8 July 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 5

Austrians attack Landshut
Siege of Essenbach day 1

1st Austrian army – start siege of Essenbach
2nd Austrian army – attack Landshut
3rd Austrian army – advance to Dorfen

7th French army – garrison Essenbach
8th French army – defend Landshut
9th French army – regroup and resupply at Dorfen

7 July 1813 – Battle of Essenbach

Tactical map of battle area

1st Austrian army attack Essenbach
7th French army have orders to hold Essenbach

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Austrian –12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

French have 7 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties
Austrian have 2 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties

Table at start of battle

7th French army are deployed in front of Essenbach
1st Austrian army will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Austrians arrive and advance towards Essenbach

French CinC has taken command of the right half of 20th corps
21 corps have advanced to the southern edge of the hill
20 corps remain in position
19 corps remain in position

Austrian CinC has taken command of the right half of 2 corps
1 corps advance through the woods
2 corps advance towards Essenbach
3 corps halt out of artillery range and occupy farm

End of move 4

Austrians advance

French CinC wait for enemy to advance
21 corps retreat to align with 20 corps
20 corps wait for enemy to advance
19 corps infantry pass morale for artillery casualties

Austrian CinC advance towards town, artillery open fire
1 corps move into woods
2 corps advance towards town
3 corps infantry advance towards hill

End of move 6

Major cavalry melee

French CinC lose cavalry melee and rout with 30% casualties
21 corps retreat, win cavalry melee
20 corps artillery open fire, no casualties
19 corps win cavalry melee, two infantry brigades retreat disordered

Austrian CinC artillery hit two infantry brigades, infantry advance to farm
1 corps cavalry lose melee, retreat disordered, rally and advance again
2 corps cavalry lose 20% casualties in melee, but rout enemy with 30% casualties
3 corps jager brigade climb up hill

End of move 8

French retreat

French CinC lose
p6 infantry firefight and retreat
21 corps routed from hill, corps retreat
20 corps artillery routed by cavalry, infantry retreat
19 corps garrison rout from farm, cavalry rout from melee

Austrian CinC capture farm, move to support 1 corps
1 corps win cavalry melee
2 corps advance towards Essenbach
3 corps infantry take hill and rout defenders

Summary

Austrians take centre and weak right flank
French retreat and abandon Essenbach

The French have lost 6 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (27 men)
The Austrian have lost 1 infantry and 1 cavalry casualties 500 men)

7 July 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 4

Austrians attack Essenbach

1st Austrian army – attack Essenbach
2nd Austrian army – reinforce and resupply at Reisbach
3rd Austrian army – regroup and resupply at Muhldorf

7th French army – defend Essenbach
8th French army – reinforce and resupply at Landshut
9th French army – retreat to Dorfen

6 July 1813 – Battle of Muhldorf

Tactical map of battle area

3rd Austrian army attack Muhldorf
9th French army have orders to advance and hold Muhldorf
French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
Austrian –12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

9th French army are deployed in and around Muhldorf
The river is unfordable and can only be crossed by the bridges
3rd Austrian army will enter the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Austrian army enter table

French CinC – behind 25 corps
25 corps – deployed either side of river
26 corps – in and around Muhldorf
27 corps – left of town

Austrian CinC – taken command of half of 7 and 8 corps
7 corps – right bank of river
8 corps – advancing towards town
9 corps – advancing towards 27 corps

End of move 4

Austrian army advance

French CinC – taken command of half of 25 corps on right bank
25 corps – wait for enemy to advance
26 corps – wait for enemy to advance
27 corps – infantry on hill advance

Austrian CinC – half out of artillery range
7 corps – advance on right bank of river
8 corps – half out of artillery range
9 corps – infantry move towards hill

End of move 6

Cavalry melee
Counter battery fire

French CinC – cavalry win cavalry melee
25 corps – wait for enemy to advance
26 corps – gunners routed by artillery fire
27 corps – wait for enemy to advance

Austrian CinC – infantry advance to attack
7 corps – infantry drive off cavalry with musket fire
8 corps – artillery rout enemy gunners
9 corps – infantry advance on to hill

