Battle of River Inn – 4th September 1813

Tactical Map at start of battle

Top left – 10^th Bavarian division has orders to advance and engage

Centre left – 9^th Bavarian division has orders to advance and engage

Bottom left – 3^rd Austrian division has orders to hold bridge over river Inn

Top right - 1st Austrian division has orders to hold bridge over the river Danube

Centre right – 2^nd Austrian division has orders to retreat over river Danube

Outside battlefield

11^th Bavarian division has orders to cross the river unless defended

5^th Bavarian division has orders to cross the river unless defended

Special Rule

9^th Bavarian division and 3^rd Austrian division are hidden from each other by the hill

At the start of the battle they sight each other

3^rd Austrian division must keep their artillery and two infantry brigades facing river Inn

This will prevent 11^th Bavarian division from crossing to the east bank.

They may deploy their cavalry and two infantry brigades to face enemy to the north

Table at start of battle

Obernzell is top centre

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

Centre road leads to Withering

River can only be crossed by a bridge

A full strength division has 3200 infantry, 400 cavalry and 400 gunners

1^st Austrian division are full strength

2^nd Austrian division have lost 800 infantry and 400 cavalry missing

3^rd Austrian division are full strength

10^th Bavarian division have 80 infantry casualties

9^th Bavarian division have 160 infantry and 40 gunner casualties

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Top left – 10^th Bavarian division send cavalry to recce between town and woods

Centre left – 9^th Bavarian division turn right and move towards hill

Bottom left – Half of 3^rd Austrian division advance towards hill

Top right – 1^st Austrian division move artillery and cavalry to link with 2^nd division

Centre right – 2^nd Austrian division about turn and face west

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Top left – 10^th Bavarian division advance to engage Austrians at bridge

Centre left – 9^th Bavarian division move on to hill, cavalry charge enemy hussars

Bottom left – Half of 3^rd Austrian division halt, hussars counter charge

Top right – 1^st Austrian division deploy into line, jager brigade move towards town

Centre right – 2^nd Austrian division advance south of woods to support 3^rd division

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Top left – 10^th Bavarian division prepare to attack town

Centre left – 9^th Bavarian cavalry lose melee, withdraw and rally

Bottom left – 3^rd Austrian cavalry reform after melee

Top right – 1^st Austrian jagers enter town, artillery fire on enemy gunners

Centre right – 2^nd Austrian division advance south of woods to support 3^rd division

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Top left – 10^th Bavarian division infantry skirmish in town

Centre left – 9^th Bavarian cavalry charge again, lose melee and withdraw shaken

                        Infantry on left lose firefight and withdraw shaken

Bottom left – 3^rd Austrian division grenadier brigade win firefight with Bavarian infantry

Top right – 1^st Austrian jagers win skirmish in town

Centre right – 2^nd Austrian division start to deploy south of woods

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Top left – Bavarian infantry rout from town

Centre left – Bavarian infantry and cavalry rout

Bottom left – 3^rd Austrian division halt and form line

Top right – 1^st Austrian division garrison town, supports move forward

Centre right – 2^nd Austrian division prepare to advance south of woods

Summary

9^th Bavarian division have failed to take the southern brigade over the river Inn

Their cavalry brigade has broken and routed after two melee with the Austrian hussars

4^th infantry brigade has also routed having lost a firefight.

10^th Bavarian division has failed to take Obernzell

7^th infantry brigade has broken after a short melee in the town

It is clear to General Wrede that he cannot achieve his objective

He orders his corps to withdraw before the three Austrian divisions can close on him

1^st Austrian division have occupied Obernzell

2^nd Austrian division have not been engaged in the battle

They moved to support 3^rd division even though 8^th infantry and 2^nd cavalry brigades were in rout

3^rd Austrian division has held both the bridge and the hill to their north

Austrians have lost 80 infantry, also one infantry and one cavalry brigade still in rout

Bavarians have lost 320 infantry, plus two infantry and one cavalry brigade in rout

General Lichtenstein took a brave decision to halt his retreat and attack to save 3^rd division.

General Wrede thought that 1^st Austrian corps was in rout

He sent one division to pursue, and a second to take the bridge to his south

This would have allowed 8^th French corps to cross the river Inn and join him

He was not prepared for 1^st Austrian corps to turn around and counter attack

Casualties on both sides were light

Both had suffered in the battle for Obernzell the previous day

Had General Wrede halted and regrouped 1^st Austrian corps would have retreated

The French have suffered a setback but not a serious defeat

Campaign Move 9

2000 4^th September 1813

The day started well for 7^th Bavarian corps.

General Wrede had won the first battle of Obernzell.

1^st Austrian corps had broken and retreated towards the river Danube

He ordered 10^th division to march west and pursue 1^st Austrian corps

9^th division would march south and drive 2^nd Austrian division away from the bridge over the river Inn.  This would allow 8^th French corps to cross to the west bank.

At first light 8^th French corps stormed the bridges over the river Inn.

11^th division against the northern bridge and 5^th division the southern one

The cavalry brigades of both divisions led the attack

2^nd Austrian corps had deployed one division to hold each of the bridges

Both divisions had positioned their artillery to command the bridge

As the cavalry brigades moved on to the bridge they were swept with canister fire.

