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Wednesday, March 26, 2025

15 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 4



French attack Manching and occupy Bergheim
7th French army – rally and resupply at Lauf
8th French army – occupy Bergheim
9th French army – attack Manching

Austrian defend Manching and retreat to Ingolstadt
1st Austrian army – regroup and resupply at Buxheim
2nd Austrian army – retreat to Ingolstadt
3rd Austrian army – defend Manching

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

14 August 1813 – Battle of Bergheim



Tactical map of battle area

8th French army, commanded by Marshal Mortier, attack Bergheim
2nd Austrian army, commanded by General Klenau, defend the border

French have10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
2 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

Austrian have 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
3 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

The French have lost the first two battles of the campaign
Despite this Mortier is ordered to cross the border and attack Bergheim
It is hoped that a victory in the south would cause the Austrians to delay their pursuit.

Table at start of battle

The game objective is to capture or hold the three centre squares
First be bridge on the left
Second the T junction in the centre
Third the farm on the right

2nd Austrian army is on the table at the start of the game
4th corps in and around the farm on the right
5th corps on and around the T junction in the centre
6th corps to the right of the bridge on the left

8th French/Bavarian army will arrive on the table at the start of move 1

End of move 2

Bavarian army arrive on the table at the top
CinC observe on hill centre left
22 Corps advance through woods on the right
23 Corps advance in the centre between woods and hill
24 Corps advance on the right bank of the river

Austrian adjust to sighting the enemy
CinC observe centre left
4 Corps cavalry advance on the right
5 Corps infantry form square in the centre
6 Corps cavalry advance on the left
End of move 4

Bavarian deploy out of artillery range
CinC move to take command of attack on farm
22 Corps infantry advance to attack farm
23 Corps artillery unlimber at long range
24 Corps artillery unlimber at long range

Austrian vacate farm to avoid artillery
CinC observe centre left
4 Corps infantry vacate farm to avoid artillery
5 Corps wait for enemy to advance
6 Corps wait for enemy to advance

End of move 6

Bavarian adv
CinC takes command of attack on farm
22 Corps cavalry advance to charge
23 Corps artillery hit infantry square
24 Corps gunners evade to square

Austrian cavalry charge gunners
CinC observe centre left
4 Corps withdraw to rear of farm
5 Corps infantry pass morale for 10% casualties
6 Corps cavalry charge gunners, who evade to square
End of move 8

Bavarian advance in general attack
CinC occupy farm and charge grenadiers in the centre
22 Corps cavalry rout dragoons and gunners
23 Corps cavalry rout gunners, corps advance
24 Corps cavalry rout dragoons, corps advance

Austrian have 5 brigades in rout
CinC orders a general retreat
4 Corps gunners and cavalry rout
5 Corps gunners and grenadiers rout
6 Corps cavalry rout

Summary

Bavarians win two out of three cavalry melee
Austrian infantry forced into square, and receive artillery casualties
Bavarian cavalry then rout all three Austrian corps artillery
Austrians retreat and abandon all three game objectives
Bavarians win the battle

Bavarians have lost 1 infantry, 3 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (800 men)
Austrians have lost 1 infantry, 4 cavalry and 3 artillery casualties (1100 men)

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

14 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 3


French attack Bergheim and retreat to Lauf
7th French army – retreat to Lauf
8th French army – attack Bergheim
9th French army – regroup and resupply

Austrian defend Bergheim
1st Austrian army – advance to border
2nd Austrian army – defend Bergheim
3rd Austrian army – regroup and resupply

Friday, March 7, 2025

13 August 1813 – Battle of Buxheim

 

Tactical map of battle area

7th Bavarian army, commanded by Marshal Massena, has orders to attack Buxheim
1st Austrian army, commanded by General Schwartzenberg, has orders to defend Buxheim

Bavarians have10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
2 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

Austrians have 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
3 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

The Austrians know that the French have attacked the town of Weichering, but are not yet aware of the outcome of that battle. 2nd corps is deployed close to the border to observe any enemy movement. 1st and 3rd corps are under orders to move forward at daybreak to support 2nd corps.

Massena is aware that he has lost the element of surprise, and orders his army to advance at first light and attack Buxheim
Table at start of battle

The game objectives the three squares in the middle of the table. The hill on the left, the T junction in the centre and the farm on the right. The army which holds at least two of those three will win the game.

2nd Austrian corps occupies the T Junction at the start of the game. 1st and 2nd corps will advance during move 1 to take and hold the hill on the left and the farm on the left. At the start of the game Schwartzenberg does not have direct command of any troops. However he can create a reserve by taking command of any elements of the three corps. To take command of a brigade he must be within 4” at the start of his move.

The Bavarian army will enter the table at the start of move 1. 21st corps is on the right and their objective is the hill. Massena has taken command of the cavalry brigades of 21st and 20th corps and had positioned them between those two corps.

20th corps is in the centre and thjeir objective is the T Junction. 19th corps is on the left and their objective is the farm.
End of move 2

Bavarian arrive on the table
CinC cavalry reserve advance centre left
19 Corps advance through the woods on the right
20 Corps advance through the pass
21 Corps advance either side of the farm on the left

Austrian take up position in the centre
CinC creates cavalry reserve from 2nd and 3rd corps
1 Corps deploy behind and to the right of the farm
2 Corps hold T junction
3 Corps deploy behind hill on the left
End of move 4

Bavarian win cavalry melee on the right
CinC hold cavalry reserve out of artillery range
19 Corps cavalry charge and rout Austrian cavalry
20 Corps deploy south of pass in the centre
21 Corps deploy north of the hill on the left

Austrian withdraw out of artillery range in the centre
CinC withdraw reserve cavalry out of artillery range
1 Corps cavalry lose melee and rout with 20% casualties
2 Corps withdraw out of artillery range
3 Corps deploy south of hill on the left
End of move 6

Bavarian lose cavalry melee, two brigades rout
CinC lose cavalry melee centre left
19 Corps cavalry force gunners to abandon guns
20 Corps force Austrians to retreat in the centre
21 Corps hold north of hill on the left

Austrian win cavalry melee
CinC rout cavalry reserve in the centre
1 Corps all withdraw, gunners abandon guns
2 Corps withdraw in the centre
3 Corps dominate hill on the left
End of move 8

Bavarian unable to halt enemy cavalry
CinC both cavalry brigades fail morale and continue to rout
19 Corps artillery routed by cavalry
20 Corps infantry brigade routed by cavalry
21 Corps ordered to withdraw

Austrian cavalry break Bavarian centre
CinC cavalry rout gunners and infantry brigade
1 Corps hold farm on the right
2 Corps hold road junction in the centre
3 Corps hold hill on the left

Summary
Austrian cavalry rout two Bavarian cavalry brigades, then rally and rout nearby artillery and infantry brigade. Rally again and threaten Bavarian centre.

With the loss of so many cavalry, gunners and infantry Massena orders a general retreat

The French have lost 1 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 artillery casualties (700 men)
The Austrians have lost 2 cavalry casualties (200 men)

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

3 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 2



French attack Buxheim and occupy Weichering
7th French army – attack Buxheim
8th French army – hold Amberg
9th French army – occupy Weichering

1st Austrian army – defend Buxheim
2nd Austrian army – advance to border
3rd Austrian army – retreat to Manching