Polotsk 1812 AAR
As Napoleon directed the main advance toward Moscow, Marshal Oudinot's II Corps protected the northern flank. Only General Wittgenstein's Russian I Corps blocked the French from marching all the way to St. Petersburg. Impatient with Oudinot's timidity, Napoleon dispatched St.-Cyr's weak Bavarian corps to bolster the French effort to defeat Wittgenstein. By the morning of August 17, 1812, Oudinot's 20,000 French and St.-Cyr's 12,000 Bavarians lingered at Polotsk. A rural town along the Dvna River, Polotsk represented a crucial road junction in northern Russia. Believing the Russians too weak to bother him, Oudinot had carelessly deployed his force on both banks of the Dvna River, spread out and vulnerable to attack. Wittgenstein recognized this weakness, and hoped to maul St.-Cyr's Bavarians on the northern bank of the Dvna. Skirmishing broke out around 8:00am while Wittgenstein deployed.
French Aim: To hold the approaches to Polotsk.
Russian Aim: Capture Spass.
Prismenista, Spass and Polotsk are major objectives.
Game Length: 9am to 6pm (18 turns).
Game setup
Showing the French on the right defending the Spass convent and the Polotsk township.
Turn 1
Deroy’s Division gets a good command roll and the divisional artillery supported by an infantry brigade move to support the Wrede’s Bavarians defending the Spass convent.
Vlastov sends a Jager regiment forward to attack the convent. The Jager’s get a foot-hold in the convent, pushing a Bavarian battalion back.
The Bavarian artillery opens fire on the massed Russian artillery scoring 2 hits.
The Russians fire a barrage at the Bavarian infantry, scoring 1 hit and forcing a battalion to retire.
Turn 2
Both sides rolled unsuccessfully for the off-table reinforcements.
The Russians get the early initiatives and Berg orders a Jager regiment to support the attack on the convent. This attack is preceded by an artillery barrage that forces one of the Bavarian batteries to retire with 1 hit.
The jagers successfully close with the defending infantry and score 2 hits. The defending Bavarian unit is now at 3 hits but holds firm.
The photo shows the command rolls for Wrede’s command (labelled C). Wrede allocates a retire order for the weakened front line battalion and a move order for the support unit to take its place. A reserve battalion is given a melee order to try and force the Russians back. Wrede has insufficient command left to order the artillery or the other unit now locked in fighting with the jagers who have breached the convent grounds near the river.
The Russian jagers repel the Bavarian counter-attack but help is on its way as Deroy’s Division moves up on the French right.
On the Russian right, Helfriech’s advance guard pushes a regiment of hussars forward to threaten the French left.
The Spass convent from the French side. Wrede’s Division has taken some heavy losses already and its artillery has been disorganised.
An interesting note on the rules at this point is that the Russian attack has been limited to 4 units, 2 from the centre and 2 from the left. This was due to the limitations on command inherent with the rules. This outcome is also consistent with numerous accounts of similar engagements where only parts of commands are committed and reserves maintained.
Deroy’s Division moves quickly to support Wrede’s embattled defense of the Spass convent.
If the French can get the support of the Deroy’s artillery then it will make it difficult for the Russian left to maintain its attack.
The view from the French centre.
Legrand’s Division sits tight as it has a significant disadvantage in artillery. Legrand’s main objective is to prevent a Russian break through onto the Polotsk township.
In addition, the lack of any cavalry support limits Legrand’s ability to play a stronger support role. With luck, cavalry reinforcements will arrive in subsequent turns.
Turn 3
Deroy’s French Division advances to the Poleta River and deploys its artillery ready to relieve the attack on the convent.
Wrede’s Division grimly defends the Spass convent with losses mounting on both sides.
Close up of the Russian jagers attacking the convent.
The Russian reserve arrives early, and a dragoon brigade charges onto the battlefield followed by more artillery batteries.
Some infantry and artillery from the Russian right flank advances down from the hill to get into range of the French centre.
Helfreich’s advance guard turns the French left flank.
Turn 4
Deroy’s artillery wreaks havoc on the Russian infantry which was already reeling from finally losing their battle to take the convent.
Wrede uses the last of his reserves to reinforce the convent as the Russians cut their losses and retire their weakened troops.
The Russians pull back to their support lines with several battalions at breaking point.
With the arrival of the cavalry reserves, the Russian right is emboldened to advances to put pressure on the French centre.
Helfriech’s units also move forward to support the right flank advance.
Turn 5
The French have regained control of the Spass convent and strengthened their right flank with the deployment of Deroy’s Division.
The Russian left wing pulls back out of artillery range.
The Russian right flank sweeps around with light cavalry moving to threaten the French rear.
The French cavalry will arrive next turn so the French are hoping to hold their position until they arrive.
