Austria capitulates - French triumphant in Germany as Russians retreat east

The Austrian army has suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of the resurgent French army, commanded by the Emperor himself.  With only one corps left in the field, the Austrian King has sent an envoy to the French Emperor requesting an armistice.  This has prompted Tsar Alexander to order his Russian commanders to extricate their troops and bring them home.  Napoleon remains master of Germany and will now be able to reconstitute his battered armies and reestablish himself on the French throne.  The British army in the south of France is rumoured to be withdrawing back across the Pyrenees, in anticipation of a major Napoleonic era spotlight being directed their way. 
Below follows a report on the final battle of the campaign that finally broke the Allies attempt to unseat the great tyrant.


The Austrians deploy on the right, hugging the 2 small hills.  Bertrand's corps is on the left, with the French Guard and Napoleon in the top left corner.  The north/south road from Herzberg runs across the battlefield.  Ney's corps will arrive up this road in the foreground.



The Guard sweep forward with double moves onto the Austrian right wing.  Napoleon himself can be seen in the background giving the Austrians the one fingered salute.

And for the first time in the campaign the Austrians move quickly.  The Grenadiers are tough but have already felt the wrath of the Guard in a previous battle, and "redeploy" (scarper) to the left, away from the onslaught.

But never fear, the Austrians leave a brigade of irregular Grenzers as a rearguard to hold off the Guard corps...

On the Austrian left, a brigade of Jaegers is sent forward to occupy the village, a key linchpin in the Austrian defence that the French were slow to occupy.

The Austrians deploy a grand battery to hold their centre while behind them the Grenadiers fall back before the Guard.  In the background, an Austrian cavalry division is sent to the right to shore up the flank and delay the French onslaught.

Two French cavalry divisons, one of them Guard move swiflty forward to attack the Austrian right flank.

A birds eye view of the state of the Austrian right and the sword of Damocles that is about to strike.  The Austrians have abandoned the hill and their rearguard brace themselves for an uneven fight.

And as if there wasn't enough trouble on the right, Ney's 1st Division arrives on the Austrian left.

The French cavalry seize the hill.  The Guard close in on the isolated Grenzers in the village in the background.  In the foreground the Austrians batteries begin to limber up as Bertrand's corps closes in on them in their isolated position.

"Gotterdamerung" time for the Grenzers as the Guard lower their bayonets and charge!  I will need to repaint the Grenzers after this battle as most of their paint was knocked off with the impact... (not really, they fled before the Guard could come to grips with them - sensible chaps).



A brigade of Austrian cavalry, supported by a battery of light guns, prepares to sell themselves dearly to give the army time to redeploy.

 

A huge cavalry battle erupts over the hill but the weight of numbers favours the French and the Austrian cavalry are put to flight

The Austrian cavalry in flight (red markers are clear aren't they?) and the Austrian right is no more





The Austrian Rorke's Drift.  The Austrian perimeter shrinks as the Zulus, I mean French close in.



Ney's corps continues to arrive on the battlefield, but they wisely don't charge straight in.  Ney play's the anvil to Bertrand's hammer, just visible in the top right corner.

 

An overview of the French noose, poised to be pulled tight around the neck of Schwarzenberg's beleagured army.





Bertand takes the key village, opening up the Austrian left.  In the background, the French Marshal's corps charges into the Austrian line





Bertrand's corps charges home (against the Emperor's advice it must be said :-)  In the background, a cavalry brigade crashes into an unsteady Austrian square, breaks it and sweeps away the Austrian brigades behind it, creating panic in the Austrian ranks.



The final view of the final battle of the campaign.  The Austrian army is broken but they have no avenue of retreat.  The French have over a division of fresh cavalry should they need to pursue.  It is only midday and there are many hours left for a pursuit.  To save his men from slaugher, Schwarzenberg sends an emissary to the French Emperor requesting a ceasefire.  Note the body language of the two Austrian commanders, just visble at the top of the photo :-)

And so ends the campaign.  In a mere three and a half weeks of campaigning, the French have fought 10 battles and defeated 2 major powers, once again cowing Europe.

But the French Emperor will march again.  Before the smoke has even dispersed from this last battle, plans are afoot for another campaign.

