The Engagement at Schleiz - Napoleonic Action from the 1806 Campaign.

 

The Engagement at Schleiz occurred on October 9th, 1806, marking the very first clash of the War of the Fourth Coalition during the Napoleonic Wars, so it was appropriate that in the October meeting, October 10th, four tolerant and amiable wargamers should play a scenario based on this first meeting between French and a mixture of Saxon and Prussian forces.

Why am I collecting armies that have no or little chance of winning? Well, my first army was an 1815 Dutch Belgium Division. ‘Nuff said. If you want to see how they fared, have a look at their last outing.

Devon Wargames Group: The Battle of Waterloo June 18 1815 Braine l’Aleud - Changing History

So why collect such a problematic army? Well, precisely for that reason. I wanted to try to model the strictures of command and doctrine that this army fought under and to understand the challenges faced by their Generals when confronted with a foe with a manoeuvre and combined arms doctrine. 

Also, well, AB Jena Prussian figures are just gorgeous, and Eureka do a wonderful quirky Saxon 1806 army. What’s there not to like?

For an excellent account of the engagement I thoroughly recommend ‘Mike’s blog, Brilliant Actions of the Napoleonic Wars’, which I found extremely useful, not least because of the map, link below.

1806 Campaign Begins: Combat of Schleiz – Brilliant Actions of the Napoleonic Wars

The information and map given to the players was as follows:

PRUSSIAN/SAXON - Linear Doctrine.

Delay the French advance and maintain control of the roads North of Schleiz.

Deploy anywhere behind 1’ from Southern edge. Any Units deployed in obscured terrain (Schleiz and Oschitz Wood) are marked as blinds, except skirmishers. Two Additional Decoy Blinds.

General-Major Bogislav Friedrich Emanuel von Tauentzien

Prinz Johann Chevau-légers Regiment

Albrecht Dragoons Regiment

4lb Horse Artillery Battery

Advance Guard - General-Major Karl von Bila

Rosen Fusilier Battalion

Werner Jäger Battalion

4 Kronhelm Jäger Companies

3 Graf von Wedel Fusilier Companies

Bila Hussar Regiment No. 11 (6 Squadrons)

SAXON

Saxon Infantry Brigade- General-Major Johann Christian von Zweiffel

1 Bn Prinz Maximillian Infantry Regiment No. 28

2 Bn Prinz Maximillian Infantry Regiment No. 28

1 Bn Rechten Infantry Regiment No. 12

2 Bn Rechten Infantry Regiment No. 12

8lb Foot Artillery Battery

FRENCH  - Combined arms and dynamic manoeuvre Doctrine.

Gain control of Schleiz and the two Northern roads.

• Turn 1 1er Brigade along Southern edge in Oschitz Wood.

          Watier Cavalry Brigade along Southern edge East and West of Oschitz.
          Général de Division Jean-Baptiste Drouet on road passing through Oschitz.

• Turn 2 2e Brigade along Southern edge in and around Oschitz.
• Turn 3 Divisional Artillery on road passing through Oschitz.

Général de Division Jean-Baptiste Drouet

8lb Foot Battery

4lb Horse Battery

1er Brigade- Général de Brigade François Werlé

1/27e Régiment d'Infanterie Légère

2/27e Régiment d'Infanterie Légère

3/27e Régiment d'Infanterie Légère (5 Elite companies)

2e Brigade - Général de Brigade Bernard-Georges-François Frère

1/94e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

2/94e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

1/95e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

2/95e Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne

Any Voltigeurs company may detach to 1er Brigade

Cavalry Brigade - Général Watier

2e Hussards

4e Hussards

5e Chasseurs a cheval

General-Major Bogislav Friedrich Emanuel von Tauentzien took up a strong defensive position with the ford being covered by his cavalry, the Saxon Infantry Brigade of General-Major Johann Christian von Zweiffel occupying Bergkirche St. Marien and Schleiz and the Advanced Guard deployed in Oschitz Wood. 

Any Units deployed in obscured terrain were marked with Blinds, with two additional decoy blinds being placed in Oschitz Woods. The two Artillery batteries were deployed in Bergkirche St. Marien churchyard and in the gap between the church and the village of Schleiz with good fields of fire covering the approaches.

Drouet ordered the Light Infantry of Werlé’s Brigade to clear Oschitz Wood and for Watier’s Cavalry Brigade to probe the southern approaches to Schleiz. Bickering skirmish fire confirmed that Oschitz Wood was occupied and the two strong battalions of Werlé’s Brigade pressed on, confident in their ability. The wood seemed lightly defended so Werlé ordered the 2/27e Régiment d'Infanterie Légère to form up in half companies on the road with the view of advancing on Schleiz. 

Just as they were preparing to advance the Rosen Fusilier Battalion appeared out of the thick undergrowth and engaged the 2/27e who quickly returned to open order and returned fire. It was now that the full strength of the Prussian forces was realised. The Prussians were happy to slowly give ground but the French did not have the numbers to gain any tactical superiority in this part of the battlefield.

As this bickering fight continued, Watier’s light cavalry advanced towards Schleiz and soon uncovered the Saxon position.

Having done their job, they retired behind the newly arrived Brigade of Général de Brigade Bernard-Georges-François Frère and took no further part in the battle, considering the ford over the river Wisenttal to be too strongly defended. Frère’s Brigade lost no time in launching a strong attack with all four battalions on Schleitz and the horse battery on its western outskirts. 

The two battalions attacking the horse artillery battery were stopped in their tracks by more than a whiff of grapeshot, but the other two battalions braved the Saxon infantry storm of lead and advanced into the village, engaging Prinz Maximillian’s two Infantry Battalions.

The first was forced further back into the village, but the second, against all odds, held and beat off the attack, even capturing Frère himself, who, like all good French Generals, was leading from the front – at least, that is what he told his capturers and that is what was later reported in Le Moniteur Universel. The absence of his sword was never investigated or questioned.

Somewhat bloodied, Frère’s Brigade retired and reformed. But the attack, although unsuccessful, had seriously weakened the Saxon centre and they started to withdraw, some voluntarily and others because they felt the need.

The second French attack that went in was met with greater success, any remaining Saxon forces being repelled from the village, except the wounded and dead, of which there was a large number. 

However, having gazed at an empty ford for most of the day, the Saxon cavalry had taken up a position covering the two northern roads exiting the village denying the opportunity of a further French advance. Drouet had to wait for more troops to arrive to press home his advantage which gave the Saxon and Prussian forces time to withdraw to a new defensive position on the high ground to the north of Schleiz.

It was an interesting engagement that showed if a Prussian/Saxon army held a good defensive position, command and control was not such an issue and they would be hard to shift. What happens when they are in open fields and widely spread out might be another matter. We shall see.

My thanks as ever to my friends at DWG who are happy to act as guineapigs and tolerate my on the fly decisions. Their support and constructive comments are always appreciated. And they’re such a great group of gamers who play in the right spirit and with humour. My particular thanks to the tenacious Prussian/Saxon players, Mike and Ian and the ‘have a go’ French players, Mark and JJ.