9 July 1813 – Battle of Dorfen

Tactical map of battle area

3rd Austrian army attack Dorfen
9th French army have orders to hold Dorfen

The river Danube can only be crossed by a bridge

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

French – 4 infantry, 3 cavalry, 2 artillery brigades have casualties
Austrian – 3 infantry, 3 cavalry, 1 artillery brigades have casualties

Table at start of battle

9th French army are deplolyed in and either side of Dorfen
3rd Austrian army will arrive on the table at the start of move 1
The river Danube can not be crossed as there are no bridges

End of move 2

Austrians arrive on table and advance towards centre

Merveldt centre right, has taken command of the elite division of 8th corps
7th corps- advance towards the village on the right
8th corps - advance through the pass
9th corps - advance over the hill on the left

Ney leads forward one cavalry and one infantry brigade between town and village
25 corps - advance to support village on the right
26 corps - hold Dorfen
27 corps - cavalry advance on the far left

End of move 4

Artillery exchange fire

Austrian reserve – halt out of artillery range
7th corps – approach village on right, artillery fire on infantry
8th corps - deploy north of pass, artillery unlimber
9th corps - near far edge of hill, artillery unlimber

French reserve – wait for Austrians to advance
25 corps - cavalry retreat disordered, artillery fire no casualties
26 corps – hold Dorfen
27 corps - wait for Austrians to advance

End of move 6

French abandon village on left

Austrian reserve – halt out of artillery range
7th corps – capture village and win cavalry melee
8th corps - advance towards town, gunners abandon guns
9th corps - advance towards woods

French reserve – cavalry charge guns, gunners retreat
25 corps – garrison rout from village, cavalry and grenadiers retreat shaken
26 corps – hold town
27 corps – hold woods

End of move 8

25 Bavarian corps rout and then rally

Austrian reserve – advance to attack Dorfen
7th corps – secure village and regroup
8th corps – advance to attack Dorfen
9th corps – lose cavalry melee and halt

French reserve - cavalry routed but rally
25 corps – routed but rally near farm top right
26 corps – hold Dorfen
27 corps – hold woods

End of move 10

French abandon half of Dorfen

Austrian reserve – attack right half of Dorfen
7th corps – swing left to support attack on Dorfen
8th corps – redeploy to attack left half of Dorfen
9th corps – cavalry melee draw, both withdraw disordered

French reserve - withdraw behind Dorfen
25 corps – fail morale and continue to retreat
26 corps – lose half of Dorfen
27 corps – hold woods

End of move 12

French abandon Dorfen

Austrian reserve – enter Dorfen
7th corps – advance in pursuit of retreating enemy
8th corps – prepare to enter Dorfen
9th corps – advance towards woods

French reserve - retreat
25 corps - retreat
26 corps – retreat, abandon Dorfen
27 corps – retreat, rear guard hold woods

Summary
The Austrians have taken all of Dorfen
They have also routed 25th and 26th Bavarian corps

The French have lost 6 infantry, 5 cavalry and 3 gunner casualties (3200 men)
The Austrians have lost 4 infantry and 2 cavalry casualties (1800 men)