Battle of Raab - 7th September 1813

Tactical Map at start of battle

Left – 8^th French corps have orders to attack Raab

           11^th division have orders to attack along Altheim road

            5^th division have orders to attack south of the river Inn

Right – 2^nd Austrian corps have orders to hold Raab

Table at start of battle

Centre left is the town of Raab

Bottom centre is an unnamed farm

The road north leads to Obernzell

The road south leads to Vockabruck

The road west leads to Altheim

The road east leads to Withering

2^rd Austrian Corps                  9^th French Corps        

6340 infantry                          6400 infantry             

800 cavalry                             760 cavalry                

800 gunners                            800 gunners

Special Rule

5^th French division will arrive at the start of move 5 bottom left (south of the river Inn

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Left – French

Bertrand orders 11^th division to deploy north of the road

Cavalry form line to protect column as it deploys

Artillery have been placed at the rear of the column

Bertrand moves to join 5^th division

Right – Austrian

Klenau orders 4^th division to deploy south of the town

3^rd division (top) is on hold orders and cannot advance

4^th division (bottom) advances south of the town

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Left – French

11^th division move north of road to deploy

Artillery unlimbers in front of the bridge

Cavalry remain in front of column

Right – Austrian

Klenau orders 3^rd division (top) to advance and engage enemy

Cavalry move to right flank to counter enemy cavalry

Infantry advance to form line of columns

Artillery manhandle closer to enemy

4^th division (bottom) continue to advance towards farm

Cavalry are at the rear of the column

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Left – French

11^th division manhandle guns towards enemy

Infantry start to deploy

Right – Austrian

3^rd division (top) advance towards enemy

4^th division continue to advance towards farm

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Left – French

Bavarian cavalry charge, and rout, Austrian hussars

They then fail their morale and charge the nearest enemy – a jager brigade in square

The jagers roll poor dice (3 with 2xD6)

Both infantry and cavalry lose 10%, cavalry withdraw 8”, both are disordered

Bavarian artillery fire on nearest infantry and inflict 10% casualties

Right – Austrian

3^rd division (top) advance despite losing cavalry melee

Artillery fire on nearest infantry but miss

4^th division are now in position to start to deploy

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Left - French

Bavarian division (top) redeploy to their right to meet the enemy attack

Artillery continue to inflict casualties on the approaching infantry

French division (bottom) arrive and advance behind cavalry screen

Artillery are at the rear of the column

Right - Austrian

3^rd division (top) halt their right wing and attack with the left

Jager brigade advance in square and force enemy cavalry to retire

Artillery now within range and open fire, but no casualties

4^th division (bottom) unlimber artillery and form square with leaving infantry

Remainder of division still well to the rear

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Left – French

Bavarian division (top) now on Hold orders to await enemy attack

Cavalry withdraw from jager square

Artillery continue to fire on approaching infantry, but no casualties

French division (bottom) use extra command points to bring artillery to the front

Remainder of division follow bend in river towards Bavarian division

Right – Austrian

3^rd division (top) left wing about to close with right of Bavarian line

Artillery continue to fire, but fail to inflict any casualties

4^th division (bottom) have now deployed half of infantry, artillery and cavalry

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Left – French

Bavarian division (top) right hand brigades form line as enemy infantry approach

Cavalry withdraw out of range of Austrian infantry square

Artillery fire on enemy infantry but no casualties

French division (bottom) advance to link with Bavarian division

Right - Austrian

3^rd division (top) lose fire fight with Bavarian infantry

Brigade nearest farm lose 20% casualties and withdraw shaken

4^th division (bottom) deploy and advance

Artillery cause 10% casualties to cuirassier brigade

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Left – French

Bavarian division (top) win firefight and rout Austrian infantry

French division (bottom) withdraw cuirassier brigade

Leading infantry form square to cover full deployment

Right - Austrian

3^rd division (top) lose firefight and two brigades rout

4^th division (bottom) cavalry lose 10% casualties and withdraw

Summary

General Kleanau accepts defeat having lost half of his cavalry and one quarter of his infantry.   3^rd division are in disorder having lost their cavalry brigade and half of their infantry in the firefight.   4^th division have failed to prevent the 8^th French corps concentrating on the east bank of the river Inn.

Austrians have lost 560 infantry and 80 cavalry, three brigades have routed from the field

French have lost 320 infantry and 40 cavalry.

Casualties on both sides were moderate

The Austrians have suffered a major setback.