Age of Eagles - Game Report 9

The Battle of The River Isar 23 April 1809

Background

This would be the eighth battle of our campaign. A battle the Austrians would have been better advised not to fight.

Situation

Since the Battle of STRAUBING on the 19 Apr, the 1st and 2nd Armee Korps (AK) and the 2nd Reserve Armee Korps (RAK) had been withdrawing south east under increasingly heavier pressure from the French. During this retreat they had studiously kept their right flank secure by keeping close to the Danube to their North. On the 23 April the French caught them with the Austrians with their back to the River ISAR as they were trying to withdraw across it. At dawn the 2nd RAK was in the process of crossing the River ISAR with the 2nd AK in column of route next to cross, while the 1st AK were arrayed in defensive positions waiting for the order to retire.

Napoloeon had massed the III Corps D’Armee (CA) with 5 divisions, the VII (Bav) CA with 3 divisions and two Heavy Cavalry divisions and one Light Cavalry division to pursue the Austrians down the DANUBE. Of these forces the VII (Bav) CA were present on the battlefield on the 23rd April. The III CA were in line of march following and were due to arrive from 1000hrs, with the Heavy Cavalry still some hours behind the main body. Napoleon decided that he would posture as a weak force to encourage the Austrians to stand and fight, he would attack once Davout arrived and order him to attack from his line of march. Napoleon’s intent was to drive the Austrians into the ISAR. By destroying two or three AK he might end the war on the 23rd April.

The Austrian Corps Commanders conference, over breakfast, on the 23rd was a heated and angry debate. There were strong arguments to withdraw as soon as possible. However, the fear was that the French were too close and could easily push the majority of the Corps into the ISAR, and destroy a large portion of the combined Austrian Force. Even worse there could be panic and they could lose control of all their forces. The senior Austrian Commander, FZM Kolowrat-Krakowsky commanding the 2nd AK, prevailed in the debate and directed that the combined forces stand and fight for the road south east to clear of the baggage and then for the forces to withdraw over the bridge. His colleagues were uncomfortable with the decision but decided to abide by his recommendation. The die was cast.

Battlefield Map and Terrain

Around the banks of the rivers in Bavaria the ground is relatively flat with the occasional minor elevation. There are frequent small villages, these provide some cover and security around which a defence can be built. The road to the south led to a bridge over the River ISAR. North and East are bounded by the River DANUBE.

The Battle

At 10:00hrs the Austrian 1st AK is deployed in line of battle. On the left the 3rd Div 2nd AK is in support with its Jagers and IR25 securing the end of the line in the village of PLAUING. Similarly the 3rd Div 1st AK were securing the right around the village of ISARGMUND. The VII (Bav) CA are arrayed in a cordon to secure the line of departure for III Corps D’Armee’s attack.

By 11:00hrs the French attach was starting to develop led by the 3rd (Bav) Div attacking the Jagers in the wood west of PLAUING. They were supported in this attack by the massed batteries of the 3rd and 1st Div.

As a result of the Bavarian assault on the woods the Jagers withdrew through the wood supported by IR25 which was suffering from the artillery fire directed at it. CLR5 moved up in support to cover the withdrawal of the 3rd Div into line with the 1st AK.

By 11:30hrs the 2nd AK had reversed its march and was arriving to support the 1st AK. However, for the French III CA was starting to arrive. The 1st (Bav) Div remained on its start line to the rear of the hill North of PLAUING, the intention to be for this to move up once the 2nd(BAV) Div moved on to their left flank.

An hour later 2nd AK was starting to deploy to the left of 1st AK. For the French the 2nd (Bav) Div was now starting to approach its start line to allow the combined Bavarian attack to start. In the north the III CA is continuing to move forward in column of march to the East with the intention of swinging to the South to attack along the line of the road running from KLEINKUCHIG-ISARGMUND-the crossing over the ISAR.

Outside PLAUING the 3rd (Bav) Div is regrouping while the Austrian 3rd Div of the 2nd AK withdraws to its main body.

At 1300hrs the Austrians are starting to change their dispositions. The arrival of the 2nd AK has allowed the 1st AK to shorten its line. The 3rd Div 1st AK has thrown its Jagers forward as a screen in the woods North West of ISARGMUND.

The VII (Bav) CA started its advance with its 1st and 2nd Div at 1330. The advance guard of the III CA has evicted the Jager screen that was sent forward and is moving in support of the Bavarians. Both Austrian Corps Commanders have assembled a strong reserve e to counterattack any breakthroughs made by the French, and also to act as line through which the forward units can withdraw.

By 1330hrs the French now have four divisions in a line all directed at the two and a half divisions of the 1st AK.

