Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Link to 1814 Campaign in France



This is the last of the mini campaigns fought as part of the overall 1813 campaign

The next campaign will be set in France in 1814.   It is loosely based on the historical campaign.   The major difference is that all six campaign areas will be fought at the same time.  There will be 12 command posts, one allied and one French for each campaign area. 

I have started a new blog for the campaign and you can find it here


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Campaign Summary – 10th September 1813



General Wrede allows his 10th division to rest and establish a supply depot at Rohrbach.   His 9th division is escorting the survivors of 1st Austrian corps to Munich as prisoners of war.

Both 8th French corps and 2nd Austrian corps have heavy battle casualties, and were expected to rest and recover.  However General Bertrand wants to increase the pressure of Wrede’s victory.  He orders his corps to attack Withering.    The result was a close fought battle, which could easily have gone either way.   Both corps were fragile due to casualties, but it was the Austrians who broke.   The loss of a cavalry melee led to a rout, which quickly spread throughout the corps.

The long awaited decisive battle in the south proved to be less decisive than expected.   Both Oudinot and Charles were present, with their reserves, for the battle at Wels.   The result was a minor Austrian victory.

However the Austrian’s had lost six of the nine battle fought during the campaign.   1st corps had ceased to exist and 2nd corps was in retreat.   3rd corps, and the reserve, held Wels.  But they would soon face overwhelming odds.

As night fell Archduke Charles received news that 2nd corps had lost at Withering and was in retreat. 

He ordered a general retreat towards Vienna.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Battle of Wels - 10th September 1813


Tactical Map at start of battle

Far Left – French reserve have orders to support 9th corps
Left – 9th French corps have orders to attack Wels
Right – 3rd Austrian corps have orders to redeploy
Far Right – Austrian reserve have orders to support 3rd corps
Table at start of battle

Top left unnamed village
Centre left is the town of Vockabruck
The road north leads to Raab
The road west leads to Frankenburg
The road east leads to Wels
The road south leads to Withering

French                                     Austrian         
8960 infantry                          9040 infantry             
1160 cavalry                           1160 cavalry              
1200 gunner’s                         1200 gunners

2nd French division - one brigade has 10% casualties
4th French division - one brigade has 10% casualties
12th Baden division - every brigade has between 10% and 20% casualties

5th Austrian division – one brigade has 10% casualties
6th Austrian division – one infantry brigade has 20% and the cavalry 10% casualties
7th Austrian division – full strength

Special Rules
4th French division will arrive at the start of move 5
7th Austrian division will arrive at the start of move 5
5th Austrian division will arrive at the start of move 9

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Left – French
Both divisions are delayed by having to advance through built up area

Right – Austrian
6th division ordered to Hold and deploy

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Left – French
Both divisions ordered to deploy

Right – Austrian
Deployment complete but enemy out of artillery range
General Lederer leaves to meet 7th division

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Left – French
Both divisions start to deploy
2nd division artillery unlimber

Right – Austrian
Enemy still out of artillery range

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Left – French
Both divisions have cleared the built up area
French have 12 pounder guns and are within long range of Austrians
Open fire, but no casualties

Right – Austrian
French are still out of range of lighter Austrian guns




Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Left - French
4th division arrives and moves to right of 12th division
2nd and 12th divisions continue to deploy

Right – Austrian
7th division arrives and moves to right of 6th division

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Left – French
12th division (top) are ordered to Hold, too fragile to advance and engage enemy
2nd division (centre) continue to fire on enemy and prepare to advance
4th division (bottom) advance towards farm

Right – Austrian
7th division (top) advance and prepare to engage 12th division
6th division remain on hold but suffer artillery casualties

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Left – French
12th division (top) cavalry lose melee
2nd division (centre) advance to engage enemy
4th division (bottom) cavalry approach Austrian left flank

Right - Austrian
7th division (top) cavalry win melee, infantry form column of attack
6th division (bottom) continue to receive casualties from French artillery


Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Left – French
12th division (top) cavalry rout and infantry square shaken
2nd division (centre) advance and screen artillery
4th division (bottom) continue to advance against Austrian left flank

Right – Austrian
7th division (top) advance towards 12th division
6th division (bottom) break due to enemy artillery fire
One brigade in rout, two more (plus gunners) shaken
Cavalry withdraw behind infantry square

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Left – French
12th division (top) pinned by enemy cavalry whilst infantry advance
2nd division (centre) cavalry and supporting infantry routed as they charge guns
4th division (bottom) moving into position to attack Austrian flank

Right - Austrian
7th division (top) continue to advance against Baden division
5th division (centre) start to arrive on Wels road
6th division (bottom) start to break as French press home their attack

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

Left – French
12th division (top) left flank break and rout
2nd division (centre) all in rout except for artillery
6th division (bottom) start to deploy to attack

Right – Austrian
7th division (top) approach Baden division
5th division (centre) halt and deploy to cover rout of 6th division
6th division (bottom) three brigades and gunners in rout towards Wels

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

Left – French
12th division (top) charged in flank, breaks and routs
2nd division (centre) all in rout except for artillery
6th division (bottom) halts to await further orders
Marshal Oudinot orders retreat towards Frankenburg

Right – Austrian
7th division (top) cavalry charge and rout gunners, remaining infantry join rout
5th division (centre) halt and deploy to cover rout of 6th division
6th division (bottom) continue to rout towards Wels

Summary

Both sides have suffered heavy casualties in this battle.
Both sides will take some time to recover and rally routed brigades

The Austrians have suffered 1200 casualties and lost 6th divisions guns  
There are 5 brigades in rout.

The French have lost 1480 casualties including 12th division guns.  
There are 11 brigades in rout.

Marshal Oudinot has ordered a general retreat.

Archduke Charles is claiming a victory.