11 April 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 12

With his decisive defeat at Falkenberg, Massena has no option but to order a general retreat.  

Schwarzenberg is content to occupy Falkenberg, Marktl and Burghausen.  He has not only defeated the Bavarian army, he has also captured the large quantities of supplies in the main Bavarian depot at Falkenberg.    

10 April 1813 – Battle of Falkenberg

Tactical map of battle area

This will be the final battle of the campaign

It will decide whether the Bavarian army have to retreat out of Branau district

Both armies start the battle with considerable battle casualties

1^st Austrian army attack, even though they have less infantry

7^th Bavarian Army – 5 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

1^st Austrian Army – 4 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

 

Start of move 1

Falkenberg is a walled town, the defenders get plus one in combat and for cover

7^th Bavarian army is deployed on the left

Massena has taken command of the town and increased the garrison to two brigades

 

1^st Austrian army will arrive on the right at the start of move 1.

End of move 2

Austrian army advance through the mountain passes on the right

10^th Bavarian corps advance to engage them as they leave the mountains    

End of move 4

Austrian army swing to their right to engage 10^th Bavarian corps

9^th Bavarian corps forced to advance from their hill to engage 1^st Austrian corps

End of move 6

Top – artillery exchange fire, no casualties

Centre – Austrian reserve attack 10^th corps

Bottom – Austrian cavalry defeat and rout enemy cavalry.

Remainder of 9^th corps advance towards 1^st Austrian corps

End of move 8

Top – Bavarian cavalry in rout

Centre – Austrian grenadier reserve rout Bavarian infantry

Bottom – 9^th Bavarian corps in rout

 

Austrian grenadier reserve win melee and rout 10^th corps infantry

The Bavarian cavalry are already routed, rest of 10^th corps retreat

 

Bavarians continue to hold town, which has not been attacked

 

1^st Austrian hussars rout Bavarian cavalry and withdraw disordered

Bavarian gunners rout Austrian hussars

Austrian gunners rout Bavarian gunners and supporting infantry

 

Summary

At nightfall the Bavarians still hold the town

But with most of 9^th and 10^th corps in rout Massena orders a general retreat

The Austrians win the battle

 

The Bavarians have lost 6 infantry and 8 cavalry casualties (3200 men)

The Austrians have lost 3 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties (1300 men)

 

10 April 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 11

In the north 1^st Austrian army attack Falkenberg

In the centre 2^nd Austrian army occupy Marktl and 8^th Bavarian army abandon the campaign and retreat west.

In the south 3^rd Austrian army and 9^th French army regroup and resupply

Both armies start the battle of Falkenberg with heavy casualties, particularly in the cavalry.   The battle is decided when both Bavarian cavalry brigades are routed in separate melee.   The Austrian reserve of two grenadier brigades then engage and rout 10^th corps infantry on the Bavarian left.   At nightfall the Bavarians still hold he town, but withdraw under cover of darkness.

9 April 1813 – Battle of Marktl

Tactical map of battle area

On 6^th April 2^nd Austrian army defeated 8^th Bavarian army east of Marktl

Both armies suffered heavy casualties, and the Austrians were too weak to pursue

After two days spent regrouping and reorganising they again attack

 

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

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

Start of move 1

Austrian CinC (right) has taken command of both elite brigades and both corps artillery to form a reserve

 

Bavarian CinC (left) has also created reserve with two line brigades and one corps artillery

End of move 2

Top – Both 12^th Baden and 4^th Austrian corps move towards the woods

Centre – Bavarian reserve enter town.   Austrian reserve move their artillery to their right and infantry advance towards town.

Bottom – Both 11^th Bavarian and 3^rd Austrian corps move towards the woods

End of move 4

Top – 4^th Austrian corps advance towards woods, cavalry engage Bavarian hussars

Centre – Austrian infantry attack Marktl.   On brigade routed, second continue melee

Austrian artillery force Bavarian gunners to retreat

Bottom – 3^rd Austrian corps attack woods, cavalry charge Bavarian hussars.

