2 April 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 3

At the end of today all 12 corps will be reduced to one days supply

 

In the north 7^th Bavarian army retreat having lost the battle of Bayerbach

2^nd Austrian corps occupy Bayerbach

1^st Austrian corps move closer to Bad Fussing to remain within supply range

 

In the centre both 8^th Bavarian army and 2^nd Austrian army attack Branau

 

In the south 3^rd Austrian army retreat having lost the battle of Eggelsberg.

17^th French corps occupy Eggelsberg

18^th French corps move closer to Burghausen to remain within supply range

 

The battle of Branau ends in a convincing Austrian victory

They have taken the city and defeated one of the two Bavarian corps

The Bavarian left wing is broken and four brigades in rout

Massena orders a general retreat

1 April 1813 – Battle of Bayerbach

Tactical map of battle area

9^th Bavarian corps have occupied Bayerbach in a surprise attack

10^th Bavarian corps is moving to support them

1^st and 2^nd Austrian corps have deployed to counter attack

 

Bavarian – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Austrian – 7 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Start of move 1

9^th Bavarian corps is deployed in the centre square

Two brigades are in Bayerbach, the remainder to the south

Marshal Massena and 10^th Bavarian corps will arrive centre left at the start of move 1

 

General Klenau and First Austrian army will arrive at the start of move 1

1^st corps will arrive top right, 2^nd corps centre right

End of move 2

10^th Bavarian corps is moving to the take position on the left of Bayerbach

Marshal Massena is riding to the town

 

First Austrian army has arrived at the top of the photo

1^st corps to the left of the road, 2^nd corps to the right.

End of move 4

9^th Bavarian corps artillery opens fire, but no casualties

10^th Bavarian corps continues to advance

Marshal Massena has taken command of the garrison of Bayerbach

He has ordered both brigades into the northern half of the town

 

First Austrian army has started to deploy

General Klenau has taken command of 1^st corps cavalry and grenadier brigade

He is moving to the left to threaten 10^th corps advance.

End of move 6

9^th Bavarian corps bear the brunt of the Austrian attack

Their cavalry brigade receive 10% casualties, but make their morale

 

The garrison also come under attack

First they receive 10% casualties from artillery fire

Then two Austrian brigades advance and skirmish, causing another 10% casualties

Massena swops the garrison with the reserve brigade

 

10^th Bavarian corps starts to deploy

 

1^st Austrian corps launch their attack on the town

Artillery cause 10% casualties

Two infantry brigades move forward and skirmish

This causes another 10% casualties

 

2^nd Austrian corps artillery concentrate on the enemy cavalry

They cause 10% casualties, and move forward their own cavalry to attack

The infantry also move forward, the right hand brigade receiving 10% casualties

End of move 8

10^th Bavarian cavalry charge and rout Austrian hussars

Remainder of corps hold their ground

 

1^st Austrian artillery fire on garrison, who receive 10% casualties and are shaken

Two Austrian brigades then storm the town and rout both garrison and reserve

Garrison rout with 50% casualties, reserve brigade with 20% casualties

 

2^nd Austrian artillery fire on cavalry, who now have 20% casualties and are shaken

Austrian light cavalry charge and rout shaken Bavarian cavalry

End of move 10

10^th Bavarian corps redeploy to hold southern half of town

Jager brigade enter town and are disorganised by routing infantry

 

Town garrison continue to rout through southern half of town

 

9^th Bavarian corps retreat to hold southern half of town

 

1^st Austrian corps send Jager brigade into northern half of town

Grenadier brigade move to rejoin 1st corps

 

2^nd Austrian corps advance to engage 9^th Bavarian corps

End of move 12

10^th Bavarian corps advance and take south Bayerbach

 

2^nd Austrian corps attack 9^th Bavarian corps

Cavalry force Bavarian infantry to remain in square

Austrian infantry then charge and rout square

 

At nightfall Marshal Massena orders 7^th Bavarian army to retreat

Summary

At nightfall the Bavarians hold south Bayerbach

10^th corps has only suffered light casualties

However 9^th corps have lost heavy casualties

Three of their four infantry brigades are in rout

Their cavalry are also in rout

Massena orders a general retreat

 

The Bavarians have lost 8 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (3600 men)

The Austrians have lost 4 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (1900 men)

 

1 April 1813 – Battle of Eggelsberg – Day 2

Tactical map of battle area

At daybreak both sides have one brigade inside Eggelsberg

Overnight both sides have been able to redeploy their army

But they must remain in the same square, and not advance nearer the enemy

 

French – 6 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Austrian – 6 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Start of move 1

