It is 23 June 1812 and the Grande Armée is preparing to cross the Niemen and invade Russia. Capitaine Dumont and his company lead the first boats across the river with a group of pontoneers to prepare the ground for the pontoon bridge that will carry the army across the river. Dumont must protect the pontoneers so they can create the fixing points for the bridge.

“It was so dark we didn't know whether we had any enemy in front of us or not… Only after about 100 men had established themselves on the right bank did we hear a distant sound of galloping horses, and a strong troop of Muscovite hussars halted at about a hundred paces from our weak advance guard… Coming towards us, the office in command shouts out in French 'Qui vive?'. 'France!' our men reply quietly… Whereon the officer goes back to his men and orders them to fire their carbines. None of ours reply. And the enemy hussars disappear at the gallop.”

(Austin 2000, p.53)

The river flows from south to north across the table, and boats will drift with the current as specified in the rules for boats. There are rocks and a sandbar which will cause damage to the boats in accordance with the rules for boats if struck.

The French deployment point is in the river, with all troops deploying in boats as specified in the special rules. The Russian deployment point is on the road where the patrol arrives.

• Capitaine Dumont (Status III leader). (1)
• Lieutenant Duret (Status II leader). (2)
• Sergeant Fournier (Status I leader). (3)
• Sergeant Bassot (Status I leader). (4)
• Cornet Peletier (Musician).
• 4 groups of light infantry skirmishers (32 figures in total).
• (50 points)

• Lieutenant Duval (Status II leader). (5)
• 1 group of Marins de la Garde
• (13 points)

• Lieutenant Lavaud (Status II leader). (6)
• 1 group of pontoneers.
• (8 points)

• Lieutenant Martinez (Status II leader). (7)
• Sergeant Gomez (Status I leader). (8)
• 2 groups of light infantry skirmishers from the Regt Joseph Napoleon.
• (19 points)

Total of 90 points.

The Russians can deploy the following forces from their primary deployment point:

• Andrei Bolkonsky (status III leader). (1)
• Status 1 Leader (2)
• 2 Groups of Hussars
• Mule train
• (total of 26 points)

• Status III leader. (3)
• Status II leader. (4)
• Status I leader.(5)
• 4 groups of line jager.
• (42 points)

• Status II leader. (6)
• Status I leader. (7)
• 2 groups of line jager skirmishers.
• (23 points)

Total of 91 points.

The scenario begins at in the dark before dawn. The sun rises at the first end of chapter. Until then, the following rules apply (taken from the TooFatLardies forum).

• Deployment - all troops count as in cover when they deploy.
• Running - groups take an extra point of shock when making a running move.
• Line of sight - reduced to 12“.

The French have 3 boats in total (see these rules) with which to attempt the crossing of the river.

The boats are activated when the indicated most senior leader on board each boat is activated and move at 3d6 per activation. As indicated in the rules, movement should respect the river current which is indicated on the map (+2 per pip for moving with the current, -1 per pip for moving against it, and drift of 1 inch per turn for moving across).

All three of the long boats, crewed as they are by non-specialist personnel, suffer -1 pip per die rolled for movement. On beaching, boats will suffer damage as dictated by the rules for boats. Exiting the boats once beached requires 1 action for the Marins and pontoneers, and 2 for the voltigeurs.

The anchor points for the pontoon bridge can only be created at the lowest point of the river bank, indicated by the sandy ground. No other part of the bank is suitable. Only the pontoneers and Marins de la Garde possess the necessary skills and tools to undertake this work, and the pontoneers are more effective that the Marins.

Completing the anchor requires a task roll of 18 for which the pontoneers (but not the Marins) receive the engineer bonus of re-rolling any 1's. The voltigeurs cannot undertake this task.

The French player can claim victory if the foundations for the pontoon bridge are successfully completed (3 victory points for the French). If the Russians are able to prevent the foundations from being built, or are able to capture them once completed they can claim victory (0 victory points for the French). If the French drive the Russians off the field, or reduce their Force Morale to 0, but are unable to build the bridge foundations because they have lost both pontoneers and Marins de la Garde, this is a partial French victory (1 victory point for the French).

If the French succeed in completing the bridge anchor without any combat at all, Dumont gains +1 reputation.