23 September 1813 – Battle of Kuhfelde

Tactical map of battle area

Having secured his left flank with his victory at Dahre Napoleon now orders the Imperial Garde, supported by the reserve, to attack Kuhfelde.

Blucher is uncertain whether the battle of Dahre was the main French attack.   He orders the reserve to move south to Kuhfelde.

French – 32000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Prussian – 36000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Table at start of battle

1^st French corps enter table start of move 1

Napoleon and French reserve enter table start of move 5

2^nd Prussian corps and 15 infantry brigade deployed on table

Blucher and French reserve enter table start of move

Move 1 : 0800-0900

1^st French corps enter table

Cavalry left of woods to pin Prussian cavalry and artillery

Infantry and artillery advance right of woods in column of march

Move 2 : 0900-1000

1^st French corps advance

Infantry columns prepare to form column of attack

Move 3 : 1000-1100

French infantry form column of attack

French artillery unlimber

Prussian artillery open fire, but no casualties

Move 4 : 1100-1200

French infantry advance

French artillery open fire, but no casualties

However Prussian cavalry and artillery retire out of range

Move 5 : 1200-1300

Artillery continue to fire, but no casualties on either side

1^st French corps infantry advance towards village

Blucher arrives (top centre) with Prussian reserve and advance through Kuhfelde

Napoleon arrives (bottom centre) with French reserve

They advance to left of woods towards 1^st corps cavalry

Move 6 : 1300-1400

1^st French corps artillery fire and hit Prussian cuirassiers

1^st French corps infantry move towards village

Napoleon gives command of both cavalry brigades to 4^th corps commander

He takes command of both corps artillery himself

2^nd Prussian cuirassier receive 10% casualties and retire disordered

Blucher takes command of 2^nd corps artillery, cavalry and 4 infantry brigade

Prussian reserve corps moves to fill gap in right flank

Move 7 : 1400-1500

1 French corps infantry charge Prussian infantry

1 Grenadiers win melee with 10% casualties

4 Chasseurs draw melee with 10% casualties

3 Chasseurs skirmish with village, no casualties

Napoleon joins both corps artillery

Reserve corps redeploy cavalry on left flank

2 Prussian lose melee and rout with 20% casualties

3 Prussian draw melee with 10% casualties

1 Prussian (village) skirmish with no casualties

Blucher redeploys artillery to face French cavalry

Prussian reserve corps continue to move to fill gap in right flank

Move 8 : 1500-1600

1 and 2 French infantry melee garrison

French lose 30% casualties

Garrison lose 20% casualties

3 and 4 French infantry melee 7 Prussian infantry

French lose 20% casualties

Prussian lose 30% casualties and rout

Blucher forms cavalry division from two brigades

He also sends reserve artillery to support 2^nd corps

He keeps command of 2 corps artillery and 8 infantry brigade

Move 9 : 1600-1700

Blucher moves his reserve artillery to support his broken left flank

1 and 2 French infantry withdraw from attack on farm

Combined French artillery fire on Prussian square

20% casualties but infantry pass morale test

Move 10 : 1700-1800

Napoleon orders his infantry to withdraw and reform

All four brigades have casualties and are unable to continue to attack

As they withdraw they come under fire from the reserve Prussian artillery

French artillery concentrate on the landwehr square to the left of the village

The infantry receive 20% casualties, fail their morale and rout

Fortunately the nearby village garrison pass their morale test

So also the nearest cavalry brigade, despite having 10% casualties

Move 11 : 1800-1900

The right hand French brigade receive 20% artillery casualties as they withdraw

They fail their morale test and rout

The remainder of the infantry have withdrawn and are out of range

White stars indicate brigades in rout

Conclusion

Napoleon has one brigade in rout

The other three brigades are in disorder and will rally during the night

His cavalry and artillery are untouched

Blucher has three brigades in rout

He has also lost more casualties than the French

But his still holds the village in the centre

His cavalry are also formed and ready to cover the retreat

Because the Prussians still hold Kuhfelde they claim victory

The French have lost 2400 casualties

The Prussians have lost 3700 casualties