Branau Campaign – Day 1

31 March 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 1

In the north 7^th Bavarian army take Bayerbach by a surprise attack

1^st Austrian army deploy to counter attack

In the centre 11^th Bavarian and 2^nd Austrian armies approach Branau

Both halt in order to deploy and fight

In the south 9^th French and 3^rd Austrian armies fight the battle of Egglesberg.

The result is a draw, neither side will retreat and fighting will continue on 1 April

End of move 12

Battle of Egglesberg

5^th Austrian and 17^th French corps opened the battle

6^th Austrian and 18^th French corps would not arrive until the start of move 9

 

At nightfall fighting for the town was undecided

Both 5^th and 17^th corps had lost one infantry brigade each

Neither 6^th nor 18^th corps had been committed to the battle

 

The result of the battle was a draw.  

Casualties were even and neither side controlled the town

Both sides had a fresh corps ready to fight at daybreak

Neither side would retreat, so fighting would continue at daybreak

Comments

A draw is very unusual, and a second day battle even more so.

But this was an unusual wargame.

 

The Austrians halt further from the town than the French

The French occupied the southern half of the town

They then send a second brigade to take the northern half

Their artillery deployed within close range of the disputed northern half

This would make it very difficult for the Austrians to occupy the northern half

 

Instead they placed two brigades behind the northern half of the town

They were out of sight of the French artillery, who could not fire on them

 

For the first 11 moves the French approached and then entered the town

Their artillery fired on the Austrian infantry, and routed one brigade

The Austrian artillery could not fire on the southern half of the town

They were out of range of the French infantry

At the end of move 11 the French occupied the southern half of the town

Their infantry were approaching the northern edge of the town

The elite Austrian jager brigade advanced and attacked the French infantry

They won the melee and the French routed

 

At nightfall neither side could claim possession of the town

Both sides had considerable troops available to continue the battle

Both sides had suffered similar casualties

Neither side wanted to retreat and accept defeat

The battle would continue at daybreak