The Battle of Liebertwolwitz

14th October 1813

Background

This battle is from the period of the decline of Napoleon's French Empire. It is 10 years since the time when he placed the crown on his own head and became Emperor of France. He had already won brilliant campaigns in Italy and Egypt before then. In the decade that followed he defeated Austria in 1805 at Austerlitz and went on to crush Prussia in 1806 at Jena. The Russians were brought to the peace table in 1807 after Eylau and Freidland.

He was at the height of his power. Only one thorn remained : Britain. Portugal's refusal to comply with Napoleon's continental system (this was a closure of European ports to British merchant shipping) lead to the protracted Peninsular war between France and Spain , Portugal and Britain. France's failure to end the war in Spain encouraged Austria to take Napoleon on again in 1809 . They were defeated at Wagram. This did show the Emperors grip over Europe was slackening and Russia began to show stubbornness and confrontation. Slowly Napoleon became convinced he must invade Russia. This decision was crucial for the Russian campaign lead to the loss of his Grand Armee in the Russian Winter. All but a few veterans of half a million men perished.

The 1813 German Campaign

To his enemies Napoleon's situation must have looked hopeless. He had lost his army in Russia and had just garrison forces in Germany. Napoleon refused to give up. Indeed Prussia and Austria abandoned their alliances with France and joined Russia and Sweden in the 6th Coalition. He raced home to Paris and began constructing another army . In a few brief weeks he had another army in existence. However it was a shadow of the former Grand Armee. Many units were half trained . The cavalry in particular was poorly mounted and many troopers were actually on foot. With this army Napoleon conducted one of his finest campaigns and inflicted several defeats on the allies in the Autumn of 1813. In time however the Allied armies closed in on the French forces at Leipzig . the scene was set for the Battle of The Nations - the climatic battle of the Napoleonic.

The Battle of Liebertwolkwitz

During the final phase of the closing in of the Allied armies on Leipzig the Army of Bohemia pushed forward a strong vanguard to determine the position the French were choosing to stand at. This force consisted the following:

Corps Wittgenstein with the 1st and 2nd Russian Infantry Corps

The Combined Cavalry Corps of Pahlen's Russians and Prussians

The Prussian II Amy Corps reserve cavalry under Roder

The Austrian IVth Corps under Klenau

This force numbered 44,000 men . The plan was for Pahlen supported by Roder to push through Crobern and on to Leibertwolkwitz whilst Klenau and Russian II nd Corps attacked Leibertwolkwitz from south and east.

The Allies did not realise that the French in the Area under Murat had chosen to make a strong stand in the area of Leibertwolwitz. This force comprised:

Poniatowski's VIIIth Polish Corps

Victor's IInd Corps

Lauriston's Vth Corps

Pajol's Vth Cavalry Corps

Sokolnicki's IVth Cavalry Corps

This force numbered some 38,400 men.It should be noted that Murat's orderes from Napoleon were simply to delay the advance of the allies and not to get involved in a battle.

It was the cavalry Corps of Pahlen and Roder probing ahead of the infantry that came into contact with the French Cavalry on the open plain SW of Leibertwolwitz on the morning of the 14th. A swirling cavalry battle began that continued for much of the day. This has been considered the greatest cavalry battle in history for it featured large forces of cavalry on both sides. One side would charge forward and repel their enemy only to be charged in the flank by another cavalry regiment.

During the afternoon Klenau's Austrian Corps attacked Leibertwolkwitz and evetually after 2 hours captured the town from Lauriston. The French centre and in particular the grand battery was now threatened . Murat threw all his Cavalry forward against the Allied centre but this attack failed due to a flank attack by the Austrian cavalry .

As dusk drew near Lauriston counter attacked against Leibertwolkwitz and succeeded in retaking the town .

The battle ended inconclusively . The allies lost about 2000 men and the French about 800.

It might have been different . The Allies failed to use the Russian Infantry Corps in aiding the Austrians . It could have lead to the defeat of Murat and an easier Battle of Leipzig 2 days later for it was Murats forces that bore much of the brunt of the fighting then. Without their aid Napoleon could have been defeated earlier .

Murat's performance was also questionable as he did not use his cavalry to their best and lost precious horses and veterans.

Here is a map of the battle:

 Myself and Friends from the October wargames Association refought this battle using Principles of Napoleonic war at The Uk Nationals Wargames show at Aston University, Birmingham 30-31st August.

The Wargame:

On the right the Austrian Ivth Corps and Russian II Corps assaulted Liebertwolwitz directly from South and East. This battle was to rage on all day (both days of the show). It would be a bloody battle for both sides.

Mean while Pahlen and Roders Cavalry Corps engaged the French Cavalry under Kellerman on the plane to the west. The two cavalry forces threw themselves into a ongoing cavalry melee . Slowly they dwindled in strength. With the cavalry Corps cancelling each other out the French moved Victor's Corps east to reinforce Lauriston's Corps.

On the Sunday morning the allies organised the IInd Russian Corps into one block and drove North right up to the Galgenburg . They assaulted the French guns and took the ridge. The French had insufficient strength in the centre now and were forced to pull back even though they had started to win the cavalry battle.

Thus the battle was an Allied victory . However the allied cavalry was a spent force and could not pursue the retreating French who would have escaped with all of the Poles and most of Victors Corps. The Allies also suffered significant infantry losses in the town.

The rules we used Napoleonic Principles of War are now available. They will be advertised soon. I will also post details of Tom's new address on the article on the rules.

Pictures from the wargame

Above and below :Austrians and French fight in Leibertwolkwitz

Below : A view down the Russian line from the left wing. Here the Russian infantry is massing for the final attack.

Above :Russian infantry mass for the assault.