21 June 1813 – Battle of Munchberg

Tactical map of battle area

5^th French army have orders to take Munchberg

2^nd Russian army have orders to defend Munchberg

 

French – 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Russian – 10 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

 

Both armies start the battle with considerable casualties from earlier battles

Table at start of battle

Russian army deployed in front of Munchberg

16 infantry brigade is the town garrison

French army will arrive at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French army arrive on table

Russian cavalry redeploy between 4^th and 5^th corps

 

Left – 14^th French corps advance towards woods

Left – Reserve cavalry support 14^th corps

Centre – 13^th French corps approach pass

Right – 15^th Italian corps approach hill

End of move 4

French army advance

 

Left – 14^th French corps approach woods

Left – French cavalry halt out of artillery range

Centre – 13^th French corps cross pass at half move rate

Right – 15^th Italian corps cross hill at half move rate

End of move 6

French artillery unlimber and open fire

6^th Russian artillery receive 10% casualties

 

Left – French infantry reach woods

Centre – French infantry move down from pass

Right – Italian infantry move down from hill

End of move 8

French cavalry routed

 

Left – skirmish fight continues in the woods

Left – French cavalry charge guns, counter charged by Cossacks and routed

Centre – French cavalry charge runs, routed with 20% casualties

Centre – French infantry forced to form square when cavalry routed

Right – Italian infantry advance against shaken artillery crew

End of move 10

Russian tactical withdrawal

 

Left – French infantry take woods

Left – Russian cavalry force gunners to abandon their guns

Left – One Russian and Two French cavalry brigades in rout

Centre – Russian centre withdraw towards town

Right - Russian infantry withdraw and abandon fortified farm

Right – Russian gunners in rout 

End of move 12

Russians retreat to Munchberg

French take woods and inn

 

Left – French occupy woods, two Russian infantry brigades rout

Left – Two French cavalry brigades rout

Centre – Two Russian cavalry brigades rout

Right – French take inn, Russians redeploy north of the inn

  

Summary

At nightfall the Russian army are largely intact and still hold Munchberg

However they have lost more casualties than the French

They also have five brigades in rout to two French brigades in rout

The Russians have won the game, but it feels more like a draw

 

The French have lost 1 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (600 men)

The Russians have lost 4 infantry, 1 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (1900 men)

21 June 1813 – Central Germany – Day 5

 

5^th French army attack 2^nd Russian army at Munchberg

4^th French army occupy Hollfeld and advance towards Bayreuth

6^th French army lay siege to Pegnitz, 3^rd Russian army withdraw from campaign

20 June 1813 – Battle of Pegnitz

Tactical map of battle area

6^th French army ordered to take Pegnitz

3^rd Russian army ordered to hold Pegnitz

 

Both armies have light casualties from battle of Forchheim

 

3 French infantry brigades detached on garrison duty

One Russian infantry brigade missing due to casualties 

 

French – 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Russian – 11 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Russians are deployed in front of the town of Pregnitz

CinC has taken command of both cavalry brigades

15 infantry brigade is the town garrison

 

French will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

 

End of move 2

French arrive bottom of table

Russian cavalry advance between 7 and 9 corps

 

Left – 17^th Polish corps advance left of inn

Centre – CinC takes command of 16 and 17 cavalry brigades

Centre – 16^th French corps advance between inn and hill

Right – 18^th Vistula corps advance either side of the walled farm

 

End of move 4

Russian infantry have not occupied forward line of woods

French artillery open fire

 

Left – Poles infantry advance towards woods, artillery unlimber on their right

Centre – Artillery open fire, infantry remain out of artillery range

Right -  Vistula advance towards woods, artillery unlimber on their left

End of move 6

Russian cavalry rout

French advance to attack

 

Left – Polish infantry advance to woods, Russian infantry fall back

Centre – French advance, Russians artillery fire but no casualt9ies

Right – Vistula artillery rout Russian cavalry division

End of move 8

Russians retreat and abandon artillery

 

Left – Russian gunners run to square, infantry start to withdraw

Centre – French cavalry force gunners to abandon guns

Centre – Russian infantry brigade routed by artillery fire

Right – Russian cavalry continue to rout

Right -  Russian gunners routed by artillery fire

Right – Russian infantry start to withdraw

 

Summary

With the loss of all of their cavalry and artillery the Russian infantry withdraw

Casualties have been light, but morale low due to earlier battle casualties

Russians still hold Pegnitz at nightfall

But without artillery or cavalry will not be able to fight another major battle

 

The French have lost no casualties

The Russians have lost 1 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 gunner (600 men)

They also have four brigades in rout

20 June 1813 – Central Germany – Day 4

5^th French army occupy Kulmbach, 2^nd Russian army regroup at Munchberg

4^th French army rally and regroup, 1^st Russian army retreat to Bayreuth

6^th French army attack 3^rd Russian army at Pegnitz