5 June 1813 – Battle of Harzburg

Tactical map of battle area

Napoleon ordered a surprise attack on Harzburg

His aim was to disrupt the Prussian preparations to attack Goslar

Both armies started the battle with light casualties

But the French has slightly more than the Prussians 

 

1^st French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

3^rd Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

 

Table at start of battle

Prussian army is deployed on the table at the start of the game

CinC has taken command of the defence of Harzburg

He has created a reserve of two grenadier brigades and one cavalry brigade

 

French will enter the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French enter table

1^st corps advance through the woods on the left

2^nd corps advance between the inn and the woods on the left

Napoleon has taken command of two infantry brigades and 2^nd corps artillery

3^rd corps advance through the woods on the right

 

Prussians react to French arrival

4^th corps redeploy

Reserve and 5^th corps are deployed behind Harzburg

6^th corps cavalry advance on the right

End of move 4

French advance

1^st corps pass through woods on left

2^nd corps advance towards town

Reserve swing right to support 3^rd corps

3^rd corps lose cavalry melee

 

Prussians occupy Harzburg

4^th corps wait for French to advance

Reserve enter left half of town

5^th corps enter right half of town

6^th corps win cavalry melee

End of move 6

French advance, but suffer heavy casualties

1^st corps receive artillery casualties but continue to advance

2^nd corps approach Harzburg

Reserve cavalry charge guns, receive casualties and are shaken

3^rd corps cavalry routed, rest of corps advance slowly

 

Prussians withdraw to stronger position

4^th corps withdraw as Imperial guard advance

Reserve infantry garrison left half of town

5^th corps infantry garrison right half of town, artillery withdraw

6^th corps infantry withdraw into woods on the right

End of move 8

French lose centre and left

1^st corps press home their attack

2^nd corps attack fails, one brigade routed

Reserve attack fails, one brigade and artillery routed

3^rd corps attack fails, two brigades in rout

 

Prussians hold centre and left

4^th corps withdraw towards town, two brigades in rout

Reserve hold left half of town

5^th corps hold right half of town

6^th corps hold woods on right

End of move 10

French attack stalls

1^st corps rout 4^th corps and attack town

2^nd corps win musket exchange, but abandon attack on town

Reserve broken and in rout

3^rd corps unable to advance beyond woods

 

Prussians hold town and win centre and right

4^th corps broken and in rout

Reserve take casualties but hold town

5^th corps hold town and move to counter 1^st corps attack

6^th corps content to hold woods

End of move 12

French attack fails

1^st corps rout 4^th corps and capture one infantry brigade

2^nd corps capture one infantry brigade

Reserve halt and regroup

3^rd corps hold woods

 

Prussians hold Harzburg and win battle

4^th corps is routed

Reserve holds left half of town at nightfall

5^th corps holds right half of town at nightfall

6^th corps holds woods at nightfall

 

Summary

French attack fails, apart from 1^st Old Guard corps

However they reach the town too late to launch an attack

Prussians suffer more casualties, and have more brigades in rout

However they have the main attack and held off the Old Guard

They hold the town at nightfall and therefore win the battle

 

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

The Prussians have lost 8 infantryand 3 cavalry casualties (3500 men)

The French have 5 brigades in rout, the Prussians have 7 brigades.