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Many of the best brigades were withdrawn from Spain to form the cadres for the new French Army being formed throughout France and Germany.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.

Wargames Phase of the Campaign

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.

We use our own wargame rules and they can be found at:

http://paulandjanwargamerules.blogspot.com/

Tactical Phase of the Campaign

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.

Strategic Phase of the Campaign

General

The Strategic Phase is when the armies are deployed over a wide area and are not in any danger of getting close enough to engage in a formal battle. Cavalry screens and minor engagements are not shown on this map.

Maps

The campaign area is from Hamburg in the north to Gibraltar in the south, and from Lisbon in the west to Vienna in the east.

There are 30 maps, each hand drawn on A4 paper.

Each map covers an area 280 miles north to south, and 200 miles east to west.

Each map is divided into squares 14x10 squares, each square is 20 x20 miles

Each map shows major towns, major rivers and main supply routes.

Mountain ranges, forests and minor rivers have not been shown on the maps

There is assumed to be a comprehensive minor road system which is not shown


Campaign Areas

There are five campaign areas, each with two armies of four corps each:

1 – Northern Germany – 2 French v Prussians

2 – Central Germany – 1 French v Russians

3 – Southern Germany – 3 French v Austrians

4 – Western Spain – 4 French v British

5 – Eastern Spain – 5 French v Spanish


Campaign Armies

Each campaign army has four corps.
Each campaign army has 128 infantry, 16 cavalry and 4 guns and crew.
Each corps has 32 infantry, 4 cavalry and 1 gun and crew


Orders

Each army has a strategic objective, for example hold Magdeburg and the river Elbe.

Each day a simple order is issued to each corps, for example move to H8 Magdeburg.

The aggressive army moves first.



Movement

Daily movement for all arms is 20 miles or one square.

This bears no relation to actual march rates in 1813. It has been chosen because one square is also the area represented on the wargames table. It is a bonus that is also allows for delays due to difficult terrain or unfordable rivers

There is no deduction for crossing rivers as there is assumed to be a bridge within each square.

Logistics and supply are not gamed to reduce paperwork. However loss of a main supply route would require attention and result in a battle.

Battle casualties are not included as this would require additional paperwork. However they are taken into account following a battle. The side with higher casualties would require longer to regroup and would have to retreat if pursued by the winner.


Transfer to the Tactical Map

When the two armies come within one square (20 miles) of each other a tactical map is produced, and the locations of each corps shown on both maps.

Until the campaign is resolved, daily movement is done on both maps.

Campaign Aims

Campaign Aims

1 - to provide good tabletop battles

2 – to make use of all of our collection of model soldiers and scenery

3 – to fight battles of 4 corps per side with less than 200 figures per side

4 – to fight these battles to a satisfactory conclusion within 12 moves or 6 hours

3 – to provide a simple strategic campaign based on the 1813 campaign

4 – to provide a much more detailed tactical campaign leading to battles

5 – to be able to move from strategic to tactical to wargame and back with ease


The Campaign of 1813

This is NOT a historical campaign. It bears only a passing likeness to the historical campaign, and makes no attempt to follow the strategy or battles of the historical campaign.

This campaign has been chosen because all of the European nations of the period were involved.

The campaign covers the geographical area from Hamburg in the north to Gibraltar in the south, and from Paris in the east to Vienna in the west.

Introduction to the Campaign

Introduction

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 within the frame work of a campaign, so that something has happened before the wargame, and there will be consequences afterwards.

The armies are formed to make full use of the model soldiers within my collection.,

The battlefields are designed to make use of the scenery within my collection

Each battlefield is designed to fit on my 6x6 foot wargames table.

Campaign Areas

There are five campaign areas :

Northern Germany

Central Germany

Southern Germany

Eastern Spain

Western Spain


Campaign Order of Battle

There are five French and five allied armies in the campaign.

Most consist of four corps each. The two French armies in Spain have only three corps each.

Campaign Maps

This is an index of the maps available for the campaign. They cover the whole of Europe from Hamburg in the north to Malaga in the south, and from Paris in the west to Austria in the east.

All of the maps have been adapted from the AA Road Map of Europe book. Each page has been copied to make simplified Campaign Strategic Maps. There are two maps because it would take too much room to show Spain and Portugal below the rest of Europe.

The reference numbers at the top and left hand side refer to the location of each square in both the AA Road Map and the Campaign Strategic Map.


Campaign Map of Europe

This map covers the area from Hamburg in the north to Milan in the south, and from Paris in the west to Vienna in the east.

There are three campaign areas

Northern Germany
Central Germany
Southern Germany

At the start of the campaign the armies are deployed as follows:
First French - Erfurt
Second French - Madgeburg
Third French - Munich
Prussian - Berlin
Russian - Dresden
Austrian - Vienna




Campaign Map of Spain

This map covers the area from Corunna in the north to Malaga in the south, and from Lisbon in the west to Barcelona in the east.

There are two campaign areas:

Eastern Spain - Spanish v Fifth French Army
Western Spain - Anglo-Portuguese v Fourth French Army

At the start of the campaign the armies are deployed as follows:

Fourth French - Barcelona
Fifth French - Burgos
Anglo-Portuguese - Salamanca
Spanish - Valencia