(Click here or click on the Campaign 09: Russia menu item to see all the parts with the latest at the top. A Campaign using Empire Campaign System and Empire V rules and Adler 6mm Napoleonic figures of the French invading Russia in 1812.)
"The troops are weary. I walk silently beside some Italian line infantry. They fought well last week against the Russian Grenadiers (journalled earlier here). Twice now these men have run into those grenadiers.
The 1st time the Italians were seriously on the receiving end of the contact. Last time they fought them to a standstill and forced them to retire from the field with heavy casualties, especially amongst their artillery. But it had cost us. The corps was approaching 50% strength now. The men were tired.
This morning I came across a courier who explained to us a small had raged to our north between D'Erlon's corps and a small Russian infantry corps (see earlier journal here). It was not too serious an affair, as both sides seemed to feel they were too low in numbers to make any mark. Both forces had deployed and after a long standoff between our cavalry and Russian line infantry, the Russians withdrew. That made me feel a lot happier.
I knew we were marching closer to the enemy. After forcing the Russian Grenadiers to withdraw last week, we buried our dead, and theirs, and settled in for a good meal and a rest. We were roused by the general staff delivering orders a few days later to continue on our aggressive march to the NorthWest. I really did not think we had recovered enough to go off hunting more of the enemy just yet. But orders are orders and we gathered our things and set off on the road.
It was day break and we had just started off for the day when a scout galloped past the lead battalions in a hurry. I managed to get him to slow enough to be able to speak and heard that our scouting cavalry ahead had once again spotted the Russian grenadiers. To make matters worse, they appear to be digging in on the road to our front. Knowing the orders dispatched by Marshal Eugene earlier, I knew we would not be deviating from our march. It would be another battle with the grenadiers yet again. I set about re-organising the battalions or my wing in case we were ambushed whilst on the march and briefed my subordinate commanders, some of which were new into their positions only days prior. I also positioned myself close to the road as I knew new orders would be coming from Eugene very shortly.
The battlefield view from the lead scouts. A small village sits astride the main road with a small walled farm to the left. Both are defended by Russian Grenadiers and lots of artillery. To the rear and on a hill to the left rear is more infantry and some line cavalry. On either flank is elite cavalry. Some may even be Guard cavalry.
The view from Marshal Eugene and his staff and escort
Marshal Eugene and his staff and escort. My staff and I are on the left.
The village on the road
Russian Grenadiers and artillery defend the village
Reserves to the rear of the village
Enemy cavalry covering their left flank. They look elite or even Guard.
... to be continued ...
(Click here or click on the Campaign 09: Russia menu item to see all the parts with the latest at the top. A Campaign using Empire Campaign System and Empire V rules and Adler 6mm Napoleonic figures of the French invading Russia in 1812.)
"The troops are weary. I walk silently beside some Italian line infantry. They fought well last week against the Russian Grenadiers (journalled earlier here). Twice now these men have run into those grenadiers.
The 1st time the Italians were seriously on the receiving end of the contact. Last time they fought them to a standstill and forced them to retire from the field with heavy casualties, especially amongst their artillery. But it had cost us. The corps was approaching 50% strength now. The men were tired.
This morning I came across a courier who explained to us a small had raged to our north between D'Erlon's corps and a small Russian infantry corps (see earlier journal here). It was not too serious an affair, as both sides seemed to feel they were too low in numbers to make any mark. Both forces had deployed and after a long standoff between our cavalry and Russian line infantry, the Russians withdrew. That made me feel a lot happier.
I knew we were marching closer to the enemy. After forcing the Russian Grenadiers to withdraw last week, we buried our dead, and theirs, and settled in for a good meal and a rest. We were roused by the general staff delivering orders a few days later to continue on our aggressive march to the NorthWest. I really did not think we had recovered enough to go off hunting more of the enemy just yet. But orders are orders and we gathered our things and set off on the road.
It was day break and we had just started off for the day when a scout galloped past the lead battalions in a hurry. I managed to get him to slow enough to be able to speak and heard that our scouting cavalry ahead had once again spotted the Russian grenadiers. To make matters worse, they appear to be digging in on the road to our front. Knowing the orders dispatched by Marshal Eugene earlier, I knew we would not be deviating from our march. It would be another battle with the grenadiers yet again. I set about re-organising the battalions or my wing in case we were ambushed whilst on the march and briefed my subordinate commanders, some of which were new into their positions only days prior. I also positioned myself close to the road as I knew new orders would be coming from Eugene very shortly.
The battlefield view from the lead scouts. A small village sits astride the main road with a small walled farm to the left. Both are defended by Russian Grenadiers and lots of artillery. To the rear and on a hill to the left rear is more infantry and some line cavalry. On either flank is elite cavalry. Some may even be Guard cavalry.
The view from Marshal Eugene and his staff and escort
Marshal Eugene and his staff and escort. My staff and I are on the left.
The village on the road
Russian Grenadiers and artillery defend the village
Reserves to the rear of the village
Enemy cavalry covering their left flank. They look elite or even Guard.
... to be continued ...
(Click here or click on the Campaign 09: Russia menu item to see all the parts with the latest at the top. A Campaign using Empire Campaign System and Empire V rules and Adler 6mm Napoleonic figures of the French invading Russia in 1812.)
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