Bautzen (Day 2) Preititz
May 21, 1813
Historical Background
On the 21st, the battle resumed. The ferocity of Oudinot's attack the previous day had worried the Allies, and they reinforced their left to try and push Oudinot's XII Corps back. As Oudinot was pushed back, he requested reinforcements, but this was denied as it suited Napoleon's plans to have the Allies overextend their flanks.
Ney was under orders to be at Preititz by 1100AM and Lauriston would advance on Ney's left, deepening the envelopment behind the lines Blucher's retreat. Marmont and Soult would attack as soon as Ney reached Preititz. Ney snarled the situation, taking Maison's division from Lauriston to cover his right flank, but failing to mass his own troops. Lauriston advanced very cautiously on the far flank, forcing Barclay to shift most of his corps toward Baruth. Thus aided, Souham, the lead division took Preititz around 1030. When Napoleon's orders reached him, Ney was fearful to advance thinking he would upset Napoleon's timetable. He was probably also worried that his other divisions had not caught up to him.
As the fighting was growing more noticeable on the extreme left, Napoleon assumed that Ney was in position and so ordered Soult to take command of IV Corps and seize the Allied center right. The 20,000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, and 30 guns of IV Corps launched into a brutal attack against General Blucher's position and his key fort. Napoleon moved 60 guns of the Imperial Guard into a supporting position, and before long the fort was taken and Blucher was falling back. However, IV Corps could not find any good ground to deploy their artillery on for the next stage of the attack, and so the attack lost momentum.
Kleist managed to drive the unsupported Souham back on Gleina, and Ney lost his remaining wits. Ordering Lauriston to close up on his left, he put in his first available division (Delmas) to recover Preitits; then, galled by Blücher's artillery firing into his right flank, he sent Delmas attacking westward, keeping the rest of his corps ready to support them.
Almost trapped, but keeping their men under tight control, Blücher and Yorck slipped out past Ney.
This battle focuses on the Allied attempt to retake Pretitz, and keep the French from advancing and interrupting lines of retreat.
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
Allies Army
• Commander: Kleist
• 5 Command Cards
• 4 Tactician Cards
• Move First
2 Iron Will
(move first)
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| 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
French Army
• Commander: Ney
• 5 Command Cards
• 4 Tactician Cards
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| 9 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Victory
7 Banners
Special Rules
Mother Russia rule is in effect, roll 4 dice and reroll sword results.
Preititz is a Temporary Allied Objective (turn start) worth 1 victory banner. (Temporary Victory Banner Turn Start)
The French player receives one Permanent victory banner for each unit he exits off the Allied map edge.
The stream stops movement, but has no effect on battle except for cavalry and artillery that battle into or out of it (-1 die)