By 1500hrs the French attack has made significant progress. III CA has passed through the 1st (Bav) Div and has pushed the Austrian Centre into retreat. In doing so it has opened a gap between the 1st and 2nd AK. This French attack has exposed the left and right flanks of the Austrian position, although they are both continuing to give a good account of themselves in their own fights. Meanwhile the Austrian commanders have decided to save the guns and to extract them from the battle and across the ISAR. The 2nd Hvy Cav Division, which arrived at 1200hrs, were rushed forward by Napoleon and they joined the attack to try and complete the victory.

From 1500hrs the French launch charges all along the line driving the Austrians into ever more confusion and fragmentation. The Austrian defensive fire cannot stop the French momentum.

The French charges force the Austrians into an ever-tighter perimeter. Notably Brigade Destabenrath of St Hilaire’s Division has penetrated deep into the Austrian position to cause major disruption. A number of Austrian units are left effectively surrounded as the French penetrate into the depths of the Austrian Line. There is the start of massive congestion as troops hasten their exit from the battlefield.

In order to stabilise the line and to buy time for retreat IR15 launched a partially successful counterattack to drive back Brigade Destabenrath. While IR18 form square to defend themselves against the Cuirassiers. With the decreasing Austrian perimeter there is insufficient space to allow Napoleon to bring his whole force and strength to bear on the Austrians.

Despite the French success at 1530hrs the Austrians manage to secure the initiative and troops flood to the rear to cross the bridges over the ISAR. There remains a paltry rearguard of Austrians who sacrifice themselves to allow the rest of their two AK to withdraw and preserve their remaining strength for future battles

At 1600hrs the battle is all but won, as the Austrian rearguard has now been cut off from escape.

Outcome and Casualties

Although the battle was a major defeat for the Austrians, it was not the stunning victory that Napoleon sought. The Austrians were able to extricate a significant portion of their forces. Although both Armee Korps were depleted they made good their escape. Significantly only one Austrian battery was lost. Strategically the French were now forced into chasing the Austrians along the Danube in an attempt to overtake them and bring them to battle again.

Age of Eagles - Game Report 8

The Second Battle of Landshut 21 April 1809

Background

This is the seventh battle of the campaign, and if not the largest, certainly one of the more significant. And yet again it revisits a battlefield that has already been fought over, LANDSHUT. This is hardly surprising as it provides the bridges and lines of communications over the River ISAR.

Situation

Over the last few days the Austrian 6th Armee Korps had been screening the movement of the French 2nd Corps D’Armee 7km North of LANDSHUT. It became increasingly important that 6th Armee Korps maintained its position given the result of the Battle of ECKMUHL-HEINSPACH. The river crossing at LANDSHUT would be the only way that 3rd Armee Korps and 4th Armee Korps could retire to the East bank of the ISAR. For two days both Korps had been moving South West down the West bank of the ISAR to LANDSHUT. Fortunately, they had broken contact clean and were not being pursued.

On the 20th April 2nd Corps D’Armee, reinforced by two divisions from the 4th Corps D’Armee started a flanking movement to the move on LANDSHUT from the West and seize it. However, this movement was detected by Archduke Charles at HQ Hauptarmee which was co-located with 6th Armee Korps. He immediately started the Korps moving to the South and was able to reassert control over LANDSHUT before 2nd Corps D’Armee were able to arrive. 4th Armee Korps messengers reported to HQ Hauptarmee that both Korps were on route and would be at LANDSHUT by midmorning – 4th Armee Korps were in the lead.

Battlefield Map and Terrain

As described previously the ground around LANDSHUT was relatively flat with small woods on the flood plain. The stream was a tributary to the ISAR and because of the recent rains was an obstacle. It was only passable by troops upstream beyond MESSING. The stream split the defensive battlefield in two, further complicating decisions for the Archduke Charles.

Battle Report

6th Armee Korps Commander was ordered to hold LANDSHUT and to establish a secure right flank North of LANDSHUT to allow 4th Armee Korps to arrive unmolested. With those orders he placed his 1st Division in the Front line South of the stream facing West. The Advance Guard Division would be in reserve behind them. 2nd Division were formed North of the stream and were given the mission of securing the woods North West of LANDSHUT as a firm base to protect the arrival of 4th Armee Korps.

With reinforcements from 4th Corps D’Armee the 2nd Corps D’Armee Commander had 4 divisions under command and a Bavarian Light Cavalry Brigade. He split his forces 2 and 2 astride the stream.

The battle opened at 0600hrs with the French making a rapid advance. 1st Division under General Tharreau moved forward with incredible elan, with the intent of using shock and awe to rapidly bounce the Austrians out of position. Brigade Conroux was the first into contact, only for IR4 to throw them back with disdain. The French would now need a more deliberate approach.

