The combined Russian armies had rendezvoused in front of Moscow. 120,000 men strong, to block Napoleon's advance on the ancient capital of Russia. They were under the old war hero's command: General Kutusow, recently recalled from retirement. The Russian armies began to turn an already excellent defensive defensive position into an impregnable one by the construction of strong redoubts, the fortified positions of logs, trenches, and dug-in artillery pieces. About noon the French vanguard under the command of Marshal Murat moved onto the map and began assaulting the most forward redoubt at Schevardino. For unknown reasons, Kutusov thought that the French main assault would come across the steep banked Kaiotchka river, where he tied up the bulk of his troops before slowly realizing the danger to his left flank. Too late, for the advanced position at Schevardino had fallen, and the rest of the French army was advancing. Kutusov had missed his sole chance to defeat the French army in detail.
Initial Set-up: 5th Sept., 1812. Only Russian units are deployed, as no French have arrived.
Game Turns: 1 through 8.
Victory Conditions: The Player who occupies the Schevardino redoubt hex at the end of the game is the winner.
Special rules: The Russian Player may not move any of the units north of the Great Redoubt until 1500. Beginning on 1500, the Russian Player may begin moving one unit per Game-Turn. Once a unit has begun moving, it may continue. Thus on 1500, the Russian Player may move one of the frozen units, on 1600 he may move that one plus another one, etc.