Taken from the Prussian right flank. The Prussian centre has been pushed back, and the infantry are in squares. The Prussian reserve cavalry (nearest camera) have reformed and advanced to cover the guns, the gunners are moving back to man the guns. The French (right in photograph), apart from the reserve cavalry, have not yet received orders to move and engage the Prussians.
THE
Best described as one of those battles when the French could do no wrong and the Prussians could do no right
Blucher is very concerned, the battle is going badly wrong
On his left his Poor 4 corps has refused to move 4 times
In his centre left 2 corps has halted his advance
In his centre right 3 corps are in disorder
On his right 1 corps is holding
On his far right cav reserve are rallying
His intention is to hold along his whole line
The French counter attack has started and it looks bad for the Prussians
THE PRUSSIAN PLAN
1 corps will hold the right flank
Cavalry reserve will rally behind 1 corps
2 and 3 corps will hold the centre
4 corps will engage enemy on left flank
His intention is to hold his position until nightfall
PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN FROM THE PRUSSIAN SIDE OF THE TABLE
Left - 4 corps have Engage orders. They are very slow to approach the enemy, partly because of the difficult terrain, partly because they keep missing a move due to their Poor commander.
Centre left - 2 corps have Halt orders due to French cavalry on their right front. They are moving their artillery and lancers to their right to counter this threat.
Centre right - 3 corps have Hold orders. Their infantry are all in square due to the approaching French cavalry. Their cavalry have rallied to Shaken, but are protected by the infantry square until they can rally fully.
Move 1 – Prussian – 1 corps (chip 8)
Orders: Halt
Move artillery to left to counter enemy cavalry and unlimber
Move 2 – Prussian – 3 corps (chip 10)
Orders: Halt
Infantry form square to counter enemy cavalry
Artillery limber and move behind squares
Move 3 – Prussian – 2 corps (chip 9)
Orders: Hold centre
French lancers declare opportunity charge on Shaken cuirassiers
Test to charge, roll 1, fail
Cuirassiers move back facing enemy
Infantry square moves to protect cuirassiers
Test morale for cuirassiers, roll 1, remain Shaken
Test morale for routing infantry, fail, continue rout
No friendly units within 8”, no morale tests
Move 4 – Prussian – CinC (chip 7)
Move to reserve cavalry and change orders to Engage
Move to 1 corps and change orders to Engage
Move 5 – Prussian right –reserve (chip 12)
Orders: Engage
Dragoons move forward to protect guns
Gunners move forward to man guns
Move 6 – French – 5 corps (chip 3)
Orders: Hold
Unlimber gun to counter enemy cavalry
Right hand infantry form square
Move 7 – French – 13 corps (chip 5)
Orders: Move to road
All infantry move to road
Move 8 – French – 6 corps (chip 4)
Orders: Engage
Artillery fire on guns (roll 5) miss
Infantry form column of attack and advance
Move 9 – French – CinC (chip 1)
Change 5 corps orders to Engage
Move to Shaken infantry brigade from 4 crops
Test morale, roll 2, fail remain Shaken
Move to 13 corps
Move 10 – French – 4 corps (chip 2)
Orders: Engage
Guns unlimber
Infantry move forward
Move 11 – French – reserve (chip 6)
Orders: Engage
All enemy infantry in square
Change orders to Halt
Move forward brigade back to form line
Unlimber artillery
Move 12 – Prussian – 4 corps (chip 11)
Orders: Engage
Artillery fire on cavalry (roll 7) 1 hit
Cavalry test morale (roll 5) pass
Infantry move forward through broken ground
Move 13 – Poor Card
All Poor commanders have already moved, no effect
Left - 5 corps have hold orders. They are expecting orders to advance, and their infantry have formed column of attack, and the artillery are limbered.
Left centre - Cavalry reserve have moved forward to attack the Prussian centre, their artillery are in support. The artillery from 4 corps have joined them, and one infantry brigade is in support of the guns.
Right centre - 4 corps have received Engage orders and are moving through Helmstedt (not the building has been removed to allow move measurements).
13 Corps (on the right) have orders to Move to the road, and are just reaching it. The CinC has arrived to give new orders to their commander.
Right - 6 corps have Engage orders. They are moving forward to engage the Prussians as they exit the broken ground.
SUMMARY OF MOVE 8
Prussian situation greatly improved, mainly because they moved first
Left - Engage orders moving into position far edge of broken ground
Centre - Halt orders, but formed square and safe from cavalry
Right - Engage orders and ready to move forward
French still in strong position.
Cavalry arrived too late to attack Prussian centre
Left - orders arrived too late to advance
Centre - Engage orders and moving forward
Right - Engage orders and moving forward
