Berezina is the next battle from Dr Mark Smith's "Bloody Big Napoleonic Battles" Scenario book. I had played it before as part of a playtest, my regular opponent Mike was new to this battle. It's an interesting battle, with two separate areas of combat, logistical challenges and many strategic decisions to be made.
The French army has retreated from Moscow and is now heading West through the snow. The French formed army is disintegrating and is accompanied by a huge number of military stragglers and civilians.
The French task is to cross the Berezina river and avoid being trapped by two Russian armies. The river is not passable, but two emergency bridges have been created. One bridge can carry infantry and cavalry, one can take all forms of traffic. The scenario has 6 bases of transport, representing the logistic train that needs to cross the river. The bridges keep breaking down and must be diced for each move to see if they are passable.
The Russian task is to take a number of locations on the ground and to stop the French withdrawal of combat & logistic units. The French thus need to get the transport across the Bridges to gain Victory Points, which requires troops on the East bank, but are penalised if these troops are still on the East bank at the end of the game.
Here's the map:
Set up
Here's the table as set up, with troops in their initial deployment. The Russians can choose to use the road and go straight North, or take Borisov (to the left) and loop through the countryside to hit the bridges.
As the French, I needed to take Strakov (centre of photo) and hold on (or retreat slowly) on the West bank whilst screening the mob of troops/stragglers on the East bank.
Move 2
To the South, my right, The Russians pushed up the road to seal the Western bridge exits. Mike, as Russian, also stormed over the bridge and threw his troops at the brave French defenders of Borisov, wiping them out. I advanced Victor's troops to the South, hoping to buy time for the rest of the army to escape.
The battle for Stakhov commences, with New and Oudinot making a defence line North of the village in the woods and Marsh, not being fast enough to get to the village before the Russians.
Victor's troops form a defensive line.
Davout takes up defensive positions and the Guard cross the river to bolster the Western French forces. One wagon can be seen on the road heading north for the exit.
Move 4
On the West bank, the Russians main thrust goes up the road.
Into the French defenders!
With Guard in support
On the Eastern bank, Victor's troops have been beaten by the Russians - destroyed or run away...
The Eastern bank 2nd line gets ready...
Whilst the stragglers/transport mill about as the bridges fall apart - again! 5 units wait to cross. The purple "1" indicates a broken bridge.
Move 6By move 6 the Russians had closed up on the Eastern bank and were advancing to the French bridgehead. My rubbish die rolls meant I could extricate some infantry and cavalry, these were deployed to the South West, where both sides were extending their lines. I could not get any artillery or transport across, however. The Guard with artillery and cavalry were deploying in the West bank woods.
Move 8
By move 8 the Russians had worn down the Eastern Bridgehead, taking losses but demolishing the French defenders. On the West bank, both sides fought hard in the woods but no real progress was made.
The Western woods - hard fighting
The bridgehead - one transport unit (Austrian forge wagon, bottom left) has crossed the bridge. Davout's command is down to one viable unit. The French heavy cavalry is positioned on the North bridge. Mike and I agreed that the Russians could not attack them as there were still thousands of carts, wounded and dead in the way!
Move 9 - end of game
At the end of the game the French firmly hold the woods on the Western bank and stalemate has been achieved, with neither side able to decisively defeat the other.
At the bridgehead the Russians are now having problems concentrating too many attackers against the French rearguard. The Heavy cavalry continue to use the stragglers as a barrier. The forge wagon heads North.
Conclusion
It was a tense game to the end, but my poor bridging rolls meant that the transport elements were trapped on the East bank at the end of the game. This, and my failure to get and hold Stakhov, meant it was a Russian victory.
I was pleased with the West Bank troops and deploying the Guard there early on meant the Russian assault up the road stumbled.
On the East bank, my troops were able to slow down the Russians, assisted by the much further distances Mike's right hook needed to travel. It was only towards the end of the game that he threatened the bridgehead.
I thoroughly recommend this as a challenging game for both sides - one I am very happy to replay! Thanks to Mike for two days of excellent gaming, banter & bacon sarnies, thanks to Dr Mark Smith for the balanced & challenging scenario.
