After Action Report
" Wasn't it Good....Spicheren Wood"
with apologies to William Randolph Hurst

by Sam Lemonds

A Franco Prussian War game for fun was held Saturday morning,20Sept at Southern Front 2003. The scenario,loosely based on the 6 August 1870 battle of Spicheren,pitted two French infantry divisions,5 artillery and 2 mitrailleuse batteries,support troops and a 2 regiment cavalry brigade against a reduced Prussian Corps comprised of 3 infantry brigades,a 3 regiment strong cavalry brigade and 5 artillery batteries. Historically,the French enjoyed a larger numerical superiority and the Prussians less cavalry than the scenario provided.

CinCs Prussian Feldmarshall Baron David von Minser and French Marechal de l'Empire Keith "de"Miles had received their OBs,victory conditions and maps several weeks prior to the event. Both commanders were unaware of the opposing forces strength and location and the fact that their maps were not accurate.

Victory conditions were based on the town of Forbach,mid table on the extreme left French flank and the Roteburg,a steep 3 contour hill bordered to its right by dense woods to the French right center. Prussian deployment areas were the north corner of the table and a section of Saarbrucken woods bordering their table edge.

Marechal de Miles initial deployment placed Brigadier Charles Kadlec,battle hardened veteran of countless Chassepot & Needlegun campaigns,in command of a full division consisting of the famous Brigade d'Afrique's zouaves and turcs and one line infantry brigade. General Kadlec's objective was to hold Forbach and protect the left flank from pending attacks from Saarbrucken woods.

Recently promoted,General Scott Ambrose's brigade held the center,protecting Spicheren village and the path of French retreat.

Pondering the tactical problem with the expertise of a St. Cyr graduate,Marechal deMiles personally commanded his "re-inforcement" brigade and wisely held his cavalry brigade offboard in reserve,supporting the newcomer Ambrose. His infantry brigade's Guard and composite Naval regiments dug in and steadied to defend the Roteburg and Gifert forest to the last man.

Meanwhile,the wiley Feldmarshall von Minser developed 2 possible approaches,making his final battle plan only after consulting his staff. His first,a swing to his right,concentrating the bulk of his Corps against Forbach while pinning Roteburg and Giferts with smaller forces. His second plan followed the path of history.

With the textbook tactics of Moltke,Prussian Brigadier Pat von Walther amassed two grand batteries supported by his uhlans,hussars, and dragoons just beyond French artillery range. The bear-like paws of General Walther spewed forth 5s and 6s and Prussian shells fell with unerring accuracy on the entrenched infantry and batteries defending the Roteburg.

Two infantry brigades and jaeger battallion commanded by Generals Jan and son Nicholas von Pribac leapt into Giferts forest with the speed of legendary german warhounds. The French cried out "loaded dice"!!!

Satisfied with the devasting assault on the French right,the wiley Feldmarshall von Minser silently slipped the Saxon,Bavarian and Wurtemburg regiments of the Confederation Brigade thru the conifers of Saarwald toward Forbach on the French left.

The small dense Giferts forrest echoed with close range gunfire and the ring of bayonet against bayonet. Grim faced Prussian and French troops attacked,meleed, and counterattacked. Shells continued to devastate Roteburg heights,destroying both artillery and infantry.

General Ambrose valiantly turned one regiment into the Giferts fray. Casualties mounted on both sides. Displaying the elan of l'Armee d'Afrique,General Kadlec ordered his line infantry brigade beyond Forbach blocking a potential Prussian approach. Waving his kepi from horseback,he spurred the Brigade d'Afrique toward Giferts forest. Zouaves and Turcos with the blood chilling chant of "vous...vous..vous" moved zigzag into the edge of Giferts forest and blocked the aggressive onslaught of Prussians Jan and Nicholas Pribac.

General Walther,sipping Alasatian Reisling and lamenting on the absence of "goot" German beer continued his incredible barrage. Enjoying a leisurely ride thru the woods as if on holiday,Feldmarshall von Minser slowly marched toward Forbach.

At 1340, the game was called due to time restraints. Marechal deMiles smiled and sighed in relief as the tattered French Tricolor flew beneath the Eagle borne by the remaining half strength Guard Voltiguer battallion holding the first trench line of Roteburg Spur. A single battallion of Prussian Nicholas Pribac had fought and clawed its way to the edge of that peak. Decimated French and Prussian troops were still locked in mortal combat in the Giferts.

Both armies were nearing the breaking point at games end. Forbach in deafening silence remained in French hands without a shot fired in anger. Nine turns had been played in less than 3 hours.

The campaign is now tied,2 games each. Next year will other gamers rush in to assist their brothers in "The Grand Battle of Alsace" or will it be "The Battle of Annihilation" as two full Corps or 10 players have fun deciding the outcome.

Thanks and congratulations to CinCs Keith Miles and Dave Minser for their excellent pre-game planning and meeting the challenges of the "fog" of Kriegsspiel. My thanks to the congenial gamers Jan and Nicholas Pribac,Pat Walther Charles Kadlec and Scott Ambrose.
you will always be welcome.

Before,during and afterward,the ever present mottled Prussian gray feline, "t'at Bis"(Bismarck) cut a glance to the GM as if to say..."what should be in store for them next time?" and silently disappeared.

I Hope It Was Good....Spicheren Wood