Austrians at bay - desperate battle to be fought in the morning

9 September 1813 - Turn 14

Despite winning yesterday's battle, Prince Schwarzenberg finds himself cornered north of Herzberg, with three French corps closing in on his beleagured army from three different directions.  The Austrians have been forced to turn and fight as the French have a lot more cavalry than them (who would have thought in 1813!) and are moving faster.  Tomorrow's battle promises to be a torrid affair for the Austrians who will need all their skill and fighting spirit as they will be fighting under the effect of a cut line of supply and without any replenishemnt of ammunition since yesterday's battle.  Perhaps the rain gods will intervene and even the shooting odds for them :-)

Meanwhile in the east, the Russians have finally realised there is a war on and have hurled their entire force at Dahme.  However, they have come up against an uncrossable river and a bridge that the French have destroyed.  They have begun to throw across pontoons but will be delayed for at least a day before they can come to grips with the weak French force to their front (or are they Polish?).  They will definitely be too late to affect the outcome of tomorrow's battle that Schwarzenberg must fight.

Despairing at the inaction of his Russian Allies, General Meerveldt is reported to have marched away from Wittgenstein's force and was last seen heading west to the aid of Schwarzenberg.  Will he be able to affect the outcome of tomorrow's battle remains to be seen.

Yorck's rogue Prussian corps continues to meander through northern Germany being feted by the locals but due to conflicting orders from the Russians has failed to get close to any of the fighting.  His men are becoming dispirited by the lack of action and the doughty Prussian commander may have to contend with desertions before long.

Meantime, news from the north is that the wiley Bernadotte has finally thrown in his lot with the Allies.  For once the treacherous Gascon may have got his timing wrong, as his erstwhile allies appear on the brink of a major victory (though they have let a few opportunities slip through their fingers recently...).  Reports have the Swedish king marching south from east of Berlin with a small army, one that no doubt he will handle with care!  Tomorrow's battle has become a must win affair for the French emperor.

Austrians outmanouevred and fight a desperate battle

8 September 1813

Battles have continued to rage in northern Germany as the French and Allies battle to get the upper hand.  A battle was fought today just north of Herzberg between Prince Schwarzenberg commanding the Austrian army and the combined corps of Marmont and Ney.  To give the battle a bit of extra flavour, the Austrian Prince was informed by a very flustered messenge at about 9am that the French Guard had been reported to be marching on his rear and that his lines of supply were about to be severed!  Clearly the wily Corsican has lost none of his guile as he continues to run rings around his opponents.  The question though is, can the Emperor's generals give him the crushing victories he needs to redress the numerical imbalance he is labouring under.  The amazing manouevre with the Guard was a perfect opportunity to knock a major part of Austria's field army out of the war.

On 7 September, the Austrian army pursued Marmont's outnumbered corps north from Herzberg.  They caught up with them that evening when the French marshal turned to give battle, having been reinforced by the battered but recuperated corps of Marshal Ney.  8 September loomed bright and sunny (note to self - we need some bad weather in battles :-).  The Austrian army was still strung out on the road south but clearly Schwarzenberg had eaten a healthy dose of inspiration for breakfast and he ordered the normally tardy Austrians forward without waiting for the whole army to arrive. 



The battlefield with most of the French army deployed.  Only half of the Austrians have arrived but they attack nevertheless.  Two villages are key positions, while the stream is paltry and no obstacle to mvoement.

 

A view from the other side showing the numerical superiority of the French, but the Austrians attack neverthless!



The French weight their right wing heavily for a big punch.

At this stage of the battle the Austrian high command learns that their supply lines back at Herzberg are about to be cut by men in blue coats wearing tall bearskins... gulp!  The Advance Guard are sent back to defend the river line to the rear.  The battle with Marmont and Ney has become a do or die affair.  If the Austrians don't win they will be caught between the French pincers and the whole army may be forced to surrender.

Schwarzenberg arrives just in time to prop up the Austrian left - he has a division of Grenadiers in his command that are itching for a fight



In the centre a brigade of Austrian Jaegers, supported by artillery clear the central village of French defenders who can be seen routing away in the background.



