Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Battle of River Inn – 4th September 1813


Tactical Map at start of battle

Top left – 10th Bavarian division has orders to advance and engage
Centre left – 9th Bavarian division has orders to advance and engage
Bottom left – 3rd 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 – 2nd Austrian division has orders to retreat over river Danube

Outside battlefield
11th Bavarian division has orders to cross the river unless defended
5th Bavarian division has orders to cross the river unless defended

Special Rule

9th Bavarian division and 3rd Austrian division are hidden from each other by the hill
At the start of the battle they sight each other

3rd Austrian division must keep their artillery and two infantry brigades facing river Inn
This will prevent 11th 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
1st Austrian division are full strength
2nd Austrian division have lost 800 infantry and 400 cavalry missing
3rd Austrian division are full strength
10th Bavarian division have 80 infantry casualties
9th Bavarian division have 160 infantry and 40 gunner casualties

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Top left – 10th Bavarian division send cavalry to recce between town and woods
Centre left – 9th Bavarian division turn right and move towards hill
Bottom left – Half of 3rd Austrian division advance towards hill
Top right – 1st Austrian division move artillery and cavalry to link with 2nd division
Centre right – 2nd Austrian division about turn and face west


Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Top left – 10th Bavarian division advance to engage Austrians at bridge
Centre left – 9th Bavarian division move on to hill, cavalry charge enemy hussars
Bottom left – Half of 3rd Austrian division halt, hussars counter charge
Top right – 1st Austrian division deploy into line, jager brigade move towards town
Centre right – 2nd Austrian division advance south of woods to support 3rd division

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Top left – 10th Bavarian division prepare to attack town
Centre left – 9th Bavarian cavalry lose melee, withdraw and rally
Bottom left – 3rd Austrian cavalry reform after melee
Top right – 1st Austrian jagers enter town, artillery fire on enemy gunners
Centre right – 2nd Austrian division advance south of woods to support 3rd division

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Top left – 10th Bavarian division infantry skirmish in town
Centre left – 9th Bavarian cavalry charge again, lose melee and withdraw shaken
                        Infantry on left lose firefight and withdraw shaken
Bottom left – 3rd Austrian division grenadier brigade win firefight with Bavarian infantry
Top right – 1st Austrian jagers win skirmish in town
Centre right – 2nd 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 – 3rd Austrian division halt and form line
Top right – 1st Austrian division garrison town, supports move forward
Centre right – 2nd Austrian division prepare to advance south of woods


Summary
9th 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
4th infantry brigade has also routed having lost a firefight.

10th Bavarian division has failed to take Obernzell
7th 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

1st Austrian division have occupied Obernzell

2nd Austrian division have not been engaged in the battle
They moved to support 3rd division even though 8th infantry and 2nd cavalry brigades were in rout

3rd 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 3rd division.

General Wrede thought that 1st 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 8th French corps to cross the river Inn and join him
He was not prepared for 1st 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 1st Austrian corps would have retreated

The French have suffered a setback but not a serious defeat



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