Games 145 & 146 : Battle of Schleiz 9th October 1806

 This was an encounter battle. The French, under Bernadotte with Murat as a guest, are descending on Schleiz where Tauenzein has the Prussian army train. 

The Prussians must keep the field until such time as the army train can exit the battlefield and escape along their lines of communication. There is a randomly generated delay before the army train can move, reflecting the need for the train to feed and rest.

Bernadotte is attempting to capture the Prussian army train. Murat is "a wondering general", able to attach himself to any French Cavalry regiment as he pleases. Away we go! We played the game twice, over 2 different weekends.

The Prussians are deployed in and around the villages. Schleiz is in the centre of the pic and the French will arrive from the left of the pic via 2 roads that exist. There is a stream that is unpassable to artillery and unforming for other troops.

The French march on and immediately assault the village to their front. The first attack is beaten off, but this is a short respite when the second assault is made.

The Prussians are summarily ejected from the village and both their flanks are threatened. They immediately retire to the rear of Schleiz which is the main defensive position. 

The French simultaneously push in both flanks and directly assault Schleiz. This is quickly becoming a bloodbath. All initial assaults are repulsed, both sides suffering. In the meantime, the Prussian army train has begun to move, road only, to extricate itself from this precarious position.

To the right of the Prussian line, the Prussians have deployed to issue enfilading fire on the advancing French columns. Th French maintain their advance, but they are suffering.

The Prussian army train has left the battlefield intact. The main French assault in the centre has been stopped, the French are regrouping. At this point the game ended, we agreed that the Prussians would exit the field, but in good order 

The second game started much the same as the first, bot sides are constrained on how they deploy/arrive.  

One difference was the French attempted to force a crossing over the stream, the attempt being led by Murat. Silly goof got wounded, and the Prussians easily thwarted the French thrust.

This shows the same simultaneous assault on flanks and Schleiz itself. It was bloodier, but this time the side suffering more were the Prusiians.

The Prussians are now hard pressed but at the same time they have managed to extricate the army train. Again, the Prussians will retire in good order. Both games had the same result, they actually played roughly the same way. The only difference were the casualties.

French Formations	Losses %			Prussian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
BERNADOTTE				TAUENZEIN
Drouet	27	-	1	Bila	20	5	59
Claparede	13	-	17	Schonberg	21	-	56
Watier	-	1	38	Zweiffel	28	-	3

French Formations	Losses %			Prussian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
BERNADOTTE				TAUENZEIN
Drouet	10	-	11	Bila	7	4	38
Claparede	13	-	8	Schonberg	12	-	23
Watier	-	28	29	Zweiffel	17	-	0

The losses for both games are above. Losses of 30% or higher essentially mean the formation is combat ineffective.

This game will get played a third time, but with more players, slightly increased forces and more deployment options/terrain modifications.

The gruesome twosome taking a well earned rest in the baking sun. Beer & curry were the next in line on the agenda. Now for Schleiz, take 3.