The Austrian attack starts to look threatneing and suddenly the French numbers don't look so dominant.  However, the Austrians are noticeably light on cavalry.



A view of the battlefield showing the Austrian Grenadiers advamcing just behind the Austrian artillery on the right.  The innocuous looking wood in the middle will be the scene of some intense fighting.  Ney's corps in the distance on the left is playing it safe, having had a couple of tough battles earlier in the campaign.  Perhaps the bravest of the brave has become the cautious-est of the cautious-est?



A close up view of the Grenadiers closing with the French, anxious to redeem themselves after the bloody nose they received at the bayonets of the Imperial Guard a couple of days ago.



At 11am the French Guard come hurtling up the road about 6kms to the rear of the main battle.  The river is uncrossable so the Guard will have to force a crossing of the lone bridge.



The Austrian Grenadiers crash into Marmont's corps sending the French reeling.  The excitement of the moment makes our noble cameraman's hand shake resulting in a blurred image :-(



Ney's corps finally comes to grip with the Austrians.  In the background, past the debris of war, can be seen the battlefield where the Austrian rearguard are holding off the French Guard.





Back on the French right, Marmont's light cavalry division, headed by a brigade of Lancers, prepares a desperate charge against the advancing Austrians.  Marmont's corps is at risk of collapsing under the sustained pressure from the Austrian Grenadiers.

 

Back with the rearguard, the French Guard have deployed.  The Grenadiers a Cheval prepare to charge across the bridge but it looks like it will be a desperate effort if they do.





The Guard uniforms look pretty don't they?  But not even old grognards can cross an uncrossable river...



Marmont's cavalry charge is beaten off and then routed under the weight of close range fire.  As the cavalry retreat off the field, Marmont signals for his brigades to break off the combat.  The corps is looking shaky, but the young Marie Louise's do a good job of falling back (passing some crucial complex move tests in the process :-)  The lack of cavalry in the Austrian army mean they are not able to turn the defeat into a rout.  On the French left, Ney disengages and covers the retreat of Marmont's corps.  He's had some practice with rearguard actions...

As night falls the Austrian rearguard at the river are finally pushed back by the Imperial Guard, while the main Austrian army attempts to pursue the defeated French to their front.  But their supply lines are cut and they will have to reopen them soon.  Do they turn with their superior numbers and face the Guard, but then risk Ney falling on their rear?  The Austrian generals have some decisions to make in the night...

Meanwhile ADCs are despatched post haste from Prince Schwarzenberg to his Russian allies asking politely "how the hell" they allowed the French Guard to slip past them at Dahme and fall on the Austrian rear.  The Russian generals are to be found near Dahme, drinking vodka and watching their mean building yet more redoubts on yet another empty plain in Germany, once again anticipating a French attack that never came.  This burrowing behaviour, more commonly seen in Aardvarks, is what allowed the French Guard to slip away unnoticed, and has also earned General Wittgenstein the cognomen "Lapata" (the shovel) amongst his troops.

Once again, Napoleon's superior strategy has been foiled on the battlefield but the Austrian army is still in a perilous situation.  Can they retrieve their position?

Massive battle expected any day! 7 September 1813 (Turn 12)

Post the 2nd Battle of Dahme, Napoleon pounced with 3 corps on that already devastated town, hoping to catch the victorious but isolated Austro-Russian forces still recovering from yesterday's battle.  But the Allies were too canny and pulled back towards the main Russian forces in Luckau, leaving the frustrated Emperor clutching at fresh air.  Napoleon was reported to have gnawed at least one carpet, an expensive item he brought back with him from the Orient one report said.

To the south east, a large Austro-Russian force is massing and should they decide to attack we could witness the decisive battle of the campaign (the THIRD battle of Dahme??).

Further west, Prince Schwarzenberg is pressing Marshal Marmont back along the Herzberg/Jueterbog road and threatening to cut French supply lines to Wittenberg.  Marmont though has been joined by Marshal Ney's dilapidated corps (who have finally recovered from their pounding at the 1st battle of Dahme) and the 2 French Marshals look determined to fight to keep their supply lines open.

