26 April 1813 – Battle of Eilseben

Tactical map of battle area

The French are running short of supplies and Napoleon cannot delay his attack

He orders 1^st and 4^th corps to attack Eilseben

Blucher is expecting the attack and has deployed 1^st and 3^rd corps to hold the town

20 infantry brigade is the garrison of Eilseben and must remain within the town

Prussian - 36000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

French    - 32000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Table at start of wargame

All four corps are on the table

The two French corps have orders to move towards enemy

The two Prussian corps have orders to hold their position

0800-1200

The first four hours have been more eventful than usual

Napoleon has ordered both corps to advance and engage the enemy

The Imperial Guard (top) have advanced towards the hill

3^rd brigade (passing through farm) have received 400 casualties.

Guard chasseurs (top right) have charged and routed Prussian hussars

They then failed to rally and pursued routed hussars, who lost 200 casualties

But the guard cavalry are now cut off by the Prussian infantry

4^th corps (bottom) artillery have killed 400 Prussian gunners

This caused the 3^rd Prussian artillery to withdraw to their main battle line

1200-1600

1^st Prussian corps (top) has remained behind the ridge, safe from artillery fire

Their artillery have caused 1200 casualties on 1^st French corps

1^st French corps artillery have fired on the enemy gunners but without any hits

Their cavalry have rejoined the corps without any casualties

Their infantry are moving forward to engage the hill

3^rd Prussian corps (bottom) have suffered 800 infantry casualties to artillery fire

Their hussars have charged the French cuirassiers but the melee is inconclusive

Napoleon has ordered 4^th corps to attack the battered Prussian infantry

1600-2000

On the left 1^st French corps have taken the ridge and routed one Prussian brigade.

However the Prussians have won the firefight between the ridge and Eilseben

The Prussian cavalry have routed

On the right 4^th French corps have failed to break 3^rd Prussian corps

The French cuirassiers have routed the Prussian hussars

But the French infantry have lost the fire fight

One French brigade is in rout, and two more are shaken

The Prussians have held Eilseben throughout the battle and still do so at nightfall

Conclusion

Blucher has lost both cavalry brigades and one infantry brigade in rout

He has also lost the hill west of Eilseben

However he had halted the French attack and held the town throughout the battle

Napoleon has lost one brigade and four more are shaken.   He has failed to take Eilseben and orders a general retreat.

The French have lost 4500 casualties

The Prussians have lost 3900 casualties