Napoleon Against Russia
Napoleon Against Russia contains five battles from the critical phase of the Campaign, when the Russian Army finally gave Napoleon the decisive battles he so greatly desired. His first maneuver starts out well - with the French poised to slip into Smolensk behind the Russians. However, the opportunity to bring an end to the campaign will remain unfulfilled. After that, Moscow became the default destination of the Grande Armée. As Napoleon stated, "The wine has been poured and must now be drunk."
BATTLES SIMULATED
Smolensk, A Battle Postponed, 16-17 August
When he recognized that the enemy had withdrawn into the city, the Emperor's plan was stymied. He either had to seize Smolensk on the 16th, without waiting for the arrival of the entire army, or cross the Dneiper River east of Smolensk. Instead he waited for the Russians to make a mistake, and gave them time to pull out along the Moscow road.
Image: Napoleon before burning Smolensk. Oil on canvas by Albrecht Adam (1836).
Valutino, Rearguard Action, 18 August
When the Russians did give him an opportunity to catch the First Army disunited after a confused night march, Napoleon had already returned to Smolensk, expecting nothing more than a rearguard action. Hence he was not on the scene to coordinate the actions of his Marshals, who, left to themselves, were unable to crystallize a victory out of the opportunity.
Image: The Battle of Valutino
Shevardino, Fight for the Redoubt, 5-6 September
The preliminary battle opened with the arrival of the French cavalry who immediate attacked Konovnytsyn. On the 6th, more French forces arrived including the IV Corps and the Polish Corps. The French captured the Shevardino redoubt at a cost of 4,000-5,000 French and 6,000 Russian casualties.
Image: Napoleon I on the Borodino Heights, by Vasily Vereshchagin (1897)
Borodino, The Russian Army is Saved, 7-8 September
In the climactic battle, Napoleon has been criticized for making a simple frontal assault. With our large map the French player will have plenty of maneuver room to try and outflank the Russian army to the south, or even to the north. He will also have the option of attacking the north flank as Kutusov expected.
Game Components
Napoleon Against Russia
Each game includes:
Game Box
3 Maps 34"x22"
1 Map 17"x22"
2 Counter Sheets (560 die-cut player pieces)
2 Booklets (System Rules and Study Folder)
16 Player Aid Cards (TRC x 5, Casualty x 2, Setup x 7, Reorganization, Weather, Combat Results)
5 Resource Cards (Booklet of Card Instructions, Combat Tables Folder, Sequence of Play, Victory Worksheet).
2 Card Decks (50 cards each)
Visit our Game Components section for details
Thursday Night Gamers
Napoleon Against Russia, Part I
Game Maps
Napoleon Against Russia
Each game includes four high quality maps (shown below): Three 22" x 34" maps and one 17" x 22" map.
Operational Studies Group (OSG) is a leader in the design and production of Napoleonic Wargames. Our maps are extensively researched, historically accurate, and printed on heavy cardstock in full color.
Player Resources
click pdf file to download
• Napoleon Against Russia Update 16MAY19
• Napoleon Against Russia Study 1.41
• CardNo-6
• Borodino Scenario-French, DoB 1, v1.02
• Borodino Scenario-French, DoB 2, v1.02
• Borodino Scenario-Russian, DoB#1, v1.01
• Borodino Scenario-Russian, DoB 2, v1.01
• Maloyaroslavets Scenario-French, DoB#1, v1.01
• Maloyaroslavets Scenario-Russian, DoB#1, v1.01
• Neverovsky's Retreat Scenario, v1.01
• Shevardino DoB and Mini Campaign Scenarios-Russian_1, v1.01
• Shevardino DoB and Mini Campaign Scenarios-Russian_2, v1.01
• Shevardino Mini Campaign Scenario-French,_1, v1.01
• Shevardino Scenario-French, DoB_1, v1.01
• Smolensk Scenario-French, DoB_1, v1.01
• Smolensk Scenario-Russian, DoB_1, v1.05
• Smolensk Scenario-Russian, DoB_2, v1.02
• Smolensk Scenario-Russian, AtB_1, v1.02
• Smolensk Scenario-Russian, AtB_2, v1.02
• Smolensk Scenario-French, AtB_2 and DoB_2, v1.01
• Smolensk Scenario-French, AtB_1, v1.03
• Valutino Scenario-Russian, v1.01
• Valutino Scenario-French, v1.01