3 March 1813 – Battle of Brunswick

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

This is an encounter battle, three corps per side all have orders to attack

Prussian – 40000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

French – 44000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

Table at start of wargame

2 Prussian arrive start of move 1

3 Prussian arrive start of move 1

1 Prussian arrive start of move 5

3 French arrive start of move 1

 

0800 - 0900

Napoleon decides to hold Brunswick until 1^st and 3^rd corps arrive.

1^st corps is ordered to deploy between the city and the woods

3^rd corps to face north to hold 2^nd Prussian corps

4^th corps to hold Brunswick

Blucher has a longer wait, as 1^st corps will not arrive until midday

He orders 2^nd corps to hold the high ground either side of the pass

3^rd corps will deploy between the two woods to wait for 1^st corps

0900 - 1100

Napoleon orders all three corps to advance and engage the enemy

Prussian cavalry charge French dragoons to delay the advance

The result is a draw, no casualties and both brigades disordered

1100 - 1200 

With the three French corps in the centre of the table, it was necessary to move the table to the left to make space for 1^st Prussian corps to arrive.   This was done by removing the three squares on the left and adding three squares on the right.   The actual squares are as shown on the tactical map.   The French are now crowded on the left,    2^nd Prussian corps extended to hold the centre, and 1^st Prussian corps arriving along the road on the right.

1200 - 1400

2^nd Prussian corps delay the French moving through the bottleneck of Brunswick and the woods to the north.   The French cavalry advance to pin the Prussians, and their artillery concentrate their fire on the infantry, who are forced to remain in square because of the enemy cavalry.   Although shaken, the Prussian infantry hold their ground as 1^st corps start to deploy behind them.

1400 - 1600

The French Guard finally clear the bottleneck, and engage the woods.

Napoleon orders 3^rd corps to attack the Prussian held hills to the north

 The Guard and 4^th corps attack in the centre.

4^th corps deploys east of Brunswick and advances in support of the guard

Prussian artillery hit the leading column, who break and rout

The nearby French gunners are shaken by the rout, as are the supporting column

The French attack has stalled once more.

1600 - 1800

The French Guard press home their attack in the centre. 

Halt of the infantry fight for the woods, the remainder advance in the centre

The latter take heavy casualties from Prussian artillery, break and rout

The Prussian cavalry on the right and centre charge to break the attack

Both are defeated by the French cavalry, both withdraw shaken

Conclusion

By nightfall both armies are exhausted

The French have failed to break through

The Prussians are too tired to counter attack

The French have lost 800 infantry and three brigades are in rout

The Prussians have lost 2400 infantry and three brigades are shaken

Outcome

The battle is a draw

On 4 March both armies will spend the day regrouping and reorganising

The French will hold Brunswick

The Prussians will withdraw to establish the “no mans land” square