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Our 15mm Napoleonic Game, 04/21/2001

The Battle of KULM

Played at Hobbytown in North Jackson

Larry Reeves was the game-master and the creator of the rules for this Napoleonic battle based on the Battle of Kulm, August 29 & 30, 1813.

The Historical Battle

After their defeat at the battle of Dresden the army of Bohemia dispersed and headed back to Bohemia to defend it from any French attack. The French commander Vandamme was instructed to conduct the pursuit. The rest of the French army would followed up, moving south towards Bohemia. Napoleon. believing the matter to he in his favor, sent his Old Guard back to Dresden and had the Young Guard halt at Pima. Vandamme, moving along the road from Pima through Peterswalde and Tellnitz was getting into a position where he could cut off the Allied retreat. The Allied tried to stop this by putting up a defense at the town of Prestanov, Vandamme's pursuit was checked and the pass into Bohemia remained open for the reteating allied army.

Vandamme moved back to the city of Kulm and started to build a defense until the rest of the French army could join in the fight. On August 30 the Austrians and Russians attacked the city of Kulm. During the retreat the Prussian corps under Kleist had gone missing. Trying to get back to Bohemia he found that all the roads were blocked by the French. The only road that was not blocked was the road that Vandamme had used in his pursuit. Taking a risk and using this road he by chance came upon Vandamme's Corp in the rear while it was fighting the Austrians and Russian. This is where our battle begins.

Larry Reeves

Russian cavalry advancing on their right flank. Photo taken from across the stream, in a position occupied by the Prussian army at the game setup, but occupied by the French on turn 1. The infantry, barely visible on the extreme left of the photo is massed against the town of Kulm, just out of sight off the left edge of the photo.

Masses of Russian infantry advancing towards the town of Kulm. The white building, ruins and haystacks were not contested by the French except for some skirmishing voltigeurs.

Closeup of Kulm showing the gate which was blown open on turn three by Austrian artillery. No infantry was able to advance through it on that turn. Three French battalions and a medium battery were preparing a reception for their guests on turn 4, but the game ended after turn 3.

Prussian Infantry supported by Russian Cossacks move forward towards the rear of Kulm. The Cossacks were only out for a bit of sport and looting. They retired after an unfortunated encounter with some French infantry squares.

Russian infantry advances on Kulm. Skirmishers are being deployed by “General Hand”.

A view towards the north-west showing Kulm and the French troops deployed against the Prussians on turn 1. The Prussian Guards in the lower left foreground (white “busch” plumes on shakoes) took the French guns in the center of the picture, but could not hold them. Note the tree, cut down by errant fire.

Looking due north. The mass of French troops in column on the hill in the center of the photo are actually just off the previous photo to the right.

A storm of French light and heavy cavalry charges after the Prussians who are falling back into the corner formed where the stream exits the table top.

Heavy French columns press after the Prussians. This is probably taken during turn 2. The Prussian guards can be seen falling back in the left center of the photo. In the distance on the upper right, the Prussian Landwher lancers start on their “death or glory” ride. Their bravery (and luck) allowed them to overrun two French batteries and the infantry battalion to their rear.

After this melee they broke through and lanced the retreating gunners and infantrymen. On turn three, the lancers found themselves blocked by two battalions of infantry, front and rear, and their right flank was crushed by a column of French curirassiers. The survivors were taken prisoner, but they had done well for their Prussian leaders.

A fuzzy image shows a tremendous melee on turn two in the rear of the French grand battery. All of the Prussians who attacked here were destroyed by the end of turn three.

The placid and orderly advance of the Austrian cavalry on the extreme allied left begans to worry the French and you can see the first squadrons of the French heavies drawn up near the small hill to the bottom left of the image. The French lights continued their pursuit of the retreating Prussian forces.

Forward the Eagles! Prussian artillery at the extreme bottom center of the image are attacked on three sides by French infantry and light cavalry. Low on ammunition, the gunners were cut down to a man. In the right center, a mass of French cavalry move forward - sabers aloft as they aim for the mixed retiring Prussian units at the left center of the image.

On the hill in the background, the last Prussian battery in action can be seen, under attack by two French battalions.

A French battery in center, pulled back to re-ammunition after going “low on ammo” while cannistering the Prussian infantry. A column of cuirassiers rides over the hump-backed bridge, attacking the Prussian Landwher lancers. French cuirassiers in foreground have turned to face the white-coated Austrian Cuirassiers who are contemplating fording the stream.

Another view of French cavalry dashing about in all directions, riding down fleeing Prussians.

More photos to come!

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