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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

13 July 1813 – Battle of Gadebusch

 

Tactical map of battle area

Despite his defeat at Boltenhagen, Napoleon attacks Gadebusch
This will allow 3rd French army to retreat, rally and reorganise.

1st French army is commanded by Emperor Napoleon
2nd Prussian army is commanded by General Bulow

1st French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
2nd Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

French army will arrive at the top of the table at the start of move 1
Cinc – has taken command of guard artillery and 2 infantry brigades
3 corps – will arrive on the left
2 corps – will arrive in the centre
1 corps – will arrive on the right

Prussian army is deployed in front of Gadebusch
Cinc – no command at present
6 corps – on the left and have one brigade in the fortified farm
5 corps – in the centre in front of Gadebusch, no garrison in the town
4 corps – on the hill on the right

End of move 2

French arrive and advance towards Gadesbusch
Cinc – advance through small valley to the right of the main road
3 corps – advance over the hill on the left
2 corps – cavalry lead on the main road in the centre
1 corps – guard cavalry and two infantry advance on the right

Prussian redeploy to meet French advance
Cinc – has taken command of 4 corps cavalry, artillery and one infantry brigade
6 corps – advance to the left of the farm to engage French as they come off hill
5 corps – wait in position for French to advance
4 corps – infantry wait on hill for French to advance

End of move 4

French cavalry advance to cover deployment of artillery
Cinc – deploy artillery against Prussian centre
3 corps – cavalry cover advance on left hand hill
2 corps – cavalry cover deployment of artillery against Prussian centre
1 corps – cavalry cover infantry movement off right hand hill

Prussian far right advance
Cinc – cavalry cover deployment of artillery on far right
6 corps – cavalry and infantry retire out of artillery range
5 corps – wait for French to advance in centre
4 corps – wait for French to advance on right

End of move 5

French move down from hills, artillery deploy
Cinc – advance towards town
3 corps – move down from left hand hill
2 corps –advance towards town
1 corps – swing left to protect attack on town

Prussian wait for French to move into artillery range
Cinc – advance towards 1st French corps
6 corps - cavalry retreat shaken with 10% casualties,
5 corps – wait for French to come within artillery range
4 corps – hold right hand hill

End of move 8

French attack Prussian left
Cinc – reinforce 1st corps to hold left flank
3 corps – cavalry rout cavalry, gunners and infantry join rout
2 corps – cavalry lose melee and retreat , infantry move down from centre hill
1 corps – cavalry rout gunners, infantry deploy to hold right flank

Prussian lose all three cavalry brigades, half of 6th corps rout
Cinc – gunners rout, cavalry return to 4th corps
6 corps – still hold farm, but cavalry, gunners and one brigade rout
5 corps – cavalry win melee, infantry lose casualties but pass morale test
4 corps – move forward on hill

End of move 10

French attack farm on left and hill on right
Cinc – artillery hit infantry who pass their morale test with 20% casualties
3 corps – infantry skirmish farm, one French brigade routed
2 corps – too weak to attack Prussian centre
1 corps – infantry skirmish hill but no casualties

Prussian – fight to hold farm and hill on the right
Cinc – infantry and gunners pinned French cavalry
6 corps – hold farm, but unable to rally cavalry, gunners and one infantry brigade
5 corps – hold centre despite artillery casualties to infantry
4 corps – hold hill despite skirmish casualties to infantry

End of move 12

French attack farm on left and hill on right
Cinc – move artillery forward
3 corps – continue to attack farm, no casualties
2 corps – hold their position
1 corps – attack hill on right

Prussian withdraw centre towards town, hold farm on left and hill on right
Cinc – skirmish with enemy infantry
6 corps – hold farm, gunners and infantry brigade rout
5 corps – withdraw closer to town
4 corps – hold hill, landwehr and cavalry brigade rout

Summary

Prussians hold all three objectives at night fall and win the battle
Despite suffering many more casualties than the French

The French have lost 1 infantry casualty (400 men)
The Prussians have lost 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3100 men)

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

13 July 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 3

 


French retreat to Ratzeburg
Battle of Gadebusch

1st Prussian Army – regroup at Boltenhagen
2nd Prussian Army – battle of Gadebusch
3rd Prussian Army – regroup at Ludwigslust

3rd French Army – retreat to Ratzeburg
1st French Army – attack Gadebusch
2nd French Army – regroup at Hagenow

Saturday, March 2, 2024

12 July 1813 – Battle of Boltenhagen


Tactical map of battle area

Marshal Murat has command of Third French Army
His task is to attack Boltenhagen

General Blucher has command of First Prussian Army
He has ordered 1st and 3rd corps to advance to support 2nd corps on the border

Third French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
First Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

2nd Prussian corps is deployed in front of Boltenhagen
1st and 3rd Prussian corps have orders to join them on the Lubeck/Wismar border