End of move 6

Top – fighting continues and Bavarians still hold woods

Centre – both sides retreat from town, both sides hold half of town

Bottom – Austrians rout 11^th Bavarian corps

 

Summary

Marshal Oudinot orders the Bavarians to retreat

The Bavarians have lost 9 infantry, 6 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (4400 men)

The Austrians have lost 7 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (3100 men)

9 April 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 10

The Austrian supply system is now fully operational

In the north 1^st Austrian army advance within attack distance of Falkenberg

In the centre 2^nd Austrian army attack Marktl

In the south 3^rd Austrian army retreat having failed to take Burghausen

 

The second battle of Marktl was a short but very brutal one.   Both armies were weakened by previous battle casualties.   Aware that he needed a quick victory, Merveldt ordered 1^st army to attack without the usual artillery barrage.   He suffered heavy casualties, but he won the battle

8 April 1813 – Battle of Burghausen

Tactical map of battle area

9^th French army hold a strong defensive position behind the river Inn

3^rd Austrian army are ordered to attack across the river and take Burghausen

Both commanders may create a reserve from their two corps

 

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

Prussian – 5 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Start of move 1

9^th French army, on the left, are deployed across the table

The CinC has taken command of the town and reinforced the garrison

 

3^rd Austrian army, on the right, are also deployed across the table

The CinC has created a reserve of the cavalry brigades from each corps

He has deployed them (top) on the far side of the river Elbe

End of move 2

9^th French army wait for the Austrian attack to develop

One brigade from 17^th corps (bottom) are moving towards the town

 

The Austrian reserve (top) have halted out of artillery range

6^th Austrian corps (centre) are moving crossing the river north of the main road

5^th Austrian corps (bottom) have halted outside of artillery range

End of move 4

9^th French army wait for Austrian attack to develop

Town garrison receive artillery casualties, but pass morale test

 

Austrian reserve (cavalry) move forward to support 6^th corps

6^th corps cross river and approach town

Artillery fire on garrison at close range and inflict 10% casualties

Leading infantry brigade receive 10% casualties, pass morale test

5^th corps grenadier brigade receive 10% casualties, pass morale test

End of move 6

Austrian hussars charge and rout 18^th corps gunners

Supporting infantry brigade fail morale and join rout

 

French garrison receive more artillery casualties and are shaken

Then charged by Austrian infantry, lose melee and rout

 

17^th French corps advance towards river.

End of move 8

Top – Austrian cavalry pin French on hill

 

Centre – Austrians have taken northern half of town

Austrian cavalry have routed French infantry and artillery

Austrians redeployed to face south

 

Bottom – Austrian artillery have routed French infantry brigade

17^th French corps advance towards river

Cavalry start to cross bridge

End of move 10

Top – French cavalry charge enemy cavalry

Austrian dragoons win melee and rout French

French infantry continue to hold hill

 

Centre – 6^th Austrian corps have taken northern half of town

But they are too weak to push further south

 

Bottom – 5^th Austrian infantry charge and rout French infantry as they cross river

They are then charged, and routed, by French cuirassier brigade

Weakened grenadier brigade and gunners join rout

 

Summary

Both armies have fought to a standstill

The Austrians have taken the northern half of the town

But 5^th corps have been broken and routed

The French have also suffered heavy casualties and have five brigades in rout

At nightfall the Austrians retreat over the river

The French have (just) won the battle

 

The French have lost 9 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 gunner casualties (4000 men)

The Austrians have lost 5 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (2200 men)

8 April 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 9

The Austrian supply situation continues to improve

However both armies have suffered heavy casualties

In the north 7^th Bavarian and 1^st Austrian armies rest and reorganise

 

In the centre 8^th Bavarian and 2^nd Austrian armies resupply and reorganise

 

In the south 3^rd Austrian army attack Burghausen

To do so they must cross the defended river Inn.

The battle is a very close run affair, but the Austrians retreat at nightfall

7 April 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 8

The Austrian supply system is improving

Only 1^st Austrian army is still short of supplies

                                       

In the north 7^th Bavarian army rally and regroup

1^st Austrian army must resupply before they can resume offensive operations

                                                       

In the centre 8^th Bavarian army retreat behind Markl, but continue to garrison the town.  2^nd Austrian army regroup and resupply

 

In the south 9^th French army regroup behind the river Inn

3^rd Austrian army redeploy in preparation for an attack over the river