Rosenheim Campaign – Day 6

Campaign Map on 8 October 1813

 

Oudinot has established himself on the right bank of the river Isar

More importantly he has taken the city of Rosenheim, the campaign objective

However he must now hold it to win the campaign.

His main concern is his supply lines and depots

The rapid advance and move over the river Isar has left his depots too far behind

All four corps are now short of supply and finding it difficult to resupply

It will take a couple of days to establish new depots close to the front line

And to move supplies forward from his main depot at Bad Tolz

The Austrian defeat at Wassenberg has made life very difficult for Schwartzenberg

His orders are to hold the right bank of the river Isar, and in particular Rosenheim

Not only has he lost both, but his army is in desperate need of reinforcements

The result is a quiet day when both armies regroup and reorganise

Campaign Notes

Oudinot has only to hold Rosenheim for a couple of days to win the campaign.

The city is the campaign objective.  He must not only capture it, but also hold it.

There is no set period before he can claim to have done so

Effectively he must defeat the Austrian army and remove the threat of an attack.

Despite their defeats the Austrian Army is slightly stronger than the Bavarians.

This is partly because they have fallen back on their supply lines

As a result they need less garrisons for their depots.

However they have more serious battle casualties, in particular their cavalry.

Infantry casualties can be concentrated in one brigade per corps

But this does not apply to cavalry or artillery.

Battle replacements are at the rate of 10% of one brigade each move

1^st and 3^rd Austrian cavalry brigades each had 40% casualties

These are now reduced to 20% in each brigade

But the Bavarian cavalry only have 10% in each brigade

Not a lot of difference, but critical if the Austrians are to attack

Even without further cavalry casualties they are likely to lose any melee

This would leave the infantry unable to advance to attack

So Schwartzenberg must spend another day drip feeding reinforcements

Oudinot grows stronger with each day delay, and his supply system improves.

Schwartzenberg must attack soon, but he cannot afford another defeat.