1813 Campaign Summary

General

Although based on the campaign of 1813, this campaign does not attempt to copy that campaign in any way. The armies involved do not fight over the same area. The armies are not composed of the same orders of battle.

The aim of this campaign is to produce enjoyable wargames on my 6'x6' table, within the frame work of a campaign, using only the figures and scenery in my collection.

This blog controls the main campaign. There will be a seperate blog for each of the mini campaigns to be fought within this framework. This is to make it easier to follow the detailed movement and fighting of each campaign, and to avoid making this master campaign too complicated.

The first mini campaign is Magdeburg in northern Germany.

The second mini campaign is Tarragona in eastern Spain.

Contents of the blogs

The blogs appear in the order that they are typed. To make it easier to follow the campaign I have used the labels on the top right of this page as an index. They are as follows:

02 - Campaign Introduction. This covers the area and commands within the campaign, the maps used and what the campaign covers.

03 - Campaign Diary. This is for the whole of the 1813 campaign and shows what is happening in the five seperate campaign areas.

04 - Campaign in Germany. General background to the three seperate campaign areas in Germany.

05 - Campaign in Spain. General background to the two seperate campaign areas in Spain.

06 - Campaign Rule 1 - Introduction. The aims of the campaign and a list of the other rules.

07 - Campaign Rule 2 - The Strategic Phase. How it works, what it covers, what maps are used, how movement works and how it relates to the Tactical Phase.

08 - Campaign Rule 3 - The Tactical Phase. How it works, what maps are used, how movement works and how it is transferred tot he wargames table.

09 - Campaign Rule 4 - The Wargame Phase. How the wagame works within the campaign, how the table is set up and how it returns to the Tactical Phase after the game.

10 - Campaign Rule 5 - Administrtion. What blogs there are and what they cover.

If you want to read any of the above blogs, just click on the appropriate label above right.

Model soldiers used in the Campaign

This blog contains photographs of all the model soldiers in my collection in 6mm, 15mm and 28mm. They are shown in the armies and corps used with the campaign. It also contains details orders of battle for every army and corps. It has been kept seperate to make it easy to select any particular army or corps. It can be found at

http://modelsoldiercollection.blogspot.com

Wargame Rules used in the Campaign

The rules we use within the campaign are a "house set". No claims are made for these rules, other than that we enjoy them and that they give a fast, fun game. They are constantly amended, so take care to check the amendments. If you want to copy them for your personal use you are welcome. They can be found at:

http://paulandjanwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Magdeburg Campaign

This is the first mini campaign to be fought within the 1813 Campaign. It deals with the Prussian advance from Berlin to the river Elbe and the series of battles fought with the Second French Army for possession of Magdeburg. It has been kept seperate to avoid making this blog too bulky. It contains a detailed daily diary, movement orders, orders of battle and battle reports. It can be found at:

http://1813northgermany.blogspot.com

Tarragona Campaign

This is the second mini campaign to be fought within the 1813 Campaign. It deals with the Spanish attempt to keep French troops on the east coast occupied so that they could not send reinforcements to Burgos to face Wellingtion. It has been kept seperate to avoid making this blog too bulky. It contains a detailed daily diary, movement orders, orders of battle and battle reports. It can be found at:

http://1813tarragona.blogspot.com/

Halle Campaign

This is the third mini campaign to be fought within the 1813 Campaign. It deals with the Russian advance to the river Saale to protect the flank of the Prussian army at Magdeburg, and with Napoleon's attempt to defeat the Russians and turn on the Prussians. It has been kept seperate to avoid making this blog too bulky. It contains a detailed daily diary, movement orders, orders of battle and battle reports. It can be found at:

http://1813hallecampaign.blogspot.com

Campaign Diary

January

Following the retreat from Moscow of the previous year, the French army started the new year in disorder. The few survivors of the retreat were grouped around Magdeburg on the river Elbe in northern Germany. The Russian army was not much better off, and had halted around Dresden.

