Rosenheim Campaign – Day 15

Campaign Map on 17 October 1813

 Although he won the battle of Bad Tolz, Oudinot now finds himself in an impossible position.  Three of his four corps have retreated to the west.   11^th corps still holds the town, but there are four Austrian corps within one days march.

All four Austrian corps are in poor condition.   Two of his corps are out of supply, and his depots are far to the rear.   But if necessary he is prepared to resume the attack unless 11^th Bavarian corps retreats.

Oudinot orders 11^th corps to retreat and abandon Bad Tolz.

Campaign Notes

A corps which is forced to retreat off the campaign map is out of the campaign for the duration of the current phase.   They can only be forced to move off the map by losing a battle and having to retreat to recreate the necessary map square between them and the winner of the battle.

At the end of the battle of Bad Tolz there is only one Bavarian corps left on the map.   11^th Bavarian corps holds the walled town of Bad Tolz and could probably continue to do so for another 24 hours.  

However by then the road to the west of the town, the only one available for them to retreat, would be cut by 4^th Austrian corps.   They would then be faced with four Austrian corps and have to surrender. 

I therefore allowed them to retreat to avoid surrender.

This is one of the very few campaign phases where both armies fought each other to a standstill.   For the last battle both sides had casualties in almost every brigade taking part.  These brigades are much more likely to fail a morale throw, and consequently to rout.   If they do all friendly brigades within 4” (supporting distance) must also test their morale, with minus 1 for the rout.  

This happened to the Austrians early in the battle of Bad Tolz.   The loss of a cavalry melee caused the Austrian hussars to rout.   A nearby infantry brigade had to test morale, failed and joined the rout.   A second infantry brigade, within 4” of the infantry but not the cavalry, then had to test.  They also failed and routed.  The loss of a cavalry melee usually results in no casualties, but both sides being disordered.  They can then withdraw next move or continue the melee.   But because of earlier casualties three brigades broke and ran.

It is this morale rule which makes the later stages of the campaign so very difficult to anticipate.   Attackers have to be careful to keep the brigades with most casualties in reserve and away from the enemy.   Despite this one rout can quickly spread throughout the corps.

Once more Schwartzenberg has won the campaign.