Age of Eagles - Game Report 4

The Battle of Zacsdorf 17 April 1809

Background

This is a report on the third battle of the 1809 Danube Campaign.

Situation

After the failure of the Austrian 6th Armee Korps to bring II Corps D’Armee to battle on the 15th April, both sides regrouped and too stock. The French had withdrawn NW while the Austrians consolidated in Landshut. After some tentative manoeuvring on the 16th The Austrians decide to continue their advance N towards to protect the flank of the other Austrian Corps to the North. The French were equally keen to prevent this.

By early morning on the 17th both sides were about to face off against each other again some 6km N of Landshut at the village of Zacsdorf.

The II Corps D’Armee advancing from the W managed, an hour after dawn, to establish a strong blocking force with its 1st Division orientated SW to the NE along the line of hills and woods 1.5km to the NW of Zacsdorf. The remainder of the Corps, 2nd Division and the 3rd Hvy Cav Division, was in the process of deploying and was expected sometime after 1000hrs.

The Austrians were advancing N with two parallel columns, the 6th Armee Korps on the left and 2nd Reserve Korps on the right. Austrian cavalry scouts had secured Zacsdorf at dawn, while the lead elements of the two columns was expected around 0830hrs. Initial indications were that the French were unaware that the two Austrian Korps were cooperating in this advance and that the French would be fighting a much larger force than their own.

Battlefield Map and Terrain

The Action

The 6th Armee Korps’s Advance Guard (AG) Division deploy to screen the deployment of both Corps.

By 1030hrs the 6th Armee Korps AG had deployed forward to engage Albert’s Bde in the woods. Meanwhile the 1st Division has almost fully deployed, and the 2nd Division is moving to the E of Zacsdorf to swing around NW to support the left of the 1st Division. The 2nd Reserve Korps is starting to move to the N to come around the N side of Adlertal to protect the right flank.

At the top of the picture, on the N side of Zacsdorf are the Vienna Freiwillige. Conroux’s Bde were ordered forward to counter attack the Freiwillige and threw them back in great disorder. While the officers were attempting to rally the Freiwillige their discipline failed and they fled the battle. This counter attack was to be one of many outstanding contributions from Conroux’s Bde on the 17th April that would see them mentioned in the Army despatch and to be awarded their eagle by the Emperor.

On the left flank at 1030 the Austrian Grenzers are engaged in musketry with Albert’s Bde. The II Corps D’Armee’s 2nd Division has arrived and is now moving to support.

At 1100hrs a regiment each from the 1st and 2nd division’s attacked Controux’s Bde but were thrown back in disorder.

The remainder of 1st Division were concentrating on taking the wood held by Albert’s Bde. The AG, despite the Freiwillige abandoning their place in the line, were continuing to move West to screen and then envelop the wood.

For a second time at 1130 the same two regiments rallied and attacked Conroux, but were driven back in the same old style! On the right of the 2nd Division the regiments were coming into line to attack the hill west of Adlertal.

By 1200 the French II Corps D’Armee’s position had stabilised. The 2nd Division had moved forward to support the 1st Division and in the rear the Heavy Cavalry Division are arriving. Conroux’s counter-attack had bought valuable time in delaying the Austrians and allowing Frnch reinforcements to arrive and deploy.

Between 1200 and 1300 the Austrian 1st Division launched several two regiment attacks against Albert’s Bde in the wood. The supporting French brigade from the 2nd Division was invaluable, adding weight to eventually push the Austrians back to their gun line.

By 1330 the 2nd Division is in position to attack the massed batterys on the hills W of Adlertal, which damages them and forces them to displace to the French rear. The attack leaves the Austrian regiment exposed to musketry fire from the French Line.

Meanwhile the 1st Division went forward at 1400 in support of the 2nd Division on its left flank. A number of attacks have pushed Conroux’s Bde and Ficatier’s Bde from the 2nd Division back. This has started to open a gap in the French line that the Austrian’s will try and exploit.

However, Conroux rallied his weakened brigade and counter-attacked again forcing the Austrians, back and closing the gap between the wood and the rest of the French line running SW to NE.To the left of the wood the Grenzers have overrun the French battery and are exploiting dangerously forward.

Sensing the danger of the Grenzer’s breakthrough at 1430hrs the Commander of the French 2nd Division orders Coehorn’s Bde to form column and attack the Grenzers in the rear, destroying them. Moving Coehorn meant that Albert’s Bde was no longer supported and a successful Austrian attack finally threw Albert’s Bde out of the wood. In the centre other attacks in the centre have finally forced Conroux to retire. However, although disjointed the French have a relatively cohesive line. The Austrian 2nd Division was forced of the hill W of Adlertal and is now regrouping.

By 1530hrs the grenadiers of the 2nd Reserve Armee Korps have pushed forward on 2nd Division’s right and are starting to male some progress. On the French right flank the timely arrival and counter attack of the II Corps D’Armee Light cavalry Brigade forced the Austrian left flank back, forcing the Austrian 1st Division to halt in position.

Outcome

The French Army daily orders heaped praise and honour on Conroux’s Bde that, despite being made up of garrison and troops from regiments’ fourth battalions, exemplified the spirit of the French Grande Army. After the battle French retired NW leaving the Austrian’s in command of the battlefield.

French Losses: KIA 584, WIA 2296, MIA 4680

Austrian Losses: KIA 1113, WIA 4467, CIA 720, MIA 8100