Mini-campaign of linked battles

The region stinks of garlic and froglegs. We'll use the 1st, 3rd and 4th divisions to end this disgusting assault on our sense of smell.

The Bavarians have pushed west in fine style, throwing aside a couple of minor roadblocks of National garde units of little value. However their direct path to Paris is blocked by the immense fortress of Verdun. Here a French corps is holding out and Schwartzenberg, the overall Allied commander has directed an Austrian corps to mask it. Unfortunately this renders the excellent direct road to Paris unusable.

About thirty miles south of Verdun a series of poorer but quite direct roads pass through the region controlled by the small provincial town of Sezanne. It is certain the French have noted its strategic value and will be defending it. Making a series of swift marches, General Wrede has brought his corps to Saint Ouen. He has left Berkers 2.Division in reserve and replaced it for this action with Raglovich's 4.Division which has a stronger cavalry element.

Your cavalry patrols yesterday identified what seem to be two French divisions west of Sommesous. Poised to strike at Sezanne Wrede awakes on a cold and damp morning with a heavy mist making the movement of large bodies of troops slow and difficult and to add to his troubles an Austrian courier arrived this morning with news that the French appear to be trying to push a column between Wrede and his nearest supports around Verdun. These French were said to be at Epernay in the night and by morning could be at Petites Loges, Mareuil or even Chalons.

Bavarian Order of Battle:

Armee der Bayern: General der Kavallerie Graf Wrede (27485 Inf.  3707 Cav.  40 Guns))

 1. Infanteriedivision : Generalleutnant Generalleutnant Graf Rechberg (6949 Inf.  1115 Cav.  12 Guns)
   1. Brigade: Generalmajor Karl Wilhelm Fürst zu Bayern (3843 Inf. 5 battalions  Avg. Exp. 4.0)
   2. Brigade: Generalmajor von Maillot (3106 Inf. 5 battalions  Avg. Exp. 3.8 )
   1. Brigade zu Pferd: Generalmajor von Vièregg (1115 Cav. 2 squadrons  Avg.Exp. 5.0)
   Leichte Batterie Nr.4: Oberstleutnant Goschel (4 Guns   Avg. Exp. 5.0)
   6-Pfündige Fuß Batterie Nr.5: Oberstleutnant Prielle (8 Guns   Avg. Exp. 5.0)

 3. Infanteriedivision : Generalmajor von Lamotte (9822 Inf.  893 Cav.  14 Guns)
   5. Brigade: Generalmajor von der Stockh (4862 Inf. 7 battalions  Avg. Exp. 3.8 )
   6. Brigade: Generalmajor Deroy (4960 Inf. 7 battalions  Avg. Exp. 3.7)
   3. Brigade zu Pferd: Oberst von Diez (893 Cav. 2 squadrons  Avg.Exp. 5.0)
   Leichte Batterie Nr.3: Major Wagner (6 Guns   Avg. Exp. 5.0)
   6-Pfündige Fuß Batterie Nr.9: Oberstleutnant Dittrich (8 Guns   Avg. Exp. 5.0)

 4. Infanteriedivision : Generalleutnant Clemens Raglovich (10714 Inf.  1699 Cav.  14 Guns)
   7. Brigade: Generalmajor von Koppoltz (5289 Inf. 7 battalions  Avg. Exp. 3.7)
   8. Brigade: Generalmajor von Beckert (5425 Inf. 7 battalions  Avg. Exp. 3.7)
   4. Brigade zu Pferd: Oberst Sessel d'Aix (1699 Cav. 3 squadrons  Avg.Exp. 5.3)
   Leichte Batterie Nr.1: Oberst Maillot de la Traille (6 Guns   Avg. Exp. 5.0)
   6-Pfündige Fuß Batterie Nr.6: Major Marabini (8 Guns   Avg. Exp. 5.0)

Updated 1814 Mini Campaign mod

(because I added fog to the map in use for this action)

That was a good scenario, towards the end their seemed to be tired units all along the countryside. Phil and I agreed that it seemed to get foggier as the game went on.

Look forward to some more.

After watching Andrew run his CAV for several games I think I got it, well at least this time time I did.

The battle played out most unexpectedly. The fact that Phil, you and Miko hit the French division at Chalons so hard it made their commander ask to be reinforced was a surprise. It meant that when Andrew and I finally broke through to Sezanne, it was defenceless. Originally I intended the Young Guard division would be there as a final fresh reserve that would make the Bavarians pay dearly to get to the town, but that plan was foiled.

I don't know how Andrew's division was doing, but mine was worn out having fought all the way west from Sommesous, so there was no way my troops could have tackled a fresh defending division at Sezanne.

