21 June 1813 – Battle of Munchberg

Tactical map of battle area

5^th French army have orders to take Munchberg

2^nd Russian army have orders to defend Munchberg

 

French – 9 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

Russian – 10 infantry brigades, 2 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery

 

Both armies start the battle with considerable casualties from earlier battles

Table at start of battle

Russian army deployed in front of Munchberg

16 infantry brigade is the town garrison

French army will arrive at the start of move 1

End of move 2

French army arrive on table

Russian cavalry redeploy between 4^th and 5^th corps

 

Left – 14^th French corps advance towards woods

Left – Reserve cavalry support 14^th corps

Centre – 13^th French corps approach pass

Right – 15^th Italian corps approach hill

End of move 4

French army advance

 

Left – 14^th French corps approach woods

Left – French cavalry halt out of artillery range

Centre – 13^th French corps cross pass at half move rate

Right – 15^th Italian corps cross hill at half move rate

End of move 6

French artillery unlimber and open fire

6^th Russian artillery receive 10% casualties

 

Left – French infantry reach woods

Centre – French infantry move down from pass

Right – Italian infantry move down from hill

End of move 8

French cavalry routed

 

Left – skirmish fight continues in the woods

Left – French cavalry charge guns, counter charged by Cossacks and routed

Centre – French cavalry charge runs, routed with 20% casualties

Centre – French infantry forced to form square when cavalry routed

Right – Italian infantry advance against shaken artillery crew

End of move 10

Russian tactical withdrawal

 

Left – French infantry take woods

Left – Russian cavalry force gunners to abandon their guns

Left – One Russian and Two French cavalry brigades in rout

Centre – Russian centre withdraw towards town

Right - Russian infantry withdraw and abandon fortified farm

Right – Russian gunners in rout 

End of move 12

Russians retreat to Munchberg

French take woods and inn

 

Left – French occupy woods, two Russian infantry brigades rout

Left – Two French cavalry brigades rout

Centre – Two Russian cavalry brigades rout

Right – French take inn, Russians redeploy north of the inn

  

Summary

At nightfall the Russian army are largely intact and still hold Munchberg

However they have lost more casualties than the French

They also have five brigades in rout to two French brigades in rout

The Russians have won the game, but it feels more like a draw

 

The French have lost 1 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (600 men)

The Russians have lost 4 infantry, 1 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (1900 men)