As the shattered brigades retreated General Bertrand cancelled the attack.

1^st Austrian corps was retreating towards the river Danube

1^st division was deployed as rear guard to cover the retreat

2^nd division was crossing the bridge to the east bank.

10^th Bavarian division advanced to take Obernzell

1^st Austrian division sent their jager brigade to take the town

7^th Bavarian infantry brigade moved into the town and a skirmish took place

Both divisions moved up infantry in support

The skirmish continued all morning, but the line infantry were no match for the jagers

By mid afternoon the jagers had taken possession of the town

7^th infantry brigade fell back in rout and the attack was called off.

9^th Bavarian division turned south to attack 3^rd Austrian division

The hill prevented either side from seeing the other

The Austrians sent their cavalry to recce

They also turned two infantry brigades to face north

The Bavarian dragoons charged as soon as they sighted the Austrian hussars

The first two rounds of melee was a draw, no casualties and both disordered

The dragoons withdrew to reform, and then charged again

This time the hussars won the melee, and the dragoons routed

Meanwhile General Lichtenstein had seen the danger to 2^nd Austrian corps

He ordered 2^nd division to about turn and march to support 3^rd division

2^nd division was short of their cavalry and one infantry brigade from the previous day

They approached 3^rd division just as the Bavarian dragoons broke and ran

Near the river Inn 4^th Bavarian brigade was approaching the bridge

9^th Austrian brigade moved forward in line and engaged them in a fire fight

The Bavarian conscripts suffered 20% casualties in the first exchange, broke and ran

By 1pm it was clear to General Wrede that he had lost the battle

His men were still not fully committed, and he ordered them to withdraw to the west.

7^th Bavarian corps had suffered serious damage, but were far from destroyed.

Campaign Move 8

1600 4^th September 1813

Archduke Charles is not a happy man

Since the start of the campaign he had watched in alarm as 9^th French corps crossed the river Inn and advanced towards Frankenburg.

Charles had placed his trust in General Merveldt to hold the southern wing at Vockabruck. 

On the evening of 2^nd September he received a received a report from 3^rd corps that the French were approaching Vockabruck, but that Merveldt’s two divisions were still widely separated.   5^th division was with the General at Vockabruck facing the two French divisions.   6^th division was 15 miles to the east at Wels.

Charles sent orders for Merveldt to concentrate his corps, at either Vockabruck or Wels.  He ordered the reserve to move to Withering to be available to support 3^rd corps.   He then rode to Vockabruck to find out why Merveldt had not carried out his orders.

He arrived at Vockabruck at midnight on 3^rd September.  

Merveldt calmly informed him that he had just issued orders for 5^th division to hold Vockabruck and for 6^th division to move from Wels to join him there.   He was confident that 5^th division could hold the town for the day and a half it would take 6^th division to reach him.

It was clear to Archduke Charles that 9^th French corps would attack Vockabruck next morning.   It was also clear that 5^th division could not hope to hold the town on their own.  They faced defeat, which must result in the loss of the Austrian left flank and the eventual destruction of 6^th division.

The enraged Archduke placed Merveldt under arrest for failing to obey orders and neglect of duty.  He took command of 3^rd corps and ordered 5^th division to retreat immediately towards Wels.   He sent orders to 6^th division to take position west of Wels, where he would concentrate the corps and make a stand.

It was now a race to see whether 3^rd Austrian corps could concentrate before 9^th French corps defeated them one division at a time.

Campaign Move 7

1200 4^th September 1813

The previous day 1^st Austrian corps had lost the battle of Obernzell.

During the night they had retreated to the river Danube

1^st division was ordered to form the rear guard

2^nd division was ordered to retire to the east bank

7^th Bavarian corps had won the battle of Obernzell

General Wrede wanted to advance and occupy Obernzell

But he also wanted to help 8^th corps to the south

He was not aware of the location of 3^rd Austrian corps

He ordered 9^th and 10^th divisions to advance to the river Danube

2^nd Austrian corps was deployed to hold the bridges over the river Inn

General Klenau was aware of fighting to his north

But the hill prevented him from being able to see how close the enemy were

He ordered 3^rd division to send one cavalry and two infantry brigades to recce

The artillery and remaining two infantry brigades would hold the bridge

He ordered 4^th division to hold the southern bridge over the river Inn

General Bertrand ordered 8^th corps to cross the river Inn

11^th division would storm the northern bridge.

5^th division would storm the southern bridge.

At first light 9^th division spotted 3^rd division and vice versa

General Wrede ordered 9^th division to take position on the hill

10^th division would attack the Austrians holding the Danube bridge

General Klenau came under attack from the 8^th corps at first light

The French stormed both bridges, but driven off by the waiting artillery

He was also attacked by 9^th division from the north

He sent his hussar brigade to recce, and they were engaged by Bavarian dragoons

The cavalry melee proved ineffective, no casualties and both disordered

General Lichtenstein had to make a difficult decision

Should he continue to retreat his 1^st Austrian corps over the river Danube

He could easily do so before Wrede could pin him on the west bank

However to do so would probably result in the destruction of 2^nd Austrian corps

He ordered 2^nd division to about turn and move to support 2^nd corps