The Austrians have one brigade in the town, and a second in reserve

The French have two brigades in the town

Both sides have deployed their artillery within short range of the town

End of move 2

Left - artillery exchanged fire, but no casualties

Centre - Austrian garrison suffered artillery casualties, lost their morale and routed

Right - both sides send infantry into woods, first round of melee indecisive

End of move 4

Left – French win cavalry melee and infantry advance

Centre – French occupy both halves of town

Right – Austrian infantry rout from woods, and take reserve with them

                                                                                     

Summary

Having lost the town and the woods the Austrians accept defeat and retreat

The French have lost 2 infantry casualties (800 men)

The Austrians have lost 7 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (3000men)

1 April 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 2

 

In the north 1^st Austrian army attack 7^th Bavarian army at Bayerbach

 

In the centre 2^nd Austrian and 8^th Bavarian armies deploy at Branau

9^th Bavarian corps held Bayerbach at the start of the battle

10^th Bavarian corps arrived in support at daybreak

1^st and 2^nd Austrian corps also arrived at daybreak

 

1^st Austrian corps took the north Bayerbach and routed the two brigades in the town

However they were unable to take the south Bayerbach

2^nd Austrian corps attacked the remainder of 9^th Bavarian

They won the initial cavalry melee and soon broke the remaining infantry

 

At nightfall the Bavarians retreated and abandoned Bayerbach.

 

In the south 3^rd Austrian and 9^th French armies fight a second day at Egelsberg                                

 

The battle opened with both armies in very close contact

The Austrians had occupied the north section of the town

However the French artillery were deployed at close range of the town

The infantry attempted to withdrdaw, but suffered casualties and routed

By midday four of the Austrian brigades were in rout

The French had occupied the whole town, and the nearby woods

The Austrians broke contact and retreated.

31 March 1813 – Battle of Eggelsberg

Tactical map of battle area

Both 9^th French army and 3^rd Austrian army have orders to occupy Eggelsberg

Neither are close to the town, and it will be a race for who arrives first

 

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

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

Start of move 1

17^th French and 5^th Austrian corps will arrive at the start of move 1

18^th French and 6^th Austrian corps will arrive at the start of move 9

End of move 2

Both corps have arrived on the table

Both are moving to the left of the town to deploy

End of move 4

5^th Austrian corps are starting to deploy north of the town

17^th French corps have sent their leading brigade into the town

The remainder of the corps is still advancing and moving to the left of the town  

End of move 6

5^th Austrian corps is now fully deployed

They have infantry behind the town, but not in the town itself

17^th French corps is still deploying.

They are closer to the town than the Austrians

And their artillery in within short range of the northern half of the town

Their infantry have now reached the far edge of the southern half of the town

A second brigade is about to enter the town

End of move 8

17^th corps artillery hit Austrian infantry and cause 10% casualties

French infantry deploy and form garrison of southern half of town

Second infantry brigade is moving through to occupy northern half

End of move 10     

6^th Austrian corps has now arrived on the table           

They are advancing between the town and the woods

Marshal Victor has also arrived

17^th French corps continue to occupy the town

They have moved into the northern half of the town

Their artillery hit the same infantry brigade, who now have 20% casualties

They fail their morale and are shaken

 

18^th French corps have arrived on the table

They are moving towards the town

Marshal Victor is moving to take command of the troops in the town

End of move 12

General Merveldt has taken command of 5^th corps to left of town

Corps commander has taken command of troops behind town

Shaken brigade fails morale and routs

5^th corps attack town and defeat French in northern half

6^th corps continues to arrive between town and woods

 

17^th French corps hold their position

18^th French corps continue to advance to the right of the town

 

Summary

At nightfall each side hold half of the town

5^th Austrian corps and 17^th French corps have east lost one infantry brigade

6^th Austrian corps and 18^th French corps are full strength and not committed

The result of the battle is a draw

But neither side is prepared to retreat

So the battle will continue for a second day

 

The French have lost 2 infantry casualties (800 men)

The Austrians have lost 2 infantry casualties (800 men)

 

31 March 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 1

In the north 7^th Bavarian army occupy Bayerbach

1^st Austrian army are caught by surprise and deploy to defend Bad Fussing

 

In the centre 8^th Bavarian army and 2^nd Austrian army both approach Branau

Both halt within sight of the city in order to deploy

 

In the south 9^th French army and 3^rd Austrian army both have orders to take Eggelsberg. 

 

The battle of Eggelsberg opens with 17^th French and 5^th Austrian corps.

