Battle of Withering - 10th September 1813

Tactical Map at start of battle

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

Right – 2^nd Austrian corps have orders to hold and regroup

Table at start of battle

River is the Danube

Centre right is the town of Withering

The road north leads to Rohrburg

The road south leads to Wels

The road west leads to Raab

The road east leads to Linz

The road south leads to Withering

French                                     Austrian         

6080 infantry                          5760 infantry             

720 cavalry                             800 cavalry                

800 gunners                            800 gunners

5^th French division has 80 casualties in the cavalry brigade

11^th Bavarian division has 320 casualties between three infantry brigades

3^rd Austrian division has 640 casualties between four infantry brigades

4^th Austrian division is full strength

Special Rules

8^th French corps will arrive from the left at the start of move 1

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Left – French

Both divisions enter the table from the left

Right – Austrian

Both divisions are on hold and must wait for orders from the corps commander

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Left – French

Both divisions deploy from march column

Right – Austrian

3^rd division (bottom) move towards hill

Cavalry secure the hill to protect artillery

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Left – French

5^th division (top) artillery unlimber and infantry form square to protect them

11^th division (bottom) cavalry charge Austrian hussars, melee is a draw

Remainder of division halt, form square and unlimber artillery

Right – Austrian

4^th division (top) still out of artillery range

3^rd division (bottom) cavalry continue melee, still inconclusive

Artillery abandon hill and division deploy to the right of the hill

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Left – French

5^th division (top) has moved into artillery range, but is more concerned about the Austrian cavalry, as they have no cavalry on to counter them.

11^th division (bottom) cavalry have won the melee and the Austrian hussars have retreated shaken.   The remainder of the division can now advance

Right – Austrian

4^th division (top) cavalry have withdrawn out of artillery range, but still pose a threat to the enemy infantry as they advance

3^rd division (bottom) cavalry have lost melee and withdrawn shaken.  

Infantry square has moved forward to protect them. 

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Left – French

5^th division (top) continue to advance.   Artillery have caused casualties on one of the enemy infantry brigades, but their cavalry is still out of range

11^th division (bottom) have advanced to the top of the hill to pursue the shaken enemy cavalry.  In doing so they come within range of the infantry square and they in turn withdraw.

Right – Austrian

Both divisions wait for the enemy to advance

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Left – French

5^th division (top) have moved their infantry to their left flank, but slow the advance due to the threat from the waiting cavalry.  The enemy cavalry remain out of artillery range and are difficult to counter without any French cavalry on this flank

11^th division (bottom) again advance their cavalry on the hill, and force the enemy horse to retire.   Their infantry have changed into column of attack and start to move towards the hill

Right – Austrian

4^th division (top) change their orders to Engage so that their cavalry can advance to pin the enemy infantry

3^rd division (bottom) move infantry to support the square on the hill.   Their cavalry again fail to rally and remain shaken.

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Left – French

5^th division (top) continue to fire on the nearest infantry brigade and cause them to rout

11^th division (bottom) charge the shaken Austrian cavalry and rout them.  The nearby square tests morale, also fails and joins the rout.

Right – Austrian

4^th division (top) have lost one infantry brigade to artillery fire, and the rout spreads to a second infantry brigade and the gunners who also rout.   Commander cancels his orders to advance.

3^rd division (bottom) cavalry break and run when they are charged by the French hussars.    The nearby infantry square already has 20% casualties, fail their morale and join the rout.  

With five of his brigades in rout General Hohenlohe orders the remainder of 2^nd Austrian corps to withdraw before the French can close with them

  

Summary

A decisive French victory.

This defeat may well mean the loss of the campaign for the Archduke Charles

Total casualties, including from earlier battles, at the end of this battle

Austrian 840 casualties and five brigades in rout

French 360 casualties and no routed brigades