"The Great Redoubt" Issue #3

The Official Journal of Borodino 2002

Editor: Charley Elsden

EDITORIAL #3

From Charlskie Esldenovich,
The Czars' Imperial Minister of Information

As the campaign opens, the French Army marches deeper into Russia. Out on the fringes of their flanks, our Cossacks teach them proper lessons daily. As for the so called French 'Corps of Guides,' those mounted maniacs couldn't find Moscow on a map! But we love to host the French here in our country. Yes, Hotel Siberia is open for business.

We are informed by the JodieCon "Powers-That-Be" that more Borodino Aspirants have expressed a "preference" for the French side than for the Russian. You poor misguided souls! I weep for you. Yes, it looks like the Evil Emperor has bamboozled everyone again with his fancy uniforms, elaborate sauces, and impossible promises! BEWARE! He's just going to betray you with the power of the "Dark Side" of the Empire.

You Poles? You will never get a kingdom of your own, for example. Look back over your shoulders behind the lines, and see that even now his Secret Police are rounding up your wives and sweethearts! Who is kissing them now, Ladislaw? Could it be--Jean Claude Balls? My English and Russian grandparents must be rolling over in their graves at this ideological confusion. I sigh for you, you poor deluded children. ~Sigh~ When will the sleepers awaken? (Perhaps once they are interned in our Siberian Work Camps! er, I mean "Resorts.")

Now, if you wake up and join the Russian side, you'll get to help us expose this upstart so-called "Emperor of the French" for the enslaving beast he is in reality. Hah--he's not even French; let alone an Emperor. We Russians not only have superior English powder for our guns, but are the truly liberational army. (Have you noticed--we're not the ones trying to take over all of Europe). 'Napoleonic glory' indeed! More like the Reign of Terror personified. Yea friends, the Corsican Con Artist is at it again!

Tell the truth now, when you think about all of Bonaparte's seductive manipulations and schemes, WHO does he remind you of ..... ? (We know who it reminds our Orthodox Church Lady of ..... Who could it be ... ???)

So remember, its much healthier to be on the winning side! Just ask any member of our secret police. Hmmm...is that a touch of snow in the air? Brrr... It seems likely that winter may be coming early for Napoleon this year.

Now let's take a moment to thank those of you who have enlisted with the righteous. God Bless you, our brave Russian volunteers, who have signed up to defend humanity. You are the chosen few. Do not despair. For as our need reaches out into the further corners of the world, more will come to answer our call. The chorus of freedom will swell until one day all deluded souls shall burst their bonds of illusion, and see the light. You are the Warriors of the Future.

And, dear friends, don't forget:
Have you Kissed your Orthodox Icon of Mother Russia Today!

Charlskie Esldenovich
a.k.a. Kutusov

High Tides: Parallels between Bonaparte at Borodino and Lee at Gettysburg

As a Civil War buff just getting into this Russian campaign business, I have been struck by the parallels between Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812 and Lee in 1863. Consider: both were somewhat "past their prime," in that neither turned in a top performance at their most crucial battles. Both men were in bad health at the time. Both relied on the supposed innate superiority of the armies they had created rather than operational or tactical finesse. Both supported their main advance by artillery bombardments which failed. The French were out of effective range due to poor positioning; the Southerners overshot their targets and ran out of ammunition due to poor supply support planning. As for the cavalry arm performing its vital reconnaissance function, Napoleon's was tired and Lee's was out of contact.

Both men had able subordinates who proposed more subtle strategies at the time, which their leaders vetoed. These became great historical "what-if" to historians and us wargamers. Davout suggested an outflanking to the south to his Emperor (see following article), while Longstreet advocated a march on Washington and a tactical defensive. Of course, it is easy to say what should have been done in hindsight. What we can miss is the mental state of the commander at that time, which grew out of the many "offboard" considerations of politics and logistics we may safely ignore on the table.

Napoleon and Lee both wanted to close with their foes, who proved elusive. The campaigns were similar not in detail, but in being risky invasions of enemy country to threaten the opposing capital. Both men therefore stood in a "double or nothing" position; fearing that failure would be the end of them. It would indeed prove to be so.

Both attacking invaders found themselves going up against difficult terrain of multiple enemy defensive positions. Both lacked information about enemy deployments. Both went in anyway and ultimately failed to destroy their opponents. For both Great Captains, their battles represented a chance to finally win their war. In both cases their enemies decided to stand and fight it out. In the end, both attackers bulled ahead with frontal assaults that failed to break through.

