071. Eylau: Augereau's Assault - WDS Campaign Eylau-Friedland

8 February 1807 - Historical - Intended to be played Head to Head - This scenario depicts the ill-fated assault of Augereau's VII Corps (Desjardins and Heudelet's divisions) against the heart of the Russian line. Napoleon was looking to buy time so that Davout's III Corps could arrive and launch the assault on the Russian left flank. In one of his less stellar moments he chose to have Augereau's VII Corps advance to pin the Russians on the left flank. Unfortunately for the men of the VII Corps at the point when they stepped off for their assault the conditions worsened. The heavy snow conditions became a blizzard with the wind driving into the faces of Augereau's men. Instead of advancing in concert with St. Hilaire, they followed the natural slope of the hill and headed to the northeast and right into the guns of the Russian center. With their right flank exposed to the guns the losses to the VII Corps were frightful. The attack lost its cohesion almost immediately. It became every unit for itself. By the end of the assault the VII Corps had lost upwards to 5,000 men. Note: There are no supply wagons for Augereau's men. Their cartridges were wet and resupply was impossible anyway. Historical Note: The VII Corps artillery actually lead the way to close the distance and get off a better shot on the enemy. There fire was inaccurate at best as they were firing blindly and into the wind. Note: The entire Russian army will release by Turn 5 (10:40am) OR by proximity trigger release (In LOS and within 9 hexes). Other than that no Russian units will be active. Thus the French can pick and choose the point of their attack. Tip for French player: Bunch your men together and THEN attack the Russian line. Try to avoid drawing Russian artillery fire early on in the game.