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)