3 June the Second Battle: Bethany

With Makowsky’s brigade extracted from Bertogne, we now turn out attention to the Southern thrust. Brigade Wasserman has constructed some hastily prepared positions. Amongst the low rolling hills east of Noville lies the rural village of Bethany, mostly a collection of farms. A sharp fight developed between Wasserman’s Brigade and the Slobobian I Corps.

The focus of our attention over the next few days will not be this fight per se, but a smaller action that occurs on the flank of the man action. I am using maps from an area we have hiked and patrolled in extensively for the past six years. Myself and both commanders have also engaged in many tactical terrain walks back there. I have constructed a miniatures table based on this terrain and it will be a mass skirmish battle with each player controlling at least a battalion of troops. I have put together some rules; we are using 6mm forces at a figure scale of about 1:2 and terrain scale of about 1”=25m.

General Situation

The Slobobian Army's I and II Corps continues its advance west along the main southern route and is currently 10 miles east of Noville. Freedonian cavalry have identified the strength of this force at approximately 40,000. This force is advancing at a rate of 10-15 miles per day. Brigade Wasserman is the designated covering force along this southern route. It conducted a delaying action along the frontier on 1 June and withdrew along the main route on 2 June and began preparing positions at Bethany. General Wasserman has selected what he believes to be a strong position along the enemy’s route of advance.

Tactical Situation (Blue):

Gen Wasserman has tasked the 7^th Jaeger battalion under Major Wiggins with flank and rear security for his position. Wiggins has headquartered himself at the Lourenco farm which is astride Wasserman’s route of withdrawal. The terrain surrounding this position is heavily wooded and swampy, but there is a trail that provides access to Wasserman’s rear. Wiggins is tasked with securing this area and keeping the Brigades route of withdrawal open. Major Wiggin’s force is comprised of:

7^th Jaegers (four companies) about 800 men.

1 section of two 4-lber guns

1 troop of Dragoons.

Tactical Situation (RED)

I Brigade have been tasked with conducting an assault against the Freedonian positions direct from their line of march. II Brigade supports the main effort. Slobobian cavalry have identified a potential flanking route to get around the Freedonians. II brigade commander has been directed to develop this flanking option. He has tasked Colonel von Tripp to take a force along the route discovered by the cavalry and cut the enemy’s route of retreat. Colonel von Tripp’s force consists of:

2bn-IR13. (6x companies) about 1000 men

1 section of 6-lbr guns

1 squadron of dragoons

Battle Area inside back rectangle

The actual table

Checking out the applicability of two computer games for camapiagns

Over the holiday break we conducted a few experiments using Gettysburg:Scourge of War and Histwar: Les Grognards. These are two good strategy wargames. SOW takes place in the American Civil War and Histwar is Napoleonic.

During these tests I controlled all the forces yet passed orders and updates to the players via maps.  I found SOW easier to us in his manner. In SOW I was able to find a good printed map of the battle area and pass sketch map updates to the players. Then I would use the courier system to send my interpretations of their orders to the various brigades.  It actually works very well, though you cant save a battle in process so its something that pretty much needs to be done in one day. Making custom scenarios and OBs requires learning less than easy secondary apps. (Histwar has better editors in this respect).

Here are more detailed discussions on using these two games for kreigsspiel:

Finally a kriegsspiel on the PC? Gettysburg: Scourge of War review

Another kriegsspiel on the PC? HistWar les Grognards

2 June:Late afternoon

Chekov, after conferring with Lorencz opts to sit tight at Bretogne and reorganize and refit. Rather than stringing out his force over many miles of road in enemy country (and without a preponderance of cavalry. He will away rest an reorganization of Alfonso's division. In GM terms, this allows him to recover at least 2000 additional troops back into his battalions before moving out.

At 7pm Gen Lorenko at corps HQ receives the following telegraph from Makowsy.

GAVE BATTLE AT BRETOGNE THIS MORNING STOP 4 HOURS WORTH OF HEAVY FIGHTING STOP COULD NOT HOLD CITY BUT BELIEVE T HAVE DEALT ENEMY SEVERE BLOW STOP ENEMY HAS NOT LEFT BRETOGNE APPEARS TO BE STOPPED FOR REORGANIZATION STOP CONDUCTED FORCE MARCH TO DELEMOND WOODS TWELVE MILES EAST LONGCHAMPS STOP CURRENT STRENGTH 5470 ALL ARMS CASUALTIES IN BATTLE APPROX 900 STOP LOST ANOTHER 500 STRAGGLERS ON FORCED MARCH HOPE TO RECOVER STOP WE ARE PREPARING POSITIONS FOR NEXT DELAYING ACTION ENDSTOP MAKOWSKY

GM Note: Freedonian player when asked what to do opted to move west with all haste to the next defensible position. By conducting a forced march this allowed him to get to the next position (15 miles SW) with enough time to prepare improved positions. However this cost him an additional 500 casualties in stragglers, many of which will be permanently lost. The haste of the Freedonian withdrawal and the delay in Slobobian pursuit basically puts a day's normal march between the two armies.