IR49, the Austrian right forward regiment suffered 75% casualties by fire by 0700hrs and were withdrawn. Consequently, the Austrian Line started to give ground. Meanwhile GIR6 was send forward to support the 1st Division.

By 0730hrs the French attack is fully committed. If it beaks through then LANDSHUT may fall to the French. However, the Austrians fall back grudgingly giving ground at a price.

On the Austrian right the 2nd Division by 0730hrs has moved forward to secure its objective. Unfortunately, the command and communications arrangements for the divisions from 4th Corps D’Armee were not in place and the left-hand division was far too slow in advancing and therefore unable to support the division to its right as they contacted the Austrians in the wood.

By 1000hrs the French were about to break through onto the Austrian gunline. The 1st Division has been forced back and the Advance Guard has been thrown forward to stabilise the line. This precarious situation was caused by the failure of an Austrian counterattack by IR4 and 14. They were soundly beaten and thrown back with losses by a much weaker French brigade – Brigade Jarry.

This French brigade performed above and beyond what would have been expected of any French line infantry brigade. By the end of the day they would have driven two elite Austrian regiments out of the wood, repulsed the charge of the same opponents when they counterattacked, overran and captured a gun battery and repulsed a cavalry charge – all for no losses to themselves. Nonetheless this proved to be the high-water mark of the French attack.

On the right by 1000hrs the 4th Armee Korps had arrived. Some confusion down the line of march delayed their arrival and their deployment. Throughout this lengthy deployment the French kept a respectable and reasonable distance between them and this new enemy formation, and in doing so endeavoured to extend their line to prevent being out-flanked.

The arrival of the 4th Armee Korps allowed the 6th Armee Korps to recover two regiments from the 2nd Division to reinforce the 1st Division.

By 1030hrs the Austrians were able to start pushing forward West of LANDSHUT. The French had decided that their best chance of securing the town had gone, and were now falling back in good order having inflicted significant damage on the 6th Armee Korps.

North West of LANDSHUT 4th Armee Korps are now almost fully deployed for battle, but the enemy is continuing to give ground and protect its flanks.

By 1100hrs the French were breaking contact and withdrawing West. HQ Hauptarmee called a halt to the battle and started to reorganise its forces to start the withdrawal to the east bank of the ISAR river.

Outcome and Casualties

The French 2nd Corps D’Armee came very close to seizing LANDSHUT. However, it is questionable whether they would have managed to hold it for any length of time with the arrival of the Austrian reinforcements that would have been able in turn to cut of the 2nd Corps D’Armee’s lines of communications.

What the French achieved was in large part due to Brigade Jarry, who would receive a citation and a mention in the Army News of the day.

AOE(AOV) - Game Report 1

The Battle of Spichern 6th August 1870

Introduction

I had yet to play the Age of Valour variant of Bill Grey’s Age of eagles. Matthew had read a lot about the period and was keen to wargame it, and he liked Age of Eagles so there was a clear community of interest. I suggested a game with my Franco-Prussian war 15mm armies, and after some thought decided on this battle to be played at Entoyment.

The Battle

I bought, many years ago, a Pallas Armata reprint of Von Schell’s “The Operations of the 1st Army to the capitulation of Metz”. It was first published in English in 1873. It provides an excellent summary of the battle of Spichern from the Prussian perspective. An online account which is a good read is at https://battlefieldanomalies.com/the-battle-of-spicheren/

The salient points of the encounter battle at Spichern are that it appeared to the Prussian Advance Guard Commander Lt Gen Von Kameke commanding 14th Division of the 7th Corps that the French were withdrawing. He seized the initiative and launched an attack against the French. The French who were not withdrawing, decided to hold their ground on what was a strong defensive position. The sounds of battle drew forward several different Prussian units from the 1st and 2nd Army throughout the day, while no French units from the nearby French Corps marched to the sound of the guns.

The battlefield is an incredibly string position if the French had seized it earlier enough in the battle and defended it. The position is based around a very steeply and wooded escarpment that faces North to Saarbrucken and West and East. At the top of the escarpment id effectively and open plateau with high ground to the South. In the middle of this plateau is the village of Spichern on a spur that runs West to east to the Saar River valley. The west flank of the battle is heavily wooded, and with high ground. The escarpment is steep and by some British commentators of the period was steeper and more difficult that the Alma in the Crimea.

To portray the battlefield, I decided to make some terrain in relief. The following picture shows what it is like in a trial assembly on my dining room table. 

The underlying contour maps for the battlefield were obtained from German army 1:25000 maps of the area that were captured from the French in 1940 and then preserved for posterity by North American Universities. As any military man knows, battles are always fought on the join of four maps – this is no different!

