15 July 1813 – Battle of Rudolstadt

Tactical map of battle area

Both armies have suffered considerable casualties in earlier battles

The Russians have been forced to retreat and are determined to hold Rudolstadt

If the French win this battle they will have won the campaign

French attack Rudolstadt

Russian – 71600 infantry, 3700 cavalry, 117 guns

French – 77200 infantry, 3800 cavalry, 120 guns

Table at start of wargame

 2^nd Russian corps arrive start of move 1

14^th Westphalian corps arrive start of move 1

Rest of both armies on table at start of game

0800-1200

6^th French corps advance and take village

Artillery fire on enemy infantry

One infantry brigade shaken

14^th Westphalian corps advance and start to deploy

2^nd French corps advance towards city

Cavalry receive casualties as they prepare to charge artillery

Artillery fire but ineffective

5^th French corps win cavalry melee, Cossacks retire shaken

Ordered to storm fortified farm, one brigade retires shaken

Artillery fire but ineffective

1^st Russian corps lose two infantry brigades to artillery fire

Artillery force one enemy brigade to retire shaken

2^nd Russian corps ordered to support 1 corps

4^th Russian corps artillery concentrate on enemy infantry

3^rd Russian corps hold farm though garrison suffer 30% casualties

CinC fails to rally shaken Cossacks

Russian artillery more effective than French

2^nd Russian and 14^th Westphalian corps deploy to join battle

1200-1600

6^th French corps have taken the village

1^st Russian corps have suffered heavy casualties, and retreated to the hill

14^th Westphalian corps have deployed but unable to advance

2^nd Russian corps have replaced 1^st Russian corps

2^nd French corps are pressing home their attack

4^th Russian corps are disordered and their gunners in an infantry square

4^th French corps have taken the fortified farm

But broke and ran when counter attacked

3^rd Russian corps are consolidating their hold on the farm

The Russians continue to hold all of Rudolstadt

1600-2000

6^th French corps exchange artillery fire with 1^st Russian corps

1^st Russian corps have lost heavily, but continue to hold north end of hill

14^th Westphalian unable to advance in time to join the battle

2^nd Russian deploy on southern end of hill

Both corps exchange artillery fire

2^nd French corps attack south of the town

4^th Russian corps break and retreat

5^th French rally and exchange artillery fire

3^rd Russian break and run, with all five brigades in rout

Conclusion

This was a very hard fought battle and both sides lost heavily

At nightfall the Russians firmly held the town

They also held the hill to the north of the town

But both corps south of the town retreated under cover of darkness

At nightfall there were eleven brigades in rout

The French suffered less casualties than the Russians

But they were unable attack, let alone take, the town

By nightfall three of their four corps were battered and in need of reorganisation

14^th Westphalian corps had taken no part in the battle and were formed

Four brigades were in rout

The Russians held the town and could claim victory

The French have lost 5900 casualties

The Prussians have lost 6500 casualties