Leipzig 1813 - Fighting retreat across the Elster River

Late but hopefully not to late our report from our THS presentation at CRISIS 2011 (Antwerp/Belgium).
See you at TACTICA 2012 (Hamburg/Germany)!

Our fictitious scenario is based entirely on historical events from the time of the liberation wars against Napoleon. It is located in one of the northern suburbs of Leipzig on the morning of the 19th October 1813, the last day of the Battle of Leipzig.

THE SCENARIO

Initial Situation: The French troops are being pushed back by the allied forces in the city and suburbs, and there is only one way left out of Leipzig, a bridge over the river Elster. Since the Army had pontoniers it remains a mystery why so far no pontoon bridge was built to create another escape route.
General Dombrowski, a Pole in French service, holds the northern suburbs of the city. His job is to build a pontoon bridge across the Elster and bring as many troops of the disorganized French army over to the western bank of the Elster to safety. At the same time he must fend off the attacks of Prussian and Russian armies building up slowly but surely against him.

Mission: The French general staff under General Dombrowski are faced with the following tasks:
1st - Organize and implement the withdrawal of the French army and build a pontoon bridge to relieve pressure on the existing bridge and speed up the withdrawal.
2nd - Secure and control the only passable road with the French/Polish rearguard. Here is heavy fighting to be expected.
3rd - Secure a bridgehead on the west bank. Since only light resistance from allied small units is expected, primarily skirmish troops will be used to reconnoiter and clear the area.

Procedure: Disengagement (1st) and rear-guard (2nd) are simulated by the team based on the Black Powder rules.
The skirmish (3rd) is designed as a participation game for up to 4 players and will be played with modified Black Powder rules supplemented with event cards. A game master is coordinates the scenario and gives a helping hand.

The french columns in the outskirts of Leipzig.

More and more troops marching forward to reach the saved positions on the east side of the river Elster ...

...Westphalian Grenadiers in the foreground, behind the Staff and baggage ...

... massed Saxon troops ...

... an overview of the situation ...

The polish troops take their positions to defend the retreat.

The first troops reach the river and the pioneers begins to build the pontoon bridge.

Meanwhile on the other side: Skirmish fightings between french and prussian/russian light troops.

NEUE BEFEHLE: Start the attack - the Prussians go on ...

After compleating of the bridge, the first french units begins the crossover.

The other side of battle ...

... and a other "other side" of Battle ... the "SPIRITs of 1813" ...

... appropos spirit: the spirit of alcohol ... to much for this little Drummer Boy: "Hey, go out of my garden ..."

After problems to coordinate the retreat with this f... "Windows 1798" ...

... the young guard arrives to protect the bridgehead.

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