Austrian victory at Mattsee

6 July 1813

Battle of Mattsee

Campaign Background

2 Austrian corps are in and around the town of Mattsee and have orders to hold the town

11 Bavarian corps have been ordered to advance north from Salzburg and attack the town of Mattsee.

table at start

Wargames Table

Mattsee is the town in the centre

The centre road bottom to top is from Salzburg (bottom) to Branau (top)

The road from left to right is from Hochburg (left) to Franken (right)

The river on the right is the Salach

2 Austrian corps are deployed in and around Mattsee. They have orders to hold the town, and must also hold the road to Franken which is their line of retreat..

11 Bavarian corps will enter the table on Salzburg road . They have orders to take Mattsee, but retreat to Salzburg if this is not possible.

Bavarians attack Austrian held hill

The Bavarians pin the centre and left, and send three brigades of infantry to attack the high ground on their right.

This area is held by one Austrian brigade, but quickly reinforced by a militia brigade.

The Bavarian infantry come under artillery fire as they approach the hill, and the left hand brigade is shaken. The remaining two brigades are not strong enough to storm the hill and the attack is called off.

Effect on the Campaign

The failure to take Mattsee will prevent the two Bavarian corps joining together to raise the siege of Passau.

Link to battle report

http://1813danubecampaign.blogspot.com/search/label/07%20-%20Battle%20of%20Mattsee

Austrians isolate Passau and Salzburg

5 July 1813

The first phase of the Austrian advance is now complete. The garrisons of Passau and Salzburg have been isolated and the river Salach is secure. 3 and 4 corps are urged to march to Linz with the utmost speed.

The Austrian advance has left two corps within striking distance of the whole French army, and without immediate support from their reserves. Oudinot is well positioned to take advantage of this error by striking with 10 corps.

4 July 1813

2 Austrian corps on the march to Mattsee

Charles takes up position at Altheim with 1 corps to block the Passau garrison moving south of the river Danube. 2 corps moves to Mattsee to sever the Passau to Salzburg road. 3 and 4 corps are urged to move to Linz at their best speed.

Austrian army enters Bavaria

3 July 1813

Charles orders his HQ and 1 corps to Altheim to pin 9 Bavarian corps north of the river Danube. 2 corps will move to Franken and secure the bridge over the river Salach. 3 and 4 corps will continue to march towards Linz. He has crossed the river Salach without opposition.

2 July 1813

Austrians cross the river Salach into Bavaria

As soon as they cross the river Salach 1^st corps march along the river Danube towards Passau. 2^nd corps march south towards Salzburg.

Introduction to the Passau Campaign

1 July 1813

Locations at the start of the campaign

Napoleon is confident that the Austrian army will remain neutral during 1813. Not only did they fight alongside the French in Russia the previous year, but also Napoleon is married to the daughter of the Emperor Ferdinand. Despite this he sends Marshal Oudinot to Munich to take command of the Bavarian and Baden armies, to reorganize them and to ensure that no Austrian troops are sent north to join the allies.


On arrival at Munich Oudinot finds his army spread throughout Bavarian. The majority of the army are Confederation of the Rhine troops, organised under French and Bavarian command. There is one corps in reserve in Munich, a second watching the Austrian border at Passau and a third at Salzburg keeping the tyrolean rebels under control. A fourth Baden corps has just reached Ratisbon and is now under his command.


Austria has long resented earlier defeats at the hands of the French. Observing the French defeat and retreat from Russia, Ferdinand forms an alliance with the allies to strike at France through Bavaria.

The Archduke Charles has been given command of the main Austrian army, and has orders to take Munich. When he arrives at Linz to take command he finds that only two of his corps are available. A third is marching to join him, but has only got as far as St Polten. A fourth corps has just been formed at Vienna, and will be sent to join him immediately.

Aware that any delay will increase the chances that Oudinot will move his concentrate his scattered army and move it towards the border, Charles orders the two corps under his direct command to cross the border and advance on Passau.

The Austrian advance comes as a complete surprise to Oudinot.

Link to Passau Campaign Blog

http://1813danubecampaign.blogspot.com/search/label/12%20-%20Campaign%20Summary

Halle campaign ends in French Victory

28-30 June 1813

Locations at end of campaign

Over the next four days Kutuzov withdraws all of his army to the east bank of the river Saale.

His concern now is to hold the line of the river and cover the road to Dresden.

Napoleon takes advantage of the Russian concentration around Leipzig to push his 3^rd corps over the river to occupy Gera.

With this foothold on the west bank, Napoleon orders his weary troops to close up on the west bank and orders a temporary halt to operations

Effect of the Campaign

The campaign has been a limited success for the French. They have held the Russians on the line of the river Saale. They have also extended the line of the Second Army to the north on the river Elbe. But in doing so they have suffered heavy casualties and are in need of a considerable rest before Napoleon can hope to continue the struggle.

The Russian army is also in line with the Prussians to the north. The great advance has been brought to a complete standstill. But they have both achieved a number of victories against the French, and require only a good rest, reorganization and resupply to be ready to resist any further French advance.

Link to main Halle Campaign Blog

http://1813hallecampaign.blogspot.com/

French victory at Halle

27 June 1813

Battle of Halle

Halle is a strategic town where the Leipzig and Magdeburg roads both cross the river Saale.

Overconfident after a string of victories, Kutuzov orders his whole army to occupy Halle in preparation for an advance on Kassel.

Given the recent defeats most generals would have retired to Kassel – Fulda to regroup, but Napoleon was not most generals. He worked night and day to rally his weary troops and raise their morale sufficient for one last attempt.

French Guard attack Halle

The French Old and Young guard, led by Napoleon, attack Halle.

The Russians put up a strong defence, but are eventually forced to withdraw from the town, and cross the river under cover of darkness.

Effect on the Campaign

At last a convincing victory for Napoleon. The Russians have suffered heavy casualties, and will withdraw back over the river Saale at nightfall.

However in earlier battles the French have also suffered heavy casualties, and are in not condition to risk another assault over the river.

Both sides will settle for holding their side of the river. Napoleon has managed to secure the flank of Second French Army at Magdeburg, but has failed to beat the Russians and move north to attack the Prussians.

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Russian concentration at Halle

26 June 1813

Russian deployment at Halle

Russians concentrate at Halle

French march to Halle

25 June 1813

Wargames Map

Kutuzov orders all corps to concentrate at Halle

Napoleon orders all corps to move on Halle

24 June 1813

strategic map

Russians now control east of river Saale

French move north along western bank of Saale towards Halle