Ingolstadt Campaign – Day One

Campaign Map

12 August 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 1

The French are deployed to the west of the Nuremberg-Ingolstadt border
They are out of sight of the Austrian army, but are concentrated ready to attack
7th French army – observe enemy
8th French army – observe enemy
9th French army – attack Weichering

The Austrian army is deployed to the east of the Nuremberg-Ingolstadt border
2, 5 and 8 corps are on the border to warn of any attack
The remainder of the army are in reserve to make supply easier
1st Austrian army – defend border
2nd Austrian army – defend border
3rd Austrian army – defend border

Battle of Weichering – Start of Battle

9th French army, commanded by Marshal Ney, attack Weichering
3rd Austrian army, commanded by General Mervedt, defend the border

French have10 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, 3 corps artillery
2 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

Austrian have 9 infantry brigades, 3 cavalry brigade, and 3 corps artillery
3 infantry brigades are detached on garrison duty

The French have the element of surprise in this first battle of the campaign
They use this in the south because this is the most difficult area to attack
All three corps are concentrated and will reach the river together

Only one of the three Austrian corps are in position to defend the river
The other two will not be able to reach until the start of move 2

Battle of Weichering – End of Battle

On the left the Austrians have held the hill
The French have supported the centre, and not attacked the hill

Centre the French have forced the Austrians to withdraw
But after a prolonged fire fight have failed to take it

Also in the centre both armies have created a reserve of two cavalry brigades
They struggle for control of the centre, and all four brigades suffer casualties
But the melee is a draw, and both withdraw into reserve

On the right the French have moved through the pass between the two hills
They outflank 7th Austrian corps, who withdraw with one brigade in rout
At nightfall the French hold the hill.

The French have lost 2 cavalry (200 men)
The Austrians have lost 4 infantry and 3 cavalry (1900 men)

Comments

This game objective was to hold at least two of the three hills in the centre of the table.
The Austrians started the game in position on the centre of the three, a big advantage.
In addition the French corps could only cross the river by using one of the three bridges, this was a major disadvantage.

Cavalry can cross hills in column of march, but are not allowed to charge up, down or across.
Artillery can fire onto the hills, but must be on the edge to fire down
These two rules determined how the game would be fought.

The main French attack would be in the centre, but they must first force the Austrians in the centre to retreat out of artillery range of their side of the centre bridge. This was achieved by combining two of the three cavalry brigades to threaten the Austrian gunners.

The Austrian commander took control of two of his three cavalry brigades to counter the French move. This resulted in a prolonged cavalry melee, which ended with all four brigades suffering casualties and withdrawing behind their infantry and artillery.

The French took the right hand hill, the Austrians the left hand hill. This left the centre hill to decide the winner. The French attacked to the left of the main road, where the cavalry melee also took place. The Austrians did withdraw, but kept a grenadier brigade on the centre hill. The French sent two brigades to attack the hill, but there was only space for the leading one to neither side wanted to risk a melee, so it would be a firefight which decided the winner. The Austrians lost 10% casualties, but passed their morale test and were still holding at the end of the game.

Each side held one of the three hills, and the third was still in dispute at the end of the game. The French failed to take two hills, so the Austrians won the game. However the right hand Austrian corps had suffered heavy casualties and had two brigades in rout. With only two corps against the three French, the Austrian commander could not risk a second day. So despite winning the game, the Austrians would have to retreat and abandon Weichering.