Friedland 14 June 1807 - refight 2nd August 2024

A week after losing really badly at Eylau I once again donned the hat and cloak of Napoleon to fight the next battle in Mark Smith's "Napoleon's Bloody Big Battles" scenario book.  See here for more on these scenarios.  Mike hosted me in his wargames room in sunny Ilkley and battle commenced.  

Firstly, here is the map:

I was on the left of the table and Mike was to the right.  Here are the initial dispositions:

The French left

The French right.  The brave Russians have advanced as far as the bend in the river.  In the background is Friedland, with an impassible river on two sides and a Lake and a stretch of impassable river on the other.

Russian Turn 2 - French reinforcements head left

In the centre the Saxons & French assault Bagration's troops.  If Saxons are your thing, see my 1809 army here

By turn 3 things are hotting up.  In the centre the reinforcements shift left, whilst an infantry unit backed up by the Imperial Guard push towards Friedland.  

To the left Mortier has lined the ridge and the French cavalry are heading towards the extreme left hand river crossing objective.

Meanwhile, Ney is in the Sortlack Forest, wishing for some sort of road to get him out and adding a little impetus to getting the traffic jam sorted.  Overall the French are swinging left whilst pressurising the defenders of Friedland.

By turn 5 French plans are going well, if a little slow.  On the right Ney exits the Forest and moves to the centre.

In the centre the French cover Friedland and continue to shift their troops to the north of the Muhlen Floss.  The Russians defend the trees to the left and reinforce Friedland.

On the French left Mortier bombards the trees but bides his time.  His infantry, supported by K Cavalry, advance towards the extreme Russian right.

A little later....  French assaults go in to the middle of the Russian line.  Ney's infantry head for Friedland at top speed.

Mike shifts his Russians as the French assault on the centre pushes in his line.  French weight of numbers begin to tell as more fresh Frenchmen pile in.  Mortier provides flank cover at the right end of the wood.  On the extreme left the French and Russians standoff, neither side prepared to risk an assault.  In real life both side's skirmishers are probably trading food and drink...   

About turn 7 Ney's Corps infantry has moved into combat range of Friedland and driven off the Russian artillery defending the town.  One unit of Ney's cavalry has taken a big loop to go to Sortlack and claim that village for France.

On the left the extreme left is static, the French have broken the Russian line and are facing the Friedland defenders over the Muhlen Floss.

Here's another photo of the centre, before the assault.

Here's the French going in with the Russian defenders getting flanking fire across the Muhlen Floss.  The Russians get pushed out of Friedland and lose enough VPs for a French win.

The final French move in close up.  The Guard cavalry was made up of the Empress dragoons (who got a post here ) and the Dutch lancers (post here ).  Yes, I know they weren't there, but they are pretty and they need some time on the table.  It was nice to be able to field almost all of the French troops needed.

In conclusion:

Mike fought really well, made good use of cover and defended stoutly.  My dice rolling was better than Eylau and I won more firefights and hand to hands.  

The battle was in contention all the way through and delivered HQGE High Quality Gaming Experience - which is what we expect from BBB.  

Thanks to Mark Smith for an interesting and engaging day's fun!