13th March 1814 - Battle of Saverne

Saverne Campaign Area

5 French          move to D07 on hold orders

23 French        move to D06 on engage orders

HQ Austrian    move with 2^nd corps

1 Austrian       halt on hold

2 Austrian       move to E06 and E07 on attack orders

French                                     Austrian                     

Infantry - 32000                      infantry - 31600         

cavalry - 2000                        cavalry - 2000 

guns - 60                                 guns - 60

Table at start of wargame 

6^th and 23^rd French corps have orders to move south

1^st Austrian corps has orders to hold

2^nd Austrian corps has orders to attack 23^rd corps

Move 1 – 0800 to 0900

Austrian HQ-Order 2^nd corps to Engage then move to join 1^st corps

1 Austrian-change orders to Engage and move towards town

2 Austrian-advance behind cavalry screen

5 French-change orders to Engage and move towards town

23 French-advance behind cavalry screen

Move 2 – 0900 to 1000

Austrian HQ-move to hill to observe French

1 Austrian-advance towards town, artillery unlimber

2 Austrian-cavalry win melee, remainder advance

5 French-advance towards town

23 French- cavalry charge and lose melee, remainder deploy on hill

Move 3 – 1000 to 1100

Austrian HQ-no orders

1 Austrian-artillery miss square, infantry enter town, cavalry move onto hill

2 Austrian-cavalry charge and rout shaken cavalry, artillery unlimber, infantry advance

5 French-artillery miss square, infantry enter town.

23 French-artillery miss cavalry, change orders to “hold hill”

Move 4 – 1100 to 1200

Austrian HQ-no orders

1 Austrian-artillery miss garrison, infantry skirmish in town

2 Austrian-cavalry retreat out of artillery range, infantry advance

5 French-artillery miss square, change orders to “hold town”

23 French-artillery hit cavalry, cavalry rally to shaken

Move 5 – 1200 to 1300

Austrian HQ-change 1^st corps orders to “hold town”

1 Austrian-artillery miss garrison, manhandle guns out of skirmish range of the town

2 Austrian-advance towards hill, cavalry move to right flank

5 French-artillery miss gunners, garrison miss gunners

23 French-artillery out of range, rally shaken cavalry

Move 6 – 1300 to 1400

Austrian HQ-no orders

1 Austrian-artillery hit gunner’s then limber, garrison miss garrison

2 Austrian-artillery miss gunners, remainder advance

5 French-artillery miss square, garrison hit garrison

23 French-cavalry move to right flank, reserve infantry move onto hill

Move 7 – 1400 to 1500

Austrian HQ-no orders

1 Austrian-artillery move and unlimber, garrison miss garrison

2 Austrian-artillery miss gunners, infantry skirmish square 10% casualties

5 French-artillery limber and move, garrison skirmish garrison 10% casualties

23 French-artillery miss infantry, infantry deploy on hill

Move 8 – 1500 to 1600

Austrian HQ-change 2^nd corps orders to “attack”

1 Austrian-artillery miss garrison, 4 brigade replace 3 brigade as garrison

2 Austrian-artillery miss gunners, infantry skirmish square 10% casualties

5 French-artillery move and unlimber, garrison skirmish garrison

23 French-artillery hit square, infantry skirmish and miss, cavalry advance

Move 9 – 1600 to 17000

Austrian HQ-no orders

1 Austrian-artillery miss garrison, jagers advance north of town

2 Austrian-artillery miss cavalry at close range, infantry miss cavalry

5 French-artillery miss garrison, skirmish miss garrison

23 French-artillery hit square, cavalry charge and cut down infantry in line

Move 10 – 1700 to 1800

Austrian HQ-change 2^nd corps orders to “engage”

1 Austrian-artillery miss garrison, jagers rout infantry column

2 Austrian-artillery miss cavalry at short range, infantry miss cavalry

5 French-artillery miss garrison, skirmish hit garrison

23 French-artillery miss square, cavalry retreat, square miss square

Move 11 – 1800 to 1900

Austrian HQ-move to 2^nd corps and change orders to “hold”

1 Austrian-artillery miss garrison, jager enter town

2 Austrian-artillery miss cavalry, retreat infantry out of short artillery range

5 French-artillery miss garrison, skirmish hit garrison 10% casualties

23 French-artillery hit square, skirmish miss cavalry

Move 12 – 1900 to 2000

Austrian HQ-no orders

1 Austrian-artillery miss garrison, jagers garrison town

2 Austrian-artillery miss cavalry

5 French-artillery miss garrison, skirmishers miss garrison

23 French-artillery miss square

Game Casualties

French lose 1,200 infantry and 100 cavalry plus 100 gunners and 3 guns

Austrian lose 5,200 infantry and 100 cavalry plus one infantry brigade in rout

Game Summary

The French managed to occupy half of the town, and a strong defensive position on the hill south of the town.

The Austrian won the first cavalry melee, which allowed them to attack the hill.   However they lost one infantry brigade to a surprise cavalry charge, which caused the whole attack to staff.

The main fighting was for the town.  

The Austrians also took half of the town, and skirmish fighting continued throughout the battle.   Artillery from both sides fired on the town throughout, but caused little damage.  Two Austrian brigades were driven from the town, but the jager brigade held the eastern half of the town at nightfall.

Neither side could claim a convincing victory.  But the Austrian army did lose more casualties than the French and withdrew under cover of darkness.

Total casualties, including from earlier battles, at the end of this battle

French 1,400 casualties and 3 guns

Austrian 5,300 casualties plus one infantry brigade in rout