Key Points Napoleonic Campaign - Battle 2

The Setup

In the second battle of the campaign both sides were fighting for control of a strategically vital crossroads. In this battle the French fielded all their reinforcements so a Guards infantry brigade and cavalry brigade in addition to their infantry Division. The Prussians were supported by a British cavalry brigade.

The battlefield was fairly open with a few scattered hills and woods but was dominated by the crossroads and small Inn with a hedged enclosure. Both sides adopted roughly the same plan by massing their cavalry on their own left. The French position was slightly stronger as their right flank was covered by the Guard.

French Cavalry

 

French infantry opposite the crossroads

British and Prussian cavalry

Prussian infantry heading for the farm 

French Guards on the right

 

The Battle

The Prussians stole an early march by doubling in the first move and closing-in on both the Inn and the crossroads. In an interesting move two of the British cavalry regiments turn-in towards the centre of the field and moved swiftly towards the French. This had the effect of pinning the French infantry and delaying their advance.

Prussians seize the Inn

 

French forced into squares

After several turns of artillery fire the French were able to force the British cavalry back and so begin a cautious advance towards the crossroads.    

French begin their advance

Reverse view

On the French left their cavalry brigades began a steady advance with support from a battery of horse artillery. The Dutch troops guarding that flank quickly formed three squares to guard the advancing Prussians flank. In a classic Napoleonic manoeuvre the French artillery shook a square , before a Hussar regiment charged home routing them. They in-turn were forced back by British Hussars.       



 

French and British Hussars face-off

Back in the centre the French launched an unsuccessful assault on the Inn, but a second attack supported by the Swiss was eventually able to secure the Inn and surrounding enclosure, forcing back the defending Prussians.

The Inn falls 

This signalled a more generally advance by the French as the light began to fail and night approached. In the centre they pushed forward towards the crossroads and began a firefight with the Prussian infantry stationed there. On the right the Guard advanced and was able to force back the Prussian cavalry and British horse artillery, whilst on the left the French cavalry assaulted the Dutch.

French infantry advance

The Guards see-off Prussian Hussars 

Swiss and Irish put pressure on the centre

This largely met with success - the Guards seeing off most of the Prussian cavalry and the Dutch mostly scattered. In the centre though the Prussians clung-on and the crossroads remained contested.

The Dutch are scattered 



Crossroads contested

In the end an interesting game to fight with things swinging backwards and forwards. The Prussians started much the better with French attack somewhat stalled by the presence of the British cavalry in the centre. Things then turned towards the French as their artillery saw-off the enemy cavalry and their advance began. The Prussians staged a late rally with some spirited counter-attacks, before the French secured control and dominated both flanks. In the end though the French ran out of time and so a draw was declared.    

Campaign Situation

With the battle drawn the campaign situation remained as before with the British advancing on the French-held town and the crossroads still contested