I started out with 1699 Cav and we hit them hard right at the start, Phil directed me to their flank and was able to come up over a hill and hit them before they new I was there over 700 kills in that first engagement, it was dual between their INF and CAV and us and I was able to come out on top. @ Fr INF REG surrendered. Not to leave out the strong attack that Phil was doing and his artillery was spot on and theirs was on the other side of the woods.

After we cleared out the area in front of us we moved on their left, I was able to get my CAV who were very tired but high in morale to run off 2 or 3 batteries of guns and then they started to crumble. Phil had a Skirmisher REG sweep away a half dozen Fr infantry with my CAV supporting. Then we headed south and we met little resistance.

I was ordered by Wrede to get the silver service and not get involved in the fight that the other were in. We strolled through a corn field and routed several tired Fr units. I encountered the silver service in a large bag on the back of a worn out and tired milkmaid the strange this was is that the bag had Wrede's name on it.

We proceeded to the OBj and was met with worn out and tired Fr troops all over the place. I had about 1550 CAV left and about 1575 kills. I feel that i have meet the requirement for CAV OPS 101 by Professor Andrew.

Great time and it was surreal to look down the battle line from our right and watch the FR collapse.

The Bavarian corps was victorious at Sezanne. A French division that had been pushed east overnight in an attempt to drive the Bavarians and Austrians at Verdun apart was caught in its bivouacs in the early morning by General Raglovich's division and quickly routed. The French commander in response to pleas for help sent his reserve division, the 4th Young Guard division to Chalons to assist but this was partly caught on it's right flank by the attack of Lamotte's division and Prinz Karl Wilhelm's brigade of Rechberg's division and stopped. Other parts of this division melted away in the woods, thickets and stream beds of the region, apparently having no stomach for further fighting.

In the south Rechberg and Lamotte crashed into two French divisions defending the Sommesous-Ferre Champenoise area and after a very bloody head to head fight drove both French divisions back into the south-west. With the only French reserve having been despatched to Chalons, Sezanne was uncovered and the town was entered at dusk by the Bavarians.

Accounts of looting and pillage during the night cannot be confirmed or denied.

The defeated French have limped away to the north-west towards Paris.



The strength ratios of the two sides compared:



The French divisions are already battered from the Alt-Goldberg action and despite having four divisions to the Bavarians three, they outnumbered their enemy only slightly. Their more numerous cavalry appeared to have been used to poor effect.

Replay File.

The French Order of Battle:

I Corps: Général de Division Maison (28483 Inf. 5261 Cav. 59 Guns))

4e Jeune Garde Division: Général de Division Comte Barrois (4907 Inf. 1383 Cav. 13 Guns)
7e Jeune Garde Brigade: Général de Brigade Poret de Morvau (2216 Inf. 5 battalions Avg. Exp. 6.0)
8e Jeune Garde Brigade: Général de Brigade Dariule (2691 Inf. 5 battalions Avg. Exp. 6.0)
3e Brigade Cavallerie de la Garde: Général de division Castex (1383 Cav. 3 squadrons Avg.Exp. 7.0)
3e Jeune Garde Batterie à Pied: Major Poinsin (6 Guns Avg. Exp. 7.0)
13e Jeune Garde Batterie à Pied: Major Brincombe (7 Guns Avg. Exp. 7.0)

2éme Division: Général de division Ambert (7671 Inf. 1044 Cav. 14 Guns)
Brigade Bruny: Général de brigade Bruny (3960 Inf. 6 battalions Avg. Exp. 4.7)
Brigade Penne: Général de brigade Penne (3711 Inf. 6 battalions Avg. Exp. 4.7)
Brigade Travois: Général de brigade Travois (1044 Cav. 2 squadrons Avg.Exp. 5.0)
4ème Compagnie 8ème Artillerie à Pied: Major Picatier (8 Guns Avg. Exp. 6.0)
9ème Compagnie 8ème Artillerie à Pied: Major Brune (6 Guns Avg. Exp. 6.0)

3éme Division: Général de division Carra St-Cyr (7962 Inf. 1118 Cav. 16 Guns)
Brigade Lorcet: Général de brigade Lorcet (3959 Inf. 6 battalions Avg. Exp. 4.7)
Brigade Serieuse: Général de brigade Serieuse (4003 Inf. 6 battalions Avg. Exp. 4.3)
Brigade Pulin: Général de brigade Pulin (1118 Cav. 2 squadrons Avg.Exp. 5.0)
4ème Compagnie 4ème Artillerie à Pied: Major Dommetier (8 Guns Avg. Exp. 6.0)
9ème Compagnie 4ème Artillerie à Pied: Major Ricard (8 Guns Avg. Exp. 6.0)