February

Many of the best brigades were withdrawn from Spain to form the cadres for the new French Army being formed throughout France and Germany. Napoleon's allies were pressed to provide new bodies of troops.

March

The French abandoned southern and eastern Spain and concentrated their armies in northern Spain.

April

The French armies in Germany were brought up to strength and divided into three army groups. First Army would assemble at Erfurt in central Germany. Second Army at Magdeburg in northern Germany. Third Army at Munich in southern Germany.

Those in Spain would form two armies. Fourth Army at Burgos in central Spain. Fifth Army would be responsible for northern Spain.

England, Spain and Russia were at war with France. During the early part of April they formed a secret alliance with Austria and Prussia for a concentrated attack on Napoleon and a drive on Paris. The offensive would commence on 1 May 1813.

May 1 to 16 - Magdeburg Campaign

The Prussian army crossed the river Elbe and won the battle of Calbe on 5 May. Two days later they won again at Colbitz. They were now firmly established on the west bank. On 10 May the French were again defeated at Halbeck.

The Prussians now turned their attention to Magdeburg. As they approached the city the French withdrew, and moved north. The Prussians were thrown into confusion at this unexpected move, and were completely unprepared for the French major attack at Magdeburg. The result was a French victory. The Prussians held Magdeburg, but had to retire across the river Elbe.

The campaign ended with a limited Prussian victory. They had taken, and held, Magdeburg. But they had failed to secure the line of the river Elbe, and the French were now concentrated and in position to oppose any crossing of the river.

May 14 to 7 June - Tarragona Campaign

Marshal Suchet controls the coastal area of north east Spain from the French border to Tarragona.

To prevent him from sending support to Marshal Soult at Burgos, he has ordered Captain-General Copons to create a disturbance. The Spanish occupy Lerida in the north to lure a French army into the mountains. They then lay siege to Tarragona.

The French are held at Reus and retreat into the city. The siege is soon raised at Prades. The French concentrate and cut the Spanish army in half at first battle of Cambrils, but fail to crush the whole army at the second battle of Cambrils.

The French then have to retire to Barcelona to keep their communications with Spain open, and the Spanish again surround their garrisons at Lerida and Tarragona.

The French have failed to destroy the Spanish, and the latter have achieved their campaign objectives of containing all of the French forces in eastern Spain.

May 17 to 13 June - Halle Campaign

Marshal Kutuzov is resting his army at Dresden after the horrors of the 1812 campaign. However Blucher, at Magdeburg, is insisting that he bring his army forward to protect the Prussian flank. He reluctantly agrees to do so.

Napoleon is busy at Fulda building his new Grand Armee, so the river Saale is only thinly held by the French. Kutuzov has easy early success, and eventually manages to cross the river at Halle. However in the final battle of the campaign Napoleon pushes him back over the river and back towards Leipzig.

Napoleon has managed to hold the river line, but not to defeat the Russian army. Kutuzov has therefore managed to secure the Prussian flank and the allies hold a firm line from Magdeburg to Dresden.

Campaign in Spain

Spain 1 May 1813

General

There are two campaign areas in Spain

Eastern Spain – French border to Tarragona

Western Spain - Salamanca to Burgos

Wellington and Commanders

EASTERN SPAIN

Fourth French Army

During the early months of 1813 a large part of the French armies in Spain were transferred north to form the new armies required to hold the allied advance in Germany. As part of this reorganisation Marshal Suchet was ordered to abandon his garrisons south of Tarragona and maintain his communcations with Marshal Soult to the west at Burgos

Fourth French Army

Spanish Army

In January 1813 Wellington was appointed CinC of all Spanish Armies. His major concern was that Marshal Suchet should be prevented from sending reinforcements to Marshal Soult. To this end he ordered the Spanish corps to cut communications between the two French marshals, and to attempt to capture Tarragona.

Spanish Army

WESTERN SPAIN

Fifth French Army

Marshal Soult was given command of the newly formed Fifth Army in January 1813. His task was to contain Wellington in the area around Salamanca.

