DANZIG (FALL 1813).THE WAGON TRAIN
A TABLETOP TEASER scenario ADAPTED for divisional napoleon's battles

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INTRODUCTION
This combat is an adaptation of the Tabletop Teaser "The Wagon Train" published in the old "Battle for Wargamers" by C.S. Grant in April-May 1978 and now revived in the blog Table Top Teasers.
The time is Fall 1813 near Danzig, where French and Rheinbund forces have been besieged for some months and are badly in need of reinforcements and supplies of all sort. A big wagon train, escorted by a strong guard, is at last arriving the town. The blockading Russian/Prussian forces have been harassing the column for many days but today is their last chance to prevent the supplies and reinforcements from enter Danzig, so they can be expected to attack in force.
The Scenario is intended for Divisional Napoleon’s Battles (NBd). The French order of battle is adapted from the Nafziger's book 'Napoleon at Leipzig. The Battle of Nations 1813' in the case of the French and from a post from Steven H. Smith'in the Napoleon-Series Forum for the Russian ambushing force. The Digby's data book (p.480) has been also used to complete the above data.

TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION

 
NBd Scenario file for Danzig (pdf)
First siege of Danzig (1807) taken from Wikipedia   Game map
     
The roads to Danzig with the Vauban fort in the distance


DEPLOYMENT
French Supply Force
The Supply Force enters in the first turn at a maximum distance of 4” form the B1-C1 end-road. Its order of march must follow the SOP for such columns :
Vanguard: 9th Polish Uhlans 12PdLC; 4/4/2S 20FrLT ; S Fr4#
Main body: The rest of the infantry and guns, interspersed amongst the wagons and/or protecting the flanks of the convoy as desired
Rearguard: Provisional Dragoon Reg. 14FrDC
The wagons may only move on the roads but any unit entering on road can deploy oft the road after it has been on the table for one move period. If a wagon is immobilised or destroyed on the road, no other vehicle may pass it. It then requires 1D4 moves with assistance of any friendly touching unit (other wagons inclusive) for the wagon to be manhandled off the road allowing other wagons to pass.
Each one of the French Garrison units may be released only after its commander pass a successful command test. The Garrison guns are mounted on the ramparts so are immobile.
Russian force
Each of the four Russian Column Commanders rolls 1D6 for arrival point and 2D4 (2D3,2D5,2D6) whose sum is his arrival turn. The deployment of his forces is diced out for each individual unit: Its arrival turn is found by rolling 1D6: 1-2 same turn than Column Commander, 3-4 one turn later, 5-6 two turns later. Its exact arrival point is found rolling 2D6 whose sum gives the distance in inches to their respective Column Commander and a coin determines the flank, heads being right flank and tails left flank of the Column Commander.
The Russian C-i-C enters with one of the Columns chosen by rolling 1D4. He is attached to that Column until un-attaches himself.
All die rolls were made with EXCEL as outlined in the Utilities for Napoleon's Battles page.
 
VICTORY POINTS
The main goal of the French Supply column is to reach the safety of Danzig with the greater possible number of wagons. The game would be drawn if the French got at least the half of the convoy wagons into town by last turn. The French will win if more of one-half arrived safely. All the three roads (A5, B5, C5) lead to the town.

HISTORICAL OUTCOME
During the Seven Years War the Prussians suffered a similar incident when carrying supplies to the force besieging Olmutz. A Prussian convoy of 4,000 wagons   was attacked in June 28, 1758 by an Austrian force. The escorting  was 9,200 strong with over 4,000 civilian baggage attendants and 16,000 transport horses whereas the Austrian force was around 8,200 strong. The engagement finished with the Prussian defeat.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nafziger G. ‘'Napoleon at Leipzig. The Battle of Nations 1813”, The Emperor Press, Chicago, 1996
The Napoleon-Series Forum
Smith D, “The Greenhill Napoleonic Wars Data Book”, Greenhill Books, 1998
Ney M, “Military Studies”, Bull and Churton, 1833
Wilson P, “The ambush of the Olmutz convoy at Domstadtl. June 28-30, 1758”, The Seven Years War Association Journal, VIII (4), 1996 (available at magweb.com:
http://www.magweb.com/premium/7ywaj/84/7ytoc84.htm

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