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Monday, December 19, 2016

27 May 1813 – Battle of Gremsdorf


Tactical map of battle area
General Wrede, commander of 9th Bavarian corps, has orders to attack Gremsdorf.

General Merveldt, commander of 3rd Austrian corps, also has orders to attack Gremsdorf.

On 26th May as both corps approached the town they made contact.   After a brief skirmish both halted and deployed.   At first light both advance to battle.

Austrian – 20000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns
Bavarian – 20000 infantry, 1000 cavalry, 30 guns
Table at start of wargame
 Both corps start on the table and ready to attack Gremsdorf


0800-1200
Bavarian infantry have entered both town sections
The Austrians have not entered the bottom town section
This is to allow their artillery to fire on the enemy in the town
Despite two hours of skirmish and artillery fire no casualties yet.
1200-1600
Bavarian cavalry charge Austrian hussars, lose melee and rout
Hussars rally and charge nearby gunners, who also rout
The prolonged melee in Gremsdorf is indecisive
Austrians attempt to swop infantry brigade in top section of town
Bavarians fire on disorder infantry, who break and rout
Austrian hussars rally again and charge disordered infantry, who join rout
The whole of 3rd Austrian corps are in rout

Conclusion
Wrede orders his infantry to garrison Gremsdorf
Merveldt is unable to stop the rout of 3rd Austrian corps

The Bavarians have lost 1000 casualties
The Austrians have lost 1900 casualties and six brigades in rout