Fifth French Army

Anglo- Portuguese Army

In November 1812 Wellington was forced to retreat from Burgos to Salamanca. The early months of 1813 were given over to resting and reorganising his army. It would take at least six months to make the British army ready to undertake active operations again.

Anglo Portuguese Army

Orders of Battle

Full orders of battle and photographs of each army and corps can be found on the blog 1813 Campaign Armies.

Tarragona Campaign - 14 May to 7 June 1813

Marshal Suchet controls the coastal area of north east Spain from the French border to Tarragona.

To prevent him from sending support to Marshal Soult at Burgos, he has ordered Captain-General Copons to create a disturbance. The Spanish occupy Lerida in the north to lure a French army into the mountains. They then lay siege to Tarragona.

The French are held at Reus and retreat into the city. The siege is soon raised at Prades. The French concentrate and cut the Spanish army in half at first battle of Cambrils, but fail to crush the whole army at the second battle of Cambrils.

The French then have to retire to Barcelona to keep their communications with Spain open, and the Spanish again surround their garrisons at Lerida and Tarragona.

The French have failed to destroy the Spanish, and the latter have achieved their campaign objectives of containing all of the French forces in eastern Spain.

Campaign in Germany

General

There are three campaign areas in Germany:

Northern Germany – Hanover to Berlin

Central Germany – Fulda to Dresden

Southern Germany – Munich to Vienna

NORTHERN GERMANY

Second French Army

The Second French army is deployed along the river Elbe from Hamburg to Magdeburg. Marshal Davout has positioned his best troops along the river, 4 corps at Hamburg and 5 corps at Magdeburg. 13 corps is regrouping at Brunswick following the retreat of the previous year. Army HQ is at Hannover, where 6 corps is being formed. Napoleon has warned him that the greatest threat from all of the allied armies, is from the Prussian army commanded by Prince Blucher.

Prussian Army

The Prussian army did not take part in the Russian campaign of the previous year. Prince Blucher has concentrated his four corps around Berlin, and is anxious to march on the river Elbe before Napoleon can reorganise his troops and strengthen his defences.

CENTRAL GERMANY

First French Army

In early May 1813 Napoleon is aware that central Germany presents the least allied threat. He has deployed 2nd (young guard) corps at Gera, and 14th (Westphalian) corps at Halle to hold the forward line. He is reinforcing the shattered 3rd (French) corps at Erfurt, and is himself in reserve with 1st (old guard) corps at Fulda. When all four corps are battle ready he intends to advance to Dresden, crush the Russians and smash the allied strategic centre in Germany.

Russian Army

At the end of the previous year Kutuzov had halted his weary army at Dresden. During the lolng march from Moscow of the previous year they had suffered as much as the broken French army. Well aware that it would take many weeks for sufficient reinforcements to arrive, he is concerned that the French might launch their main attack against Dresden before he can regroup his disorganised army.

SOUTHERN GERMANY

Third French Army

Napoleon was not expecting any trouble in southern Germany. The Austrians had fought alongside the French in the Russian campaign. Ney was a sick man following his great efforts during the previous year, and he was given this command to allow him to recover. His three Bavarian and one Baden corps were dispersed throughout Bavaria to recover and regroup.

Austrian Army

The Austrians had been reluctant allies of the French during the Russian campaign. The destruction of the French army allowed them to enter into a new alliance with Prussia to invade France before Napoleon could recover. By1 May 1813 they had gathered four new corps around Vienna and were ready to advance down the Danube valley against Munich.

Orders of Battle

Full orders of battle and photographs of each army and corps can be found on the blog 1813 Campaign Armies.

Magdeburg Campaign 1-16 May 1813

The opening shots of the campaign were exchanged in northern Germany along the banks of the river Elbe. Blucher crossed the river before the French could concentrate to oppose him. He fought three battles on the west bank, and won all of them. However he lost the fourth, and largest, at Magdeburg.

At the end of the campaign he held Magdeburg and two bridge heads over the river. However all of his troops were on the east bank, and the French were ready to defend the west bank should he try again.

