{NTW AAR} The Battle of Borodino

[Spartan262]

Playing on Hard using Tyrant Mod (Using a little sub mod I made making units bigger) and the All maps for singleplayer unlocked mod so I can use the Borodino Map.

This AAR Will try to Accurately Recreate the Battle of Borodino, breaking each part of the battle into chapters. This will have Pictures.

Unlike my past AAR's I'll try my hardest not to let this one Die.

Chapter 1- Before the Battle Erupts

Napoleon was in the saddle by 3 am, as he examined his troops he exclaimed "It's the enthusiasm of Austerlitz !". Napoleon got closer to the Russia positions examining every single detail of their layout before returning to his Commanders.

Kutuzov was in front of the village of Gorki, sitting on a folding chair. He could only see a small part of the battlefeild from that position. Officer Mitarevski wrote about Kutuzov: "It was as though some kind of power emanated from the venerable commander, inspiring all those around him."




Chapter 2 - Northern Flank (Eugene's Attack on Borodino Village)


At 6am The French Began their bombardment

But the Russians quickly answered.

Everyone know that an artillery bombardment signaled the advance of infantry.
Prince Eugene was ordered to assault the small village of Borodino. He sent forward Delzon's 13th Infantry Division that consisted of these Regiments and batteries
Infantry Brigade: GdB de St. Aubin
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8th Light [2 btns. + 2 light guns]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 84th Line [4 btns. + 2 light guns]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Croat 1st Provisional [2 btns.]
- - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade: GdB Plauzonne
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 92nd Line [4 btns. + 2 light guns]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 106th Line [4 btns. + 2 light guns]
- - - - - - - - Artillery: ChdB Demay
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - IX Foot Battery/2nd Foot Art. Reg. [8]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - II Horse Battery/4th Horse Art. Reg. [6]


The infantry marched forward, but under intense Artillery fire. Delzon rides just behind his infantry, encouraging them to keep moving.


The size of the infantry out numbered the Jagers who defended the village.


The French Skirmisheres moved forward and began fired.


The Russian Jagers kept firing despite the overwhelming odds that were getting closer and closer, they stood there ground for as long as they could.


Eventually the Jagers were ordered to fall back to a more advantageous position farther back in the city.


Here is where they fell back too. This way the French could only fit so many men in the small streets of the village.


The French advanced through the city and tried to cross the river that led to the Great Redoubt.


The Russian Line Infantry held the small river crossing with great pride and nothing but death would've made them let the French soldiers through. After heavy losses,Most of the French infantry fell back deserting the village.


The French attack while swift and at first effective, blew up in their faces.


More to come tommorow.

[LuckyLewis]

Very original and clever idea for an AAR! Good pictures to go along side it too.

[dezikeizer]

About time someone did a battle aar on Borodino. That battle was the most brutal of the whole Napoleonic wars. A little note of something you could add: Davout actually advised Napoleon to launch a flank attack with a corps, but Napoleon refused. Great job so far, I'll be following. Just a couple things:

began fired.

I think you meant: began firing.

they stood there ground

That would make more sense as: they stood their ground.

[Spartan262]

Yeah that will be covered in the next part. Davout wanted to flank to the south with Poniatowski, but as you said Napoleon Declined Davout and just sent Poniatowski and the V Corps

Also thanks for pointing out my Grammtical errors (Grammatical is probably spelt wrong)


Also thanks for the Encouragement

[Spartan262]

Chapter 3 - Westphalians fight Jagers, Davout attacks the Fleches, and The Russian Cavalry Charge.

Général de Division Junot , Controlled the VII Corps filled with mainly Westphalians. He was tasked with covering Davout's and Poniatowski's Corps. He sent his men into woods where 3 Regiments of Jagers threatened to Flank Davout when he assaulted the Fleches.



Although under Artillery fire from Russian 12 Ibers the Wesphalians pushed into the woods desposing of the threat to Davout's flank.


