Rosenheim Campaign – Day 9

Campaign Map on 11 October 1813

 

Both armies regroup and resupply.

In the north 10^th Bavarian corps are on a limb at Wassenburg, and open to a joint attack from the east and south.   Oudinot orders them to retreat towards Holzkirchen, and to move the depot there from Wassenburg.

The Austrians are concentrating on reorganising their supply system in and around Rosenheim, and fail to take advantage of the retreat from Wassenburg.

Campaign Notes

Losing a major battle like Rosenheim can leave an army in a desperate state, quite unable to carry out further operations.   Casualties are usually spread throughout all of the brigades, and one or more may be in rout.   To sort this out the corps concerned must break contact with the enemy and find a safe spot to regroup or reorganise.

To do so they must be out of contact with the enemy, not move during the current day and be in supply.   If they meet all of these requirements they can regroup.

This means that all routed or shaken brigades can rally

Infantry casualties can be concentrated in one brigade, less 400 in each brigade affected.   This is usually the brigade with the most casualties.  However if more than one has the same number the corps commander can choose which one to use.  This avoids putting all casualties in the lowest quality brigade.  Quite often the most casualties are on the best brigade, because they have borne the brunt of the fighting.   Having all the other casualties, including from conscript brigades, moved to them can result in the loss of the best brigade for the rest of the campaign.

Battle casualties are replaced.   Each corps receives either 400 infantry or 100 cavalry or artillery each day.  That is 10% of the brigade full strength.   Artillery are replaced first, then cavalry and then infantry.   As always each brigade must retain 10% of their casualties for the remainder of the campaign.

At the end of the battle the losing side must retreat at least two squares.  This is to establish the one map square gap there must be between corps not fighting.   The winner usually moves forward to occupy the town or terrain objective which was the objective of the battle.   This means that both sides move, and neither can resupply or regroup.

The next move both usually remain on the defence.   They then resupply (if within range of their depots).    They also rally routed brigades and concentrate their infantry casualties in one brigade.   Finally they receive battle casualty replacements

The next day is the important one.   If a corps has suffered a lot of casualties, particularly artillery or cavalry, they may need to remain where they are and wait for further battle casualty replacements.   But if their opponent have suffered less casualties they may opt to attack whilst they still have the advantage.

This is a very simple device which requires very little administration.   Each army has a page with all brigades listed and showing their current supply and casualty status.   As supplies are received, and casualties replaced, the totals are adjusted.

But the effect on the campaign, and on future wargames, can be very significant.