4 May 1813 – Battle of Saalfeld

Tactical map of battle area

Wittgenstein orders 3^rd Russian army to attack Saalfeld

6^th French army have orders to hold Saalfeld

 

French – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Russian – 8 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 2 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

The French are deployed on the hills either side of Saafeld

An army reserve of two brigades is behind the town

 

The Russians are advancing through the hills on the right

The army reserve of both corps artillery and two brigades is in the centre

The artillery is moving through the pass, the infantry on the hills either side

End of move 2

The French are waiting to see how the attack develops

However they have moved their cavalry onto the hills on each flank

 

5^th Russian corps (top) is have more hills to move through

6^th Russian corps and the reserve are both clear of the high ground

End of move 4

5^th Russian corps advance through the mountains

5^th French cavalry move forward

Russian reserve swing left to support 6^th Russian corps

 

6^th Russian corps deploy into column of attack

16^th Vistula cavalry move forward to threaten Russian flank

Polish artillery retreat from Russian grand battery

End of move 6

5^th Russian corps continue to advance over the hills

8^th French corps move forward to engage Russian reserve

 

Russian reserve artillery engage enemy gunners

Infantry move forward to attack town, but both brigades receive casualties

French reserve infantry enter Saalfeld

 

6^th Russian corps advance towards southern hills

Russian dragoons charge Polish lancers

Lancers lose melee and withdraw shaken

End of move 8

5^th corps cavalry had forced French lancers to retire shake

However the French cavalry have rallied behind their infantry

The Russian cavalry now move south towards the French artillery

 

French reserve artillery have received casualties

But they have also routed the Polish artillery

Reserve infantry have suffered heavy casualties

The French reserve infantry have occupied the town

 

6^th corps heavy cavalry have routed the Polish cavalry

They now force the nearest Polish infantry (on the hill) to form square

The Russian infantry advance to attack the hill

End of move 10

5^th Cossacks charge French gunners, who run to the town for cover

Russian infantry attack on the hill is a disaster

All three infantry brigades are routed, taking the Cossacks with them

 

Russian reserve infantry are too weak to attack the town

Half of the artillery have to redeploy to hold off French lancers

 

Russian attack on the southern hill also fails

Russian cuirassiers rout Polish lancers and nearest infantry brigade

The infantry rout a second infantry brigade, and the gunners

But two Russian infantry brigades are also routed

 

Summary

After a hard fought battle the French still hold Saalfeld

They also hold both hills, though only just

The French have two brigades in rout, the Russians 6 brigades

 

The French have lost 7 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 gunner casualties (3200 men)

The Russians have lost 9 infantry and 2 casualties (3800 men)