Davout, with his First attack on the Fleches sent in Général de Division Compans and his 5th Infantry Division.
The 5th Infantry Divison had these Regiments and Batteries in it.
- - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade: GdB Dupellin
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25th Light [5 btns. + 4 light guns]
- - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade: GdB Teste
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 57th Line[5 btns. + 4 light guns] "The Terrible"
- - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade: GdB Guyardet
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 61st Line [5 btns. + 4 light guns]
- - - - - - - - Infantry Brigade: GdB Lonchan
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 111th Line [3 btns. + 0 light guns] ***
- - - - - - - - Artillery: ChdB Klie
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - XVI Foot Battery/7th Foot Art. Reg. [8 guns]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - II Horse Battery/6th Horse Art. Reg. [6 guns]
Reserve Artillery
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - III Foot Battery/1st Foot Art. Reg. [8 guns]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - XVII Foot Battery/1st Foot Art. Reg. [8 guns]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - VI Foot Battery/7th Foot Art. Reg. [8 guns]
Before the attack the French targeted the Fleches (A.K.A. The Bagration Fleches) With 100 cannons. Half an hour after the first cannons fired, Davout ordered Compans to attack the Fleches. The French Voltigeurs easily defeated the Russian Jagers, opening a way for the infantry.
Shortly after the attack on the Fleches began Compans was wounded and had to go to the back of the lines. General Davout was also stunned by getting his horse killed from under him, something that normally never happened.


The closest Russians to the Fleches were Borosdin's VIII Infantry Corps. The VIII Corps had lots of Grenadiers in there (Infact a Whole Division was full of them) Here are the Regiments the were in the VIII Corps
GL M.Borosdin

2nd Grenadier Division
Kiev Grenadiers [2]Battalions
Moscow Grenadiers [2]
Astrahan Grenadiers [2]
Fanagoria Grenadiers [2]
Siberia Grenadiers [2]
Little Russia Gren. [2]
XI Heavy Battery [12]Guns
XXI Light Battery [4]
XXI Light Battery [8]
XX Light Battery [12]
(These guns were detached
to the Reserve Artillery)
2nd Conv. Gren. Div.
Combined Grenadiers [11]
II Cossack Battery [12]
27th Infantry Division
Odessa Infantry [2]
Tarnopol Infantry [2]
Vilno Infatry [2]
Simbirsk Infatry [2]
49th Jägers [2]
50th Jägers [2]
XXXII Heavy Battery [12]
attached:
I Heavy Battery [6]
III Heavy Battery [12]
XXXI Heavy Battery [12]
IV Cavalry Corps
GM Sievers

Harkov Dragoon [4]Squadrons
Chernikhov Drag [4]
Kiev Dragoons [4]
New Russia Dr. [4]
Lithuania Uhlan [8]
Ahtirka Hussars [8]
VIII Horse Battery
[12 guns]

The fighting was brutal, with Musket fire being constant and deadly, not to mention the cannon balls skimming along the ground.


Despite the advancing French forces the Russian officers did a fantastic job keeping the men in order.


The battle raged on as both sides took heavy losses.


In front of the Fleches, French and Russians charged at each other creating a huge melee around the Fleches. These battles while short, were gruesome and dirty. The aftermath of these bayonet charges were the likes of no other seen through out the Napoleonic War so far.


Eventhough the French seemed to be falling back, the 5th Infantry had only used Half of it's force


After the French infantry got too close for comfort, the Russian Artillery retreated leaving the cannons behind.


In between the Fleches more melee fighting broke out.


In the melee battles the Russian Grendeirs proved their worth.


After brave effort by the Russians, the French broke through on the Russian left flank where the Wesphalians pushed back the Jagers (Although the Westphalians werent the ones assaulting the Fleches.


After running out of Musket balls and for the time being unable to resupply, one Russian Grenadier charged, which struck courage into his fellow Regiment, who followed him.


Sadly the young man was shot down before he could reach the lines although his regiment destroyed the French regiment they had charged.


The Russians had taken all they could take, and fell back to make way for the Russian Cavalry.


As soon as they could the Russian IV Cavalry Corps charged the French.


Once again the aftermath of the Cavalry charge left many men dead and wounded on the ground


The French 5th Infantry Division fell back and regrouped while Devout ordered Général de Division Dessaix and his 4th Infantry Division to take the The 5th's place.

Dessaix managed to get his front line units to form square and defend against the Russian Cavalry


Once again both sides suffered severe losses, but the battle has only just begun.



P.S. That was one long update.

[Biggles]

Quite so. Very interesting. Haven't read too much about Borodino as of yet. Please, keep it up!

[dezikeizer]

Great update, and a great description of the events of that part of the battle. +rep
One thing:

Grendeirs

Shouldn't that be spelled: Grenadiers?

[Petrov]

Very Interesting! Its just like watching a Documentary about the Battle of Borrodine, Have some rep!