Monastery and the approaches to the main bridge over the Lutza River. The French were driven from the Monastery courtyard but held firm on the heights overlooking the approach road. A Russian battalion was sent scurrying back down the road.

On the Russian left, Kaptsevich's 7th Division advances with a brigade frontally assaulting the township and the remaining 2 brigades advancing in column to take the heights. The Russian artillery has forced back one of the French battalions on the heights leaving a lone battalion to face the Russian masses. In the foreground, Raesvky's Corps has arrived with the lead brigade crossing the bridge from Nemztovo.

The battlefield from the Russian left flank. Platov's cossacks are ready and waiting for an opportunity but the Lutza River is a formidable obstacle to cross and French cavalry are waiting for them.

Looking from the French right flank, Broussier's 14th Division has got one battalion across the Lutza and another is fording. They are desparately needed to support Guilleminot's beleagured Division.

One of Guilleminot's battalions has retired behind the heights after suffering heavily at the hands of the Russian artillery.

Lecchi's Italians march across the bridge over the Lutza to support Guilleminot's left flank. In the foreground, the lead battalion from Pino's 15th Division ford the Lutza.

Turn 6

The Russian Jagers get the better of the French on the heights but the french still hold firm. The Russian artillery is well-placed to pummel any French moves forward.

On the Russian left flank Kaptsevich struggles to make inroads as the French artillery halt any advance near the woods.

Raesvky's Corps continues to arrive along the road and is setting up to support the Russian centre opposite Maloyaroslavets.

The French right flank is stabilised by the arrival of Broussier's troops.

The French left flank get's support from Lecchi's Italians and Pino's Division.

A view from the French left flank showing Preysing's Bavarian light cavalry in the foreground and a host of French battalions on the wrong side of the Lutza.

Turn 7

The French retake the monastery courtyard but lose the heights.

On the Russian left flank the advance has certainly stalled as Kaptsevich's Division takes heavy losses.

Looking from the French side of the Lutza, the French right flank looks like holding as Broussier gets more troops across the Lutza.

Meanwhile the French left flank is under seige. One of Guilleminot's battalions routes across the bridge and Lecch's italians try and fill the void.

Turn 8

The Russians consolidate their hold on the heights to the right of Maloyaroslavets. The monastery courtyard is again cleared.

Kaptsevich pulls his weary Division back and lets Vasilichikov's fresh 12th Divison move into the centre to advance on the township.

The French right flank is forced to retire under heavy Russian artillery bombardment. Both sides have heavy losses on this side of the battlefield and it looks like a stalemate.

Disaster for Lecchi's Italian Guards. A battalion is pushed back and one of Guilleminot's battalions follows it back across the bridge.

The battlefield looking from the French left flank. The Russians have a solid line of troops advancing on Maloyaroslavets and most of the French troops are unable to stem the tide due to the constraints of the bridge.

Turn 9

The Russian consolidate their position on the heights to the right of the town as they move up most of Likhachev's Division.

In the centre, Vasilichikov's fresh troops assault the township.

Kaptsevich orders his Jagers into skirmish order and moves into the woods to threaten the French position.

Not much change on the French right but the French have their backs to the river and a concerted Russian attack could cause havoc.

Guilleminot has two battalions holding the township with a lone Italian battalion between the Russians and the bridge. if the Russians take the bridge the French position is effectively lost.

On the French far left flank Preysing's cavalry look for a way across the river. The Russians don't have any cavalry protection on this flank and if they can find a way across the French position might be saved.

Looking from the French right flank, the battle is precariously poised. With 3 turns remaining, it seems unlikely that the French can hold the town.

Turn 10

The Russians clear the French defenders from the heights commanding the bridge over the Lutza. The monastery is effectively in Russian hands as well.

In the centre, Vasilchikov's first foray into the town has gone well and the French defenders have taken heavy losses.

On the French right, one of  Broussier's battalions has routed across the river.  The other French battalions on the Russian side of the river have pulled back to avoid further losses from the Russian artillery.

Lecchi's Italian's rout back across the bridge as the Russian Jagers feed them some cold steel.

Looking from the French left flank across the battlefield, Preysing has found a ford across the Lutza for one of his cavalry regiments. Maybe they can cause a bit of havoc on the unprotected Russian flank.

Turn 11

Preysing's Bavarian Chevaux-Legers have crossed the river and immediately charge a lone Russian battalion on the exposed Russian right flank. The Russians form square and the Bavarians are bounced back from the square.

In the centre, the Russians have taken the town of Maloyaroslavets!

The French right flank with Russian skirmishers harassing from the protection of the woods.

The view from the French side showing Guilleminot's weakened battalions with their backs against the Lutza and the Russians in control of the town and the heights. Lecchi's Italian Guards are routing in the foreground.

Turn 12

It's the final turn. Paskevitch's Division marches to reinforce the Russian right flank while Likhachev's Division pulls back a weakened brigade and consolidates its hold on the bridge approach to Maloyaroslavets with a full strength brigade.

Vasilichikov's Division has pushed right through the town and taken full control of Maloyaroslavets. With the town and monastery in control the Russians have all but won.

The French right flank continues it's paralysis and now an artillery battery routes across the river after getting the worst of a duel with their opposite number.

There's not much that the French can do to retrieve Maloyaroslavets. Guilleminot's Division is all but destroyed and the Russians have full strength battalions holding the town and the monastery. Maybe a charge by Lecchi's Italian heavies could have saved the day but Lecchi's leadership and luck was absent all battle.

The situation at the end of the battle. The Russians hold Maloyaroslavets and the monastery as well as the heights overlooking the Lutza River. The French have a lot of troops trapped on the wrong side of the river and if the arrival of nightfall has probably saved them.

The Russians score 52 points (10 for each major objective, Maloyaroslavets and the monastery, 5 points each for 2 French infantry battalions routed off the board, and 22 hits on other French units). The French score 18 points (5 points for 1 Russian battalion routed, and 13 hits on other Russian units). A resounding victory for the Kutuzov's Russians reversing the historical result and guaranteeing Napoleon takes the road through Smolensk for his retreat from Moscow.