23 March 1813 – Battle of Hannover

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

One Prussian corps has orders to attack three French corps

Two Prussian corps and one French corps march to the sound of the guns

Prussian – 50400 infantry, 4000 cavalry, 120 guns

French – 33600 infantry, 2900 cavalry, 90 guns

Wargame

Odds and terrain are too uneven to fight a wargame

The battle will be decided by using campaign rule 06

0800

This map shows the location of each corps at first light

1^st Prussian have orders to attack D5

2^nd Prussian have orders to resupply, but will march to the sound of the guns

3^rd Prussian have orders to attack D4

4^th Prussian have orders to move to E5

1^st French have orders to resupply, but will march to the sound of the guns

4^th french have orders to hold and will fight

13^th French have orders to resupply, but will march to the sound of the guns

1200

1^st Prussian attack 4^th  French, who hold the bridge over the river Weser

4^th Prussian cross the river but are held by 13^th French

2^nd and 3^rd Prussian advance to join the battle

1^st French is marching to the sound of the guns

1600

The French have retreated and concentrated their three corps

The Prussians have crossed the river and concentrated their four corps

2000  

All four Prussian corps now move forward and attack the French

Outnumbered the French fall back

They have lost 1600 infantry and 100 cavalry

The Prussians have lost 1200 infantry

Conclusion

The French have lost the battle, but with less casualties than might be expected

They will retreat  to Minden under cover of darkness

The French have lost 1700 battle casualties

The Prussians have lost 1200 battle casualties

Outcome

The French have lost a major battle

They are also outnumbered four to three

If they can not hold the town of Minden they will have to accept defeat

Battle Summary

The French were not expecting a major attack

They were redeploying following the first battle of Hannover

They had sent one of their corps to strike at the Prussian lines of communication

The French held their own in the early stages of the battle

But once the four Prussian corps had crossed the river they had to retreat

They were fortunate to escape with such light casualties

The French have lost 1700 battle casualties

The Prussians have lost 1200 battle casualties