Campaign Summary – 6th September 1813

The long anticipated battle for the southern wing was fought at Vockabruck.

Marshal Oudinot had hoped to join 9^th corps with the army reserve before the Austrian’s attacked, but it was not to be.

Archduke Charles was also intending to add his reserve to 3^rd Austrian corps, but General Lederer ordered the attack before they arrived.

The battle opened with a prolonged artillery barrage.   Lederer held his infantry and cavalry out of range of the heavier French guns until his gunners could manhandle their lighter guns into range of the enemy infantry.

The Austrian gunners proved the better on the day, and broke the French centre.

The French won a cavalry melee on the northern flank, but lost an infantry skirmish for a farm on the southern flank.  But it was the artillery which decided the day.

Vandamme ordered his corps to abandon Vockabruck and retreat west before the Austrians could close and cause even more damage.

Further north 7^th and 8^th French corps regrouped and resupplied

1^st and 2^nd Austrian corps slowly retired as ordered by Archduke Charles.