DOLKENEWITZ – 1813 A scenario for LFS by Bob Hewson
This fictional scenario is set in the run-up to the great battle of Leipzig. Marshal Victor is frantically trying to reunite his divided corps. One of his divisions is the wrong side of the River Preisselster. Their only crossing point of the river is around a ford near to the village of Dolkenewitz. Victor has ordered the concentration at Dolkenewitz.
The short-sighted Austrian General Merveldt has been ordered to prevent the reunion and either drive the two parts of Victor’s corps apart, by taking Dolkenewitz, or cut the French off from Leipzig.
The OBs are based closely on the real composition of these two corps in the Leipzig campaign, but both sides have been scaled down a little, because of the size of the table used to play-test the scenario.
Terrain
The table is 6’ x 4’ and is set up as below.
The River Preisselster is a significant obstacle and can only be crossed within 6” of the ford marked on the map. Units crossing via the ford are not disordered, but if crossing elsewhere they are. Defenders receive a +1 terrain advantage. Artillery can only cross at the ford.
The yellow areas represent gentle hills. All woods are of normal density. Dolkenewitz village is a normal BUA with a defence factor of 2.
The game lasts 12 turns.
Victory conditions
Major Austrian victory: Prevent Dubreton’s division from reaching Dolkenewitz and either take and hold Dolkenewitz or have unshaken troops positioned on the road to Leipzig, within 8” of point Y.
Minor Austrian victory: Prevent Dubreton’s division from reaching Dolkenewitz.
French victory: Reunite Dubreton’s division with the main force at Dolkenewitz and ensure that there are no unshaken Austrian forces blocking the road to Leipzig. Any other outcome is a draw, but a winning draw can be achieved if casualties on the other side are greater than yours are by a factor of 10% or more of their original strength. French briefing
You must re-unite your corps and then fall back intact on Leipzig. Dubreton will enter at point X in game turn 2, in Column of March formation. He has orders to manoeuvre to Dolkenewitz, but can attack anything that gets in the way. All your other forces start the game with hold orders.
Until you have re-united with Dubreton’s division, you must hold Dolkenewitz. Once your corps is complete, you can start to retreat towards Leipzig (via the road at point Y).
French OB – Total 12,000 infantry, 46 guns
II Corps – Victor (Solid) -
1st Division – Dubreton (Cautious, Solid) 1st Brigade 24th Legére (2 battalions) C class SK2 19th Ligne (2 battalions) C class SK1 2nd Brigade 37th Ligne (1 battalion) C class SK1 56th Ligne (1 battalion) C class SK1 Divisional artillery 8x6lb battery B class Medium foot artillery
2nd Division – Dufour (Solid) 1st Brigade 26th Legére (2 battalions) C class SK2 93rd Ligne (2 battalions) C class SK1 2nd Brigade 46th Ligne (1 battalion) C class SK1 72nd Ligne (1 battalion) C class SK1 Divisional artillery 8x6lb battery B class Medium foot artillery
3rd Division – Vial (Bold, Solid) 1st Brigade 11th Legére (2 battalions) B class SK2 4th Ligne (2 battalions) C class SK1 2nd Brigade 2nd Ligne (2 battalions) B class SK1 18th Ligne (2 battalions) C class SK1 Divisional artillery 8x6lb battery B class Medium foot artillery 8x6lb battery B class Medium foot artillery
Corps artillery – Mongenet (Solid) 8x12lb battery B class Heavy foot artillery 6x6lb horse battery B class Heavy foot artillery
Dummy Blind (Bold, Solid)
Note; 5 Blinds altogether. C-in-C must be attached initially to a command or appear on table as a figure not as a blind. Austrian briefing
You are aware that one of Victor’s divisions is detached on the western side of the river. Your objective is to prevent a reunion with the main body and either force the two parts of the corps apart by capturing Dolkenewitz, or trap them by cutting the road to Leipzig.
You have been given general orders to attack and must conform to these. However, your units start the game with whatever orders you like.
Austrian OB – Total 12,600 infantry, 1,000 cavalry, 42 guns
II Corps – Merveldt (Poor)
Independent Brigade detached from below - Sorenberg (Solid D.Av-, LFS 0) Grenz battalion* C class SK2 Kienmayer Hussars (12 figures) C class Light cavalry Erzherzog Johann Dragoons (8 figures) C class Line cavalry 8x3lb battery C class Light foot artillery
1st (Advance Guard) Division – Lederer (Solid) 2nd Brigade Strauch IR (2 battalions*) C class SK1 Bellegarde IR (2 battalions*) C class SK1
2nd Division – Liechtenstein (Cautious, Solid) 1st Brigade Kaunitz IR (2 battalions*) C class SK1 Colloredo IR (2 battalions*) D class SK1 8x6lb battery C class Medium foot artillery 2nd Brigade Vogelsgang IR (2 battalions*) C class SK1 Reuss IR (2 battalions*) C class SK1 Landwehr battalion* E class SK0 8x6lb battery C class Medium foot artillery
Corps artillery – Unknown (Poor) 6x12lb battery C class Heavy foot artillery 6x6lb battery C class Medium foot artillery 6x6lb battery C class Medium foot artillery
Dummy Blind (Solid)
*Indicates battalion has 18 figures.
Note; 5 Blinds altogether. C-in-C must be attached initially to a command or appear on table as a figure not as a blind.