Now on to what's happening on the southern route.

2 June: Noon

It was not until the afternoon that Pereira and his Cacedores entered the town. On the eastern outskirts there were a few burned down buildings bodies and evidence of fight. Less damage was observed within the town. nearly all the inhabitants were gone, having left before the battle. A few very elderly citizens remained, and all glared at him as he went by with his men.  Once his men were dropped off by the battalion mess wagons, he went to the makeshift hospital to look in on the wounded. Only a few were to be found, as several building around the town were being used as surgery stations.

When he returned to his platoon, he was stuck by how ragged they appeared. His own uniform was torn and filthy as the woods had been  overgrown with thickets.  Major Silva, the battalion commander, as waiting for him. It was now that he learned of the death of Captain Almeida. A few minutes of conversation later and Periera was now the Company commander.

Per instruction he moved his men to the hill just east of town where they would reassemble and reorganize.  His company had gone int actin with 185 men, they now had 127. Many of the leaders had been killed. Lt Furnal, the only other company officer, commander 1st platoon, Sgt Gomes would command second platoon. After an hour's rest on the hill they were moved to the brigade assembly area. bow them he watched the endless procession of  I Corps trudging through the town.

***

Three miles to the south Lt  Morden  peered through his field gasses back down the road. There had been a sharp clash with enemy Dragoons twenty moments before  and his squadron had prevented them from probing forward. Th dragoons seemed content with pot shotting at them, no real pressing of the attack. Morden was happy for this as he was convinced that any aggressive push by the enemy now would overwhelm and destroy the brigade as they struggled south.

A pair of uhlans trotted by, both on the same horse. They were his last patrol. "We are the last one's sir! No one following us at the moment. Their infantry is still east of the river." Corporal Meeks, his courier, looked on expectantly for a message to deliver back down the line. He scribbled a quick not to regiment.


Half-hearted enemy cavalry probe turned.  Bulk of enemy force still remains east of the river. Enemy appears to be reorganizing in town....Morden

2 June: 0800-1000

Despite success on the left, Alfonso sticks to his original plan and orders Leite to attack up the center.
Leite immediately pushes forward. Tow battalion are ordered forward up the road through the woods wile a third battalion is ordered to attack the castle position on the hill. On the west side of the woods is the last battalion for Correia's original attack. Disorganized, most of  its officers killed and they are finally beginning to give away. The jaegers know they can't hod against a fresh brigade.  they withdraw in good order to the rear secure in the knowledge they have bought time for the rest of the brigade to get away. They pass through the second line at the eastern edge of town and take up position in the stone buildings.

2 June 1000 Hours

At this point Makowsky is beginning to think about breaking contact. many of his battalion are out of ammo, at least on Line battalion 1/8 has suffered heavy losses, and his left is wide open to a flanking movement.  Leite's fresh brigade finally passes through t narrow terrain and impacts along the edge of the town. they are met by a severe fire and accurate Freedonia artillery.  Within thirty minutes they are back on their heels but the Freedonians can see artillery being brought up for deployment.  Makowsky uses the pause in the Slobibian attack to order a withdraw through th town to the third line. The indefatigable jaegers, themselves low on ammo,  cover the retrograde then break away themselves. Leite, with a bloody knows pushes forward gingerly lest he ruin into another ambush.

By 1030 Makowsky has all of his forces behind the third line in marching order and heads south. the brigade is in desperate need of rest and reorganization, but any delay now will be fatal. he'd like to put about 10-15 miles between himself and the Slobobians. As the brigade heads south, toward Longschamps,  the dragoons and Uhlans resume the rearguard .

Here are the results of the  battle per Carnage and Glory post battle editor:


The Freedonian Army has suffered losses of:
[ 13%]    868 men of all arms
   [ 13%]    760 bayonets
[ 18%]    108 sabres
[  0%]      0 artillerists
Honors: [ 107] 3rd Tuefelwald Jaeger  Bn


The Slobobian Army has suffered losses of:
[ 15%]   1620 men of all arms
    [ 20%]   1473 bayonets
[  0%]      74 sabres
[ 33%]     73 artillerists
Honors: [ 503] 1/3 inf rgt


Both sides have basically accomplished their immediate missions, the Freedonians have given battle and inflicted  tactical reverse, then gotten away more or less intact. The Slobobians have cleared the road and are able to proceed west. We shall soon see how much of a delay has been caused....

2 June: 0600-0800

The attack begins well as the Slobobia press upward. The Cacedores in the lead are in company sized skirmish elements while the line battalions proceed uphill in compact attack columns. Both flanks push forward against retiring screening elements.  By 0630 the early sun gives way to a light misting rain causing visibility to drop under 600 meters. This is an advantage to the attackers who are saved form accurate artillery fire on the long march up slope.

