20 June 1813 – Battle of Pegnitz

Tactical map of battle area

6^th French army ordered to take Pegnitz

3^rd Russian army ordered to hold Pegnitz

 

Both armies have light casualties from battle of Forchheim

 

3 French infantry brigades detached on garrison duty

One Russian infantry brigade missing due to casualties 

 

French – 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Russian – 11 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Table at start of battle

Russians are deployed in front of the town of Pregnitz

CinC has taken command of both cavalry brigades

15 infantry brigade is the town garrison

 

French will arrive at the bottom of the table at the start of move 1

 

End of move 2

French arrive bottom of table

Russian cavalry advance between 7 and 9 corps

 

Left – 17^th Polish corps advance left of inn

Centre – CinC takes command of 16 and 17 cavalry brigades

Centre – 16^th French corps advance between inn and hill

Right – 18^th Vistula corps advance either side of the walled farm

 

End of move 4

Russian infantry have not occupied forward line of woods

French artillery open fire

 

Left – Poles infantry advance towards woods, artillery unlimber on their right

Centre – Artillery open fire, infantry remain out of artillery range

Right -  Vistula advance towards woods, artillery unlimber on their left

End of move 6

Russian cavalry rout

French advance to attack

 

Left – Polish infantry advance to woods, Russian infantry fall back

Centre – French advance, Russians artillery fire but no casualt9ies

Right – Vistula artillery rout Russian cavalry division

End of move 8

Russians retreat and abandon artillery

 

Left – Russian gunners run to square, infantry start to withdraw

Centre – French cavalry force gunners to abandon guns

Centre – Russian infantry brigade routed by artillery fire

Right – Russian cavalry continue to rout

Right -  Russian gunners routed by artillery fire

Right – Russian infantry start to withdraw

 

Summary

With the loss of all of their cavalry and artillery the Russian infantry withdraw

Casualties have been light, but morale low due to earlier battle casualties

Russians still hold Pegnitz at nightfall

But without artillery or cavalry will not be able to fight another major battle

 

The French have lost no casualties

The Russians have lost 1 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 gunner (600 men)

They also have four brigades in rout