The Battle of Craonne

                  1814 - Napoleon is desperate to keep his communications back to Paris                                              open and Blucher's movements have endangered this - he has to strike !

  The French approach from this end with the Chemin de Dames road heading straight down the valley. Nansouty's Guard cavalry are on the left, Ney's Young Guard have arrived on the right and Victor's Corps marches down the road towards the Heurtebise farm at a "pinch point" on the route which is occupied by Russian Jagers - they also occupy the village of Ailles up on the high ground to the right.

                The French artillery waste no time and hurl howitzer shells against the farm buildings.

           Victor sends Charpentier's infantry through the Boise de Quatre Heures, Ney's men are attacking                               Ailles and Mortier's Guard infantry march on ready to press home any advantage.                                                                            Heurtebise farm is now burning. 

                       The Russians have guns facing down the road, backed up by infantry brigades

                          Russian cavalry repeatedly charge in support of the infantry to try and stem the                                                                             advances of Charpentier's men

Ney's men have taken two thirds of the village but the Jagers cling on still

                               Charpentier's pressure is too much and the Russian line has buckled

But the Guard cavalry have suffered in the fight against the enemy lance armed cavalry and they have                                                                  pulled back, close to breaking point

                              The French infantry are charging infantry columns into the left hand valley 

    Repeatedly, the Russian cavalry venture forward to bolster the line then return to the hills to regroup

More of the Imperial Guard cavalry - Horse Grenadiers - are thrown forward to tackle the enemy cavalry.                                                              They are unable to break through  

                                            The Russians are pushed back against their gun line

                             

                              Next on, French Dragoons but the Russians have reinforced the fight too

                                               Blucher orders his infantry to hold Ailles village

 Russian cavalry continues to frustrate the French Guard cavalry

                    And Charpentier's infantry are having a tough time of it too - some battalions have broken !

                                                              But weight of numbers tells

                          Still the main deterrent are the Russian guns in the centre of their position

                    Speaking of guns, the French Guard artillery has been pounding the Russian lines

                                           Until such a time as the Guard infantry are called for

                                     The farm continues to burn in front of the Russian positions

             Ney's grip on Ailles is still firm and an assault has been made on the one remaining part of the                                village still in Russian hands - two Jager battalions have been ejected so far.

                            The Russian cavalry continues to best the Imperial Guard cavalry in melee

At last, the Emperor orders the Guard infantry to charge

  and they smash the Russian centre, guns and infantry flee the field

                              Blucher has seen enough and orders the remnants of his army to fall back