123. The Battle of Heilsberg - WDS Campaign Eylau-Friedland

10 June 1807 - Historical - Intended to be played Head to Head - Following the battles in the area of Guttstadt the Russians retreated in the face of the superior numbers of French forces. The main army concentrated at Heilsberg while Kamenski's corps marched to meet up with them after having dueled with Soult's IV Corps north of Guttstadt. Napoleon did not believe that the Russians would make a stand at Heilsberg. Accordingly he sent Soult's IV Corps and Murat's cavalry to follow the Russians while Lannes Reserve Corps followed as a reserve. The Imperial Garde marched with Napoleon towards Heilsberg. Murat initially ran into Borozdin's rearguard at Launau. Lacking infantry support he waited for Soult's infantry to arrive. By the time the IV Corps arrived Borozdin knew that he was outnumbered and fell back on Bewernicken after informing Bennigsen of the arrival of the French army. The latter gave orders for forces south of Heilsberg to cross the river and reinforce the northern positions. Initially forces of the 1st (Imperial Guard) Division were dispatched to help Borosdin but eventually most of the forces would cross the river to take up positions to stop the French attack. The French followed up after Borozdin's forces retreated. They took up a position on the heights opposite the Bewernick. Kamenski's Corps was arriving around this time and the Prussian officers in the command wanted to flank the French but Kamenski urged caution and continued his march on Heilsberg taking up position on the northern flank near Redoubt #3. Napoleon arrived and directed Soult to position his corps artillery on a height that had a fine view of the Russians forces of Borozdin and Bagration with the intention of covering the IV Corps deployment.Soult's Corps arrived and his three divisions took up positions at the villages of Lanwden (Legrand's 3rd Division), Langewiese (St. Hilaire's 1st Division) and Bewernick (St. Cyr's 2nd Division). Murat's cavalry and the IV Corps light cavalry were in reserve. The assault on the advance Russian position began around 2pm. The Battle of Heilsberg was underway! Note: the French player may never move units south of the Alle River during the battle. This is to offset the fact that certain Russian formations remained fixed for the duration of the battle.