26 September 1813 – Battle of Salzwedel

Tactical map of battle area

The French defeat at Schenga is a serious setback

But Napoleon is determined to maintain the pressure on Blucher

The Guard is still recovering from their victory at Kuhfelde

But 2^nd Prussian corps has even more battle casualties

The French have a temporary advantage before the odds turn against them

Napoleon orders an attack on Salzwedel before Blucher can recover

French – 14000 infantry, 2000 cavalry, 60 guns

Prussian – 15200 infantry, 1900 cavalry, 57 guns

Table at start of battle

The Prussian army is deployed in front of the fortified city of Salzwedel

13 infantry brigade is the garrison of the city and cannot take part in the battle

Reserve corps on the left and 2^nd corps on the right

They are in column of march so that they can redeploy when they see the French deployment

The French army is off table bottom centre

1^st corps and the army reserve will arrive on table at the start of move 1

Move 1 : 0800-0900

French arrive on table

Napoleon has taken command of the guard cavalry

The remainder of the guard arrive in column of attack

The reserve are on the right

The Prussians start to deploy to counter the French deployment

Move 2 : 0900-1000

The guard and French reserve advance

Cavalry hold to prevent Prussian reserve advancing

Prussians start to deploy

2 corps cavalry advance on the right

Move 3 : 1000-1100

French reserve cavalry charge Prussian cuirassiers

Prussians lose melee and 10% casualties and are also shaken

All Prussian infantry form square

French guard infantry and artillery advance

Reserve artillery unlimber in case their cavalry lose melee

Move 4 : 1100-1200

French reserve cavalry rout shaken Prussian dragoons with 20% casualties

Reserve artillery move forward into range

Guard infantry advance towards Prussian centre

Guard artillery unlimber in range, supporting infantry form square

Move 5 : 1200-1300

French reserve artillery unlimber in range

Guard artillery fire on square and cause 10% casualties

Guard cavalry charge Prussian dragoons, win melee, but lose 10% casualties

Guard infantry advance towards Prussian centre

Prussian artillery fire on Guard infantry, no casualties

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

Cavalry lose melee, receive 20% casualties and are shaken

Move 6 : 1300-1400

French reserve cavalry charge and rout the shaken Prussians dragoons

Prussian gunners seek the safety of the nearby square

French guard gunners hit square, who pass morale test with 20% casualties

Guard infantry charge artillery in the centre

Gunners fire at short range, but no casualties

Gunners fail morale and rout

Infantry brigades on either side of guns also fail morale and join rout

With five brigades in rout Blucher orders a general retreat

Conclusion

A convincing French victory

The Prussians have lost two cavalry and three infantry brigades in rout

Fortunately the fortified city of Salzwedel is nearby to offer safety

The French have lost 200 casualties

The Prussians have lost 1700 casualties