End of move 8

Cavalry melee
Infantry skirmish

French CinC – cavalry lose second melee and retreat shaken
25 corps – infantry brigade joins nearby cavalry rout
26 corps – cavalry lose melee and rout , taking one infantry brigade with them
27 corps – infantry on hill lose skirmish, one brigade routs

Austrian CinC – infantry rout cavalry brigade
7 corps – cavalry lose melee, infantry drive off cavalry with musket fire
8 corps – artillery and infantry advance towards town
9 corps – cavalry lose melee, infantry win skirmish fight on hill

End of move 10

French army retreat

French CinC – abandon main bridge and retreat on east bank of river
25 corps – with three brigades in rout remainder of corps retreat
26 corps – artillery rout, garrison abandon town and retreat
27 corps – with three brigades in rout whole corps retreats

Austrian CinC – secure west end of main bridge
7 corps – cavalry rally, infant ry secure east end of main brigade
8 corps – artillery and infantry advance towards town
9 corps – cavalry rally, corps pursue retreating Baden corps

Summary

The Austrians defeat the main French army
Garrison holds town to the end, but has to retreat with the rest of the army
The French have lost 5 infantry, 6 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (2800 men)
The Austrians have lost 3 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (1600 men)

6 July 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 3

Austrians attack Muhldorf

1^st Austrian army – regroup and resupply

2^nd Austrian army – occupy Reisbach

3^rd Austrian army –  attack Muhldorf

 

7^th French army –  regroup and resupply

8^th French army –  retreat to Landshut

9^th French army –  defend Muhldorf

 

5 July 1813 – Battle of Reisbach

 

Tactical map of battle area

2^nd Austrian army attack Reisbach

8^th French army have orders to hold Reisbach

 

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Austrian –12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

French occupy Reisbach, but supports are in the hills behind

24 corps – advance over hill on the left

23 corps – occupy Reisbach

22 corps – advance over hill on the right

 

Austrians advance in column of march

6 corps – advance to left of farm

5 corps – advance towards town

CinC – has taken command of artillery and infantry from 4 corps

4 corps – advance through woods on the right

End of move 2

French advance to support town

24 corps –  advance towards hill on the left

23 corps –  garrison town, artillery and cavalry advance to left of town

22 corps –  advance towards gap between town and hill

CinC – takes command of half of 26 corps

 

Austrian artillery concentrate towards town

6 corps – advance towards hill, cavalry and artillery towards town

5 corps – advance towards town

CinC –  advance towards town

4 corps –  advance towards hill on the right

End of move 4

French deploy either side of town

24 corps –  halt and deploy on the northern side of the left hill

23 corps –  garrison of half of town fail morale and retreate shaken

22 corps –  halt and deploy on the northern side of the right hill

CinC – halt and deploy to the right of 26 corps

 

Austrians attack town

6 corps – halt and deploy on southern side of left hill

5 corps – gunners retreat shaken due to fire from garrison

CinC – artillery hit garrison who retire shaken

4 corps –  halt and deploy on southern side of right hill

End of move 6

French continue to hold left half of town

24 corps –  artillery hit enemy gunners  

23 corps –  garrison hold despite 20% casualties

22 corps –  wait for Austrian attack

CinC –  cavalry lose melee and rout

 

Austrians attack hill on right

6 corps – gunners rout with 20% casualties  

5 corps – continue to attack town

CinC – support 4 corps attack

4 corps –  infantry attack over hill

End of move 8

French withdraw from town

24 corps – French wait for Austrians to attack    

23 corps –  Infantry withdraw from town

22 corps –  Jager brigade lose melee with cavalry

CinC –  form square against cavalry

 

Austrians capture all of town

6 corps –   Rallied gunners return towards guns

5 corps –  Capture toiwn, guns redeploy to the left

CinC – Takes cavalry behind French flank and attacks infantry

4 corps – Advance over hill on right

End of move 10

French order general retreat

24 corps – retreat because ordered to do so    

23 corps –  abandon the town and retreat

22 corps –  retreat

CinC –  retreat with 22 corps

 

Austrians capture all of town

6 corps –  pursue retreating enemy

5 corps –  occupy town

CinC – move with 4 corps

4 corps – pursue retreating enemy

Summary

Despite relatively light casualties the French retreat with four brigades in rout