Turn 6
Wrede’s Bavarians taking further hits from the massed Russian artillery and one of the unit defending the convent routes.
Wrede manages to rally the unit but nearly all his units have suffered hits and the whole Division pulls back out of artillery range to recover.
The French cavalry reserve commander finally arrives but without his cavalry!
The commander failed to roll any command die that could move the cavalry onto the table. A minor catastrophe as the French centre is under threat from the Russian cavalry.
The Russian reserve artillery joins with the right flank artillery to form a massed unit. Russian cavalry and infantry await their opportunity to take advantage of any havoc the artillery may cause in future turns. The French have a sole battery. And no cavalry support as yet.
A view of the whole table. Russian hussars have forced some French into square at the near right.
The French have secured their right flank and even though they have pulled back from the convent, the situation is reasonably positive.
But the French centre and left flank looks very vulnerable as a combined artillery, cavalry and infantry attack looms.
Turn 7
The Russian artillery in the centre dispatches the lone Bavarian battery. Berg then takes advantage of a good command roll to order a fresh brigade forward to the convent using 3 move orders! This enables the brigade to get a foothold in the vacated left of the convent.
Wrede desperately tries to plug the hole but his troops are tired and weak.
Deroy sends a brigade over the bridge to reinforce them.
The French reserve cavalry finally get onto the field, galloping through the Polotsk township to rescue the French left flank.
The massed Russian batteries start to inflict hits on the French main line but they hold firm with the help of their General Lagrande.
The view from the Russian centre-right.
The Russians move their infantry up as their artillery starts the bombardment.
The arrival of the French cavalry may decide the fate of the French.
Close up view of the French reserve cavalry coming to the rescue.
A regiment of lancers leads a full brigade of chasseurs over the Poleta River and through Polotsk.
Turn 8
The battle continues over the Spass convent as the Russians launch another attack, this time routing a defending unit.
Deroy’s Division sends units across the river to help.
The Russian centre advances on the convent.
The Russian right flank continues its artillery barrage, trying to weaken the French defenders before launching an attack.
A view from the French left flank. The Russian hussars have retired as the French cavalry arrives.
Turn 9
The French oust the Russians from the convent once again, but the Russians press more troops forward.
The French light cavalry streams around the rear of the left flank intent on eliminating the Russian cavalry threat.
However, continued artillery bombardment has routed a French battery and infantry unit severely weakening the main line.
Turn 10
The Russians attack the convent in force, bringing up their artillery to support the attack.
The Russians gained a foothold in the convent only to be repulsed once again by a French counter-attack.
The Russians continue their artillery barrage on the French centre, driving the defenders back.
The Russians on the extreme right flank pull back out of charge range of the French cavalry.
Turn 11
The French are determined to hold the convent as they repel the Russian attackers. But the Russian guns are taking a toll on the infantry sitting in reserve, supporting the convent.
The Russians push forward on the centre-right.
The French now have cavalry reserve backing up the centre and just need to weather the artillery bombardment.
The view of the battlefield from the French left flank.
Turn 12
The Russians have broken through into the convent, forcing the Bavarian defenders back into the river.
The Russian centre-right continues its bombardment and cautiously pushes forward as the French line retires.
Turn 13
The Spass convent is now in Russian hands as Deroy pulls back to defend the river.
The Russian guns force another French unit to route over the river (background left).
The Russians launch an attack with infantry and cavalry against the French left. French lancers respond and cripple the Russian light cavalry without loss to themselves.
The French grimly hold onto the approaches to Polotsk but units are retreating all over the place now.
Turn 14
Russian dragoons charge around to the right flank and dispatch both the French lancers and chasseurs. The dragoons take heavy losses but the French cavalry is all but destroyed.
Meanwhile, the Russian infantry close in on the French left and exchanges of musket fire cause further losses to the already weakened French line.
Another view from the Russian centre-right.
More Russians enter the convent as the artillery barrage continues.
Turn 15
The French left pulls back to form a more solid line. The remaining French chasseur regiment secures the flank.
The Russian guns pepper the French relentlessly and another Russian dragoon regiment sweeps around the right flank to take on the last French cavalry unit.
The Russian centre with all guns blazing. The French try and pull back out over the river and out of range.
A lone French artillery battery keeps up a counter-barrage but it is a lone voice as units retire all around it.
Turn 16
Last turn of the game as nightfall approaches.
The Russian right flank closes up on the French, sending another unit routing off the table.
The Russians end the game with full control of the convent and have mastery over the centre of the battlefield.
The French right flank holds steadily but the superiority in Russian artillery was the telling factor in the battle.
The result of the battle is a decisive victory to the Russians.
French:
1 major objective (Polotsk), 2 units destroyed and 13 hits = 33 points
Russians:
1 major objective (Spass), 6 units destroyed and 33 hits = 73 points
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