18^th French and 6^th Austrian corps will not arrive mid afternoon

At nightfall the both sides are still fighting for control of Eggelsberg

Both 18^th French and 6^th Austrian corps are still deploying

The result of the battle is a draw and fighting will continue next day

 

30 March 1813 – Southern Germany – Branau Campaign

Map of Germany

On 1^st January 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

Three allied armies would concentrate in Germany

Prussian army at Berlin

Russian army at Dresden

Austrian army at Vienna

Together they would engage and defeat Napoleon

 

General Schwartzenberg would command the Austrian army

They would concentrate in the Vienna region

They would then march into the Munich region and engage the French

 

Marshal Massena would command the French army

They would concentrate in the Strasbourg region

They would them march into the Munich region and hold it

Regions of Germany

There are three regions in Southern Germany

Strasbourg Region (on the left) is the concentration area for Third French army

Vienna Region (on the right) is the concentration area for the Austrian Army        

Munich Region is the disputed area in the middle

Munich Region

This map is used for strategic (planning) movement.

It shows the location of each army at the start of the campaign

 

Campaign Diary

1 February 1813      Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

1 February 1813      Formation of Third French army in Munich region

25 February 1813    Third French army declared operational

28 February 1813    Austrians moved into the Munich region

30 March 1813        Start of Branau campaign phase

Branau District

This map is used for tactical (daily) movement

It shows the location of each corps at the start of the campaign

 

The first campaign phase in southern Germany is in Branau district

This map shows the location of both armies at the start of the campaign

The Austrian objective is to take and hold the city of Branau

The French objective is to defeat the Austrian army

 

French Army of Southern Germany

Marshal Massena

9^th Bavarian corps

10^th Bavarian corps  

11^th Bavarian corps

12^th Baden corps

17^th French corps

18^th French corps

 

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

104000 infantry, 6000 cavalry, 180 guns

 

Austrian Army

General Schwarzenberg

1^st Austrian corps

2^nd Austrian corps

3^rd Austrian corps

4^th Austrian corps

5^th Austrian corps

6^th Austrian corps

 

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

104000 infantry, 6000 cavalry, 180 guns

         

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.   The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

 

01 - Introduction to the1813 campaign

02 - Five campaign areas

30 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Germany

31 – French Army order of battle

32 - Austrian Army order of battle

33 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Germany

34 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Germany

35 - Summary of campaign in Southern Germany

Southern Spain – Spanish Order of Battle

Commander           General Giron        (Poor)

Regular Infantry       21 brigades             84,000 men 

Irregular Infantry        9 brigades             36,000 men

Cavalry                     3 brigades                 3,000 men          

Artillery                    180 guns                     6,000 men

First Army              General Morillo      (Poor)

1^st corps                  General O’Donnell   (Poor)

1 infantry brigade     4000   CB      FC      SC

2 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

3 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

4 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

1 cavalry brigade     1000   CC     heavy

1 corps artillery        1000   CB      12 pounders

3^rd corps                  General Espana      (Poor)

 9 infantry brigade    4000   CB      FC      SC

10 infantry brigade   4000   CC     FC      SC

11 infantry brigade   4000   CC     FC      SC

3 corps artillery        1000   CB      9 pounder    

Second Army         General Giron        (Poor)

2^nd corps                 General Losada       (Poor)

5 infantry brigade     4000   CB      FC      SC

6 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

7 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

8 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

2 cavalry brigade     1000   CC     light

2 corps artillery        1000   CB      9 pounders

4^th corps                  General Barcena     (Poor)

13 infantry brigade   4000   CB      FC      SC

14 infantry brigade   4000   CC     FC      SC

15 infantry brigade   4000   CC     FC      SC

4 corps artillery        1000   CB      9 pounders

Third Army             General Longa       (Poor)

5^th corps                 General Porlier        (Poor)

1 infantry brigade     4000   CB      FC      SC

2 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

3 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

4 infantry brigade     4000   CC     FC      SC

1 cavalry brigade     1000   CC     heavy

1 corps artillery        1000   CB      12 pounders

6^th corps                 General Roche        (Poor)

9 infantry brigade     4000   CB      FC      SC

10 infantry brigade   4000   CC     FC      SC

11 infantry brigade   4000   CC     FC      SC

3 corps artillery        1000   CB      9 pounder    

 

Spanish Irregulars

1 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

2 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

3 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

4 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

5 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

6 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

7 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

8 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

9 militia brigade       4000   CC     FC      SC

 

Notes

The same figures are used to represent 1st and 5th corps and 3^rd and 6th corps

There are no photos of the Spanish militia brigades

Guerrilla figures from my Spanish collection are used to represent them

See Campaign Rule 02 for full explanation

http://napoleoniccampaignrules.blogspot.com/