For both, after the lack of decisive success in major battles, the armies on either side would incur staggering casualties and exhaustion which would cripple them, preventing any immediate follow up. Both invading commanders took losses which could never be replaced. For the Grand Armee and the Army of Northern Virginia, their previous "high tide" of victory would recede, and never come again. And so both moments are fun to recreate, because they are dramatic, nail biting pivot points when history could have gone either way.

One can only wonder what will happen in September 2002.

The Southern Shift: The Greatest Operational Choice at Borodino

"I do not plan to defeat Napoleon; I plan to trick him."
--Kutuzov to his daughter

"His genius was slow, vindictive, and crafty."
--de Segur to Napoleon (on Kutuzov)

"On and on he criticized everyone, clearly on the verge of a mental breakdown, but never did he himself admit to a single mistake."
--Parker, p 603 (on Napoleon in a snit)

The study of the maps and deployments at Borodino show one great fact; that the Russian defenses were drawn up favoring the Northern flank, where the terrain was almost impassable anyhow. To the south the Old Smolensk Road ran around the flank of the entire position, on open ground. Why was it not covered by the Russians? Why did Napoleon not simply shift down there, and attack in one of his famous outflanking marches?

What lay behind the Russian dispositions? Kutuzov wrote to the Czar "I will try to correct the weak point in this position, where the left flank lies. It would be desirable if the enemy attacks us here--I would then have every hope of victory." (Parker, p. 130). But Clausewitz, serving with the Russians himself, described the location as "certainly not the best." Barclay with First Army was to hold the right flank (north) and part of the center; Bagaration with the Second Army the southern half of the line. Kutuzov expected the main thrust to be down the center on the New Road to Moscow, and so it was to be.

As for the French outflanking possibility, Marshal Davout, one of Napoleon's most capable subordinates, advocated this. He felt that 40,000 men could be sent overnight, reaching the enemy rear by 8:00 AM. Bonaparte replied: "Ah, you are always for turning the enemy. It is too dangerous a maneuver."

Here is David Chandler's analysis of the French Emperor's thinking (Campaigns of Napoleon, p. 798):
"A number of apparently irrefutable reasons led him to this decision. In the first place, the numerical strength of the Grand Armee was too small to permit a mounting of a full-scale maneuvre sur les derrieres; the approximate parity of the contesting forces would make the detachment of a large force, even if for only a temporary period, extremely foolhardy. Then again, the condition of both the artillery and the cavalry arms was giving cause for anxiety; the horses, in particular, were in very poor fettle. Napoleon also know that his troops were hungry and homesick for France, and that most of them had long ago given up any genuine interest in the campaign, other than simple survival. Above all, he feared that the Russians would withdraw from their position overnight if the least indication of a strategic envelopment reached them; they had successfully avoided battle several times already since June 22, and Napoleon had no desire to see a repetition of these Fabian tactics. Lastly, he had reason to doubt that the Russians would be unduly worried if a French force suddenly appeared in their rear. His studies of the campaigns of Frederick the Great had convinced him that Russian armies were not particularly sensitive about their communications when it came to the actual fighting of a full scale battle; Frederick's experiences at both Zorndorf and Kunersdorf were particularly relevant in this context."

On the Napoleonic Bookshelf

I just got in a new load of volumes from Stuart Schoenberger, a friend and fellow gamer. I've begun to look them over, and I think they are worth sharing in this second installment of the Bookshelf. Feel free to send in your own title suggestions, reviews, website sources, etc.

Chandler, David. The Campaigns of Napoleon: The Mind and Method of History's Greatest Soldier. (Macmillan, 1966).
This is considered THE book; of course its over one thousand pages long! I'm looking over: "Part Three: Napoleon's Art of War: A study of Napoleon's philosophy of war, an analysis of his strategic and battle methods--and the sources of his ideas."

Nafziger, George F. Napoleon's Invasion of Russia. (Presidio, 1988).
Three hundred pages of text plus another three hundred pages of appendices including maps and especially orders of battle! By the well known hobby publisher of an entire line of OB and military studies. Details, details, details.

