Wiederitzsch (October 16, 1813)
INTRODUCTION
This combat took place
during the first day of the battle of Leipzig (16-18 October, 1813).
The twin villages of Gross- and Klein-Wiederitzsch formed the right
flank of the French line during the battle of Mockern,
fought between the Bluecher’s Army of Silesia and the Marmont’s VI
Corps.
The combat involved the Russian’s Army Group of Langeron and the
Dombrowski’s 27th Polish division, reinforced by the Delmas’s
division of the Souham’s III Corps, escorting the train of the III
Corps towards Leipzig. The action starts at 15h, immediately before
of the arrival of the Delmas’s division. The OOB of both armies have
been downgraded to make units of more manageable size.
Bibliography
- Smith, D. "1813
Leipzig. Napoleon and the Battle of the Nations".
Greenhill Books.
2001
- L.G.F., "Mémoires
de Langeron, Général d'infanterie dans l'armée russe".
Paris. 1909
- Fabry, G. ".Journal
des opérations des IIIe and Ve Corps en 1813"
Paris. 1902
- Nafziger, G. "Napoleon at Leipzig. The
Battle of Nations 1813". Chicago. 1996
TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION
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THE BATTLE IN PICTURES
Internet map
Napoleon-Series map
Game map
The actual battlefield
Polish/French deployment
Russian deployment
Scenario pdf file for
Wiederitzsch
GO TO
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES
Summary of the oob
Polish/French Forces (Army Moral 42;
Break point 14)
27th Polish Division Dombrowski
- Infantry: 4 battalions, 1 foot battery
- Cavalry: 2 regiments, 1 horse battery
6th Light Cavalry Division Fournier
- Cavalry: 2 regiments, 1/2 horse battery
6th Heavy Cavalry Division Avice
- Cavalry: 1 regiments, 1/2 horse battery
Reinforcements
9th Division Delmas
- Infantry: 7 battalions, 2 foot batteries
23th Light Cavalry Division Beurmann
- Cavalry: 2 regiments, 1/2 horse batter
Baggage train 3 units
Russian
Forces:
(Army Moral42; Break point 14 )
C-i-C
Langeron
AvantGarde
- Infantry:
4 battalions, 1 foot
battery
- Cavalry:
7 regiments, 1
horse battery)
X Corps Kapsewitsch
- Infantry:
4 battalions, 2 foot
batteries
Reinforcements
X Corps Olsusief
- Infantry:
4 battalions
Notes
The duration of the game is 30 Turns. The Russians are the first
side.
OPTIONAL RULES
Optional rule for baggage units (As for my
suggestion in Lasalle e-book p. 143)
(1) The wagon moves as if it were a foot artillery unit, always
limbered.
(2) The wagon neither fires nor can charge the enemy. It has only one
formation: limber. It does not block line of sight or fire. It may not
be fired upon.
(3) Friendly units may move through it, as they move through a limbered
artillery unit.
(4) Any enemy unit - regular or irregular - may charge the wagon, as
long as that unit is eligible to charge (it is in a formation that
permits it to charge, it is facing the right way, etc.)
(5) In its reaction phase, the wagon may attempt a Fall Back, as if it
were a foot artillery limber. It succeeds on a roll of 4+, but if
attacked by enemy cavalry, it must re-roll a success, even if within 1BW
of friendly infantry.
(5') If it fails to fall back, then the wagon is automatically captured
in the ensuing combat. Combat must be “resolved” against it, as if
against any other unit, but the resolution consists simply of removing
the wagon, advancing the enemy unit(s) that captured it 2BW, and
awarding the captured Objective to the enemy.
(6) Any enemy unit that contacted the wagon suffers 1DISR, unless that
would break it. (The men are dispersed, plundering the loot). The unit
must then take a discipline test. If it fails, it is marked in some way,
showing that it is disordered and still plundering.
(7) A unit that is still plundering is considered “Out of Command” for
the entirety of its side’s next turn.
Optional rule for Cossacks
(1) Irregular cavalry units may charge enemy units standing in 'march
column' formation (including baggage units).
(2) Irregular cavalry units must to pass a 'Discipline' test to initiate
the charge.
(3) If routed in 'decisive combat', the irregular cavalry unit is
immediately broken.
Objectives
Klein Wiederitzsch, Gross Wiederitzsch,, the Binker Holz wood, and the
Train baggage units are the objectives in this battle.
See a story version at the
Project Leipzig (1813)
blog
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES