27 June 1813 – Second battle of Gardelegen

Tactical map of battle area

The Prussians won the first battle

Napoleon ordered 16 brigade to rejoin 4^th corps

It took two days for them to do so

Both corps also regrouped and resupplied

The French then resumed the attack

French – 15600 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Prussian – 11600 infantry, 900 cavalry, 27 guns

Table at start of wargame

Both corps are in the same position as at midnight on 25 June 1813

4^th French on the left and 1^st Prussian on the right

They have both received battle casualty replacements

The French have three infantry brigades with 10% casualties

The Prussians have 10% casualties in one infantry, one cavalry and the artillery

0800-1200

The Prussian hussars charged the cuirassiers and the result was a draw

Both sides withdrew to rally and the hussars charged again

This time they were repulsed and shaken

The French artillery fired on both the woods and the hussars, but no casualties

The French infantry is out of range of the Prussian artillery

1200-1600

French cuirassier charge and rout the Prussian hussars

Prussian artillery limber and retreat as French infantry advance

Leading French brigade charge and rout the gunners

French artillery pound the landwehr brigade in the woods, who also rout

French infantry swing left to attack the solitary Prussian brigade outside the village

1600-2000

Having won the cavalry and artillery phase Rouget is now free to attack

He orders one infantry brigade to skirmish with the village

The other three are ordered to attack the single brigade outside the village

The outcome is predictable, the Prussian infantry rout

As night falls Kleist orders the village garrison to retreat

Conclusion

1^st Prussian corps are in rout

There is only one infantry brigade left to cover the retreat

The French have lost 800 casualties

The Prussians have lost 2900 casualties