Parkinson, Roger. The Fox Of The North: The Life of Kutuzov--General of War and Peace. (David Mackay, 1976).
Only 250 pages, and the first biography in English. Ranks him second only to Suvorov, under whom he worked. Excellent background on the man and his times.

Ragsdale, Hugh. Detente In The Napoleonic Era: Bonaparte and the Russians. (The Regents Press of Kansas, 1980).
The political/diplomatic background to the conflict. Could the French have created a successful alliance with Russia that removed the need for war?

Rothenberg, Gunther E. The Art of Warfare in the Age of Napoleon. (Indiana University Press, 1978).
A survey of trends and practices in the armies of the period.

Local Virgina Sites of Interest

I've been researching Virginia recently, as I've always planned to visit more of its many historical sites on the American Revolution and the Civil War, among others. Besides the famous nearby "historic triangle" of Colonial Williamsburg-Yorktown-Jamestown, not to mention the battle sites of McClellan's Peninsula Campaign, there are interesting "minor" sites on both sides of Hampton Roads, the water passage which gives access to the James River, which flows up to Richmond. The Roads can be crossed either by boat (some of which gives tours to the site of the Monitor vs. Merrimac duel) or the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.

On the near side at our JodieCon location, the town of Hampton is the country's oldest continuously occupied English-speaking settlement, since 1610. Here British troops displayed the head of Blackbeard after his defeat in 1718. Fort Monroe itself was built partly by Robert E. Lee (who also built the harbor defenses of New York harbor). It offers a "Casement Museum," which includes the rooms of the ACW period, including one where Jefferson Davis was held prisoner after the war! The Hampton University Museum recalls its founding in 1868 to educate former slaves, including Booker T. Washington. Nearby is the Virginia Air and Space Center.

The next town over is Newport News, which has Amtrak service. Its Maritime Museum is the largest of its type in the Western Hemisphere (according to Fromer's Virginia, 5th Ed. 2000). See the Monitor's propeller, among other things. The Virginia Living Museum is great for kids, with animals in touch tanks.

Across The Roads to the south is an extensive tourist area including Norfolk (Amtrak service also), with many major attractions such as the Chrysler Museum of Art, The Naval Base (tours given here), NAUTICUS, The National Maritime Center, The Norfolk Botanical Garden, The Virginia Zoo, The Glass Market & Antiques Center, and nearby The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

Just 20 miles east of Norfolk is Virginia Beach, the famous summer resort area. Off season post Labor Day attractions here include the Virginia Maritime Science Museum, the Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.)--the Edgar Cayce parapsychological headquarters with a film, bookstore, and other exhibits, Mckee's Beatles Museum which has instruments of George and Ringo, several restored historic houses, the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, and Old Cape Henry Lighthouse, which stands near two historical places, the Jamestown Colonist's First Landing Site, and a large map about the nearby Revolutionary naval Battle of the Capes, which sealed the fate of British rule in North America (thank you, French fleet).

So as you can see, there is plenty for the wife and family to do while you're busy pushing lead! You might even want to give a look yourself!

Introduction to the Historical Russian Commanders

(Most of this material is taken from The Campaigns of Napoleon by David Chandler: Part Thirteen, Chapter 68). Chandler notes that "taken as a whole, the Russian generals commanding corps or higher formations were of good quality, having been carefully selected by the Tsar in person."

General Prince Mikhail Hilarionovich Golenischev-Kutuzov: A veteran of vast experience accumulated over sixty-seven summers, fifty-two of which had been spent as a soldier. He had been formal commander in chief of the Austro-Russian armies in 1805, and was generally regarded as the "grand old man" of the Russian forces in spite of the near-catastrophic defeat at Austerlitz. Although some commentators believe that his military talents have been overestimated, his experience in both the political and military spheres was probably unparalleled. By 1812, of course, Kutuzov was really too old for active campaigning, but before the year was out he was to have earned the rank of field-marshal and the title of Prince of Smolensk for his stalwart endeavors following his appointment as supreme commander on August 20. Protégé of the great Suvorov. "To the Russians, Kutuzov... " (accent on the second syllable) "... is a hero similar to Britain's Wellington and Germany's Blucher. ...he symbolized the spirit of the Russian people during the Napoleonic struggle. Later generations venerated his name. Stalin presented Kutuzov as an example to be followed in the conflict against Hitler; Russian fortifications in 1941 for the Battle of Moscow were built on exactly the same sites as those used by Kutuzov's forces..." (Parker, The Fox of the North)

