by Zachary Grant, 20 April 2025
Welcome back to the second part of How (Not) to Win the Battle of Guttstadt After Action Report (AAR). I’m still tinkering with how I want to write these AARs, so my apologies in advance for inconsistent screenshot layouts. Hopefully, I’ll have a consistent style by the final installment next week.
When we ended last week, the Russian Advance Guard was coping with multiple setbacks caused by the French infantry guarding Altkirch. The Cossacks continued to screen the Russian right flank, keeping those pesky French cavalry scouts away from the Russian main force. Raevsky’s 2d Infantry Regiment was advancing to join the Cossacks guarding the southern road to Guttstadt and Baggovut’s 1st Infantry Regiment was approaching Altkirch, with the intent to swing around the eastern side, in order to attack from the south.
most images can click to enlarge
By 0800 Raevsky’s 2d Infantry Regiment joins the Cossacks guarding the southern road. There is a group of French cavalry advancing from the south. The Russian Advance Guard shuffles slightly to the west to keep the road leading south clear for the advancing 1st Infantry Regiment. I don’t want to repeat the traffic jam I had earlier. Finally, the lone Cossack unit that was scouting the road leading to Altkirch has almost reached the other Cossacks guarding the southern road.
The French cavalry heading north suddenly charges the Cossacks screening the newly arrived 2d Infantry Regiment. Although the French succeed in pushing the Cossacks out of the way, they are disrupted and unable to continue their charge into the Russian infantry. There are now at least five disordered French cavalry squadrons directly in front of three Russian infantry battalions at point blank range.
Here’s the 3D view of the aftermath of the French cavalry charge.
The French cavalry stagger back in surprise in the face of all those Russian muskets. The Russian 2d Regiment advances to point blank range and peppers the French cavalry with musket fire, causing 20-30 casualties per volley. The Cossacks that were charged by the French quickly wheel round and prepare to counter attack as soon as possible. Meanwhile, near Altkirch, the 1st Regiment marches towards the French from the south, while the Advance Guard approaches Altkirch to begin their attack from the north.
As the Advance Guard begins to move, Bagration watches in horror as the French infantry in Altkirch fire upon the approaching Advanced Guard with such force that three battalions break and rout. This is worse than the last time!
While the Advance Guard suffers another setback, the 2d Regiment continues to send volley after volley of musket fire into the French cavalry. The French are now considered isolated because of the Cossacks behind them, which makes the French weaker than normal. Baggovut continues to slowly position his regiment for an attack into Altkirch from the south; however, word reaches him about the Advance Guard and he wonders how long he’ll need to wait before the assault begins. From the north, more reinforcements arrive in the form of the 3 Column Cavalry Regiment led by Bibikov. This regiment has horse artillery!
By 0850 not much transpires, other than the hapless French cavalry, caught between the Russian infantry and the Cossacks, are starting to rout. Sensing that the time is ripe, the Cossacks charge the remaining French Cavalry.
The remaining French Hussars don’t stand a chance and flee the area.
Here are the results as seen from the 3D view in the game.
The turn ends with the Advance Guard regrouping after three battalions routed and three squadrons of the Russian Cavalry Regiment quickly passing Altkirch on their way to support the 2d Infantry Regiment and the Cossacks.
At 0900 the French cavalry that attacked the Russians are falling back; however, a new group of French cavalry are spotted by a Cossack scout I sent south along a parallel path to the main road. There are at least six French squadrons trotting up to meet the Russians. They look like they might be hussars.
I decide the 2d Infantry Regiment shouldn’t try to travel south along the main road, so I order Raevsky to move west toward the same path the Cossack scout is currently using.
This is the latest episode in a running playthrough of Campaign Eylau-Friedland from Wargame Design Studio; you can find the links to all published episodes at the end of article, with new installments each Sunday
My plan is to use the path to avoid the French cavalry while the Cossacks and Bibikov’s Cavalry Regiment worry about the French on the main road to Guttstadt. The Russian Cavalry Regiment has horse artillery on the way, so that’s something I can use to weaken the French cavalry before attacking them.
The Russian 3d Infantry Regiment, commanded by GM Markov, arrived a couple turns ago and is marching towards Altkirch. I decide to use Markov’s forces in the attack on Altkirch too, so the Advance Guard and the 1st Infantry Regiment patiently wait for them to arrive. There is Russian heavy artillery with the 3d Infantry Regiment, which I’ll use to soften the French defensive positions at Altkirch.
Trundling down the road, behind the 3d Infantry Regiment, is more Russian artillery. The two lead batteries are horse artillery and the following three batteries are heavy artillery.
Here’s the situation north of Altkirch.
Here’s the situation south of Altkirch.
And now we enter a lull in the battle as the Russians maneuver their forces into position for the next attack at Altkirch, so I’m skipping the boring bits. For funsies, I send a Cossack to scout Lingnau. This is a victory point location, so I might nab a couple extra VPs, which can’t hurt. The worst that can happen is I find a whole lot of French bivouacked in the town.
We are nearing the end of turn 24, which is another good stopping point for this installment. As you will see in the pictures below, Mecklenburg has arrived with his 4th Infantry Regiment and he is making his way toward Altkirch. Pahlen moved the Advance Guard completely to the west of Altkirch to give Markov’s infantry plenty of space to attack from the north. Baggovut continues to patiently wait south of Altkirch. Bagration watches as the Russian heavy artillery unlimbers and sights their guns on the French infantry.
In the south, we see Bibikov’s horse artillery is set up on the high ground and ready to defend the Russian cavalry. They’ve already fired a couple times causing minor casualties to the French Hussars. Raevsky’s 2d Infantry Regiment is slowly working its way south along the path with a Cossack scout leading the way. The Cossack spots even more French cavalry, probably guarding the entrance to Guttstadt. The lone Cossack traveling towards Lingnau is almost at their destination. What surprises await them there?
Can the Russians take Altkirch? Is Lingnau unguarded, or will there be French forces waiting to greet the Cossack scout? Can Raevsky get to Guttstadt? What about all those French cavalry facing off against Bibikov’s cavalry? Tune in next week for the final installment to learn what happens next!
Campaign Eylau-Friedland AAR – How (Not) to Win the Battle of Guttstadt
PART 1 ~ PART 2 ~ PART 3
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