Scenario Design

In designing the scenario for Age of Valour I based the unit strengths on the scenarios in the Age of Valour expansion pack from Bill Gray. In other words, the French forces were deployed as Brigades to represent the difficulty in mobilising the French forces for the war. While the Prussians are modelled as Regiments.

I also decided to bring in two special rules. One to account for the difficulty in crossing the escarpment, the second was to bring in the “Plunging Fire” rule from the 2nd Edition of Fire and Fury. The latter worked very well and is a good addendum to any Age of Valour or later game.

Additionally for the Prussian reinforcements, shown below, their time of arrival is per the actual battle. However, I decided that at that at that time there was a 50% chance of them arriving (4 or greater on a 6 sided dice that number would decrease each turn by 1). Hence bringing that forward in time there would be a 1 in 6 chance that they could arrive an hour earlier! In the game the Prussian’s certainly needed this element of luck in the early arrival of their reinforcements!

Matthew and I want to conduct further games of this period and instead base the French as small Regiments as well. We both felt that largish French Brigades don’t suffer the same degree of degradation in performance and ability to hold their positions in the battle that the French encountered in the war.

Prussian Forces

French Forces

The Game

The initial deployment, and on balance we might have been better to place more constraints on the French deployment as they were in reality much closer to the centre of a 48” deep table.

Looking towards the Prussian Advance Guard’s initial objective from the Galgenburg.

By 1330 the Prussian Advance Guard was a spent force, and the coup de main had failed. The 39IR had suffered 5 casualties in the first hour of battle and would eventually fall back to Saarbrucken to regroup and take no further part in the Battle. The 59IR which arrived at 1200 was moving to the right to protect the right flank. Meanwhile the rest of the 14th Division had arrived and was advancing on the escarpment. Fortunately for the Prussians, on the French left flank were extremely reticent to move, and the 12th Chasseurs would prove particularly difficult to control and motivate; until it really mattered. Meanwhile the rest of Frossard’s Corps were more than willing to close up nicely to the escarpment. (The red markers indicate damaged batterys, in other words batterys that had been reduced to half strength through fire casualties.)

At 1400 the 74IR charged the 3rd Chasseurs to the right of the gun line, and drove them back out of the wood, the 74Ir then exploited the breakthrough and clashed with the 10th Chasseurs who in turn threw the Prussians back. The 77IR held the flank pouring fire into the artillery causing significant damage and silencing a battery. Later the Prussians would reflect on the missed opportunity that this failure to break the 10th Chasseurs would represent. If they had broken through there would have been little to stop them rolling up the French Line.

By 1430 the French had extricated their artillery and brought forward an Infantry Brigade to the front lie. They remained vulnerable on their right flank and it would all depend on whether the Chasseurs could hold. The Prussians regrouped at the foot of the escarpment and launched another attack against the Chasseurs and though they were locked in battle the Chasseurs would eventually prevail and force the Prussians to the foot of the hill. Meanwhile elsewhere on the Prussian right the arrival of 40IR of 16th Division proved invaluable and held the line in the face of a determined French attack beating back two French brigades. The remainder of the 14th Division’s advanced guard have left to regroup in Saarbrucken.

By 1630 the remaining infantry regiment of the 14th Division lacks the combat power to force a result and it drives instead to move to the East to provide flank support to the 5th Division which is arriving.

The 5th Division’s commanding General has sent the first two infantry regiments to support the right as the one remaining regiment there is significantly outnumbered, and the enemy are now threatening the gun line.

The battlefield at 1630, the outcome for the Prussians would all depend on the arrival of the rest of the 5th Division.

At 1700hrs the first of the final two regiments and batterys from 5th Division arrive. On the right the outcome could depend on how well the attack goes. Although the French managed to withdraw two infantry brigades, the Chasseurs refused the order to withdraw, and instead they decided to fight their ground. They successfully beat of an attack from the 48IR, and then continued their withdrawal.

By 1730 the firepower of the Prussian artillery was in danger of causing the French significant harm, and the commander decided to withdraw from their previous positions where they were exposed to fire.

By 1930 (game turn 16) the French are making an ordered and controlled withdrawal. The Prussians lack the combat power to exploit taking the escarpment and to push forward. They would regroup on the objective.

Outcome

We called this a minor French tactical victory in that they were able to withdraw to the South and West in good order. What is interesting is that the total casualties suffered in this battle of around 5000 men per side was comparable to the actual battle. Both Matthew and I enjoyed the game and we felt that the rules credited themselves well. Neither of us were phased by the results of a 10 side dice, and in the end the overall result was acceptable despite some wild swings in favour, and indeed disfavour, of the Chasseurs.

Further games are needed to try out the suggestion of reducing the French side to weaker regiments.

Age of Eagles - Game Report 7

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.