8 May 1813 – Central Germany – Day 8

In the north both armies rally, regroup and resupply

In the centre 4^th French army attack Jena

In the south Russians retreat and French occupy Sulza

 

4^th French and 1^st Russian armies fight the second battle of Jena with light casualties

2^nd French and 1^st Russian corps are elite troops

So the battle is hard fought, and does not suffer from brittle morale

At nightfall both armies hold strong defensive positions

However the French have taken and occupied Jean

So the French win the battle

French lost 3 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (1500 men)

Russians lost 4 infantry, 3 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (2100 men)

7 May 1813 – Second Battle of Sulza

Tactical map of battle area

Both armies are weakened by battle casualties

Davout is determined to reverse French failures

He orders 6^th French army to attack Sulza

 

French – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Russian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

French are on the left

Macdonald has created a reserve of three infantry and one cavalry brigades

Russians are on the right

Winzingerode has created a reserve of three infantry, one cavalry and artillery brigades

End of move 2

French advance towards Sulza

Reserve moves over the hills either side of the main road

8^th and 15^th Corps move through the north and south valley’s

End of move 4

French and Russian artillery open fire

One Russian brigade is hit, breaks and runs away

End of move 6

8^th French corps advance

5^th Russian corps move down from hill to meet them

 

French reserve cavalry charge artillery

Cossacks counter charge, lose melee and rout

French cavalry fail to rally and charge nearest infantry brigade, who also rout

Gunners abandon guns and  take shelter in remaining infantry square.

 

15^th Vistula corps await outcome of attack in the centre

Artillery hit Russian square in support of artillery

Infantry pass morale test, but now have 20% casualties

Summary

With three brigades in rout Winzingerode orders a general retreat

 

The French have suffered no casualties

The Russians have lost 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1300 men)

7 May 1813 – Central Germany – Day 7

In the north French retreat to Sommerda, Russians regroup at Naumburg

In the centre Russians rally at Jena, French resupply at Weimar

In the south French attack Sulza

 

Both armies start the battle of Sulza with casualties

The French deploy out of artillery range, and then advance their guns

Russian artillery reply, but ineffective.

Vistula lancers charge and rout Cossacks

Nearby infantry brigade fail their morale and also rout

French have no casualties

Russians lose 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1300 men)

 

6 May 1813 – Second Battle of Naumburg

Tactical map of battle area

5^th French army attack 2^nd Russian Army west of Naumburg

This is the second battle to be fought for Naumburg

Both armies have considerable casualties from the earlier battle

 

French – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Russian – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

5^th French army (left) deployed either side of Sommerda

Lefebvre has created a reserve of two infantry brigades and 14^th corps artillery

2^nd Russian army (right) deployed west of Naumburg

Constantine has created a reserve of three infantry brigades and 3^rd corps artillery

Naumburg is off table on the right

End of move 2

French have too many casualties to risk a frontal attack

Lefebvre concentrates his army for an attack in the centre

7^th corps move north to make space

Reserve move into woods for cover during attack

14^th corps move towards centre

End of move 4

Russians react to French redeployment

3^rd corps retire into woods

Reserve infantry retire into pass

Artillery hit French gunners who are shaken with 10% casualties

4^th corps advance from hill to support reserve

 

7^th French corps move closer to centre

Reserve infantry advance through woods

Gunners shaken by Russian artillery fire

14^th Westphalian corps advance between woods and inn

One infantry brigade moves into inn

 

End of move 6

7^th French corps swing south to support the attack in the centre

3^rd Russian corps advance from the woods to disrupt this movement

 

Russian reserve artillery rout French reserve gunners

Then retreat to second Russian position between the two hills in the centre

French reserve infantry move forward through the woods

 

4^th Russian corps join reserve in the centre

Their artillery fire on French infantry in inn

One Russian brigade moves to attack inn

End of move 8

3^rd Russian corps move forward to attack 7^th French corps

French gunners are charged by reserve infantry brigade and rout

Nearby cavalry and infantry brigade also fail morale and join them

 

French reserve brigade halt on edge of woods]

Without support of 7^th corps they are unable to attack

Westphalian garrison of inn lose melee and rout

Supporting lancer brigade also fail morale and join them

Summary

With the loss of both their cavalry and artillery the French can no longer attack

Although casualties have been light, their morale is broken and 6 brigades in rout

Lefebvre orders the infantry to break contact and retreat

 

The French have lost 1 infantry, 1 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (700 men)

The Russians have lost 1 infantry casualty (400 men)

6 May 1813 – Central Germany – Day 6

In the north French army attack Russians west of Naumburg

In the centre French regroup, Russians retreat behind Jena

In the south French army advance to make contact with Russians at Sulza

 

Both armies start the battle of Naumburg with considerable casualties

Most brigades have at  least 10% casualties and thus brittle morale

This would play a significant part in the battle.

