Branau Campaign – Day 7

6 April 1813 – Southern Germany – Day 7

The Austrian supply situation is still critical

In the north the Bavarians retreat to Falkenberg

In the centre the Austrians attack Marktl

In the south both armies face each other over the river Inn

Battle of Marktl at end of move 10

This is another battle where the winner has lost more casualties than the loser

This time the winner is the Bavarians

 

The Austrians attack, and must take the town to win the battle

 

In the north they are too weak to attack, both sides exchange artillery fire

The Austrian gunners lose 10% casualties, but continue to fire

 

In the centre the Austrian reserve take part of the wood

However the Bavarian garrison advance

This forces the Austrian reserve to abandon the attack on the woods

 

The battle is decided in the south between 11^th Bavarian and 3^rd Austrian corps

Supported by the reserve they rout the artillery and infantry north of the woods

They also take the northern part of the woods

But they lose the cavalry melee, and their hussar brigade rout

 

The Bavarian reserve moves forward from the town

This forces the Austrian reserve to redeploy to meet them

The Bavarian cavalry prevent 3^rd corps infantry attacking the woods

 

At nightfall the11th Bavarian corps retreat to avoid further casualties

12^th corps and the reserve also withdraw

But they still hold the town and can claim a victory

 

Comments

The Austrians should have won this battle.

The Bavarians held strong defensive positions in the woods either side of the road

However there was a large gap in the centre

This allowed 3^rd corps artillery to deploy within short range of the woods

It also allowed the Austrian reserve of two elite brigades to support 3^rd corps

 

The Bavarians has two infantry brigades in the town

There were brought forward and forced the Austrian reserve to redeploy

11^th corps cavalry then charged and routed 3^rd Austrian hussars

These actions forced 3^rd Austrian corps infantry to halt and form square

 

11^th Bavarian corps broke contact and retreated to the town

12^th Baden corps, and the Bavarian reserve, did the same

At nightfall they had taken up a strong position either side of the town

The Bavarians lost 2100 casualties to the Austrian 300 casualties

But they were still strong enough to rally and prevent the loss of the town

 

Despite much heavier casualties the Bavarians easily won the battle.

Although they had to retreat, the ended in a very strong position.

It would take a determined Austrian attack to dislodge them

 

A strange result, and a frustrating one for me as the Austrian commander.

Particularly as the Austrians were now almost out of supply

Should they now retreat and resupply

Or risk everything on another attempt to take Marktl?