27 May 1813 – Battle of Gremsdorf

Tactical map of battle area

General Wrede, commander of 9^th Bavarian corps, has orders to attack Gremsdorf.

General Merveldt, commander of 3^rd Austrian corps, also has orders to attack Gremsdorf.

On 26^th May as both corps approached the town they made contact.   After a brief skirmish both halted and deployed.   At first light both advance to battle.

Austrian – 20000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Bavarian – 20000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

 Both corps start on the table and ready to attack Gremsdorf

0800-1200

Bavarian infantry have entered both town sections

The Austrians have not entered the bottom town section

This is to allow their artillery to fire on the enemy in the town

Despite two hours of skirmish and artillery fire no casualties yet.

1200-1600

Bavarian cavalry charge Austrian hussars, lose melee and rout

Hussars rally and charge nearby gunners, who also rout

The prolonged melee in Gremsdorf is indecisive

Austrians attempt to swop infantry brigade in top section of town

Bavarians fire on disorder infantry, who break and rout

Austrian hussars rally again and charge disordered infantry, who join rout

The whole of 3^rd Austrian corps are in rout

Conclusion

Wrede orders his infantry to garrison Gremsdorf

Merveldt is unable to stop the rout of 3^rd Austrian corps

The Bavarians have lost 1000 casualties

The Austrians have lost 1900 casualties and six brigades in rout