Mikhail Bogdanovitch, Baron Barclay de Tolly: Initially in the campaign, the most important soldier was de Tolly, who combined the responsibilities of minister of war with those of commander in chief of First Army. He was by birth a Livonian, but there was some Scottish blood in his ancestry. In 1812, he was fifty-one years old. His promotion to his present position had been slow by the standards of the time, but his distinguished record as an old-style divisional commander in 1807 (Poland) and 1809 (against the Turks) brought him to the notice of the Tsar and resulted in his sudden appointment to the Ministry of War in 1810. Although he was largely responsible for the effective modernization of the Russian army, he was to show decided shortcomings in the handling of large bodies of men in the field, and he evinced little interest or trust in his colleagues and subordinates. Refusing to delegate even the most trivial tasks, he was inevitably overtaxed by the paperwork of his two responsible posts, and suffered a great deal from the blatant insubordination of some of his junior colleagues. Despite the fact that he was superseded by Kutuzov in August 1812, he retained the Tsar's trust throughout the remainder of the Napoleonic wars, and was restored to the highest command in 1815.

General Prince Peter Ivanovich Bagration: Of Georgian extraction, belonging to the royal line, he enjoyed rapid promotion to his present post as commander of Second Army. Although he was a good fighter of wide experience, which included service under Suvorov, he was excessively reckless and impatient by nature, characteristics which frequently brought him into conflict with the methodical Barclay. Nevertheless, he was very popular with his subordinates and the rank and file. Killed at Borodino.

General Count Peter Alexander Petrovich Tormazov: Destined to command the Third (or Reserve) Army, a soldier of reasonable capacity who was also something of a martinet, but with the distressing martial habit of persistently overextending his formations.

General Baron Levin Bennigson: Russian Commander at Eylau and Freidland, a soldier of Hanoverian extraction, serving as chief of staff to Kutuzov. He was an able but selfish man.

General Matvi Ivanovich Platov: Atman of the Don Cossacks (or Kazaks; "freebooters"), and in command of all Cossack irregular cavalry. Dashing, brilliant light cavalry commander, whose troops regarded him with something akin to mystical reverence.

General Phull: Prussian officer who unfortunately enjoyed the particular favor of the Tsar at the time and served him as confidential advisor. A member of the unmourned Prussian staff of 1806, his ability was not particularly notable, but his influence as the Tsar's military eminence grise gave him undue and undeserved importance, and he played a large part in forming Russian strategy in 1812.

Ramblings in the Tavern: Music and Other Joyful Noise in Times Gone By

Richmond is a Hard Road to Travel

"Would you like to hear my song?
I'm afraid its rather long,
Of the famous "Road to Richmond" double trouble;
Of the half a dozen trips and the half a dozen slips,
And the very latest bursting of the bubble?

It is mighty hard to sing, and like a rolling ring,
'Tis a dreadful knotty puzzle to unravel,
Though all the papers swore when we reached Virginia's shore,
That Richmond is a hard road to travel.

So pull of your greatcoat, roll up your sleeves,
Richmond is a hard road to travel;
Pull off your greatcoat, roll up your sleeves,
Richmond is a hard road to travel I believe!

In English pubs, regulars have their own mug, often with their name on it, which they leave permanently up on the shelf behind the bar for when they next come in. So find your favorite mug, pour yourself a dram, and let's have a visit!

Just returned from a short vacation in Richmond and Petersburg, VA where I toured the lines. Personally, I think a breakthrough of Confederate positions is immanent--if this big mine the Pennsylvania boys are digging works out. It's amazing, but as soon as the AMTRAK pulls south of Washington DC, there's nothing but Wilderness to be seen. You could be back a hundred years in Civil War days.

I stayed at the Jefferson Hotel, an elegant landmark from 1895, where the main staircase might have been the inspiration of that used in the film "Gone With the Wind." Yeah--that one you've seen in the movie is just the gardener's cottage! Compared to the lobby and rotunda of this amazing historic old hotel, with its columns and stone sculptured "hanging" vegetation, Tara was a mud hut. We tried out Mr. Tom Jefferson's French cook's recipe for peanut soup, among other things, and its mighty tasty. This is Mr. Lemaire, who is a fine host, whether at the main restaurant named after him, or at the more informal "TJ's."

