1 June 1813 – Battle of Vienenburg

Tactical map of battle area

The campaign opens with a surprise attack on the border town of Vienenburg

3^rd Prussian army are deployed east of the border and are concentrated for attack

2^nd French army are deployed in and west of Vienenburg

They are dispersed in order to receive supplies from Liebenburg

But will react as soon as the Prussians cross the border

 

2^nd French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

3^rd Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

2^nd French army is deployed in and behind the town of Vienenburg

4^th corps are on the right in front of the woods

5^th corps are in and behind the right half of the town

CinC has taken command of 4^th and 6^th corps artillery and left half of town

6^th corps are on the left in front of the village

 

3^rd Prussian army will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French advance, artillery open fire

CinC artillery open fire, no hits

4^th corps advance, cavalry on hill

5^th corps no targets in sight

6^th corps advance, cavalry on hill

 

Prussians advance, artillery unlimber

CinC artillery unlimber within range of town, infantry halt out of artillery range

7^th corps advance on right

8^th corps artillery unlimber within range of town, infantry halt out of artillery range

9^th corps advance through woods on left

End of move 4

French lose two cavalry melee

CinC artillery hit 8^th corps cavalry, who are shaken with 10% casualties

4^th corps cavalry advance but are shaken when nearby brigade rout

5^th corps cavalry charge rout gunners and supporting square

6^th corps cavalry charge, lose melee and retreat shaken with 10% casualties

 

Prussians win cavalry melee, but gunners and infantry rout

CinC artillery fire and hit cavalry, who pass morale with 10% casualties,

7^th corps gunners, and supporting square, rout when charged by cavalry

8^th corps wait out of artillery range

9^th corps cavalry win melee

End of move 6

French cavalry in rout

CinC garrison of left hand town section retreat from edge with gunners

4^th corps cavalry lose melee and rout

5^th corps cavalry lose melee and rout

6^th corps cavalry lose melee and rout

 

Prussians attack

CinC advance artillery and infantry towards town

7^th corps rout enemy cavalry, infantry melee on far right

8^th corps advance towards town

9^th corps rout enemy cavalry, infantry melee on far left

End of move 8

French start to retreat

4^th corps lose infantry melee and retreat from right hand hill

5^th corps abandon town and retreat as enemy artillery move into close range

6^th corps lose infantry melee and retreat from left hand hill

 

Prussians take both hills and enter town

7^th corps after a hard fight finally take right hand hill

8^th corps enter town as garrison retreat

9^th corps cavalry charge and rout last two infantry brigades on left hand hill

End of move 10

French retreat, blue stars indicate brigade in rout

4^th corps cavalry and two infantry brigades in rout

5^th corps cavalry brigade in rout

6^th corps cavalry and two infantry brigades in rout

 

Prussians secure both hill and Vienenburg

7^th corps occupy hill but artillery and two infantry brigades in rout

8^th corps occupy town as French retire, cavalry brigade in rout

9^th corps occupy hill but one infantry brigade in rout

 

Summary

The battle opened with an extended cavalry melee

After several hours all three French brigades were routed

This allowed the Prussian cavalry to force the French gunners to withdraw

The Prussians guns now moved into close range of the town

Meanwhile there was heavy fighting on the hills either side of the town

Initially the French had the upper hand, and several Prussians brigades routed

But once again the Prussian cavalry won the day

They forced the French infantry into square, who were broken by Prussian columns

 

The French have lost 7 infantry and 4 cavalry casualties (3200 men)

The Prussians have lost 7 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (3200 men)