7th March 1814 - Battle of Molesheim

Molesheim Campaign Area

The three French corps have orders to hold and resupply

The four Austrian corps have orders to attack Molesheim

French                                     Austrians       

44000 infantry                         64000 infantry                       

3000 cavalry                           4000 cavalry              

30 guns                                   120 guns

Table at start of wargame

All three French corps have orders to halt

French CinC is with 5^th corps and can change their orders

All four Austrian corps have orders to advance and attack

French HQ and 6^th corps will arrive at the start of move 1

1^st Austrian corps will arrive at the start of move 1

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Mortier orders 11^th French to move to their right to make room for 6^th French

5^th French start to arrive centre left

23^rd French deploy with cavalry on their left

1^st Austrian starts to arrive top right

4^th Austrian march through Strasbourg

3^rd and 4^th Austrian advance

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

11^th and 23^rd French ordered to halt and hold

5^th French starts to deploy centre left

2^nd Austrian move to their right to make room for 1^st Austrian

4^th Austrian continue to march through Strasbourg

3^rd Austrian ordered to halt and hold

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

11^th French have withdrawn their cavalry out of artillery range

5^th French 12pdr guns unlimber, they have a longer range than the Austrian guns

23^rd French fully deployed wait for Austrians to advance

2^nd Austrian artillery unlimber out of range

1^st Austrian  start to deploy between 2^nd and 4^th Austrian

4^th Austrian start to deploy west of Strasbourg

3^rd Austrian withdraw cavalry out of artillery range

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

11^th French out of artillery range, wait for Austrians to advance

5^th French fire on Austrian artillery as infantry and cavalry out of range

23^rd French out of artillery range, wait for Austrians to advance

2^nd Austrian man handle guns into long range

1^st Austrian continue to deploy

4^th Austrian manhandle guns into long range

3^rd Austrian move artillery to central position in front of farm

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

11^th French counter battery fire, no casualties

5^th French counter battery fire, no casualties

23^rd French counter battery fire, no casualties

2^nd Austrian fire on nearest infantry, 10% casualties and shaken

1^st Austrian unlimber guns just out of long range

4^th Austrian fire on nearest infantry, 10% casualties and shaken

3^rd Austrian unlimber guns at long range

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

11^th French counter battery fire, no casualties

5^th French fire on enemy cavalry, 10% casualties, pass morale

23^rd French fire on approaching infantry, 10% casualties, shaken

2^nd Austrian ordered to advance on engage orders

1^st Austrian ordered to advance on engage orders

4^th Austrian fire on infantry, 10% casualties, pass morale

3^rd Austrian waiting for orders to advance, fire on infantry, no casualties

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

11^th French counter battery fire, no casualties

5^th French fire on infantry, 10% casualties, pass morale

23^rd French fire on approaching infantry, 20% casualties, shaken

2^nd Austrian fire on infantry, 20% casualties, pass morale

1^st Austrian fire on infantry, no casualties

4^th Austrian  ordered to advance on engage orders

3^rd Austrian waiting for orders to advance, fire on infantry, no casualties

 

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

11^th French still counter battery fire, still no casualties

5^th French receiving more artillery casualties than they are inflicting

23^rd French gunners rout first enemy brigade

2^nd Austrian taking heavy casualties as they approach enemy battle line

1^st Austrian cavalry receive 10% casualties but make morale

4^th Austrian  move to their left as they advance

3^rd Austrian CinC has arrived, but too late to issue orders to advance

Move 9 – 1600 to 1700

11^th French taking artillery casualties but failing to inflict any

5^th French brigade shaken after skirmish combat

23^rd French lose skirmish exchange one brigade routed

2^nd Austrian two brigades in rout and two shaken, attack is failing

1^st Austrian  cavalry in rout and two brigades shaken

4^th Austrian  receive orders too late to advance

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

11^th French cavalry charge and rout two infantry brigades

5^th French infantry lose firefight and rout, taking gunners with them

23^rd French lose cavalry melee and rout, also fire fight, two brigades rout

2^nd Austrian three infantry rout due to artillery  casualties and poor morale

1^st Austrian  cavalry lose melee and rout

4^th Austrian  cavalry lose melee and rout, take two infantry with them

3^rd Austrian corps finally advance on engage

Wide spread close quarter combat with heavy casualties on both sides

Austrians have two cavalry and five infantry brigades in rout

French have one cavalry, one artillery and three infantry in rout

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

11^th French artillery inflict 20% casualties, CinC orders retreat

5^th French corps commander orders retire

23^rd French corps commander orders retire

2^nd Austrian three brigades in rout but continue to advance

1^st Austrian win fire fight and rout enemy, artillery caught limbered and routed

4^th Austrian  cavalry and two infantry brigades in rout, continue to advance

3^rd Austrian cavalry in melee remainder of corps advance

Desperate fighting continues, French order retreat

Austrians have two cavalry , one artillery and six infantry in rout

French have one cavalry, one artillery and four infantry in rout

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

11^th French continue to retreat in good order

5^th French rear guard covers retreat

23^rd French corps broken and in rout

2^nd Austrian halt unable to pursue

1^st Austrian halt unable to pursue

4^th Austrian halt to regroup before pursuit

3^rd Austrian advance in good order

Game Casualties

French suffer 10,000 infantry, 200 cavalry and 200 gunner casualties

They also have six infantry, one cavalry and one battery in rout

Austrians suffer 8,800 infantry, 300 cavalry and 200 gunner casualties

They also have five infantry, two cavalry and one battery in rout

Game Summary

This was one of those battles where there are so many casualties on both sides that there is no real winner. 

However the French did retreat, so the Austrians can claim victory

Even though they are in no condition to pursue.

Had this battle been between three corps on each side it would have been a draw

Or possibly even a French victory

But the Austrians had four corps to three French.

Casualties on both sides were pretty even

But the Austrians had more men overall

Total casualties at the end of this battle

French 10,400 casualties and eight brigades in rout

Austrian 9,300 casualties and eight brigades in rout