The Russian Campaign - 1812
Borodino
September 7, 1812
Background
Napoleon's invasion of Russia had seen months of marching and fighting, but still the elusive Russian armies refused to stand for a decisive battle. Finally, just short of Moscow, they stood.
Location
Map
No map available yet.
Sequence
Do not use initiative.
France
Information Chart
Russia
Information Chart
Historical Order of Battle
Scenario Rules
- Arrival Times (All French when using alternate 8.4.3 only)I, IIC: 0800 hours +½ die roll and +3 for D9, +4 for C9, or + 5 for B9. Enters deployed at the chosen entry area.
- Davout's Flank MarchMarshal Davout proposed flanking the Russian positions, but was overruled by Napoleon, who feared that this would drive the Russians back without a decisive battle. French army morale is reduced to 28M until these units arrive. When the flanking forces actually enter, a French player rolls a die and uses the same entry area modifiers as above. One-third (round fractions up) of the modified result is the number of Turns the maximum game length is reduced (ie., the games ends that many Turns earlier than normal).
- The Imperial Guard"At a distance of 800 leagues from France one does not destroy one's last reserve," indicates Napoleon's reluctance to commit his finest infantry units (the brigades of the Middle and Old Guard divisions). Because of this, for this battle, each of these units has an army morale value of "8" each, instead of the normal "5".
- Alternate SetupBoth sides place their on-table forces as desired within the general areas of the historic locations.
- Czar AlexanderOptionalCzar Alexander was present on the battlefield, and was prone to interfere with the command of the long-suffering Kutusov. Because of this, at the start of every Russian Command Step, roll one die; if 1—4 is rolled, Alexander takes charge and the Russian army commander's command span drops to 16 inches; and, if 5—10 is rolled, Kutusov is in charge and the Russian army commander's command span is 22".
- Victory PointsThe buildings of Borodino and Utitz are worth 100/130 each, and the buildings of all other towns 40/52 French/Russian victory points each. The Great Redoubt is worth 250/325, the hill with the Fleches is worth 150/195, and the other six separate entrenchments are worth 50/65 French/Russian victory points each. Shevardino and the entrenchments near it are in French control, all other objectives are Russian-controlled at the game's start.
- OptionsOptionalThe French start with initiative. Both sides get 9 free rolls.
Arrivals
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No arrivals recorded.
Victory Locations
No victory locations recorded.
Historic Results
The battle opened with the quick storming of the town of Borodino by the French IV Corps. Delzon's division pushed across the bridge, but was repulsed and driven back across the Kalatasha, ending serious fighting on this part of the line. French I and III Corps seized the Fleches from the Russian VIII Corps, were driven out, re-took them, etc., as first one side and then the other attacked and counterattacked, drawing in the French VIII and the Russian II Corps as the morning wore on, until a final French attack (supported by IV Cavalry Corps) finally secured the position. Retiring behind Semyonvk Creek, the Russians (now including elements of the IV and V Corps) very slowly and grudgingly gave up ground into midafternoon, when the fighting petered out due to fatigue on both sides. Meanwhile, the French V Corps attacked the Russian HI Corps. Heavy fighting here was over by noon, with Utitz in French hands, but the nearby entrenchments still held by the Russians. Around 1100 hours, the French IV corps, redeployed since their morning attack, started assaults on the Great Redoubt. Morand's division took it, then Likhachev's division re-took it. Due to a threat from the Russian Cossacks and I Cavalry Corps on the French left that forced Eugene to redeploy, both sides let the fighting degenerate into a monster artillery duel until about 1400 hours. Then, the French II Cavalry and IV Corps went forward, stormed the Great Redoubt, and held it against all counterattacks. By 1600 hours, both armies were shot to pieces, and Napoleon refused to commit his Guard to rupture the sagging, but still intact, Russian line. Kutusov withdrew that night, and Napoleon claimed a victory. French losses were from 28,000 to 40,000, and estimates of Russian losses go as high as 60,000. The battle cost Russia the city of Moscow, which the pursuing French took on the heels of the retreating Russians, but it cost Napoleon his last opportunity to finish the campaign with one decisive victory.
Pictures
Links
No links recorded.
Required Bases
France - 169 bases
| # | Code | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Fr12# | 12# Heavy Artillery |
| 9 | Fr6# | 6# Horse Artillery |
| 2 | FrG12# | Guard 12# Heavy Artillery |
| 11 | FrGHC | Guard Heavy Cavalry |
| 7 | FrGLC | Guard Light Cavalry |
| 3 | FrLC | Light Cavalry |
| 72 | FrLN | Line Infantry |
| 27 | FrLT | Light Infantry |
| 21 | FrOGD | Old Guard Infantry |
| 10 | FrYGD | Young Guard Infantry |
| 169 | Total | |
Italy - 12 bases
| # | Code | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | It12# | 12# Heavy Artillery |
| 2 | It6# | 6# Horse Artillery |
| 3 | ItGCV | Guard Cavalry |
| 5 | ItGD | Guard Infantry |
| 12 | Total | |
Poland - 25 bases
| # | Code | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pd12# | 12# Heavy Artillery |
| 3 | Pd6# | 6# Horse Artillery |
| 4 | PdLC | Light Cavalry |
| 6 | PdLEG | Legion Infantry |
| 11 | PdLN | Line Infantry |
| 25 | Total | |
Russia - 313 bases
| # | Code | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Rs12# | 12# Heavy Artillery |
| 26 | Rs6# | 6# Horse Artillery |
| 17 | RsCGN | Converged Grenadier Infantry |
| 16 | RsCLC | Cossack Cavalry |
| 17 | RsGD | Guard Infantry |
| 5 | RsGHC | Guard Heavy Cavalry |
| 4 | RsGJG | Guard Jager Infantry |
| 17 | RsGLC | Guard Light Cavalry |
| 24 | RsGN | Line Grenadier Infantry |
| 5 | RsHC | Heavy Cavalry |
| 27 | RsJG | Jager Infantry |
| 26 | RsLC | Light Cavalry |
| 68 | RsLN | Line Infantry |
| 23 | RsMI | Militia/Foot Cossacks Infantry |
| 313 | Total | |