Glasgow & District Wargaming Society
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Glasgow & District Wargaming Society |
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The Race for the Borisov Bridge The year is 1812. Napoleon’s Grande Armee evacuated Moscow on 19 October and begins the retreat to Smolensk. As the first snow falls the battered army struggles into the ruins of that city on 9 November. Napoleon realises that he can’t winter in Smolensk so the retreat must continue. Kutuzov’s chasing army has circled the city and plans to cut the French off. To the north Russian troops from Finland join with Wittgenstein to attack the French II, VI and IX Corps under Victor who is ordered to defeat them. Of greater concern is the position to the south where Admiral Chichagov’s veteran army, freed from fighting the Turks, is seeking to avoid Napoleon’s Austrian and Saxon allies and march on Minsk. Chichagov orders Sacken with 30,000 men to keep the Austrian’s under Schwarzenberg busy whilst he marches northward. He does so at a leisurely pace unaware that Napoleon has even left Moscow and the importance of his role. Minsk has vast French stores and its capture would not only deprive Napoleon of the refit his troops badly need, but also allow the Russians to capture the bridge over the Beresina at Borisov. This would cut the Moscow – Warsaw road and sever the French from the rest of Europe.
The garrison at Minsk is commanded by the Polish General Bronikowski with 6 battalions of infantry and a regiment of cavalry. He receives vague reports from Schwarzenberg about Russian movements to the south and puts the garrison on alert. He sent out appeals to other French commanders. Dombrowski’s Polish division arrived on 16 November but Oudinot’s Corps at Bobr only moved as far as the Borisov Bridge where he established a tete du pont. The Russian cavalry commanded by the émigré General Lambert cut off Minsk and Chichagov began the siege. After a failed escalade the Russian heavy guns opened up on the 20th. At the same time the Grande Armee had reached Orsha having fought through Kutuzov’s forces at Krasnoi. It was here that Napoleon heard of the siege of Minsk by 45,000 Russian troops. After two failed assaults Chichagov decided to abandon the siege and leaving a blockading force at Minisk marched to Borisov for his anticipated meeting with Wittgenstein on the 22nd. Kutuzov’s pursuit of the Grande Armee was limited to the Cossack divisions after Krasnoi and his main army was resting at Kopys. Battle for the Borisov Bridge At 3pm on the 23rd Chichagov arrived at Borisov. He knew there where French troops there but not who and how many. The next day Cossacks found a ford across the river to the north at Studienka and raided II Corps baggage taking prisoners. To Chichagov’s astonishment he discovered that Napoleon, far from being at Moscow, was entering Borisov! He withdrew south to Usha and sent messengers in all directions. Napoleon in a flurry of activity recognised this opportunity to crush Chichagov and ordered all forces to concentrate over the bridge except Victor’s Corps that was ordered to hold off Wittgenstein in Borisov town. Oudinot was ordered towards Minsk and then to cut south in an attempt to flank Chichagov’s left. However, he clashed with Voinov marching to rejoin Chichagov, whose army was drawn up with his right flank resting on Usha village. Chichagov’s scouts eventually find Kutuzov and the main Russian army. Kutuzov sends his advanced guard ahead of Tolstoy’s 4th Corps and Wurttemberg’s 2nd Corps in an attempt to support Chichagov and hit Napoleon’s left flank. But he warns Chichagov that they are unlikely to arrive until the 27th at the earliest. Equally to the south west, Schwartzenberg marching towards Minsk, skirmishing with Sacken, hears about the concentration at Borisov and marches to the battle. French Briefing It is dawn on 26th November. The Grande Armee has largely crossed the bridge at Borisov and is ready to attack Chichagov at Usha. Oudinot has been ordered to crush the Russian’s under Voinov and fall on Chichagov’s left flank. You are aware that Schwartzenberg is somewhere to the south-west but don’t expect him for at least a day. You are more worried about Kutuzov who is somewhere to the east. Your aim is to destroy Chichagov then regroup and resupply at Minsk before facing the main Russian army. Russian Briefing Chichagov’s army is facing the Grand Armee at Usha. Voinov covers the left flank and you are hoping that Kutuzov will arrive on the right. Your aim is to hold this position until Kutuzov arrives although the infantry at least are unlikely to arrive until tomorrow. Acknowledgement The idea for this scenario comes from a chapter in Jonathan North’s book The Napoleon Options – Alternate Decisions of the Napoleonic Wars. In reality Bronikowski abandoned Minsk and all its supplies to Chichagov on 21 November resulting in disaster for Napoleon. In North’s alternative history after routing Chichagov Napoleon reorganises at Minsk and Kutuzov halts suspecting a trap. In the ensuing stalemate Napoleon sorts the Polish question and wins over the Austrian’s, thus securing the east whilst he sorts out Spain. Russia falls into anarchy during a new period of troubles and the Austrian’s conquer the Balkans and become the dominant state in Germany. France in the west and Austria in the east became the new world order. Vive la France! For the Order of Battle for this scenario - contact Dave Watson
Napoleon and the Guard approach Chichagov's army
On the other flank Oudinot attacks Voinov.
The French get across the stream
Austrian's arrive on the French right
But the French are held on the right. |
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