The Battle of Pultusk 26th December 1806

Battle of Pultusk, 1806.

My historically dubious Battle of Maida game I put on at the club a while ago, (It’s Maida, JJ, but not as we know it) was a French Russian encounter in the snowy wastes - see link below if you missed that post. 

Devon Wargames Group - It's Maida JJ, but not as we know it.

I had randomly selected two commanders for that game, Lannes and Kamensky, so I was surprised to find that these two commanders had actually met on the field of battle, well nearly, as Kamensky feigned sickness and retired to his country residence near Oryol where he terrorised his serfs to such a degree that he was killed by one of them. The name of the battle was Pultusk, which took place on the 26th December 1806 – in the snow, between Russians and French. Game on.

A Heavy Russian Battery engages Claparede's Brigade.

The Battle of Pultusk saw an outnumbered French force attacking a Russian force which was positioned around the village of Pultusk on the river Narew. False intelligence led Napoleon to believe that the main Russian army was some 10 miles further north and only a small detachment was defending the river crossing at Pultusk. He ordered Lannes to attack without delay. 

It was only after battling up the muddy slopes of the ridge to the west of Pultusk under heavy artillery fire that Lannes realised the true position and was about to withdraw when the 3rd Division under Fournier arrived on the Russian right flank, having marched to the sound of the guns. The position was stabilised, but the Russian forces, imagining that the French forces were stronger than they were, withdrew, leaving the village of Pultusk and the river crossing in French hands.

Barclay de Tolly Jager's occupy Mosin Wood.

My order of battle roughly followed the historical ones, but substituting Brigade organizations for Divisions to make the game more manageable, although there were still over sixty units on the board. The one glaring exception to historical accuracy was the inclusion of the Old and Middle Guard Units which were nowhere near Pultusk on 26th December 1806, but I have played so many games when the Guard have been no more than a glowering presence in reserve (probably historical) that I thought it about time for them to get stuck in and show their ‘metal’, so to speak. Hardly historical, but I thought with the Chairman being upside somewhere peering into historical hobbit holes, I might just get away with it.

The players were given their respective troops deployment areas and the following briefing.

FRENCH

Your force of two Infantry Divisions and a Cavalry Division is to take the river crossing at Pultusk and secure the East West Axis Road. An equal sized enemy force of Divisional strength is positioned on the rising ground to your front. Your superior quality Units and an advantage in the mounted arm more than makes up for any inequality of numbers.

Claparède's Brigade about to dig in on the French Left.

RUSSIAN

Your force of two Divisions is to defend the river crossing at Pultusk and secure the East West Axis Road. An enemy force of Divisional strength is approaching from the South. Protect your supply lines running North and secure the two southern approach roads.

Forces deployed to the North of the Axis Road and in the village of Pultusk are not visible from the South.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

The first casualty of this bloody battle was an unfortunate gunner in the French II Division who stumbled in front of the gun as it was firing. This unfortunate incident was closely followed by a Russian round shot plunging into Gen de Brigade Michel Claparède horse, trapping him under the unfortunate beast. Possibly as a result of these two upsets and being confronted by apparently superior numbers, Gen de Division Louis-Gabriel Suchet decided his role would be to protect the French left and took up a defensive position.

Gen de Brigade Delaierre de Tilly successful reconnaissance.

On the French right, things were moving apace. Gen de Brigade Jacques Louis François Delaierre de Tilly commanding the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, saw a chance for glory. Seeing the bridge over the river Narew apparently unprotected, he formed the 21e Régt de Chasseurs à Cheval in march column and ordered them to advance at speed into the village of Pultusk. There was mutterings in the ranks, but these were soon quelled when de Tilly himself led the regiment forward. 

His reconnaissance in force was a success, he discovered a Brigade of Russian Grenadiers occupying Pultusk; however, his quest for glory was not, as the 21e Régt de Chasseurs à Cheval suffered first a crashing volley from the Grenadier Battalion of the Pavlovski Grenadier Regiment, followed by a mauling. It surprised no-one, save perhaps de Tilly, that the regiment promptly dispersed.

Lambert's 1st Cavalry Brigade deployed on the forward slopes.

Surprisingly it was at this point that Major General Count Bennigsen of the Russian II division received the following note from the Army Commander.

My Dear Count

I find myself much inconvenienced of late, as a consequence of which I am retiring to my estate near Oryo. You will oblige me by taking command of the Army, a burden which has become increasingly irksome.

Kamensky

Major General Ivan Andreievich Lieven crest the ridge line.

With Kamensky heading North at speed, it was now time for Count Bennigsen to show his mettle. Noticing a gap forming between the French I and II Division he sent out his Cossacks to do what Cossacks do, plunder baggage. He reinforced this move with a general advance of his Cavalry into the widening gap, supported by the 2nd Brigade of the II Division which appeared over the crest of the ridge. Their advance was temporarily halted by the Guard 12lb battery (yes, O.K. they weren’t at the battle either.) 

Mazovsky Grenadier Brigade with a firm hold on Pultusk.

The French were having some success on their right flank with a cavalry charge that routed the 1st Musketeer Battalion of the Kazan Musketeer Regiment which failed to form square. This charge was supported by Gen de brigade Jérôme Soulès 2nd Brigade of the I Guard Division but as the remaining regiments of the Russian Brigade had formed square or dense columns, the French were unable to exploit any success they had and Soulès had his leg taken off by a roundshot for his troubles. 

Russian cavalry pour into the gap.

Lannes had also become aware that his lines of communication were being threatened and was forced to divert part of the cavalry division to deal with the problem. As he was redeploying his forces a courier arrived with a (deliberately) misleading message from the 2nd Brigade Commander of the 2nd Division, Gen de Brigade Dominique Honoré Antoine Vedel.

General

I am marching to the sound of the guns from the East. I am driving my men hard and am one hour’s march away.

Gen de Brigade Antoine Vedel of the 2e Brigade of the II Division.

Russian Left Flank comes under pressure.

Sukin's Brigade awaits the onslaught.

Both Lannes and Suchet understood from the message that Vedel’s Brigade would arrive on the Russian Left Flank from the East. Suchet even commented, “that’s nothing to do with me,” failing to realise it was a message from one of his Brigade commanders. In fact, Vedel appeared from the West, (marching to the sound of the guns which were coming from the East) but arrived too late to have any real impact on the battle.

The Guard hold firm.

The Russians hold their ground.

With the Russians securely dug in around Pultusk and Lannes countering the threat on his lines of communications it was decided to call it a day and award a marginal victory to the Bennigsen’s Russian forces. No doubt Kamensky claimed all the plaudits.

Walther's Cavalry Division menace the Russian left

My thanks to all the players for their positive contributions and their willingness to play test a home grown set of rules.

Figures: AB and Bokki

Terrain mat: Tiny Wargames

Buildings: Timecast

David