23 May 1813 - Central Germany

Davout still has major supply problems

His army is too far east for their supply base at Kassel

To fully resupply his army he must either retreat or move his base to Eisenbach

To move his base, and complete resupply, will take four days.

He has managed to supply all four corps, but only with a couple of day supplies

Rather than delay longer, he has ordered an attack on Dolstadt

14 corps will threaten Gotha

2,5 and 6 corps will attack Dolstadt

Wittgenstein has completed his redeployment

All four corps are close to his supply base at Gotha

All four have been resupplied with four days supplies

He is aware that 14^th French corps are isolated

He orders 4^th corps to attack them

Although 1^st corps is ordered to support them

3^rd and 4^th corps are ordered to hold and resupply

1 corps hold and resupply                                          

2 corps hold and resupply                                                      

3 corps hold and resupply

4 corps hold, resupply and reorganise    

The Russians suffer a comprehensive defeat at Dolstadt

They lose 2200 casualties and nine brigades in rout

Their communications to Gotha are cut

Wittgenstein orders 2^nd and 3^rd corps to retreat east

The French have lost 100 casualties and one brigade in rout

The Russians have lost 3300 casualties and eight brigades in rout

The battle of Meiningen has ended in a draw

The French still hold the city

The Russians have lost three brigades in rout

The French have lost 800 casualties

The Russians have lost 1300 casualties

23 May 1813 – Battle of Meiningen

Tactical map of battle area

Unaware of the major French attack on Dolstadt, Wittgenstein orders two of his corps to attack the isolated Westphalian corps in front of Meiningen

Russian – 22000 infantry, 1700 cavalry, 57 guns

French – 14400 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns

Table at start of wargame

All three corps start the battle with campaign casualties

14th Westphalian corps start on the table

4th Russian corps arrive start of move 1

1st Russian corps arrive start of move 5

0800-1200

4^th Russian corps arrive on table top right

14^th Westphalian react by redeploying their artillery and cavalry

They have also sent an infantry brigade to garrison the walled farm top left.

1200-1600

4^th Russian corps deploy within artillery range of the walled farm

1^st Russian corps have arrived and deploy level with 4^th corps

Both are now ready to advance

14^th Westphalians form square and await the Russian attack

1600-2000

The Russians advance to attack

4^th corps cavalry charge the Westphalian guns

They receive 10% casualties from canister fire and rout

Their infantry skirmish the walled farm, but are inconclusive

Westphalian lancers advance and force the infantry into square

1^st corps artillery concentrate on the square supporting the artillery

The square receive 30% casualties but hold their ground

The Russian infantry skirmish with the inn but it is inconclusive

The remaining infantry advance in the centre

The leading brigade suffer heavy casualties and rout

The supporting brigade join the rout

By nightfall the attack has run out of steam

Conclusion

The Russians have failed to take Meiningen

They still outnumber the Westphalians, but need to rest and reorganise

The Russians have lost 1300 casualties and have three brigades in rout

The Westphalians have lost 800 casualties