Third French army will arrive at the top of the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French arrive on the table
9th corps move either side of the village towards hill on the left
CinC has taken command of half of 9th corps on right of village
8th corps arrive in centre and advance towards Boltenhagen
7th corps arrive on the right and advance to the right of farm

Prussians deploy in the centre
3rd corps arrive on the left and move onto hill
CinC takes command of half of 2nd corps left of the main road
2nd corps are deployed in the centre between road and woods
1st corps move through woods on the right

End of move 4

French fire on enemy gunners, no casualties
9th corps halt just short of hill
CinC fire on, and hit, infantry
8th corps halt and fire on enemy gunners, no casualties
7th halt cavalry charge and force Prussian hussars to retreat disordered

Prussians halt and deploy
3rd corps halt on hill
CinC landwehr brigade retreat disordered with 10% casualties
2nd corps artillery fire on enemy gunners, no casualties
1st corps occupy woods, cavalry retire disordered but rally

End of move 6

French lose cavalry melee and gunner casualties
9th corps cavalry lose melee and retreat shaken with 10% casualties
CinC artillery advance towards hill
8th corps artillery receive 10% casualties and are shaken
9th corps artillery receive 10% casualties and are shaken
9th corps cavalry win melee but lose 30% casualties

Prussians win artillery counter battery fire and cavalry melee
3rd corps win cavalry melee
CinC retreat infantry to avoid further artillery casualties
2nd corps artillery hit enemy gunners
1st corps artillery hit enemy gunners
1st corps cavalry lose cavalry melee and retreat with 30% casualties

End of move 8


Murat accepts defeat
9th corps cavalry fail morale and rout
CinC artillery fire on hill, no casualties
8th corps artillery move out of artillery range
7th corps cavalry rally with 30% casualties

Blucher retreats out of artillery range
3rd corps firmly hold hill
CinC retreat infantry out of artillery range
2nd corps withdraw out of artillery range
1st corps firmly hold woods

Summary

Prussians redeploy closer to town
French have lost too many cavalry and gunners to continue the attack
Prussians win battle

The French have lost 4 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (600 men)
The Prussians have lost 3 cavalry and 2 infantry casualties (1100 men)

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

12 July 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 2




Prussians advance to border
Battle of Boltenhagen

1st Prussian Army – battle of Boltenhagen
2nd Prussian Army – advance to border
3rd Prussian Army – retreat to Ludwigslust

3rd French Army – attack Boltenhagen
1st French Army – hold Wittingen
2nd French Army – occupy Hagenow

Saturday, February 24, 2024

11 July 1813 – Battle of Hagenow


Tactical map of battle area

Marshal Victor has command of Second French Army
He is ordered to attack the border town of Hagenow

General Yorck has command of Third Prussian Army
He has orders to hold the northern Lubeck/Wismar border and the town of Hagenow

Second French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Third Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Third Prussian army is deployed around the town of Hagenow
Yorck has taken command of half of 9th corps on the left bank of the river Elbe
8th corps is deployed in front of the town
7th and 9th corps either side of the town

Second French army will arrive at the top of the table at the start of move 1
The river can only be crossed by one of the three bridges on the table.

End of move 2

French army arrive on table
6th corps advance, half either side of river Elbe
CinC has taken command of half of corps on the right bank
5th corps advance either side of he woods
4th corps advance over hill on the right

Prussian army deploy in front of Hagenow
CinC advance to bridge on the left bank
9th corps advance to bridge on the right bank
8th corps hold centre
7th corps advance over hill on the right

End of move 4

French army advance
6th corps deploy out of cavalry range
CinC deploy out of artillery range
5th corps artillery open fire, no casualties
4th corps cavalry fail morale and retreat disordered

Prussian army deploy and await French advance
CinC deploy left of bridge
9th corps deploy right of bridge
8th corps deploy in front of town
7th corps cavalry charge cuirassier brigade, who retire disordered

End of move 6

French attack on left bank
6th corps advance, lose cavalry melee and rout with 20% casualties
CinC artillery manhandle into long range
5th corps form column of attack
4th corps advance to front of hill

Prussians secure left bank of river
CinC win cavalry melee
9th corps wait for French to advance
8th corps wait for French to advance
7th corps cavalry move to right flank, out of artillery range

End of move 8


French attack
6th corps cavalry rout, infantry advance towards bridge
CinC advance in support of 6th corps
5th corps infantry receive casualties but pass morale test
4th corps cavalry rout, infantry advance

Prussians hold
CinC cavalry rout, infantry hold bridge
9th corps artillery retire to infantry support
8th corps cavalry and one infantry brigade rout
7th corps cavalry retire to right flank

End of move 10

French attack
6th corps win firefight and secure bridge
CinC advance and secure bridge
5th corps advance and rout Prussian corps
4th corps attack hill

