24 September 1813 – Battle of Kleinau

Tactical map of battle area

Blucher’s army is battered after two days fighting

To rally, regroup and reorganise them he must break contact and retreat

He orders them to concentrate around Salzwedel

He is short of supplies and is determined to move the depot at Kleinau to Kladen

It will take all day for the garrison to collect and move the supplies from the depot

3^rd Prussian corps is ordered to hold Kleinau until the convoy has left the town.

Napoleon is determined to maintain the pressure on the Prussians

He orders 13^th Polish corps to attack Kleinau

French – 32000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Prussian – 32000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Table at start of battle

Town of Kleanau with 16 infantry brigade as garrison, is top centre

3^rd Prussian corps are deployed in centre square to defend the town

13^th Polish corps will arrive centre bottom at start of move 1

Move 1 : 0800-0900

Prussians move first, but wait to see what Polish will do

Poles advance to right of centre hill to avoid getting blocked in pass

They choose the right as there is more open ground to deploy once clear of hills

Move 2 : 0900-1000

Poles move first, continue to advance behind cavalry screen

Prussians redeploy to the right of woods at cross roads

Move 3 : 1000-1100

Poles move first, continue to advance, but cavalry screen has halted

Prussians continue to redeploy to their right

Cavalry have advanced to pin enemy cavalry at entrance to right hand valley

Move 4 : 1100-1200

Poles move first, start to deploy at entrance to valley

Leading infantry brigade form square to cover further deployment

Remainder of corps continue to advance

Prussian artillery unlimber

Cavalry do not attack, even though they are within charge move of lancers

Infantry advance to flank any Polish attack

Move 5 : 1200-1300

Prussians move first

Artillery fire on lancers, no casualties

Hussar brigade retreat out of artillery range

Polish lancers move to right to allow corps to advance

Infantry form column and advance now that enemy cavalry have  withdrawn

Artillery unlimber and prepare to open fire

Move 6 : 1300-1400

Prussians move first

Artillery fire on gunners, no casualties

Infantry brigade receive 10% casualties, pass morale test

Polish cavalry move forward within charge range of hussar brigade

Artillery fire on infantry, hit and cause 10% casualties

Infantry move onto left hand hill to protect gunners from enemy infantry

Remainder of infantry form column of attack and prepare to advance.

Move 7 : 1400-1500

Prussians move first

Artillery fire on reserve infantry and cause 10% casualties

Infantry ordered out of woods

Cavalry charge lancers

Prussians win melee, lancers rout with 20% casualties

Prussians lose morale and pursue, cause 10% more casualties

Polish artillery fire on infantry, no casualties

Lancers lose melee and rout

Infantry receive 10% casualties, pass morale test and are disordered

Leading infantry brigades advance towards square

Move 8 : 1500-1600

Poles move first

Artillery fire on infantry, no casualties

Leading infantry charge square, who break with 20% casualties

Nearby gunners test morale for rout and pass test

Prussian hussars retire disordered, must come under command to reform

Infantry square lose melee and rout with 20% casualties

Nearby gunners test morale and pass, but retreat anyway

With their right flank threatened the Prussians retire.

Conclusion

The Polish infantry are poised on the Prussian open left flank

Unable to redepoloy their infantry to meet the threat, the Prussians retreat

With the loss of their cavalry the Poles are unable to pursue

This allows the town garrison to gather supplies and retreat in good order

The Poles have lost 700 casualties land have one brigade in rout

The Prussians have lost 1300 casualties and also have one brigade in rout