4e Division: Général de division Hamelinaye (7943 Inf. 1716 Cav. 16 Guns)
Brigade Gravorse: Général de brigade Gravorse (3916 Inf. 6 battalions Avg. Exp. 4.8 )
Brigade Timoleon: Général de brigade Timoleon (4027 Inf. 6 battalions Avg. Exp. 4.8 )
Brigade Comte Avers: Général de brigade Comte Avers (1716 Cav. 3 squadrons Avg.Exp. 5.0)
12ème Compagnie 4ème Artillerie à Pied: Major Pourade (8 Guns Avg. Exp. 6.0)
17ème Compagnie 4ème Artillerie à Pied: Major Valenciennes (8 Guns Avg. Exp. 6.0)

Enemy at the Gates; the Battle of Paris

After two bloody encounters in the Saar region and Champagne, the Bavarians have arrived before Paris. To the east and north east, Austrian and Russian armies are closing in on the French capital yet Napoleon refuses all entreaties to discuss terms. There is nothing for it but to force the issue by capturing the city.



The Bavarian corps has advanced on two roads from the south and south-east. Our cavalry have identified two enemy divisions defending the south-eastern precincts of the city and there are doubtless others within.

Secure the city centre!

General Wrede must select three divisions from his corps of four to achieve this goal:

Bavarian Full Corps after Sezanne.

Not an easy choice this time. It's comes down to more guns or more troops. As our guns have not been that effective and this may be house to house fighting, I'll opt for more men. The 1st, 3rd and 4th divisions will strike at the heart of the beast.

I had some pretty fresh troops in my division though I lost a dragoon regiment due to them being too eager to kick the young guard's butt and running in to their cav.

It was an interesting choice by Kevin to attack there as it turned out to be the best place to attack. The thing is, it's only because the french moved off that young guard division. If that hadn't been the case, we should have crossed th river near Vatry and thus evade most of their defenses to, perhaps, attack from a better position where they hadn't yet set up their guns adn we wouldn't have had to crossa river while engaged. I notified Kevin about this, but he I suppose he was too stubborn or had a good hunch that we should attack from there and not where it seemed more logical at the time.

The Bavarian deployment:



The Bavarian OOB:

Armee der Bayern: General der Kavallerie Graf Wrede (25410 Inf. 3455 Cav. 36 Guns))

1. Infanteriedivision : Generalleutnant Generalleutnant Graf Rechberg (6534 Inf. 1057 Cav. 10 Guns)
1. Brigade: Generalmajor Karl Wilhelm Fürst zu Bayern (3635 Inf. 5 battalions Avg. Exp. 4.0)
2. Brigade: Generalmajor von Maillot (2899 Inf. 5 battalions Avg. Exp. 3.8 )
1. Brigade zu Pferd: Generalmajor von Vièregg (1057 Cav. 2 squadrons Avg.Exp. 5.0)
Leichte Batterie Nr.4: Oberstleutnant Goschel (2 Guns Avg. Exp. 5.0)
6-Pfündige Fuß Batterie Nr.5: Oberstleutnant Prielle (8 Guns Avg. Exp. 5.0)

3. Infanteriedivision : Generalmajor von Lamotte (9413 Inf. 785 Cav. 12 Guns)
5. Brigade: Generalmajor von der Stockh (4802 Inf. 7 battalions Avg. Exp. 3.8 )
6. Brigade: Generalmajor Deroy (4611 Inf. 7 battalions Avg. Exp. 3.7)
3. Brigade zu Pferd: Oberst von Diez (785 Cav. 2 squadrons Avg.Exp. 5.0)
Leichte Batterie Nr.3: Major Wagner (5 Guns Avg. Exp. 5.0)
6-Pfündige Fuß Batterie Nr.9: Oberstleutnant Dittrich (7 Guns Avg. Exp. 5.0)

4. Infanteriedivision : Generalleutnant Clemens Raglovich (9463 Inf. 1613 Cav. 14 Guns)
7. Brigade: Generalmajor von Koppoltz (5119 Inf. 7 battalions Avg. Exp. 3.7)
8. Brigade: Generalmajor von Beckert (4344 Inf. 7 battalions Avg. Exp. 3.7)
4. Brigade zu Pferd: Oberst Sessel d'Aix (1613 Cav. 3 squadrons Avg.Exp. 5.3)
Leichte Batterie Nr.1: Oberst Maillot de la Traille (6 Guns Avg. Exp. 5.0)
6-Pfündige Fuß Batterie Nr.6: Major Marabini (8 Guns Avg. Exp. 5.0)

It was an interesting choice by Kevin to attack there as it turned out to be the best place to attack. The thing is, it's only because the french moved off that young guard division. If that hadn't been the case, we should have crossed th river near Vatry and thus evade most of their defenses to, perhaps, attack from a better position where they hadn't yet set up their guns adn we wouldn't have had to crossa river while engaged. I notified Kevin about this, but he I suppose he was too stubborn or had a good hunch that we should attack from there and not where it seemed more logical at the time.