Prussians retreat
CinC infantry and cavalry rout and abandon bridge
9th corps retreat and abandon bridge
8th corps rout, one infantry brigade seeks shelter in the town
7th corps lose firefight for hill

End of move 12

French continue to attack
6th corps secure left bank of river Elbe
CinC lose infantry fire fight and retreats
5th corps swing left towards hill
4th corps continue to attack hill

Prussians start to retreat
CinC cross bridge south of town
9th corps hold in front of town
8th corps try to rally south of town
7th corps continue to hold hil

Summary

Prussians still hold town, bridge in front of town and hill on the right
But their centre has broken and there are six brigades in rout
8th corps is trying to rally, but fail to do so

French have taken left bank of river and broken Prussian centre
5th corps is about to attack hill on the right, in support of 4th corps
They have lost four brigades in rout

The Prussians still hold the town
But with so much of their army in rout will they dare to fight a second day?

The French have lost 7 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (3200 men)
The Prussians have lost 8 infantry, 7 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (4000 men)

Thursday, February 22, 2024

11 July 1813 – Northern Germany – Day 1


The campaign opens with a surprise French attack in the south

1st Prussian Army – hold Boltenhagen
2nd Prussian Army – hold Gadebusch
3rd Prussian Army – defend Hagenow

3rd French Army – hold Ratzeburg
1st French Army – hold Wittingen
2ndFrench Army – attack Hagenow

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

11 July 1813 – North Germany – Wismar Campaign


Campaign map of Germany

On 1st January 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

Three allied armies would concentrate in Germany
Prussian army at Berlin
Russian army at Dresden
Austrian army at Vienna
Together they would engage and defeat Napoleon

Marshal Blucher would command the Prussian army
They would concentrate in the Berlin region
They would then march into the Brunswick region and engage the French

Emperor Napoleon would command the First French army
They would concentrate in the Osnabruck region
They would then march into the Brunswick region and engage the Prussians

This map shows the rear headquarters for each army, and the colour of the stars indicates which army has won the previous campaign phases. The location of the current campaign is shown by a white star.

Campaign map of North Germany

There are three regions in North Germany

Osnabruck Region (on the left) is the concentration area for First French army
Berlin Region (on the right) is the concentration area for the Prussian Army
Brunswick Region is the disputed area in the middle

This map shows the rear headquarters for each army, and the colour of the stars indicates which army has won the previous campaign phases. The location of the current campaign is shown by a white star.

Campaign map of Brunswick Region


This map is used for strategic (planning) movement.
It shows the location of the regional headquarters for each army
It also shows the location of previous battles fought in the region.

Campaign Diary

01 February 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France
01 February 1813 Formation of First French army in Osnabruck region
19 February 1813 First French army declared operational.
20 February 1813 Prussians invade Brunswick region
25 February 1813 Prussians occupied the city of Brunswick
26 February 1813 Napoleon advanced into the Brunswick region
28 February 1813 French occupy the city of Hannover
01 March 1813 Start of Brunswick campaign phase
08 March 1813 French win Brunswick campaign phase
12 April 1813 Start of Lubeck campaign phase
19 April 1813 French win Lubeck campaign phase
31 May 1813 Start of Goslar campaign phase
07 June 1813 Prussian win Goslar campaign phase
11 July 1813 Start of Wismar campaign phase                                                            

Campaign map of Wismar District


This map is used for tactical (daily) movement


The fourth campaign phase in northern Germany is in Wismar district
This map shows the location of both armies at the start of the campaign
The French objective is to take the city of Wismar
The Prussian objective is to hold Wismar and defeat the French army

The French army are deployed well to the west of the border
They are out of sight of the Prussian patrols on the border

The Prussian army are deployed further back, for ease of resupply
However one corps from each army is on the border itself.

French Army of North Germany

CinC Emperor Napoleon

First French Army
1st Old Guard corps
2nd French corps
3rd French corps

Second French Army
4th French corps
5th French corps
6th Westphalian corps

Third French Army
7th French corps
8th French corps
9th Polish corps

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

144000 infantry,9000 cavalry, 270 guns


Prussian Army

CinC General Blucher

First Prussian Army
1st Prussian corps
2nd Prussian corps
3rd Prussian corps

Second Prussian Army
4th Prussian corps
5th Prussian corps
6th Prussian corps

Third Prussian Army
7th Prussian corps
8th Prussian corps
9th Prussian corps

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, 270 guns

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign. The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign
02 - Five campaign areas
10 - Introduction to the campaign in Northern Germany
11 – French Army of Northern Germany order of battle
12 - Prussian Army order of battle
13 - Daily diary for the campaign in Northern Germany
14 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Northern Germany
15 - Summary of campaign in Northern Germany