Age of Eagles - Game Report 6

The Battle of Eckmuhl-Heinspach 19 April 1809

Background

This is the sixth battle of the 1809 campaign. The campaign continues to throw up excellent battles with tactical decisions and outcomes influencing operational design and outcome for both sides.

Situation

Earlier in the day the 3rd Corps D’Armee and caught and contacted 3rd Armee Korps on the flank and forced them S of ECKMUHL. By falling back 3rd Armee Korps were able to link up with the 4th Armee Korps that were advancing N. Together they would outnumber the French and therefore possibly able to give a bloody nose to Napoleon. The days battles spread over the two villages would become known as the Battle of ECKMUHL-HEINSPACH.

Austrian casualties earlier in the day were confined to 3rd Armee Korps and were relatively light, and its combat power was not significantly impacted. 4th Armee Korps brought to the battle its 3 Divisions with 10 infantry regiments, 2 light cavalry regiments and 10 batterys.

The French 3rd Corps D’Armee was hardly scathed from the fight in the morning. Brigade Duppelin had suffered 25% losses, but the remaining 11 infantry brigades were untouched. Davout also had Nansouty’s 1st Heavy Cavalry Division with 2 Cuirassier Brigades. 2nd Heavy Cavalry Division was moving to join Davout.

Battlefield Map and Terrain

The battlefield was similar to that to the North, with wide open farmland. The only notable terrain feature was the KLEIN LAABER which was effectively a stream that most troops, less artillery, could cross.

Battle Report

By 1300hrs both sides had finished their deployment as per the map. Both Austrian Corps commanders decided to defend in depth, with the ability to counterattack as required. Their forward outpost line was in the villages of HEINSBACH and GUNDIG manned by Battalions from the Archduke Karl Legion and Grenzers respectively. Additionally in the woods E of HEINSBACH 3rd Armee Korps had deployed IR7. Napoleon and Davout had disposed their troops in a line with the 1st to 3rd divisions on their right and the 4th and 5th(Reserve) on their left, running in seniority from the right.

On the French left the 5th(Reserve) Division showed the way and successfully advanced across the KLEIN LAABER by 1330hrs. They were showing the same elan they had earlier in the day. In doing so they demonstrated to the 4th Division how a division should advance with Napoleon present, rather than their dilatory manner. Throughout these early phases of the battle the Austrians were reacting in a timely manner, historical accounts say that Napoleon was unwell after a large luncheon and failed to seize command until later in the day.

On the Austrian left the Archduke Karl Legion abandoned their position due to exceptionally heavy casualties from French artillery fire. In doing so IR7 was withdrawn to protect its flanks. The 2nd and 3rd French Divisions followed up these gains by advancing to the W branch of the KLEIN LAABER.

The 5th(Reserve) Division gained further pride and respect for the manner in which they threw the Grenzers out of GUNDIG; well ahead of schedule at 1430hrs. They would eventually be cited by Napoleon for their courage and elan and awarded their own Eagle from the hands of Napoleon for their valour on the 19th April 1809.

As 5th(Reserve) Division were further embellishing their reputation, on the French right the advance continued. The 1st Division launched a divisional attack against IR38 in the woods SW of HEINSBACH. The attack initially stalled but the French continued to apply pressure and drove IR38 out of the wood. The situation became even bleaker for the Austrians as IR7, withdrawing from the outpost line, routed in fear from the French threatening their rear.

By 1500hrs the Austrian 3rd Armee Korps had regrouped its line. The commander moved IR20 to act as reserve for the right of his line. Meanwhile his Light Cavalry had also withdrawn ready to fall back into the Corps reserve. However, Nansouty decide to pre-empt this by launching a Cuirassier Brigade at the Austrian Light Cavalry who successfully counter-charged down the hill.

The Cuirassiers drove the Austrian Light Cavalry back, and then broke through to engage IR29 which were thrown back in heavy disorder, exposing the flank of IR20 in column.

Meanwhile on the French left the 4th Division attacked the Austrians with two brigades. They pushed the Austrian’s IR46 back, which fall back 200 metres in reasonable order. 4th Armee Korps reserve artillery moved up to support the line.

4th Armee Korps Commander launched his two cavalry regiments in counter-attacks. The left of the two regiments fared well and pushed the infantry back, while the one on the right’s attack failed and it was forced to retreat to the rear. However, I doing so the French Brigade was forced into square.

By 1530 the situation started to look bleak for 3rd Armee Korps. The French Cuirassiers continued to make progress and punctured the Austrian line. They forced the Austrian Light Cavalry to the rear. Davout sensed that this might be a turning point and urgently moved the rest of his Corps forward.

From an overview of the overall battlefield at 1600hrs it is clear that the 3rd Armee Korps was in trouble. The Cuirassiers have punched a hole in the line, and can exploit their advantage in any direction. The outcome of the battle would depend on a number of factors. Not least was who would seize the initiative, but also could 3rd Armee Korps defend until dusk?

Unfortunately for the Austrians Napoleon and Davout seized the initiative and 2nd and 3rd Divisions launched a series of coordinated attacks against the 3rd Armee Korps shattering the Austrian infantry and forcing them back. Despite their disorder the Cuirassiers forced the Austrian lines back even further; the Austrian backs were now against the wall.

However, a timely intervention from 4th Armee Korps which launched IR9 in a stunningly successful counterattack to throw the French 2nd Division back off the hill. This at least created some breathing space for the right flank of 3rd Armee Korps. Meanwhile the commander of 4th Armee Korps decided to look to the safety of his own command by securing his left flank and withdrawing in contact. Wherever possible both Austrian commanders started to try to extricate their guns to the rear.

By 1700hrs the Austrian 3rd Armee Korps was in full retreat. The second Cuirassier Brigade were launched into the battle. Although it took flank fire from a damaged Austrian battery and was attacked in the flank by Austrian Light Cavalry it stood its ground. The Austrians positioned themselves to leave the battlefield as quickly as they could, and they were willing to sacrifice damaged batterys to save the infantry.

A half hour before dusk the Austrians seized the initiative and 3rd Armee Korps broke contact, and extricated its remaining forces.

Meanwhile the 4th Armee Korps successfully protected its flanks and withdrew in successive tactical bounds, while carefully preserving its left flank so recently exposed by the demise of the 3rd Armee Korps.

Outcome and Casualties

The Austrian 3rd Armee Korps was soundly beaten, and were combat ineffective by the end of the day. They would take some time to regroup. The question was whether they would be given that time or whether the French would push on next day and pursue. Of which more in later battle reports.

On the right flank, despite the initial reverses, 4th Armee Korps held its ground and defended itself robustly. Austrian shooting from both Korps throughout the day was dire, very poor in comparison to that of the French artillery that dominated the early exchanges.

The battle added further lustre to 3rd Corps D’Armee reputation; they were truly Napoleon’s 10th Legion! No unit epitomised this more than the 5th (Reserve) Division, made up of troops from the Confederation of the Rhine, who despite not being a major component of the Corps upheld the reputation of the 3rd Corps D’Armee. They distinguished themselves and gained honour for their regiments and their small principalities.