Halle Campaign 17 May - 13 June 1813

To support Blucher, Kutuzov leads the Russian army forward from Dresden to the river Saale, where they defeat the French in the opening battles, and even cross to the west bank. However when Napoleon arrives with the garde the Russians are thrown back accross the river and back towards Leipzig.

At the end of the campaign Napoleon holds the east bank of the river Saale, but the early defeats have left his army unable to rout the Russians and move against the Prussians in the north as planned.

Rule 5 - Administration and Blogs

ADMINISTRATION


There are nine blogs which deal with different aspects of the campaign.


1813 15mm Allied Armies
Photographs of the each corps, full army and army HQ

1813 15mm French Armies
Photographs of the each corps, full army and army HQ

1813 25mm Allied Armies
Photographs of the each corps, full army and army HQ

1813 25mm French Armies
Photographs of the each corps, full army and army HQ

1813 Campaign Background
Detailed introduction to the campaign
Maps of each campaign area
Military and political background of each area
Orders of battle for each area

1813 Campaign Diary
Diary of the whole campaign

1813 Magdeburg Campaign
This first section of the campaign is set in north Germany
Description and photographs of Second French army
Description and photographs of Prussian army
Movement orders for each day
Campaign diary – daily orders for each stage of the campaign
Battle reports – photographs and description of each battle

1813 Tarragona Campaign
This second section of the campaign is set in north west Spain
Description and photographs of Fourth French army
Description and photographs of Spanish army
Movement orders for each day
Campaign diary – daily orders for each stage of the campaign
Battle reports – photographs and description of each battle

1813 Halle Campaign
This third section of the campaign is set in central Germany
Description and photographs of First French army
Description and photographs of Russian army
Movement orders for each day
Campaign diary – daily orders for each stage of the campaign
Battle reports – photographs and description of each battle

Rule 4 - Wargames

WARGAMES PHASE

When two enemy corps comes within three squares on the tactical map the battle is fought on the wargames table.

The transfer from the tactical map to the wargames table is simple.

The wargames table is 6x6 foot and the scenery is arranged by using 2x2 foot scenic squares.

A template is used to identify the 9 squares of the tactical map that will make up the wargames table.

Each square on the tactical map is numbered the same as the corresponding scenic square.

The wargames table will normally have the objective in the centre of the table.

The winner will be the player who controls the most squares at the end of the game.

Each corps starts the game with the same strategic orders they had in the strategic and tactical phases of the campaign.

In a multi corps game there will always be a CinC, and he is the only one who can change the corps orders. However in a single corps game the corps commander may change his own orders.

Depending on the strategic and tactical scenario the two corps may enter from opposite ends of the table, or one corps may be already in position

At the conclusion of the wargame new strategic orders are written for the next day, depending on the outcome of the game.

If reinforcements are available within one days march (three squares) on the tactical map, a second days wargame may be fought with the reinforcements arriving on the appropriate road and at the appropriate time in the wargame.

A summary of the wargame rules is available on the blog. If anyone would like a full copy of the wargame rules they should let me have their email and I will send one.

Rule 3 - Tactical Phase

TACTICAL PHASE

General

The Tactical Phase is when at least one corps of each army is close enough to engage in a formal battle.

Maps

The tactical map represents 4x3 squares of the strategic map.

Each square is divided into 3x3 squares, each of which represents a 2x2 foot wargames table scenic square.

Each map scenic square is numbered the same as the actual scenic square so that the wargames table can be quickly assembled.

One days movement is one strategic square.

One days movement is three tactical squares

One days movement is 12 wargame moves.

Therefore each scenic square represents one third of a days movement, or 3 wargame moves.

Orders

The same daily orders apply to strategic movement, tactical movement and first wargame movement.

However movement on the tactical map is done one square at a time, aggressive army moving first. When the two armies come within three scenic squares of each other the wargame table is set up using the terrain squares shown on the tactical map, and the game is fought.

At the conclusion of the wargame Strategic orders are written for the next day and movement carried out first on the tactical map and then on the strategic map.