malo-jaroslavets (october 24, 1812)
INTRODUCTION
Russia, October 1812. Napoleon’s Army is trying to retire from Moscow.
HOUSE RULES
This scenario is based on aportations made by several members of the
YAHOO groups 'vnblist', 'NapoleonicFireandFury', 'napsbattles' and
'GrandeArmee' which kindly answered my questions about the battle.
My acknowledgements to all of them
Several 'house rules' have been used:
1) Cavalry scale 1/120
2) Command & Control: The modification proposed by Michael
Rasmussen (Message 4842 in the news group 'napsbattles' of YAHOO) is
used. There are two command spans to the Army Commander: the normal
(printed in the labels) and other (lesser) that is used to control
generals or units at more than one command level below.
3) Routed units are allowed to auto-reformed, without an
attached General, with an aditional '-3' modifier (they are
disordered).
4) Disordered units may fire with an aditional '-3' modifier.
See also:
"The church of
Malo-Jaroslavets"
"Regiment Joseph
Napoleon"
TABLE-TOP ADAPTATION
THE BATTLE IN PICTURES
THE FIRST COMBATS |
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The French try to deploy in the town. The Russians attack them and
there is a draw, but the previously disordered French must to
withdraw. |
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The French attack the disordered Russians, but
they are rejected and must to withdraw out of the town |
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The Russian Guard Light cavalry attacks to the
French infantry located out of Malo-Jaroslavets (1). These,
disordered and taken in line, fail the square and are routed (2).
The Russian cavalry, after failing the 'recall' attack to the
disordered french, just ejected from the town (3), also routing them
(4) and remaining disordered 'in situ'. |
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Russian jagers attack the French light without
succes. At the other side of the town, more Russian cavalry enters
in scene, but this time the French form square and reject them. |
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The Russians attack again the French but are
rejected and during the withdrawal are fully routed. |
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11.00 a.m. and the French have rejected the
first Russian attacks: the routed units have rallied and the French
infantry occupy 2/3 of Malo-Jaroslavets. The Italian infantry of the
IV Corps is arriving. |
The French infantry has fully expulsed the
Russian from Malo-Jaroslavets, but Russian refoircements, including
Kutusov, are arriving. |
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THE FRENCH TRY TO DEPLOY |
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The French infantry (1B/14/IV) attacks the
disordered Russians and these last, altough not routed, must to
withdraw, altough the Russian fire routs 1B/14/IV |
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Russian cavalry attacks 2B/14/IV that fails
square and is routed. The Regiment Jose Napoleon also fails square
and is routed. |
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After a period of re-organization, the Italian
infantry takes the bridge-head. Meanwhile, Davout is probing for a
ford (and Napoleon has arrived!). |
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After 1-hour probing, Gerard finds a ford and
cross the river, but the Cossacks attack him and rout two units that
failed square (very rough terrain). |
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The situation at the ford is stabilised. At
the other flank, both sides indulge in an artillery battle, and the
Russians again ocupy a zone of Malo-Jaroslavets |
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THE SECOND HALF OF THE BATTLE
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