Advertisement

Active Sellers
Calendars
Puzzle Master
Things From Another World
FUN.com
Napoleon Retreats: Campaign in France, Part II
Napoleon Retreats: Campaign in France, Part II
by OSG (Operational Studies Group) (2019)
Player Count
2 to 4

Player Ages
10+

Playing Time
1 hour
Categories
  • Wargame
  • Napoleonic
  • Designers
  • Kevin Zucker
  • Mechanisms
  • Hex-and-Counter
  • Simulation
  • Dice Rolling
  • Artists
  • Charles Kibler
  • Christopher Moeller
  • Family
  • The Library of Napoleonic Battles
  • Rating: 7.1/10 from 5 users

    Description

    Napoleon Retreats - Campaign in France II

    Winter 1814: Hope Against Hope

    After dispatching Blücher’s Army of Silesia at Vauchamps, Napoleon diverted temporarily toward the Seine at Montereau, for an inconclusive brush with Schwarzenberg’s Army of Bohemia. His inveterate foe Blücher apparently had learned no lessons and threatened to move again on Paris. By March 3rd Napoleon was returning northward along the bank of the Ourcq River. The fall of Soissons, cheaply surrendered by General Moreau, saw the quarry escape over the Aisne River to link-up with 43,000 reinforcements near Laon, raising his strength to over 100,000. While the Emperor concentrated between Fismes and Berry au Bac, Blücher continued to retreat on Laon. Reaching Craonne, the Emperor decided to advance along the chemin des dames to test Blücher’s position on the plateau, and clear the flank of his advance on Laon.

    The next game of the TLNB-Series covers the Campaign in France, Part II:
    6 March to 13 March 1814.
    The major battle was Laon, on 9-10 March, when Napoleon, with 37,000, went up against Blücher's position, on the hill of Laon, with 85,000. (Marshal Marmont with a separate VI Corps was supposed to support the attack, but he was dispersed in a night combat.) Blücher wasn't feeling well and failed to pursue. One more battle was to follow (after two days for R&R) and Napoleon won that battle: Reims, against St. Priest. So actually, he won two out of three.

    Battles Simulated

    Craonne, Struggle for the plateau des dames, 7 March
    The chemin des dames runs the length of a continuous ridge from the N2 to the N44, the two main highways leading north to Laon. Blücher stationed Sacken and Woronzoff’s infantry on the plateau just west of Craonne. Napoleon decided on a frontal attack up the chemin on what he believed to be no more than a 20,000-man rearguard. The Russians begrudgingly gave ground, gaining it back in a counterattack, and throwing Ney off the Plateau. Once the French Guard cavalry had stabilized the situation, the Russian right flank began to give way under combined pressure of infantry and cavalry. Napoleon directed 88 guns from the Guard artillery to destroy the Russian center and sent the Guard infantry to attack along the chemin to complete the victory. The Russians withdrew in good order.

    Laon, Beginning of the End, 9-10 March
    Marshal Ney advanced on Laon in the morning snow. Bülow with 17,000 men held the suburbs of Semilly and Ardon. On the plain west of Laon, Winzingerode was posted with 25,000 men; east of Laon at Athies, Yorck and Kleist held another 25,000 men; Langeron and Sacken were in reserve with 36,000; Napoleon attacked with fewer than 40,000. As the southern suburbs traded hands, Blücher thought that he was being attacked just by an advanced guard, but Napoleon threw everything into Ney’s attack up until 6 PM. Marmont commanded a separate force of 10,000 which had managed to fight their way to Athies by 5 PM, camping for the night. At 7:30, the Prussian Yorck launched a combined arms attack that routed Marmont’s entire camp. A small group of French Guardsmen managed to halt the pursuit. Marmont lost 45 guns, all his wagons, and 3,500 men. Blücher lost a chance to destroy his foe’s small army.

    Reims, A Quick Success en passant, 13 March
    On March 12th the Russian General St. Priest snatched Reims from its small French garrison. Hearing of this, Napoleon and his small force moved east on the 13th, beginning their attack at 4 PM, quickly driving out the enemy, and cutting communications between Blücher and Schwarzenberg at the same time. Only 10,000 French troops were actually engaged against 15,000 of St. Priest. St. Priest was killed along with 3,000 men while losing 23 guns.

    Campaign Game, 6 -13 March

    All three maps fit together to create an irregular playing area 44"x68" and covering an entire week of fighting.

    • Three 22" x 34" maps
    • 560 die-cut units
    • 100 playing cards
    • Two rulebooks
    • 15 player aid cards
    • Game Box?

    STANDARD TLNB-GAME SYSTEM:

    • scale: 480m (525 yards)/ hex;
    • strength: 500-800 men/SP;
    • turn-duration: 1 hour/turn

    Game Discussions

    Add Comment

    You need to be logged in to comment.

    Comments (0)

    No comments yet. Be the first!

    Marketplace

    No listings at the moment.


    Do you own this game?
    Best Sellers
    Board Games





    Latest Searches: Hasbro lightsaber | Roseville | nfl strategy football | minecraft | free+board+games | Chico opoly | Monopoly marrero edition | Cape cod monopoly | pc | pukes and staggers | colorpop | Tick | fake | La Junta Monopoly | Dino froz | tapestry | lewis | would u rater | San Pedro opoky | revolt | Doug | binding | team | gnome | candy lane | Oceanside monopoly | Zathura | Rowan university | belles bourbon and bullets | 65
    Sitemap: All Categories | All Publishers | All Designers | All Mechanisms | All Artists | All Family
    © 2018-2024 BoardGames.com | Your source for everything to do with Board Games
    All Rights Reserved
    Please note: BoardGames.com will receive commissions from purchases made through links on this page.
    Privacy Policy | Contact Us