Dohna - 9 October 1813
Historical Background
The Coalition armies were closing in on Napoleon. Bennigsen’s Russian army in Bohemia moved north into Saxony. Facing the Russians were two French Corps occupying Dresden (when perhaps they would have been of far more use in Napoleon’s main army).
The French I Corps, now under Lobau, was deployed between Dohna and the Elbe River on October 9th. In late August this corps had been largely destroyed when it pursued too eagerly after the victory at Dresden, and the Coalition forces were able to surround it.
Partly rebuilt, the troops wished to redeem their reputation. General Bennigsen led the Russian forces in Bohemia forward against the French, with Bulatov commanding the right and Paskievich to the left. Bennigsen assumed personal command of the Russian center.
Hardegg’s cavalry was also brought up on the extreme left, and would attempt to turn the French right. Bulatov’s column opened the battle and successfully stormed the village of Klein-Sedlitz. The French counter-attacked and drove the Russians back. Bulatov then renewed his attack, and with support from artillery on the far bank of the Elbe, managed to drive the French back to Heidenau. On the left, Paskievich, after a hard fought battle, occupied Dohna with his disorganized forces. As the French prepared to counter-attack one more time, Hardegg’s Russian cavalry column, having passed through Sirsen, suddenly appeared on their right. To avoid being outflanked, the French had to yield the hard-fought field to the larger Russian force. As darkness fell the French withdrew in good order.
The French commander followed Napoleon’s orders to hold Dresden, surrendering later in the year, long after the fighting had surged far to the west on the French border.
The stage is set. The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. Can you change history?
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Set-Up Order
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Battle Notes
Russian Army
• Commander: Bennigsen
• 5 Command Cards
• 4 Tactician Cards
• Move First
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| 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
French Army
• Commander: Lobau
• 5 Command Cards
• 4 Tactician Cards
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| 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Victory
7 Banners
Special Rules
• The 5 town hexes, form a Temporary Majority Group Victory Banner worth 2 Temporary Banners for the Russian player or 1 Temporary Banner for the French player, when that side occupies an absolute majority, at the start of the turn. The French start with 1 Victory Banner (Temporary Majority Victory Banner Turn Start)
• The Elbe River is impassable.
• Pre-Battle Mother Russia Roll rule is not in effect.
