008. Czarnowo: More French Boats! - WDS Campaign Eylau-Friedland

23 December 1806 - Variant - Intended to be played Head to Head - In this version of the action the French have more boats. All of Gudin's 3rd Division has boats. The 2nd Division is poised to make a flank attack on the Russians from across the Narew River. One brigade will release at 2100 followed by the rest of the division at midnight. Players Note: a. This is a night action and all turns are 30 minutes each. b. The Bridge Damage value is set to "30" to denote the damage that the ice did to the bridges during the evening and early morning hours of the battle. Pioneer type units have been added to the French order of battle to help with bridge repair. The Garde Marins unit is also a Pioneer type unit. Historical Briefing: With the crossing of the Vistula and the taking of Warsaw, Napoleon next sought to cross the Narew River and turn the Russian right flank. Ostermann-Tolstoi occupied a key defensive location and the meeting of the Narew and Wrka Rivers. From here his guns dominated any attempt by the French to cross the river. Napoleon ordered a night crossing so that Davout's III Corps could cross the river unseen by the artillery. Davout's men had taken a key island south of the Russian position and it was from here that the French launched their assault. With Morand's division leading the way, accompanied by the corps cavalry and covered by the artillery, the light infantry crossed the river and pushed aside the Russian advance guard. With three of Morand's regiments leading the way the division attacked the defensive positions. More of Morand's division joined the fight and with support from Gudin's 3rd Division from Pomichowo the French were able to take the positions and cause the 2nd Division to retreat.