Battle of Obernzell – 3rd September 1813

Tactical Map at start of battle

10^th Bavarian division has orders to attack Oberenzell

9^th Bavarian division has orders to support 10^th division

1^st Austrian division has orders to hold Obernzell

2^nd Austrian division has orders to move south of Obernzell

 

Table at start of battle

Obernzell is centre right

Centre road leads to Passau (left) and Rohrbach (right)

Bottom right road leads to Withering

River can only be crossed by a bridge

1^st Austrian division in and around Obernzell

2^nd Austrian division arrive centre right start of move 1

10^th Bavarian division arrive centre left start of move 1

9^th Bavarian division arrive centre left start of move 5

Each division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Left – 10^th Bavarian division arrive and start to cross bridge

Right - 2^nd Austrian division arrive centre right move south of town

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Left - 10th Bavarian division starts to deploy south of bridge

Right - 1^st Austrian division move towards hill

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Left – Bavarians continue to deploy between bridge and hill

Right - 1^st Austrian division continue to move towards hill

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Left - 10^th Bavarian division complete deployment between bridge and hill

Right - 1^st Austrian division cavalry deploy on hill

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Left – 9^th Bavarian division arrive and start to cross bridge
         10^th Bavarian division receive orders to advance and engage enemy

Right – 1^st Austrian division cavalry move to observe Bavarians

             2^nd Austrian division receive orders to advance and attack bridge

 

Cavalry melee

Bavarian light cavalry charge Austrian dragoons on hill

Dragoons counter charge, but lose melee suffer 10% casualties and rout

Note – Bavarian cavalry have high dice roll of 10, resulting in enemy rout

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Left – 9^th Bavarian division continue to deploy to north of road

          10^th Bavarian division form square, cavalry charge Austrian cavalry

Right – 1^st Austrian division change orders to Halt after losing cavalry melee

              Infantry form square and artillery unlimber behind hill

             2^nd Austrian division advance either side of road

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Left – Bavarians continue to deploy east of bridge

Right – Austrians are ordered to concentrate in front of town

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Left – Bavarians artillery opens fire on Austrian centre

           9^th division move to occupy hill to outflank enemy        

Right – Austrians artillery open fire on Bavarian centre

             Hussar brigade rallies behind the hill      

Both sides start to suffer casualties

Bavarians are looking for a way to outflank the Austrians rather than advance into the killing zone in the centre.

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

Left – Bavarian artillery pound Austrian infantry

           Bavarian cavalry advance to edge of hill overlooking shaken infantry

Right - Austrian gunners return fire, but are unable to subdue enemy gunners

              Two infantry squares on left flank are shaken (yellow marker) due to casualties

 

Cavalry v square

Bavarian cavalry overlook two Austrian infantry squares protecting the left flank

On the left is a grenadier brigade, on the right a militia square

The cavalry charge, and rout, the grenadiers.

The grenadiers rout into the gunners, who pass their morale but are disordered due to rout

The militia have test their morale due to rout within 4”, they also pass morale

The cavalry test to see whether they have to pursue

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

Left – 10^th Bavarian division are climbing the hill in support of the cavalry

           The cavalry have withdrawn to the hill disordered after their charge

           9^th Bavarian division have sent one brigade to occupy the farm

           Their cavalry are covering the flank near the farm

           They are ordered to Hold as it is too late to reach the enemy before nightfall

Right – 1^st Austrian division (top) are holding their position

             2^nd Austrian division have lost their cavalry and grenadiers who are in rout

             Gunners have abandoned their guns and found shelter in the nearby square

 

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

Left – Bavarian left have occupied the farm

           Bavarian right have occupied the hill

           Cavalry are held in check by Austrian squares

Right – Austrian corps is holding its position to recover their guns

             Square on the far left have moved forward to hold cavalry on hill

            Gunners have returned to their guns under cover of the square

 

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

Left – Both Bavarian divisions have orders to hold their position

Right – Austrian corps has recovered their guns and prepare to retreat

Summary

1^st Austrian corps has lost 480 infantry and 40 cavalry

7^th Bavarian corps has lost 240 infantry and 40 gunners

The Austrians have one infantry and one cavalry brigade in rout

General Wrede has achieved his objective of crossing the river Inn and establishing a strong bridge head on the eastern bank

General Lichtenstein is outflanked, has lost one infantry brigade and half of his cavalry are in rout.   He is unable to hold his present position.

During the night he retreats towards Rohrbach