Reports from the west tell of a long procession of French supply wagons streaming south from Wittenberg.  Explosions have been reported from that town, suggesting the French are planning to abandon Wittenberg as their main supply base.  This is only a rumour at this stage, but if it's true it would appear that the Emperor is planning to abandon Germany east of the Elbe, a politically dangerous decision and one that may prompt the Prussians to re-enter the war.

Is the campaign reaching it's climax or are the French going to avoid a major battle a fall back to fight another day?  The Emperor is famous for his gambles.  Will he take one now?

The 2nd Battle of Dahme - 6 September 1813

New from Germany is from the once unknown village of Dahme, just south of Berlin which has witnessed a bloody encounter between Marshal Oudinot's French cavalry corps and General Pahlen's Russian Cavalry.  Through the course of the battle the French received reinforcements from General Bertrand's corps and the Russians were reinforced by Austrian's from General Meerveldt's corps.

The full battle report is below

The battlefield just after midday.  The Russian cavalry are on the right, the French on the left, with Dahme in the centre.  The Allies have to win the battle to reopen their supply lines which is the road going off table centre right.  French reinforcements will be arriving on the road left centre.



Russian Dragoon division sharpening their swords for the coming clash.

The Cossacks screen off the heavies, giving them a chance to deploy.  Don't misatake the quality painting for quality fighting abilities.  The Cossacks will effectively avoid conflict all battle.

Reinforcements start to arrive - French heavy cavalry division arriving on the left - Carabiniers & Cuirassiers

And the Advance Guard of the Austrian corps hits the field, minus a brigade of grenzers who heard there was fighting up ahead and "accidentally" took a wrong turn.

The cavalry corps swiflty close, supported by their horse artillery.  A brigade of French dragoons is at risk of becoming isolated.

Bertrand's 1st Division arrives (minus the artillery who got left behind in the rush to the battlefield).  They march swiftly up the road to grab Dahme before the ponderously moving Austrian infantry can get there.



The cavalry charge!  The Russians manage to get more supports up though , with French reserve brigades too far away to make a difference.  This pic shows two of the 3 fights that occur simultaneously.



The 3rd cavalry clash - Russian lighs into French heavies, but the Russians do have some Cossacks up in support.  The Russians also are superior with an attached general while the French cavalry are without any encouragement and are still relatively green.

On the far side of Dahme, French and Russian light cavalry are a little less keen to close and advance more cautiously.

The 3 cavalry fights end badly for the French.  The central French heavies win the fight and rout their opponents but they are left wavering from the fight and vulnerable to the swarms of fresh allied cavalry nearby.  The other two French units are routed leaving a gap in the French line.

The full battlefield showing the thin remnants of the French right.  In the middle background Bertand's corps has occupied Dahme, while the light cavalry brigades have finally clashed in the far distance.

On the left, the French hussars defeat their Russian counterparts but become disordered in the process.  Nevertheless they pursue and hit a fresh brigade of Russian Uhlans.  Things are going to turn out badly for this over enthusiastic French brigade.

Within half an hour things are looking even worse for Marshal Oudinot.  His corps has almost ceased to exist.  The wavering dragoons have routed in response to a combined Austro-Russian charge, and on the left in the distance, the wing of Hussars & Chasseurs are in flight or close to it.  In the centre Bertrand's infantry have been gradually arriving (though with a lot of stragglers failing to arrive).  However, with Oudinot's cavalry in flight, the situation is not looking good for them.  They begin to take up defensive positions and attempt to old out until nightfall, about 90 mins away.

The final view of the battlefield.  The Russo-Austrian cavalry have taken a lot of casualties but hold the field.  The Austrian infantry and artillery are marching up to pound the French foot, but nightfall will intervene before they can cause too much damage, leaving the French to slink away northwards.  The Allies have reopened their supply lines (at the cost of a lot of horse flesh) but the precious French cavalry have been decimated.

 And so ends the 2nd Battle of Dahme.  The strategic situation is not significantly changed (which it would have been if the French had won), but the Allied army remains intact and the French have taken more losses that they can ill afford, especially not in cavalry.  The French have lost a valuable opportunity to redress the numerical advantage the Allies have.