I get some of my old 19th Century song lyrics by the way from 97th Regimental String Band: Songs of the Civil War Era, which has some of the material on their seven tapes/CDs (97th Regimental String Band, 437B Boca Ciega Drive, Madeira Beach, FL 33708). This trip I got what may be the world's first ACW reenactment music video. It's called "Far, Far From Home: Music and Camp Scenes of the War Between the States" (Lionheart Film Works). This fine outing was made by the Second South Carolina String Band, who recorded it at Gettysburg while reenacting for their regiment. (Second South Carolina String Band, 1820 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325). They also have three other shows on cassette. There are scenes from the battle and while marching along, and we end up in camp. As soldiers go about their camp chores, an informal "camp band" begin to tune up. Evocative songs, some familiar, some new are played, and authentic period photography shows the faces of contemporary soldiers and civilians. While the players entertain you it grows dark, until you are huddled around the campfire with them. Beautifully done, fellahs.

Another treasure available in a two CD set is "The Civil War: Its Music and Its Sounds" (Mercury Living Presence). Recorded in 1960 and redone in 1990, it is clearly the main source Ken Burns used for the music in his famous ACW series. Based on a passage by British Colonel Arthur Fremantle's recollections of songs a band played during the battle, extensive research was done to find authentic musical songs and arrangements, which were then recorded on original instruments. Wow. It also includes sounds of weapons being described and fired, bugle and drum calls, a 50 page booklet, etc. Did you know that the fanfare played at the racetrack today at the start of each race was originally the cavalry call for "Buglers Assemble?"

For those who may be traveling around Virginia before or after JodieCon, I recommend The Museum of the Confederacy, and The Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond itself. The latter has recently been taken over by the National Park Service, and now houses a visitor center with a computer map table of all the McClelland and Grant battles around Richmond. There is also a city history from Pocahontas forward at The Valentine Museum. For local color, read Ashes of Glory: Richmond At War by Ernest B. Furgurson (Vintage, 1996).

I also picked up Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion: The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign by A. Wilson Greene (Savas, 2000). He served locally in the National Park Service (I'm a former student intern ranger myself--Statue of Liberty National Monument) and is currently Executive Director of Pamplin Historical Park and The National Museum of the Civil War Soldier. This is essentially a permanent reenactment center.

We decided to publicize our hobby on our last day by playing the card game Dixie: Gettysburg Edition (Columbia Games). This simple and fun system has a Napoleonic version, which I've also played, I believe is called something like Eagles. Its also fun to play--I tried the Waterloo Edition.

Then Lincoln said to Pope "You can make the trip I hope,
And save the universal Yankee nation."
"To make sure of no defeat, I'll leave no lines of retreat,
And I'll issue a famous proclamation."
But that same dreaded Jackson, that fellow laid his whacks on,
And made him, by compulsion, a seceder:
'Til Pope took rapid flight in the middle of the night--
'Twas his very last appearance as a leader.

And last of all Burnside, with his pontoon bridges, tried
A road no one had thought of before him,
With two hundred thousand men for the Rebel slaughter pen,
And the blessed Union flag a-waving o'er him.
They met a fire like hell from canister and shell,
That mowed down his men with great slaughter.
'Twas a dreadful sight to view, that second Waterloo
And the river ran with more blood than water.

Speaking of connections between Virginia and New York City, drop in to see Petersburg's Blandford Church, and you'll view lovely stained glass windows, one for each state of the Confederacy, made by Tiffany himself. It includes the only Stars and Bars he ever made!

Upstairs in the ballroom of the hotel, the setting of the very New York film My Dinner With Andre, local celeb country singer/sausage king Jimmy Dean, who has a plantation overlooking the James River, and friends were partying. However, downstairs at the bar I was unable to get a mint julep! The bartender said he'd told his boss of many requests for this signature Southern drink, but they just didn't carry fresh mint! Anyone know where I can get one? Let me know, and I'll see you next time here at The Tavern!

We are very much perplexed to see who is the next
To command the next Richmond expedition,
For the Capital must blaze, and all in ninety days,
And Jeff and his men sent to perdition.
And when we take the town, we will surely burn it down
And plunder and hang each curs-ed rebel,
For the contraband was right when he said that they would fight:
"Them rebels, they will fight like the devil!"