I knew from reports by Phil and Andrew that the enemy was very concerned about the events at Chalons. They were shifting troops north to deal with the crisis. I had a hunch that there was only one division facing Martin and Andrew. By throwing three brigades at it I felt we could overpower it quickly while holding the Young Guard at bay until sufficient force could be brought north to deal with them.

It was still a hard fight. I pushed aside a French division with just my guns, my cavalry and one brigade.

Andrew/Lamotte pushed a second division aside with his division plus Lord Joe's brigade from my div, but these two also got tangled up with part of the YG as it went to Chalons. I know Joe was facing YG troops from the increasingly alarmed tone of his letters and the increasing amounts of spittle sprayed onto them as he dictated them to his orderly. I hope the orderly was bought a new uniform!

After clearing Ferre-Champenoise my division was in no shape to fight further, meeting a reserve at Sezanne would have given us huge problems.

The Bavarian Corps stormed into the south-east suburbs of Paris in fine style, driving the dispirited defenders before them. While the battle did not see the attackers reach the final objective, it was clear the French army was finished. The last 45 minutes of street fighting were intense and tiring but quite fun, with enemy units coming at you from unexpected directions in the side streets.

The French units seemed to have little fight in them in this battle which was curious as I had not edited their stats, only their total strength.



Replay File.

I have taken the final OOBs of the two sides and placed their unit strengths against the opening strengths at the start of the campaign, three battles earlier. The immense losses of the French are clear, especially in artillery. This is what happens when a player team fights the AI.

Before and After.

This mini-campaign was quite fun and the players seemed to enjoy it, there was a real sense of continuity between the battles and for my own personal view, having commanded the same division three times I began to feel a real kinship for my little digital soldiers and officers.

There was almost zero admin once I had the OOBs created but they took a few hours. I might copy-paste OOBs from our existing stock of them for the next campaign. This would give ahistorical units but that seems a minor detail in the sake of very little work and speed achieved. It would also mean we would not need a mod for the mini-campaign as all unit and commander names would be in the XML names file in the main KS Mod.

Fighting vs the AI isn't truly satisfying however. I know we sometimes struggle to get six players for a game but given that limitation I would like to try another campaign with two teams of three players. Including me that means 7 people but I can always command when we lack a person.

The way this would work is like this.

Team A would be (say) Austrians and Team R would be (say) Russians. Team A would also command the French vs Team R's Russians and Team R would likewise command the French vs Team A's Austrians. Due to the nice simplicity of the Allied drive on Paris in the late winter of 1813-1814 I would use this theatre again as the basis but probably lay out a simple nodal graphic for the map with the SoW battlefields shown in the nodes. The attackers would see which maps lay where and would have a choice of a couple of routes from the Rhine to Paris and could therefore perhaps choose a short route over terrain that was better for the defence or a longer route over terrain that would be easier to attack.

Any input welcome.

It was good fun. As CinC I had to worry not only about the current fight but the ones ahead. As such, I had to be much more careful deciding how the attack would unfold and when to begin the advance. A Pyrrhic victory would be a major defeat. Not commanding troops in two of the battles made the job much easier as I was free to ride around and view all the events first hand. That allowed me to adjust the attack as the battle progressed, all while offering sage advice to the division commanders. I know it was much appreciated.

Can't you make it through the OOB creator where each army can fight each army? Then you could have A v R.

I don't use Kevin's OOB creator. I just prefer to build OOBs manually, I'm old-fashioned. Making an OOB is a bit like painting, you need to go back and retouch or differently shade things in many places. No software tool can help me with the little foibles of my artsy creation process

I can understand that. But couldn't you make OOB with any army since you put them in OOB 1 and OOB 2 they would fight each other?

I am not sure what you mean. I would make one master OOB; it would have 2 French Corps and 1 Austrian and 1 Russian Corps. I'd pick the corps/divisions that we needed for each battle. The French would always be fighting someone, not Austrians vs Russians.

If I used the 1809 Austrian OOB and the 1812 one for the French and Russians I could probably make something balanced in a couple of hours.

Balance is the key thing here - Team A and Team R should have equal chances to win.