3 April 1813 – Battle of Stuttgart

Tactical map of battle area

Background to battle

Three Austrian corps attack Stuttgart

Austrian – 35600 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns

French – 33600 infantry, 3000 cavalry, 90 guns 

Table at start of wargame

 HQ Austrian – arrive start of move 1

2 Austrian – arrive start of move 1

3 Austrian – arrive start of move 1

4 Austrian – arrive start of move 1

9 Bavarian arrive start of move 1

All corps start the game on blinds until within 20” of the enemy

0800-0900

Three Austrian corps arrive on the right hand edge of table

10 Bavarian ordered to move to hill with windmill

0900-1000

All Austrian corps are spotted and replace blinds with figures

10 Bavarian cavalry occupy north hill

9 Bavarian corps enter table on left.

1000-1100

Both armies start to deploy

1100-1200

10 Bavarian cavalry charge and rout 4 Austrian dragoons with 10% casualties

3 Austrian dragoons charge and rout 11 Bavarian artillery with 20% casualties

1200-1300  

2 and 3 Austrians engage town

4 Austrian engage windmill hill

Bavarians continue to deploy

1300-1400  

2 and 3 Austrian artillery fire on town, no casualties

4 Austrian ordered to hold top farm

Bavarians continue to deploy

1400-1500 

10 Bavarian artillery lose 10% gunners and are shaken

Garrison lose 20% casualties to artillery fire but pass morale test

9 Bavarian occupy southern hill

1500-1600 

2 Austrian ordered to withdraw and hold farm

2/7 brigade lose 10% casualties and shaken

11 Bavarian replace southern garrison

They receive 10% casualties and are shaken

1600-1700 

Two Austrian brigades attack the battered southern garrison

The Bavarians hold the infantry at bay, but rout due to increased artillery fire

The reserve brigade joins the rout, as does the northern garrison.

Bavarian rout from Stuttgart

Conclusion

With the loss of Stuttgart, and the destruction of 11^th corps, the Bavarians retreat

They have lost 2800 infantry, 300 gunners and 30 guns plus four brigades in rout

The Austrians lost 1200 infantry and 100 cavalry

  

Outcome

An Austrian victory

This battle signals the end of the Stuttgart campaign phase

Battle Summary

The battle opens with 11^th Bavarian corps in Stuttgart and 9^th and 10 corps in supporting distance.

Schwartzenberg plan of attack is to send one corps to take the windmill hill

The other two will attack the city.

The Austrian artillery concentrate on the south east section of the city.  By midday Oudinot has to replace the garrison with a fresh brigade.

2^nd and 4^th Austrian corps withdraw to the northern and southern farms.   This move covers the flanks whilst 3rd corps deploys to storm the city.   .

The Austrian attack is successful.   All three Bavarian infantry brigades in the town are routed, plus their supporting artillery.   11^th Bavarian corps is broken.

Oudinot still holds the hills to the north and south of the city.   But with the loss of 11^th corps he is heavily outnumbered.   At nightfall he orders his army to retreat.