16 July 1813 – Central Germany

General Wittgenstein orders his Army to abandon Rudolstadt during the night.   Despite holding the town at the end of the battle the previous day, he has no option but to retreat.   Two of his four corps are already in rout and the French are clearly intending to continue the battle.

Marshal Davout redeploys his Army overnight and orders them to attack at daylight.   14^th Westphalian corps, which had not taken part in the battle, was ordered to attack the town itself.

At daylight the Russians had gone, and having entered the town the remainder of the French army halted.   Any attempt at a pursuit would have resulted in heavy attrition casualties.   Davout ordered them to regroup, resupply and reorganise.

The French had won the Erfurt campaign.