The Austrians have occupied the town and pursue the French

The French have lost 5 infantry and 3 cavalry casualties (2300 men)

The Austrians have lost 4 infantry and 4 artillery casualties (2000 men)

5 July 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 2

  

 

Austrians attack Reisbach

 

1^st Austrian army –  regroup around Dingolfing

2^nd Austrian army –  attack Reisbach

3^rd Austrian army –  hold Bad Abbach and resupply

 

7^th French army –  retreat to Esenbach

8^th French army –  redeploy in and around Reisbach

9^th French army –  redeploy in and around Muhld

4 July 1813 – Battle of Dingolfing

Tactical map of battle area

In the north of the campaign area Marshal Massena, commanding 7^th French army, is deployed in and around Dingolfing on the Landshut-Ratisbon border.   One corps is in the town, the remaining two further west to ease resupply

The whole Austrian army has moved up to the district border under cover of darkness.   At first light General Schwarzenberg, commanding 1^st Austrian army. will attack Dingolfing

French – 12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Austrian –12 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Both armies at start of battle

Massena – has taken command of the right half of the town

21 Bavarian corps – on the left between farm and woods

20 Bavarian corps – deployed in and around Dingolfing

19 Bavarian corps – on the right between two woods

 

Schwarzenberg – with 2^nd corps in the centre

3^rd Austrian corps – on left behind village

2^nd Austrian corps – in the centre

1^st Austrian corps – on the right of farm

 

End of move 2

Bavarians advance towards the town

Austrians deploy either side of town

Both armies are out of long range artillery fire

 

21 Bavarian – advance to road on left of town

20 Bavarian – hold left half of town

Massena – holds right half of town

19 Bavarian – advance to road on right of town

 

Schwarzenburg – advance to right of road

3^rd corps – advance through and either side of village on left

2^nd corps – advance to left of road

1^st corps – advance to right of farm

End of move 4

Artillery open fire

French attack on the right

 

21 Bavarian – artillery open fire, no hits

20 Bavarian – garrison receive 10% casualties, pass morale test

Massena – awaits attack on town

19 Bavarian – cavalry lose melee and rout, taking nearest infantry brigade with them

 

1 corps – advance through village to avoid artillery fire

2 corps – artillery hit left hand town section causing 10% casualties

Schwarzenburg – leads attack in support of 3 corps

1 corps – attack through woods on right, cavalry win melee and rout enemy

End of move 6

French abandon left half of town

Austrians advance through woods on right

Schwarzenburg retreats after failed attack

 

21 Bavarian –  Gunners receive 10% casualties but pass morale test

20 Bavarian – Bavarians abandon town, but rally

Massena – holds right half of town and withdraws supports

19 Bavarian – rally routed brigades, remainder redeploy between town and woods

 

3 corps – infantry approach woods   

2 corps – advance towards town

Schwarzenburg –   rallies reserve

1 corps – Rout enemy cavalry and pursue retreating infantry

End of move 8

French counter attack left of town

Austrians fight in woods on right

Schwarzenburg rallies and moves to support 3 corps on right

 

21 Bavarian – fight to retake woods on the left

20 Bavarian – counter attack left half of town

Massena – fight to hold right half of town

19 Bavaian – fight to hold area between town and woods on right

 

3 corps – infantry enter woods and engage in skirmish fight

2 corps – infantry enter left half of town and skirmish with counter attack

Schwarzenburg – engage right half of town and support 1 corps

1 corps – attack between town and right hand woods

End of move 10

Austrians capture town

French retreat

 

21 Bavarian – infantry abandon woods and retreat

20 Bavarian –   counter attack on town fails

Massena –   cavalry routed, infantry withdraw from right half of town

19 Bavarian – corps broken and retreat

 

3 corps – infantry take woods

2 corps – infantry occupy left half of town

Schwarzenburg – infantry win skirmish fight and enter right half of town

1 corps – pursue retreating Bavarians

 

Summary

The Austrians have won a convincing victory

They have captured Dingolfing and routed the Baden corps

Massena orders a general retreat

 

The French have lost 12 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (5100 men)

The Austrians have lost 2 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (1000 men)

4 July 1813 - Southern Germany - Day 1

 

  

The campaign opens with 1^st Austrian army attacking the northern border town of Dingolfing.  

