2 March 1813 – Battle of Wolfenbuttel

Tactical map of battle area

Having won the battle of Gifhorn Napoleon keeps up the pressure

He orders 13 Polish corps to attack Wolfenbuttel in the south

3 Prussian corps have orders to hold the town

French – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Prussian – 4 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry brigade, 1 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Wolfenbuttel is the walled town on the right of the table

3^rd Prussian corps are deployed in the centre

13^th Polish corps will arrive far left at the start of move 1

End of Move 4

13^th Polish corps have halted just out of artillery range of the enemy

Their gunners have advanced and unlimbered within range of their cavalry

The Polish lancers have moved along the ridge on the right

Prussian gunners have opened fire on the Polish artillery

This is the only target available to them

They failed to inflict any casualties

End of Move 8

Polish artillery hit hussars, who lose 10% casualties but pass morale test

Lancers move forward off hill, and are charged by hussars

The melee is a draw, both lose 10% casualties and melee continues

Gunners realign to fire on enemy infantry

Infantry move forward

End of Move 10

Cavalry fight three rounds of melee

Lancers win but lose 30%, hussars rout with 40%

Leading Polish infantry receive artillery fire and are shaken with 10% casualties

Remaining infantry have to redeploy to allow them to retreat

Polish artillery rout infantry brigade with 10% casualties

Artillery and landwehr brigade both pass morale test

Prussian infantry brigade charge approaching infantry

Melee is a draw with 10% casualties on each side

End of Move 12

At nightfall both corps have fought themselves to exhaustion

Both cavalry brigades are in rout with 40% casualties each

Both gunners are in rout and have abandoned their guns

One infantry brigade on each side is in rout

Two brigades continue to melee (left)

Both have lost 30% casualties, but both continue melee

Prussian grenadier brigade continue to hold woods

Summary

Both sides have lost considerable casualties

The Prussians have one elite infantry brigade still formed

The French have two average infantry brigades still formed

At nightfall the French have more effective brigades than the Prussians

They have won the battle

The French have lost 5 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (2400 men)

The Prussians have lost 5 infantry, 4 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (2600 men)