3 June 1813 – Battle of Lauterberg

Tactical map of battle area

Murat - 3^rd French Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Blucher - 1^st Prussian Army – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

 

3^rd French army have been warned of the Prussian attack redeploy close to the border

1^st Prussian army have orders to take and hold Lauterberg

Table at start of battle

Murat has created a reserve of two artillery, one cavalry and one infantry brigades

7^th corps, on the right, have lost their artillery to the reserve

8^th corps, less their cavalry and artillery, are behind Lauterberg

9th corps, on the left, have lost one infantry brigade to the reserve.

 

Blucher has created a reserve of two artillery, two infantry and one cavalry brigades

1^st corps, on the right, have lost their artillery to the reserve

2^nd corps, in the centre, have lost two infantry plus their cavalry and artillery

3^rd corps, on the left, are complete

End of move 2

Prussians advance

1^st corps enter the woods on the right

Reserve artillery unlimber, remainder remain out of artillery range

2^nd corps remain out  of artillery range.

3^rd corps enter the woods on the left

 

French artillery advance and unlimber

7^th corps deploy in column of attack

Reserve artillery open fire on Prussian gunners

8^th corps remain behind the town

9^th corps deploy in column of attack

End of move 4

Prussians advance, artillery open fire

1^st corps occupy woods, cavalry advance on right

Reserve artillery open fire, no casualties

2^nd corps advance in support of reserve

3^rd corps occupy woods, cavalry advance on left

 

French artillery open fire, no casualties

7^th corps retire out  of artillery range

Reserve artillery open fire, no casualties

8^th corps remain behind town

9^th corps artillery has no targets due to woods

End of move 6

Prussians attack

1^st corps lose cavalry melee, infantry retreat into woods

Reserve advance to attack

2^nd corps advance to attack

3^rd corps win cavalry melee, infantry and artillery advance

 

French attack on right, retreat on left

7^th corps win cavalry melee, infantry advance to attack woods

Reserve artillery redeploy to fire on woods

8^th corps remain behind town

9^th corps cavalry rout, infantry and artillery retire towards hill

End of move 8

Prussians attack town

1^st corps occupy woods on right , win first melee in woods

Reserve cavalry force artillery to withdraw

2^nd corps attack left half of town, first melee is a draw

3^rd corps pursue retreating 9^th corps

 

French fight for town

7^th corps lose first melee in woods, but continue to attack

Reserve artillery withdraw when outflanked by Prussian cavalry

8^th corps occupy town, under attack in left half of town

9^th corps cavalry in rout, remainder of corps retreat

End of move 10

Prussians continue to attack

1^st corps lose top woods and brigade routs

Reserve infantry attack right half of town, melee is draw both lose 10% casualties

2^nd corps attack left half of town, rout garrison but lose 30% casualties

3^rd corps rout 9^th Polish corps and move to support attack on town

 

French take part of woods, but lose part of town

7^th corps take top right section of woods, but lose one brigade with 30% casualties

Reserve withdraw but still support town

8^th corps garrison rout from left half of town with 50% casualties

3^rd corps rout onto hill

End of move 12

Prussians continue to attack

1^st corps hold southern half of woods

Reserve cease attack on right half of town

2^nd corps occupy left half of town

3^rd corps break and rout infantry square

 

French hold half of town and half of woods on the right

7^th corps occupy northern half of woods on the right

Reserve artillery hit Prussian gunners

8^th corps hold right half of town

9^th corps break and run

Summary

French hold half of town at end of battle and claim victory

 

The French have lost 13 infantry. 1 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (5600 men)

The Prussians have lost 9 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (4900 men)