 

1^st Austrian army – attack Dingolfing

2^nd Austrian army – hold centre, east of border

3^rd Austrian army – hold south, east of border

 

7^th French army – in and around Dingolfing

8^th French army – hold Reisbach

9^th French army – hold Muhldorf

3 July 1813 – Southern Germany – Landshut Campaign

 

Map of Europe

This map shows the location of the five campaign areas. 

Each square is a military region.  

The current location of each army group is shown.  

The stars show the location of previous phases.  

The colour indicates which side won.  

 

This is the 89^th phase since the campaign started in April 2009.  

It is the 15^th in the sixth revision which started in June 2020 

 

The white star shows the location of Landshut

Map of Germany

On 1^st January 1813 Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

 

Three allied armies would concentrate in Germany

Prussian army at Berlin

Russian army at Dresden

Austrian army at Vienna

Together they would engage and defeat Napoleon

 

General Schwartzenberg would command the Austrian army

They would concentrate in the Vienna region

They would then march into the Munich region and engage the French

 

Marshal Massena would command the French army

They would concentrate in the Strasbourg region

They would them march into the Munich region and hold it

 

This map shows the three campaign areas in Germany

Stars indicate previous campaigns, colour of star who won

The white star is Kufstein

Map of Southern Germany

There are three regions in Southern Germany

Strasbourg Region (on the left) is the concentration area for Third French army

Vienna Region (on the right) is the concentration area for the Austrian Army       

 

This map shows the location of previous campaigns, colour indicates who won

The white star is Kufstein

Map of Munich Region

This map is used for strategic (planning) movement.

It shows the location of each army at the start of the campaign

Stars indicate previous campaigns, colour of star who won

 

Campaign Diary

01 February 1813    Austria, Britain, Prussia and Russia declared war on France

01 February 1813    Formation of Third French army in Munich region

25 February 1813    Third French army declared operational

28 February 1813    Austrians moved into the Munich region

30 March 1813        Start of Branau campaign phase

11 April 1813           Austrians win Branau phase

20 May 1813           Start of Kufstein campaign phase

30 May 1813           French win Kufstein phase

03 July 1813           Start of Landshut phase

Map of Kufstein/Salzburg District

This map is used for tactical (daily) movement

It shows the location of both armies at the start of the campaign

The Austrian objective is to take and hold the city of Kufstein

The French objective is to defeat the Austrian army

 

French Army of Southern Germany

Marshal Massena

7^th French army – 19^th Bavarian corps

7^th French army – 20^th Bavarian corps

7^th French army – 21^st Bavarian corps

8^th French army – 22^nd Bavarian corps

8^th French army – 23^rd Bavarian corps

8^th French army – 24^th Baden corps

9^th French army – 25^th Bavarian corps

9^th French army – 26^th Bavarian corps

9^th French army – 27^th Baden corps

 

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Total strength 144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, and 270 guns

 

Austrian Army

General Schwarzenberg

1^st Austrian army - 1^st Austrian corps

1^st Austrian army - 2^nd Austrian corps

1^st Austrian army - 3^rd Austrian corps

2^nd Austrian army - 4^th Austrian corps

2^nd Austrian army - 5^th Austrian corps

2^nd Austrian army - 6^th Austrian corps

3^rd Austrian army - 7^th Austrian corps

3^rd Austrian army - 8^th Austrian corps

3^rd Austrian army - 9^th Austrian corps

 

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Total strength 144000 infantry, 9000 cavalry, and 270 guns

         

Reference

The campaign diary contains comprehensive details of the whole campaign.   The labels on the right are an index to various parts of the campaign.

 

01 - Introduction to the 1813 campaign

02 - Five campaign areas

30 - Introduction to the campaign in Southern Germany

31 – French Army order of battle

32 - Austrian Army order of battle

33 - Daily diary for the campaign in Southern Germany

34 - Battle reports of all battles fought in Southern Germany

35 - Summary of campaign in Southern Germany