Age of Eagles battle report using the following AoE Scenario file for the Battle of Vyazma 1812.
Setup for the game above with Eugene's French column at the top of photo marching into Vyazma, and Russian cavalry blocking the road at bottom of photo in preparation for Davout's Corps.
Turn 1
Davout's Corps enters at bottom of photo. The Russian cavalry blocking force faces them with the rest of the French in the distance.
Eugene's Corps turns back to support Davout. One of Eugene's Divisions fails to activate and remains stationary on the road.
Turn 2
The Russian dragoons charge the French chasseurs and are repulsed. Davout's Corps pushes forward to try and break through the Russian blocking force and reach Vyazma before the Russian forces behind them catch up.
Eugene's troops move quickly through the woods to provide cavalry support to counter the Russians from their rear.
Turn 3
Paskevich's Russian Division arrives on the heals of Davout's Corps as the French attack the blocking cavalry.
The Russian Uhlan's turn to face the intervening French supporting cavalry.
Turn 4
The Russians win the initiative and the Russian dragoons wreak havock on Davout's Corps. The French chasseurs are smashed and the breakthrough destroys a French brigade and artillery. Ostermann-Tolstoy's Corps arrives at top left of photo and Platov's cossacks at bottom left.
A close up of the aftermath of the two Russian dragoon brigades demolition of a chasseur brigade, an infantry brigade and a battery.
Davout's Corps salvages something from the turn, destroying a Russian light cavalry brigade and an artillery battery. They also regroup the five remaining brigades to the right of the woods with one brigade entering the town of Federovskoie.
Turn 5
The Russian dragoons (middle of screen) all but demolish two French brigades. Davout's Corps retreats in tatters although one brigade is still caught in the open. The French dice rolling in the last few turns has been ordinary at best.
Two Russian Corps converge on the woods as Eugene attempts to form a defensive line to support the remains of Davout's Corps to make it's retreat. Another Russian Corps enters at the top of photo.
Ney's Corps enters from Vyazma to support the precarious French position.
Turn 6
The French and Russians set up along the French line of retreat.
Another of Davout's brigades is destroyed as less than half the Corps limps back through the woods.
A picture of the whole battlefield. The Russians are in a strong position.
Turn 7
The French withdraw towards Vyazma through the woods as the Russian centre and right flank try to close the gap. Russian cavalry (bottom) move to try and outflank the French retreat.
The Russian left flank sets up their artillery (top-right) ready to make life difficult for the retreating Frenchmen. Two Russian brigades advance to attack through the woods (centre of photo).
Turn 8
The French beat off the two Russian brigades (centre-right) but the Russian artillery starts inflicting casualties. The rest of the French maintain a quite orderly retreat and the remaining French cavalry move to support the open left flank.
View from the Russian right flank with the Russian cavalry moving to outflank the French position.
Turn 9
The French are hard-pressed as they retreat. Russian dragoons threaten the French left flank and the French cavalry counter.
View from the French side with Uvarovs cuirassiers arriving at the top of photo.
Turn 10
A depleted, lone French brigade fails to move back with the main group but the rest of the French are managing a fairly orderly retreat. However, the Russian dragoons (bottom left) dispatch the French hussars and then, on breakthrough, demolish the French chasseurs. However, at least it gave time for the French infantry to retire.
The French artillery have got the better of the duel at the top of photo, providing some respite to the main French forces.
Turn 11
The Russians continue to press the retreating French.
Turn 12
Another of Dupont's brigades dissolves and the last of the French cavalry routs. The Russians press on both flanks to try and block the French retreat.
Turn 13
The French hold firm with a solid line around Vyazma.
Turn 14
Last-ditch attempts by the Russians to break the French retreat but to no avail.
Turn 15
The French finally leave the table and the game ends.
The Russians suffered 11 stands of casualties and lost 1 cavalry brigade.
The French suffered 5 stands of casualties and lost 1 battery, 3 cavalry brigades and 5 infantry brigades.
Probably a reasonably historical result although the French suffered more than in the actual battle.
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