31 March 1813 - North Germany

French win battle of Magdeburg

Prussians lose 3900 casualties and four brigades in rout

French lose 2900 casualties and one brigade in rout

31 March 1813 – Battle of Madgeburg

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

All four Prussian corps have orders to attack

1^st Prussian corps is pinned by 3^rd French corps

Table at start of wargame

HQ Prussian arrive move 1

2 Prussian     start on table

3 Prussian     arrive move 1

4 Prussian     arrive move 1

HQ French    start on table

1 French       start on table

4 French       start on table

13 French     arrive move 5

0800-0900

Napoleon orders 1^st corps to hold the top and centre bridges.

Blucher orders 4^th corps to attack the top bridge, 2^nd corps the centre one 

and 3^rd corps the bottom one.

1^st French corps start to redeploy

All three Prussian corps advance

0900-1000

French redeploy to hold the whole river line

Prussian corps advance

1000-1100

French continue to redeploy

4 corps send two brigades to occupy Magdeburg

Prussian continue to advance

4 corps start to deploy

1100-1200

Both sides continue to deploy

4 Prussian artillery open fire, no casualties

French guard artillery open fire, hit column

4 French move artillery north of town to cover centre of river

1200-1300  

13 Polish corps arrive (bottom left)

Napoleon orders them to deploy to the left of the guard

4 Prussian corps starts to cross river (top left)

Artillery exchange fire, no casualties

1300-1400  

Prussians must press home their attack before 13 Polish can deploy

3 and 4 Prussian corps cross river

2 Prussian are too weak to cross in the centre

1400-1500 

13 Polish lancers force 4 Prussian infantry into square

2 Prussian artillery hit guard cavalry, who retire out of range 

All three Prussian corps cross river

1500-1600 

3 Prussian infantry skirmish town, no casualties

4 Prussian infantry skirmish and force guard artillery to retire

13 Polish lancers charge dragoons, melee is a draw, both disordered

1600-1700 

3 Prussian artillery hit square

3 Prussian infantry ordered to attack town

Town garrison win skirmish

2 Prussian artillery hit guard square

Guard infantry and 2 and 4 Prussian infantry firefight is a draw

1700-1800 

13 Polish deploy and advance to attack

Guard square is shaken by 2 Prussian artillery

2 Prussian dragoons charge and rout shaken square

Polish lancers charge and rout 4 Prussian infantry

4 French cuirassiers charge and rout 3 Prussian gunners

4 French artillery and garrison rout 3 Prussian infantry attacking town

  

Conclusion

The Prussians have failed to take Magdeburg

With the arrival of 13 Polish corps Blucher orders a general retreat

The Prussians have lost 3600 infantry, 200 gunners and 100 cavalry

In addition two infantry brigades, one cavalry and 3 corps artillery are in rout

The French have lost 2800 infantry and 100 cavalry

In addition one guard infantry brigade is in rout

  

Outcome

The French have won this battle

They have held Magdeburg and forced the Prussian to retreat over the river

Battle Summary

The Prussians start the battle with odds of three to two

However to win the battle they have to cross the river and take Magdeburg

They must do so before 13 Polish corps arrive at 1pm

By mid morning all three Prussian corps are in position and start to cross the river

The French Guard have to hold the river line against 2 and 4 Prussian corps

In doing so they suffer heavy casualties

However they hold their position until the Poles arrive

3 Prussian corps is ordered to attack Magdeburg

In doing so they expose their left flank, which is charged by 4 French cuirassiers

The Prussian artillery and one infantry brigade are routed and the attack is defeated

There is not sufficient space for 13 Polish corps to deploy in the centre or right

They have to move through the pass to attack 4 Prussian corps

The Prussians increase the pressure to break the French Guard

However they manage to hold until the Poles start to deploy

Unable to take Magdeburg, or hold his position on the west bank, Blucher retreats

The Prussians have lost 3900 casualties and have four brigades in rout

The French have lost 2900 casualties and one brigade in rout

The French have won the battle