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)