11 March 1813 – Battle of Augsburg

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

Two Austrian corps have orders to attack

One Bavarian corps has orders to hold

A second Bavarian corps will march to the sound of the guns

Austrian – 24000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Bavarian – 28000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 60 guns

Note.   10 Bavarian cavalry brigade is in rout and not available for the battle.

Table at start of wargame game

Wargame

Both Bavarian corps start the game on the table

Both Austrian corps arrive on table at the start of move 1

The river is fordable along its whole length by infantry and cavalry

They are disordered whilst crossing the river

Artillery must use a bridge to cross the river 

0800-1000

Both Austrian corps have arrived on the table.

One Bavarian corps is inside Burgos

The second is deployed to hold the hill to the left of the city

Schwartzenberg orders his two corps to deploy south of the town

In doing so he hopes to tempt the Bavarians to advance to hold the river line

1000-1400  

The Austrians are almost in position

It is clear that the Bavarians do not intend to defend the river line

Their plan to is attack the Austrians as they cross the river

Schwartzenberg orders 4^th corps to deploy their artillery opposite the hill

The cavalry and part of the infantry will cross the river and outflank the hill

3^rd corps is still marching to their join 4^th corps

1400-1700  

As 4^th Austrian artillery are unlimbering they come under fire from the hill

They lose 10% casualties, fail their morale and are shaken

Schwartzenburg must now wait to rally his gunners before he can fire on the hill

Meanwhile the rest of 4^th corps are crossing the river.

He orders the crossing to continue, and 3^rd corps artillery to join the shaken gunners

1700-2000

4^th Austrian artillery have rallied, but failed to hit anything on the hill

3^rd corps artillery have just joined them

4^th corps has now crossed the river

3^rd corps are in position to attack

But they have run out of time

The Bavarians still hold Augsburg and the hill

Conclusion

The Austrians have spent all day concentratting in the river bend

They have failed to inflict any casualties on the Bavarians

But one of their corps artillery have lost 10% casualties

This is the situation at nightfall

The Austrians have lost 100 gunner casualties

The Bavarians have suffered no casualties

Outcome

The battle is a draw

Both commanders must now decide whether to fight a second day

The decision will be left to the campaign commanders

Battle Summary

The Bavarians occupy a very strong defensive position

They also outnumber the Austrians

11^th corps hold the city of Augsburg

10^th corps occupy the hill to the west of the city

Both command the river Lech

Schwartzenberg is not willing to risk crossing the river with 3^rd corps

The crossing is covered by Bavarian cavalry and artillery

And the city garrison command the area where he would have to reform

He decides to join 4^th corps south of the city and attack the hill

His combined artillery would bombard the hill, whilst the two corps attacked together

It took most of the day for 3^rd corps to join 4^th corps south of the city

4^th corps arrived in position first, and came under artillery fire from the hill

They immediately suffered 10% casualties, and were shaken

They recovered, but their effectiveness is reduced by the casualties

At nightfall 4^th corps have crossed the river Lech

The artillery of both corps have combined and are within range of the hill

3^rd corps is also in position

The Austrians have suffered 100 gunner casualties

The Bavarians have suffered no casualties

Both commanders must now decide whether to continue the battle for a second day