The Battle of Soltau

27 September 1813 – Hannover Campaign – Day 4

French retreat to Hannover to regroup army group
Prussians attack Soltau

The Prussians occupy Lehtre and attack Soltau
1st Prussian army – attack Soltau
2nd Prussian army – occupy Lechtre
3rd Prussian army – regroup at Peine

The French retreat to Hannover and defend Soltau
1st French army – retreat to Hannover
2nd French army – regroup at Laatzen
3rd French army – defend Soltau

Table at start of battle

Both armies are deployed on the table at the start of the battle
3rd French army are at the top, on or around the three objectives
1st Prussian army are at the bottom advancing in column of march

Marshal Murat had taken command of half of 8th corps on the right hand hill
General Kleist has taken command of half of 1st corps on the far right

There are three game objectives
Woods on the left
Hill in the centre
Farm on the right
The army who holds two at the end of 12 moves is the winner

Table at the end of the battle

The main Prussian attack was in the centre and on the left

3rd Prussian corps attacked the woods on the left.
The French fought hard to hold the woods, resulting in heavy casualties
The arrangement of the woods make it difficult to defend
The Prussians easily took the nearest section disrupting the whole defence
The French were driven from the other two sections
They counter attacked, but eventually had to retreat

2nd Prussian corps concentrated on the two hills either side of the road
Once taken they advanced either side of the hill
Their cavalry held the area between the hills and the woods
Their artillery advanced between the hill and the farm
This allowed them to support 1st corps attack on the farm.

General Kleist took command of half of 1st corps
He deployed the cavalry and artillery to pin the French on the extreme right
He did not take much part in the fighting, but did allow the infantry to attack the farm
Most of 7th French corps were deployed behind the farm, safe from Prussian artillery
The Prussians took the farm, but lost it to a late French counter attack

At nightfall the Prussians hold two of the three objectives
The French hold one of the three objectives
The Prussians win the battle

The French have lost 10 infantry, 2 cavalry and 2 artillery casualties (4400 men)
The Prussians have lost 10 infantry casualties (4000 men)

The French have 10 brigades in rou
The Prussians have 3 brigades in rout

Comments
From the casualties this appears to be a close run battle.
But the French have 10 brigades in rout, the Prussians only 3 brigades

On the left only one French brigade is left to cover the rout of 9th corps
Only one Prussian brigade is in rout

In the centre two French brigades are deployed in front of Soltau
Three brigades are trying to rally behind the town

All of 2nd Prussian corps, less one brigade, are formed ready to attack

On the right 7th French corps are firmly in control of the farm
Only one infantry brigade and the corps artillery are in rout
However 1st Prussian corps is redeployed ready to counter attack
2nd Prussian corps artillery are deployed to support them

Marshal Murat would be unwise to attempt to fight a second day of battle.

He could leave 7th corps in Soltau, forcing Kleist to lay siege to the town.
But he would find it difficult to regroup 8th and 9th corps to relieve the siege.

This must be considered a convincing Prussian victory