0730 the lines make contact

Heavy firing takes place along the line. Th Freedonians now face a second  misfortune. Both battalions on the right flank run low on ammo! With the newly issued dreyse rifle, the unfamiliar troops rapid shoot of all their ammo. An incompetent Brigade quartermaster further exasperated matters as he has positioned the supply column several miles to the rear and made insufficient arrangements to bring ammo forward. Freedonian artillery is compelled to withdraw without making a significant impact.Both of Makowsky's left flank battalions are compelled to withdraw.  On the right the Slobobians rush forward into the assault. They throw back the Freedonian 1/8th foot with heavy loss.

As the Freedonia line falls back they are covered by two outstanding units, the 2d Guards Jaegers and the 3rd Tuefelwald Jaegers. unlike their line brethren, these two units are highly capable with the dreyse. Operating in company sized elements thy are well-positioned in stone building and the heavy thickets. Now the terrain conspires against the Slobobians. The main road runs through a very thick wood. To push forward they must go into march column. (The Cacedores at this point have ceased forward movement having been in heavy fighting for over an hour). Flanking the wood also requires channelized movement. The three attacking line battalions of Leite's brigade, already exhausted and bleeding become bogged down against this Jager defense.

0830: Leite relieves Correia 

Stepping off.....

Lt Jorge Pereira nervously eyed the gentle, open slope before him. His platoon of cacedores squatted in the wide ditch the marked the forward progress of the entire army. The engineers had replaced the destroyed bridge with a claptrap affair, yet sturdy enough to hold wagons, really just some boards across the narrowest part of the ditch. It was nearly six am. The sun had been up since 430am and was slowly burning off the thick mist in the low lying areas. Before him the main road meandered up a long gentle slope, terminating less than a thousand yards ahead in a thick wood. His platoon would be in the lead of the entire army. To his left and right other platoons in open skirmish order waited in the ditch for the signal to move out. Behind him he could hear the hubbub of the rest of the division in marching order, sorting themselves out for the day’s move ahead. Pereira checked his Colt Navy revolver for the forth time, making sure it was loaded.

“Ho!” Pereira turned at the shout and he saw his Captain impatiently waving his sword forward in the direction of the hill.

 “Let’s go!” He raised to his feet, a bit unsteady, pistol in hand and commanded the men to move along the road. They moved at a deliberate pace, rifles at the ready, the big Sergeant Arroyo in the lead, heads on a swivel. After moving about 100 paces the rest of the battalion followed, open order skirmish platoons in line abreast. Amid a clatter of canteen cups and banging metal they struggled out of the long ditch and followed. 

 **** 

 300 paces up the hill closer to the southern end of the line, Lt Morden, squinted into his field glasses. He stood in his saddle straining at the faint noise in the misty lower reaches of the field. Something was going on. Masked by a small wood he was reasonably safe from whatever might come from his front, and he observed diagonally across the wide open field, observing the road. Sure enough he saw the first enemy troops moving deliberately up the road. He observed them for a minute, until like apparitions, a body of troops in extended order appeared behind them. He estimated at least a battalion. This should be it, he thought. He fumbled for his revolver, raised it above his head and fired off three shots, at one second intervals. The shots caused his horse to flinch. He scribbled a quick note of what he was observing and sent it off to his commander via one of his riders.

 ****

Off to Pereira's left, three shots rang out. They sounded more like a signal than any fire directed at them, but the platoon still halted and went to knee. Behind him the rest of the battalion seemed to have done the same. Up front Arroyo looked back to him and he waved him forward with his pistol. Arroyo waved his men up and along they continued.

They continued forward for another five or six minutes covering about 400 yards. Behind him the head of the first line battalion emerged form the mist. Arroyo stopped the platoon and ran back to him.

“Sir, look up to those trees on the right.” Pereira looked in the direction he was pointing. The rising sun was at their back and he could clearly see, 400 yards ahead along the woodline, a line of troops along the woodline reflections glinting off of various bits of metal in their equipment. Pereira examined closer with his field glasses. He thought it was at least a company. He scribbled a message to his commander.

“Sibella! He looked for one of his runners. The boy came up at once. “Take this back to the battalion commander, Hurry”. Arroyo spread the men out and move up another hundred paces. No sooner had the words left his mouth than the line of troops in the woods open fire. Whizzing bullets flew about their ears and the men again took a knee and began to return fire without being told. Arroyo grabbed the nearest man to him by the belt and sought to raise him up, yelling for the men to move forward. Arroyo slumped forward as if he had stumbled but lay still in a heap. He heard the blast of cannon and saw the smoke atop the hill. Incredulously he saw a single shot careening towards him. It hit the ground in front of him and bounced along beyond, miraculously missing all his men.

 “Lieutenant Pereira!” he looked behind him. It was the company commander.

 “Take your men forward at once. Move damn you!” Arroyo held up his pistol and ran forward kicking a few cowering men along the way. “Let’s go men, move forward. Follow me!”