16 March 1813 – Battle of Erfurt

Tactical map of battle area

The French and Russian armies are deployed either side of Erfurt

 

Both commanders have been awaiting the outcome of the battles of Wiessensee and Suhl.   Neither have detached support to either battle.  The time has come for a major battle in the centre

 

French – 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Prussian – 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Russian army to the right of the city of Erfurt

French army to the left of the city of Erfurt

Both commanders have concentrated three infantry brigades to attack the city

Table at end of move 2

Both armies have advanced

 

Left

Russians have occupied the farm, the French the woods

In the centre infantry have entered all four sections of the city

 

Right

Russians have occupied the woods

The Russian reserve have been committed on the far left

The French reserve centre left.

Table at end of move 4

Both armies have advanced

 

Left

Russian gunners have hit 6^th corps artillery, who are shaken

Russian reserve artillery hit Cossacks, who rout with 10% casualties

 

Centre

French have secured south Erfurt and Russians the north

 

Right

French gunners have hit 1^st corps artillery, who are disordered

French cavalry then charge gunners, who retreat into nearby square

Cossacks have advance right of woods to engage advancing French infantry

Table at end of move 7

Left

Russian artillery rout French gunners

The nearby reserve cavalry fail their morale and join rout

 

Centre

French have attacked to clear Erfurt

Their artillery have caused casualties to both Russian garrisons

The Russian reserve brigade has been sent in to support the left garrison

After two rounds of melee two Russian brigades are shaken

The remaining French and Russian brigades are all disordered.

The melee continues

 

Right

French cavalry have forced the gunners to abandon their guns

The Russian Cossacks have pinned the attacking French infantry

One French brigade is in rout

Table at end of move 9

 

Left

Russians hold left wing and suffer only light casualties

6^th French hold woods but do not attempt to attack

corps artillery rout after receiving artillery casualties

reserve cavalry rout without casualties having failed morale test

 

Centre

French take city of Erfurt

Lose one brigade in rout

Russians lose three brigades in rout

 

Right

Russians hold right wing and suffer light casualties

Cossack brigade routed in melee with Guard cavalry

French lose one brigade in rout

 

Summary

 

The Russians hold both flanks, but lose the city in the centre

They also lose considerably more casualties

French win the battle

 

The French have lost 8 infantry and 1 artillery casualties (3400 men)

The Russians have lost 12 infantry, 3 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (5300 men)