Andy Loakes  - Aug 20, 2006 10:39 am (#2296 Total: 2298)  
Playing Auerstadt, WiF FE and Salerno via Cyberboard. 	 

Napoleon at the Crossroads: AAR

Richard Hartland and I have had the privilege of participating in the
playtesting of 'Napoleon at the Crossroads'. When we had finished
submitting our reports based on Scenario A: Opening Moves, Kevin took us
a little by surprise by asking for an AAR. Fortunately, though playing
face to face, we had used Cyberboard. There was enough there for me to
put the following AAR together. With the rules now in their final form,
the time is right to post them here. 

First though, a few caveats and apologies. I must stress that this is
based on a playtest. As such Richard and I often needed to make
assumptions until such time as Kevin clarified rules. We also failed to
note battle and attrition losses (and we adjusted unit strengths based
on erroneous set-up too. Any misspellings are mine. 

Because this was played to 'prove the rules' Richard and I were not
playing this too competitively and whilst we implemented some of the
'fog of war' aspects, we did play with the counters 'face-up'. 

Hopefully Richard, who is currently on holiday (vacation) might comment
further (and hopefully not contradict my take on events too much) 

All in all it was a very enjoyable game and one that I'm looking
forwards to getting my hands on in physical form 

INTRODUCTION 

SUMMARY OF ACTION: In appalling weather, the action takes place on three
fronts. Initial success is short lived for the French and, though they
will have occasional victories, they are generally kept on the back
foot. 

NUMBER OF TURNS PLAYED: 6 

WHO GOT THE BETTER OF THE CONTEST: The Allies retained the initiative
throughout. The play was non-competitive and, so, neither player can
claim to have had the upper hand per se 

WHOSE FORCES WERE IN THE BETTER POSITION: I suspect Richard would/will
be able to give a better assessment of this than me. The French were
constantly trying to consolidate their forces (around the Emperor) and
therefore often effectively implementing a fighting retreat. Both sides
had issues consolidating their forces either due to the initial
dispositions (in the case of the French) or due to limited Command Span
in the case of the Allies. 

WHO LOST THE MOST TROOPS: I'm not 100% sure on the level of losses on
each side. However, I'm pretty certain that had we done a body count
then the French losses would have been considerably higher with regard
to both battle and attrition losses - especially, for the latter, during
the horrendous weather of the first days. 

THE AFTER ACTION REPORT 

14-17 August 1813 – Thunder 

Langeron advances on Liegnitz but is routed and captured by the combined
forces of Ney, MacDonald, Lauriston and Marmont. Meanwhile
Latour-Mauboug and, further back, Napoleon march east. News of the
campaign’s opening victory will prove welcome news in the salons of
Paris. 

Bertrand & Reynier advance north towards Berlin 

18-20 August 1813 – The thunder storms continued 

The French success looks precarious however, as the bulk of the Army of
Silesia continues to arrive under Pahlen, Yorck and Blucher and advances
to force back MacDonald at the head of the extended French force.
Following MacDonald’s defeat, the remaining French forces facing the
Army of Silesia withdraw in an orderly manner towards Napoleon and
Victor who are consolidating at Gorlitz. Bonaparte then departs with the
Guard and heads towards Dresden 

Meanwhile Bernadotte, Winzingerode and Bulow move to shield Berlin from
the French advance. 

21-23 August – The storms subside but leave rain and mud in their wake,
the rivers remain swollen 

A new threat to the French arrives in the form of the Army of Bohemia as
it advances north toward Lobau with Barclay de Tolly at its head.
Napoleon and the Guard head south to join Victor and a small force under
Prince Pontiatowski near Zittau to head off the threat. 

From the north Tauentzien joins Bulow and Bernadotte’s march south from
Berlin as they seek to engage the French under Reynier and Bertrand 

In the east the French Bober army heads to Gorlitz in an attempt to
consolidate with the Emperor. The Army of Silesia has consolidated under
Blucher and catches Ney and the sizeable Bober rearguard, inflicting
heavy losses and driving the French ahead of them. News of the utter
rout of the French causes deep concern back home. St Cyr crosses the
Elbe at Dresden in an attempt to further strengthen the French
concentration of force 

24-26 August 1813 – Though the rain continues, it is less persistent and
the going eases 

In the south, Prince Hesse-Homburg & Wittgentsein seek to outflank
Bonaparte and Pontiatowski by moving north-west to Rumburk via
Georgeanthal, whilst Schwarzenberg advances north seeking to engage
Pontiatowski at Zittau, but the Pole proves elusive and withdraws to
join the Emperor. Victor also joins the force which advances to meet
Prince Hesse-Homburg. Hesse-Homburg is himself joined by Wittgenstein
and Barclay. The scene is set for a major clash of arms. 

There are significant losses on both sides but Napoleon is forced to
relinquish the field and fallback towards Bautzen. St Cyr’s recently
arrived force forms the rear-guard. The consternation in Paris deepens. 

Meanwhile Blucher continues his pursuit of the Bober Army, almost
catching the straggling MacDonald in the open between Bunzlau and
Lauban. MacDonald manages to avoid a battle and joins the survivors of
the Bober Army at Gorlitz. 

St Cyr continues his march east to join the main French force. 

27-29 August 1813 – The rain finally ceases; will this mark a change in
French fortunes? 

Hesse-Homburg pushes his advantage by also advancing towards Bautzen,
supported by Wittgenstein, cutting the road to the east of the town and
threatening the French lines of communication and trapping them between
his own forces and those of Barclay who closes on the rear-guard under
St-Cyr. The rearguard withdraws and joins the main French force under
Napoleon who then smashes Hesse-Homberg driving him off the road,
recoiling back to Georgenthal, with Nansouty’s Guard cavalry in pursuit.

Blucher advances on MacDonald at Gorlitz. The latter marches away
towards the Emporer and turns the tables by trapping Barclay between
himself and the Emperor’s force. Blucher engages Ney instead, smashing
him and sending him reeling with Blucher in hot pursuit. Schwarzenberg
advances to support Barclay de Tolly and Hesse-Homburg marches towards
the sound of the guns. 

As Barclay and Wittgenstein are engaged by MacDonald and the Emperor
both sides suffer heavy losses but, at the end of the day, it is the
Army of Bohemia that retains the field. 

To the North, the Army of the North splits with Tauenszien and
Winzigerode marching on the French garrison at Wittenberg. 

30 August-1 September - Fine weather continues 

Winzingerode attacks Wittenberg, defeating the French but failing to
enter the city. 

In the south Schwarzenberg pursues the retreating French whilst
Hesse-Homburg turns to engage the badly bruised Ney, joining Blucher at
Rumburk. The French under Ney are utterly demolished but MacDonald
drives Schwarzenberg off successfully. 

Vandamme, who has been advancing from Dresden, and Nansouty link up with
Napoleon facing Wittgenstein and drive him back successfully. Napoleon
then consolidates his force at Bischofwerda , leaving Vandamme to hold
off Barclay, and slams into Blucher driving him back. Unfortunately
Vandamme doesn’t share Napoleon’s good fortune and is forced back
towards Dreden. 

The limited success enjoyed by the French is not enough and Napoleon is
forced to execute a fighting withdrawal back towards Dresden.