Battle Report: 9th January 2001

Prussian ~vs~ Austrian

(Dave Lancaster ~vs~ Robert Avery)

Report  

The battle was an exact re-fight of the battle above (of 5^th January 2001):  same terrain and same forces.

The Austrians set up identically to the battle above. The Prussians split their force into three parts. On their right was a company of 1^st and 2^nd Line, supported by the uhlans and a section of artillery. In the centre there was two companies of 2^nd Line and the remaining company of 1^st Line, again supported by a section of artillery. On their left were the Guards; the remaining company of line troops; the Cuirassiers; the Dragoons and the remaining section of artillery. The whole of the Prussian front was covered by a screen of Jaegers.

As before, both sides advanced towards each other. This time, however, the Prussian Jaegers advanced to a position where they could use the superior range of their breechloaders without the Austrian muzzleloaders being able to hit them. They lay prone and commenced fire on the Austrian skirmish line. The Austrian commander knew that if he did nothing, then he would find himself needle-gun-ed to death very quickly so, next turn, as the Prussian Jaegers first fired, he charged at the head of three companies straight at the Prussian skirmish line!

The Prussian fire failed to stop the Austrian charge, and the Prussian Jaegers lost the impact and fell back shaken. The Austrians were still charging, and a furious melee developed, right under the guns of the main Prussian line. Both sides ended up routing in melee:  the Prussians losing all their breechloader-armed 720 Jaegers ROT, the Austrians losing three of their four muzzleloader-armed Jaeger companies. The Austrian CinC survived the melee, and calmly rode back to his own lines:  most satisfied with having cleared the Prussian Jaegers from the field.

The main battle lines, now uncovered, marched towards each other in line.

However, before anything else interesting could happen in the centre, the action moved to the Austrian left flank, where the two enemy forces had now deployed facing each other. The Prussians had a column of their cavalry on the road, placed immediately behind a line of guard and line infantry. The Austrians faced them with two sections of artillery (which had already eliminated the Prussian gun facing them) and a line of grenadiers. Again the Austrians took the Prussians by surprise:  exchanging only one round of fire before charging into them! Caught about to move forward, the Prussian line infantry went shaken and then routed. The Prussian guard was made of sterner stuff and, despite taking fire from the Austrian artillery and seeing their line comrades rout, the Guard held and another melee developed.

This time, however, nothing was going to stop the Austrians:  with their blood up, the Austrian grenadiers did horrendous casualties to the shaken Prussian guard:  routing them from the field. Seeing this, the already disordered (by their own routing infantry) Prussian cavalry also routed:  the Prussian left flank had collapsed! Unfortunately, the Austrian grenadiers were out of ammo, battered (40% casualties), and disordered:  it would take time for them to get over to the centre of the field.

In the centre, a firefight had developed between the main battle lines. For two turns things seemed about even:  but the Prussian breechloaders were causing havoc in the Austrian line. The Austrians moved the left three companies of their line backwards to clear a field of fire for some artillery, and to guard against an expected Prussian infantry charge (the Prussian right flank formation slightly overlapped the Austrian line). The infantry charge didn’t come, but the Prussian commander assumed that the Austrian troops moving back were in retreat, and decided to throw in his uhlans in a massive charge. Unfortunately, the Austrians  were not in retreat, only retreating, and could still bring their rifles and some artillery to bear on the charging cavalry. The cavalry were routed and caused the Prussian right flank force to lose its nerve and, at the same time, to panic fire their remaining ammunition

Now it was the turn of the Austrian commander to see an opportunity. His main line was about to collapse under the weight of Prussian breechloader fire, but he had moved up his cavalry in anticipation of needing to cover a retreat. The Austrian uhlans and dragoons moved forward in two lines and swept the shaken Prussian right flank force from the field.

With Austrian cavalry loose on his right flank, Austrian grenadiers finally advancing towards his left flank, and the Austrian battleline shaken but not stirred, the Prussian commander, now down 5 units, ordered a retreat, leaving the field to the battered enemy!

Casualties

The Austrians lost 400 Jaegers (3 co’s ROT); 240 Grenadiers; 360 1^st Fusiliers; 360 2^nd Fusiliers; 40 Dragoons; 60 Uhlans; and 80 artillerymen for a total of 1540 men.

The Prussians lost 160 Jaegers (all the rest ROT); 280 Guards (all the rest ROT); 60 1^st Line; 260 2^nd Line (1 co ROT); 100 Uhlans; 80 Cuirassiers (all the rest ROT); 80 Dragoons (all the rest ROT) and one section of artillery for a total of 1100 men.

Results

A narrow and hard-fought victory for the Austrians. 

Analysis

An excellent battle, with the Prussian commander putting into practice many of the lessons learnt in the last battle. The Austrians won, yes, but at a cost of 40% more casualties than the Prussians! They had to act extremely aggressively and risk everything on, effectively, three charges.

If the Prussian right flank force had not gone out of ammo, then the Austrian cavalry charge would probably have been blown away, their centre collapsed, and the field belong to the Prussians! A narrow and hard-fought victory indeed!

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