13 October 1813 – Battle of Holzkirchen

Tactical map of battle area

The Austrian victory at Wassenburg has forced the Bavarians to abandon the town.

This allows 2^nd Austrian corps to occupy the town

Schwartzenberg is determined to follow up his victory

He moves north with 3^rd corps to attack Holzkirchen

10^th Bavarian corps has retreated from Wassenburg

9^th Bavarian corps has just arrived from Bad Tolz to support them

Bavarian – 18800 infantry, 1800 cavalry, 57 guns

Austrian – 18800 infantry, 1800 cavalry, 60 guns

Table at start of battle

Holzkirchen is the fortified town centre top

9^th and 10^th Bavarian corps are deployed on hold orders

2^nd and 3^rd Austrian corps will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

Move 1 : 0800-0900

9^th and 10^th Bavarian corps wait for the enemy to commit before they react

2nd Austrian corps cavalry are on the far right to outflank the enemy cavalry

3^rd Austrian corps are on the far left to avoid the Bavarian artillery on the hill

Move 2 : 0900-1000

Bavarians wait for Austrians to advance within artillery range

Austrians advance but infantry and cavalry remain out of range

Artillery move within range, so they can fire on enemy cavalry

Move 3 : 1000-1100

Bavarian gunners open fire, no casualties

Austrian artillery advance into range and start to unlimber

Austrian infantry deploy out of artillery range

Move 4 : 1100-1200

9^th Bavarian artillery fire on Austrian gunners, no casualties

Infantry move off hill to support cavalry

10^th Bavarian artillery open fire on cavalry, cause 10% casualties

Bavarian cavalry also hit, not have 20% casualties, pass morale test

2^nd Austrian cavalry advance, receive 10% casualties, pass morale test

Infantry also advance

Artillery fire on Bavarian cavalry, inflict 10% casualties

3^rd Austrian artillery advance and unlimber

Infantry square moves forward in support

Move 5 : 1200-1300

9^th Bavarian cavalry charge and rout Austrian gunners

Are then counter charged and rout with 30% casualties

10^th Bavarian cavalry retire out of artillery range

Gunners are charged, pass morale and retreat into infantry square

2^nd Austrian artillery fire on gunners, no casualties

Cavalry charge gunners who retreat into nearby square

Infantry advance to support cavalry

3^rd Austrian gunners are charged by cavalry

Pass morale and decide to stand and fire

Bavarian cavalry charge home with no casualties

Gunners rout with 20% casualties

Rout through supporting infantry square, who pass their morale test

Austrian cavalry counter charge and rout Bavarian cavalry

Move 6 : 1300-1400

9^th Bavarian corps retreat, with artillery and infantry square as rearguard

Artillery fire on Austrian infantry but no casualties

10^th Bavarian cavalry lose melee and rout with 40% casualties

corps retreat with infantry square as rearguard.

2^nd Austrian cavalry charge and rout enemy cavalry

Infantry advance in support

Conclusion

Both Bavarian cavalry brigades are in rout

Without cavalry support 9^th and 10^th corps retreat

Infantry squares, and the garrison of Holzkirchen, cover the retreat

The Austrians have won the battle

The Bavarians have lost 500 casualties and two brigades in rout

The Austrians have lost 200 casualties and one battery in rout