4 April 1813 – Battle of Eggelsberg

Tactical map of battle area

General Merveldt is ordered to attack Eggelsberg with 3^rd Austrian army

Marshal Victor has ordered to hold Eggelsberg with 9^th French army

Both armies have light battle casualties

 

The French have deployed to receive supplies from Burghausen

They will have to redeploy to meet the Austrian attack

 

18^th French corps will arrive at the start of move 1

 

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

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

Start of move 1

3^rd Austrian army are deployed on the right

CinC has created a reserve by taking the best infantry brigade from each corps

 

17^th French corps are deployed in and around Eggelsberg

The town garrison consists of two infantry brigades

The rest of the corps is ready to take up position between the town and the river

 

18^th French will arrive centre left at the start of move one

They will deploy between the town and the woods

End of move 2

3^rd Austrian army has advanced and is ready to deploy

 

17^th French corps have deployed between the town and the river

CinC has taken command of the town garrison

18^th French corps are moving into position between the town and the woods

End of move 4

Austrians are in position

Artillery open fire but no casualties

 

Bavarians occupy woods south of town

Also in position, artillery also open fire, again no casualties

End of move 6

Bavarians move one brigade south of woods

They are now in position and will await the Austrian attack

Artillery continue to fire, but still no casualties

 

Austrian artillery have fired for four hours, still no casualties

5^th corps ordered to hold north flank

Reserve and 6^th corps move forward to attack between town and woods

End of move 8

Top – Austrian cavalry charge French dragoons, lose melee and rout with 30% casualties

Centre – Austrian reserve approach town

Bottom – Austrian cavalry charge guns, are counter charged by French lancers

French lose melee and rout with 30% casualties

French gunners seek safety in nearby infantry square

End of move 10

Top – French win battle on this flank.  

Austrian infantry move south

 

Centre – two Austrian brigades assault southern half of town

Both French brigades are routed and Austrians occupy town

 

Bottom – Austrian artillery rout infantry south of woods

Infantry storm woods and rout French brigade

End of move 12

Top – French hold this flank

Austrians move south to join reserve

 

Centre – Both sides hold half of town

 

Bottom – Austrians hold this flank

Austrians occupy woods

18^th French corps is broken and in rout

Summary

The Austrians win the battle

French hold the northern half of the battlefield,

The Austrians hold the southern half.

However the French have more casualties

They also have six brigades in rout

The Austrians have one brigade in rout

 

The French have lost 5 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (2300 men)

The Austrians have lost 2 infantry and 3 cavalry  casualties (1100 men)