16 July 1813 – Central Germany – End of Erfurt Campaign

Tactical Map

The campaign opened with the Russian Army west of the river Saale, with three corps concentrated around Erfurt.   A fourth corps was further north, and east of the river, at Weissensee.

Davout opened the campaign in the south with an attack on Amstadt.   The Russian retreat forced them to abandon Erfurt and redeploy west of the river.   The French attempted to pursue but were defeated as they attempted to cross the river.

The French held both Erfurt (the campaign objective) and the west bank of the river Saale.   Faced with a strongly held river line, Wittgenstein decided to tempt the French to cross to the east bank.   He ordered 2^nd corps to move south to lure the French to take Weissensee.  They would then attack as the French crossed the river Saale.   However the French crossed and immediately deployed.   The Russian attack failed and they moved south to join the main army.

The Russian Army was now deployed east of the river in the centre.    The French moved two corps north of the bend and attacked from Erfurt.  Another victory forced the Russians to retreat to Rudolstadt.

The final battle would involve all eight corps.   Davout attacked as the Russians were concentrating.   His three corps gained an early advantage, but the fourth Russian corps arrived and drove them back.   The Westphalian corps had a long approach march, and did not arrive in time to take part in the battle.   The Russians held Rudolstadt throughout the battle and claimed a victory.  However they had lost two of their four corps and had to retreat during the night.

The campaign ended in a French victory. 

Strategic Map

The Erfurt campaign was the fifth phase in Central Germany between the Second French and the Russian armies.   It lasted 13 days and there were five battles.   The French won three, the Russians won two.

French lost 8800 infantry and 500 cavalry

Russians lost 15200 infantry, 600 cavalry and 3 guns

The French won the Erfurt campaign phase

The campaign started on 31 July and ended on 22 October 2017

16 July 1813 – Central Germany

General Wittgenstein orders his Army to abandon Rudolstadt during the night.   Despite holding the town at the end of the battle the previous day, he has no option but to retreat.   Two of his four corps are already in rout and the French are clearly intending to continue the battle.

Marshal Davout redeploys his Army overnight and orders them to attack at daylight.   14^th Westphalian corps, which had not taken part in the battle, was ordered to attack the town itself.

At daylight the Russians had gone, and having entered the town the remainder of the French army halted.   Any attempt at a pursuit would have resulted in heavy attrition casualties.   Davout ordered them to regroup, resupply and reorganise.

The French had won the Erfurt campaign.

15 July 1813 – Central Germany

The battle of Rodolstadt was an appropriate end to the campaign.   All four French and Russian corps took part, it was a hard fought battle, both sides suffered similar heavy casualties and the result was inconclusive.

The battle opened with three corps on each side and the Russian artillery dominated the morning.   2^nd Russian corps arrived just in time to restore the Russian right flank, and held it until nightfall.   14^th Westphalian arrived too late to play a decisive part in the battle.  

5^th French corps opened the attack south of the town.   They took the farm, but lost it again to 2^nd Russian corps counter attack.   Wittgenstein committed 4^th Russian corps, his reserve, in support and they overwhelmed the French.  

Davout sent in his reserve, 2^nd young guard corps, who held and then broke the two Russian corps.

At nightfall the Russians held their northern flank, and the town, but had lost two corps south of the town.   However the French were unable to commit 14^th Westphalian corps.  

The French lost 5900 casualties and four brigades in rout

The Russians lost 6500 and eleven brigades in rout

The Russians held the town and claimed a victory