The French took casualties from the Russian guns as they advanced

This was sufficient to cause one cavalry brigade and one field battery to rout

This spread and caused a further four French brigades to rout

The French lost 1 infantry, 1 cavalry and two artillery casualties (700 men)

The Russians lost 1 infantry casualty (400 men)

5 May 1813 – Battle of Jena

Tactical map of battle area

This is the third battle of the campaign

The French attacked and lost at Naumburg

The Russians attacked and lost at Saafeld

The French are determined to win this battle

 

French – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Russian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

French are deployed on the left in front of Weimar

Russians are deployed on the right, Jena is off table right

Both commanders have created a reserve

Both have one corps artillery and three infantry brigades

End of move 2

2^nd French infantry advance on hill, cavalry in northern valley

 

French reserve artillery have deployed, infantry continue to advance

 

6^th French infantry enter fortified inn

Artillery have unlimbered to fire on Russian cavalry

End of move 4

2^nd French infantry continue to advance on hill, cavalry keep pace in the northern valley

 

French and Russian artillery exchange fire

Russian reserve infantry receive casualties, but pass morale test

 

6^th French and 1^st  Russian artillery exchange fire

No casualties on either side            

End of move 6

2^nd French corps approach the end of the hill

 

Reserve artillery continue to fire on Russian infantry

Reserve infantry advance within Russian artillery range

 

6^th French artillery continue to fire on Russian infantry

Infantry and cavalry advance within range of Russian artillery

End of move 8

2^nd French corps hold their position on the hill

Waiting to see the outcome of the reserve attack

2^nd Russian corps withdraw towards farm

 

French reserve advance to attack.

French reserve artillery hit Russian gunners

They fail their morale and are shaken with 10% casualties

Russian reserve artillery hit French infantry

They pass their morale and are disordered with 10% casualties

 

6^th French corps attack

Artillery hit Russian infantry who pass morale with 10% casualties

Cavalry charge Cossacks, but lose melee and retire shaken

End of move 10

2^nd French corps halt on  hill to await support from reserve

French reserve attack

Infantry charge and rout shaken gunners

Supporting infantry fail their morale and join rout

 

6^th French corps retreat

Their cavalry rally and cover the retreat

 

Summary

The French have won in the centre, lost in the south and draw in the north

Their reserve artillery move into position to support the attack in the north

The Russians have won in the south

With the loss of their centre, the Russians withdraw towards Jena.

 

The French have lost 2 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (900 men)

The Russians have lost 3 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (1500 men)

5 May 1813 – Central Germany – Day 5

In the north both armies regroup and resupply

In the centre 4^th French army attack Jena

In the south 3^rd Russian army retreat to Sulza

The French win a marginal victory at Jena

The Russians retreat at nightfall, but do so in good order

The battle is fought to the west of the town

At nightfall it is still held by the Russians

The French lose 2 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (900 men)

The Russians lose 3 infantry, 1 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (1500 men)

4 May 1813 – Battle of Saalfeld

Tactical map of battle area

Wittgenstein orders 3^rd Russian army to attack Saalfeld

6^th French army have orders to hold Saalfeld

 

French – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Russian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The French are deployed on the hills either side of Saafeld

An army reserve of two brigades is behind the town

 

The Russians are advancing through the hills on the right

The army reserve of both corps artillery and two brigades is in the centre

The artillery is moving through the pass, the infantry on the hills either side

End of move 2

The French are waiting to see how the attack develops

However they have moved their cavalry onto the hills on each flank

 

5^th Russian corps (top) is have more hills to move through

6^th Russian corps and the reserve are both clear of the high ground

End of move 4

5^th Russian corps advance through the mountains

5^th French cavalry move forward

Russian reserve swing left to support 6^th Russian corps

 

6^th Russian corps deploy into column of attack

16^th Vistula cavalry move forward to threaten Russian flank

Polish artillery retreat from Russian grand battery

End of move 6

5^th Russian corps continue to advance over the hills

8^th French corps move forward to engage Russian reserve

 

Russian reserve artillery engage enemy gunners

Infantry move forward to attack town, but both brigades receive casualties

French reserve infantry enter Saalfeld

 

6^th Russian corps advance towards southern hills

Russian dragoons charge Polish lancers

Lancers lose melee and withdraw shaken

End of move 8

5^th corps cavalry had forced French lancers to retire shake

However the French cavalry have rallied behind their infantry

The Russian cavalry now move south towards the French artillery

 

French reserve artillery have received casualties

But they have also routed the Polish artillery

Reserve infantry have suffered heavy casualties

The French reserve infantry have occupied the town

 

6^th corps heavy cavalry have routed the Polish cavalry

They now force the nearest Polish infantry (on the hill) to form square

The Russian infantry advance to attack the hill

End of move 10

5^th Cossacks charge French gunners, who run to the town for cover

Russian infantry attack on the hill is a disaster

All three infantry brigades are routed, taking the Cossacks with them

 

Russian reserve infantry are too weak to attack the town

Half of the artillery have to redeploy to hold off French lancers

 

Russian attack on the southern hill also fails

Russian cuirassiers rout Polish lancers and nearest infantry brigade

The infantry rout a second infantry brigade, and the gunners

But two Russian infantry brigades are also routed

 

Summary

After a hard fought battle the French still hold Saalfeld

They also hold both hills, though only just

The French have two brigades in rout, the Russians 6 brigades

 

The French have lost 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (3200 men)

The Russians have lost 9 infantry and 2 casualties (3800 men)