Rosenheim Campaign – Day 7

Campaign Map on 9 October 1813

2^nd Austrian and 10^th Bavarian corps both reorganise and resupply

Both are non-operational after the battle of Walsenburg

Oudinot is still reorganising his depot and supply system.  

All corps have been brought up to 2-3 days supplies

But the depots at both Wassenburg and Rosenheim are empty

Schwartzenberg can delay his counter attack on Rosenheim no longer

Even though he is outnumbered he orders an attack on the city

Battle of Rosenheim

Table at start of battle

It was immediately obvious to Schwarzenberg that he would have to attack in the centre, between the woods and the farm.   However to do so would require some redeployment.

4^th corps, on his left, was weaker than 12^th Baden corps which opposed them.   In addition they would have to advance through the woods to reach them.

1^st corps, in the centre, was also weaker than 11^th Bavarian corps opposite them.

3^rd corps, on his right, was the strongest, but was opposite the strongly held city of Rosenheim.

Table end of move 3

Schwartzenberg has created a new reserve by taking command of three infantry brigades from 3^rd corps, and the cavalry brigades of 1^st and 4^th corps.   Together with 1^st corps this will be the attacking force.

He has ordered 4^th corps to hold the woods on the left, and 3^rd corps those on the right.   All four corps artillery are deployed to support the main attack

Table end of move 10        

The Austrian concentration has won the day.   

The two flanks are held with minimum casualties

In the centre five Bavarian brigades are in rout

Campaign Notes

It is only recently that we have amended our wargame rules to allow the CinC to create a new corps by taking personal command of infantry, cavalry or artillery from subordinate corps.

There is the obvious advantage that he can concentrate his main strength at the point of attack.   However there is also the disadvantage that he cannot exercise as much control over the rest of his army.   He must remain within 8” of all elements of his new corps to maintain command.  This means that he cannot move to issue orders or support another corps.   He can send new orders by ADC, but this usually takes two to three moves to be effective.

There is also the obvious disadvantage that the corps he has taken brigades from are much weaker, and the enemy commander can take advantage by attacking one or more of them.

But in this battle it worked well.   The terrain provided good defensive positions for his weakened corps.   Because he was in the centre he could quickly react to an enemy counter attack on one of his flanks (corps commanders cannot do so).

In this battle the Bavarians still had 4 infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and one corps artillery in the centre.   The Austrians had concentrated 5 infantry brigades and two cavalry brigades to attack.  But in addition all three corps artillery were positioned to support the attack.

The result was a much needed Austrian victory.

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.