4 June 1813 – Battle of Liebenburg

Tactical map of battle area

3^rd Prussian army is ordered to attack and occupy Liebenburg

They have 5 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties

2^nd French army is deployed to the east of the town

They have 6 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties 

 

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

French army is deployed in front of the town of Libenburg

The town itself is not occupied

Prussian army will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

 

French wait for Prussians to advance

4^th corps artillery open fire, no hits

5^th corps wait for enemy to come within artillery range

Reserve also wait for enemy to come within range

6^th corps occupies woods

 

Prussians advance onto table

7^th corps advance through woods

8^thcorps advance centre right

Reserve advance centre left

9^th Prussian corps advance to left of farm

 

End of move 4

French artillery open fire

4^th corps cavalry fight melee, result draw

5^th corps artillery open fire, no casualties

Reserve artillery open fire, no casualties

 

Prussian artillery deploy at long range

7^th corps cavalry advance to charge guns, engaged by French cavalry

8^th corps advance, artillery deploy

Reserve advance, artillery deploy

9^th corps advance

End of move 6

Prussians advance

7^th corps lose cavalry melee and rout, infantry in woods hit and rout

8^th corps advance towards town

Reserve advance towards town

9^th corps lose cavalry melee and rout, infantry form square

 

French shaken in woods

4^th corps win cavalry melee and rout infantry coming out of woods

5^th corps wait for Prussians to advance

Reserve wait for Prussians to advance

6^th corps win cavalry melee but lose two brigades in the woods

End of move 8

Prussians continue to advance

7^th corps artillery rally, cavalry and one infantry in rout

8^th corps advance, cavalry charge and rout gunners

Reserve advance

9^th corps advance towards woods, cavalry and one infantry in rout

 

French withdraw towards town

4^th corps withdraw behind farm

5^th corps artillery open fire, infantry form square

Reserve artillery routed, infantry form square

6^th corps withdraw through woods, one infantry in rout

End of move 10

Prussians attack

7^th corps badly mauled but advance out of woods

8^th corps infantry approach French

Reserve cavalry charge 5^th French cavalry, first melee is a draw

9^th corps swing right to support attack in the centre

 

French take heavy casualties

4^th corps swing right to support defence of town

5^th corps artillery hit approaching enemy infantry

Reserve infantry form column, one brigade routed

6^th corps broken and rout, one cavalry brigade remain

End of move 12

Prussian attack fails

7^th corps advance to support the attack in the centre

8^th corps lose infantry melee and both brigades rout

Reserve lose infantry melee and one brigade rout

9^th corps advance to support attack in the centre

 

French hold Liebenburg

4^th corps redeploy to hold area between farm and town

5^th corps lose cavalry melee, but win infantry melee

Reserve win infantry melee

6^th corps rout, only cavalry brigade left

 

Summary

Prussians were very unlucky to lose the vital infantry melee in the centre

7^th and 9^th corps are both moving to support the centre, but arrive too late

French centre holds and Liebenburg is secure

6^th corps are routed, 4^th corps in close support of the town

Both armies have suffered heavy casualties

French 9 infantry, 4 cavalry, 2 artillery casualties (4200 men)

Prussian 10 infantry, 7 cavalry casualties (4100 men)