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Monday, July 29, 2019

26 September 1813 – Battle of Salzwedel


Tactical map of battle area
The French defeat at Schenga is a serious setback
But Napoleon is determined to maintain the pressure on Blucher
The Guard is still recovering from their victory at Kuhfelde
But 2nd Prussian corps has even more battle casualties
The French have a temporary advantage before the odds turn against them
Napoleon orders an attack on Salzwedel before Blucher can recover

French – 14000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns
Prussian – 15200 infantry, 1900 cavalry, 57 guns
Table at start of battle
The Prussian army is deployed in front of the fortified city of Salzwedel
13 infantry brigade is the garrison of the city and cannot take part in the battle
Reserve corps on the left and 2nd corps on the right
They are in column of march so that they can redeploy when they see the French deployment

The French army is off table bottom centre
1st corps and the army reserve will arrive on table at the start of move 1
Move 1 : 0800-0900
French arrive on table
Napoleon has taken command of the guard cavalry
The remainder of the guard arrive in column of attack
The reserve are on the right

The Prussians start to deploy to counter the French deployment
Move 2 : 0900-1000
The guard and French reserve advance
Cavalry hold to prevent Prussian reserve advancing

Prussians start to deploy
2 corps cavalry advance on the right
Move 3 : 1000-1100
French reserve cavalry charge Prussian cuirassiers
Prussians lose melee and 10% casualties and are also shaken
All Prussian infantry form square

French guard infantry and artillery advance
Reserve artillery unlimber in case their cavalry lose melee
Move 4 : 1100-1200
French reserve cavalry rout shaken Prussian dragoons with 20% casualties
Reserve artillery move forward into range
Guard infantry advance towards Prussian centre
Guard artillery unlimber in range, supporting infantry form square
Move 5 : 1200-1300
French reserve artillery unlimber in range
Guard artillery fire on square and cause 10% casualties
Guard cavalry charge Prussian dragoons, win melee, but lose 10% casualties
Guard infantry advance towards Prussian centre

Prussian artillery fire on Guard infantry, no casualties
Infantry square receive 10% casualties, pass morale test and are disordered
Cavalry lose melee, receive 20% casualties and are shaken
Move 6 : 1300-1400
French reserve cavalry charge and rout the shaken Prussians dragoons
Prussian gunners seek the safety of the nearby square
French guard gunners hit square, who pass morale test with 20% casualties

Guard infantry charge artillery in the centre
Gunners fire at short range, but no casualties
Gunners fail morale and rout
Infantry brigades on either side of guns also fail morale and join rout

With five brigades in rout Blucher orders a general retreat

Conclusion
A convincing French victory
The Prussians have lost two cavalry and three infantry brigades in rout
Fortunately the fortified city of Salzwedel is nearby to offer safety


The French have lost 200 casualties
The Prussians have lost 1700 casualties

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