Altensdorf - October 1813

To mark the 208th anniversary of the Battle of Leipzig, historically fought in October 1813, we deployed our 6mm miniatures for a fictional multiplayer engagement nominally set south of Leipzig. In our scenario the Army of Bohemia was marching north in converging columns towards Altensdorf. The columns comprised Austrians, Russians & Prussians. From the north Napoleon was equally determined to defeat his enemy, but in the Emperor’s case before Blucher arrived north of Leipzig. While a fictional scenario the orders of battle are based on those at the historical battle, but for the French not always those allocated to the southern sector.

On the afternoon of the 13th of October the Austrians and three French corps were first on the field. The Austrians formed on the Allied left while Murat deployed three corps in what was to become the centre. As the afternoon progressed both commanders moved reinforcements forward, each determined to complete his concentration before engaging. Delayed, the Russians eventually formed the Allied centre while the Prussians extended the Allied right. Despite only minor skirmishing the French had, by dusk, secured several key positions. 

During the morning of the 14th both armies were further reinforced. When fighting began in the late morning the following forces were deployed.

The French left comprised three corps. These were Marmont’s VI Corps, Bertrand’s IV Corps and two divisions from Victor’s II Corps. The centre meanwhile comprised  Macdonald’s XI Corps, Lauriston’s V Corps and Poniatowski’s small VIII Corps. To the right Murat had positioned Souham’s III Corps as well as Sebastiani’s II Cavalry Corps. Finally, Napoleon deployed Mortier’s II Young Guard Corps along with a division of Old Guard, Middle Guard and Guard cavalry. These five divisions were to be used in the centre or on the left as the situation required. In all some 101,000 infantry, 16,500 cavalry and 324 cannon.

Opposite the Allies were arranged as follows. The Austrians were positioned on the Allied left. They comprised Gyulai’s II Corps and Klenau’s IV Corps and were reinforced by a division of Converged Grenadiers and a division of Cuirassiers, both from the Army Reserve. Combined some 47,500 infantry, 6,000 cavalry and 114 cannon. In the centre, under Grand Duke Constantine, was Gorchakov’s I Corps, Württemberg’s II Corps, Raevsky’s Grenadier Corps, Yermolev’s Reserve Corps and Platov’s Cavalry Reserve. In all some 30,000 Russian infantry, 7,000 cavalry and 156 guns. Finally, the Prussians formed on the Allied right. Unlike the weak Russian formations Kleist’s II Corps was large with five divisions, but was then further bolstered by von Alvensleben’s Prussian Guard Division. Some 28,000 Prussian infantry, 4,000 cavalry and 84 cannon. In all the Allies deployed 105,500 bayonets, 15,000 cavalry and 354 cannon.

Above, the centre and Allied right in the foreground.

With morning rain, and the delays deploying reinforcements, it was late morning before Napoleon’s attack was finally under way. In an effort to more easily describe the battle we shall divide the battlefield into sectors and provide a description of the fighting in each. 

French Right:

Napoleon was confident the Austrians would conduct a well considered advance against his right and centre with the right being least threatened. Accordingly, he issued orders for Souham III Corps to hold in place for a possible advance should the Austrians commit too many of their troops to fighting in the centre. 

In addition he ordered two of Sebastiani’s Cavalry Divisions to the centre to bolster where he believed the main battle would be fought. The 4th Light Cavalry Division and the 2nd Cuirassier Division began their movement towards the centre in the late morning.

Above, the general situation in the late morning. The French are on the left and the French right is visible in the left foreground. Two of Sebastiani’s Cavalry Divisions are just visible moving towards the centre near a stream. On the right two Austrian corps are visible stretching from the right foreground to around the position of a farm complex in a central position. The Russians and Prussians are beyond.

Below, later in the afternoon, the extreme right of the French infantry line. The French infantry by this time were extended by two light cavalry divisions not shown.

As expected the Austrians eventually probed the French right but were generally unwilling to commit to a general action here.

Above, the Austrian cavalry cross the stream to demonstrate against the French right.

French Left:

In contrast to the right the French left was to be heavily engaged. Napoleon, unwilling to assault the Russians with their massed artillery, determined to advance against the Prussians with determination. In the late morning, and before the Prussians were fully deployed, no less than seven French infantry divisions were advancing forward. 

Leading the attack was the three divisions of Marmont’s VI Corps directly supported by the two divisions of Bertrand’s IV Corps. Several attacks were launched against the Prussians who were formed in three divisional lines in a restricted area bordered, in part, by woods on both sides. The French attacks were delivered with great elan, yet the Prussians fought with equal determination. 

Above, the view from the French lines, while below the view from the Prussian positions.

Despite Prussian tenacity in just within two hours the the first Prussian Division broke, a second soon after. Below, casualties mount on the Prussians.

As casualties became critical and the weight of the French attack unceasing, the Prussians formed a new line. While the original line extended the Russian line this new line was right angles to the Russians and can be seen below.

This realignment now allowed the French to pressure the Russian right flank. Below, French infantry attack the town of Altensdorf, held by Russians, while attempting to engage the Prussian line forming in a the nearby woods. 

After five hours of fighting the Prussians were near collapse. The Prussian 9th and 10th Divisions were shattered with the 12th Division near exhaustion and the 11th suffering heavy casualties.

French losses were however mounting. Friederich’s 22nd Division was the largest of the five divisions initially committed yet the this division was, by the end of the day, exhausted. The 20th, 21st, 12th and 4th Divisions were themselves nearing exhaustion. 

As darkness approached Russian Cossacks, illustrated above, deployed to screen the exhausted Prussians from further French attacks.

The Centre:

As previously mentioned Napoleon was unwilling to attack the Russians frontally due to their massive concentrations of artillery. Instead, he hoped to encourage the Russians forward while using several areas of terrain to slow and channel the expected Allied attacks. Then he anticipated counterattack any breakthroughs with guard infantry or cavalry. Below, the general situation in the centre with the French on the left.

To this end Poniatowski’s Polish Corps was placed on the right bolstering that of Macdonald’s XI Corps that was deployed on the right centre while Lauriston’s V Corps formed on the left centre. The Guard were held in reserve along with the cavalry of the centre rear.

The Russians, seizing a hill around noon, began to deploy a grand battery of some 72 guns. French artillery in this sector were dramatically outnumbered and progressively silenced or forced back. Around 3pm Albert’s 10th Division, having suffered unbearable casualties, broke.

Above, the French positions opposite the Russian gun line. Later French troops opposite the Russian gun lines retired to lessen the impact of the massed guns.

The Russians meanwhile were progressively engaged in a firefight with French troops in a wood near a farm complex, the Weibes Herrenhaus. As the fighting escalated Russian Guards and Austrian Grenadiers launched a series of assaults on the farm complex. Initially held by Brigade Zucchi, from Gerard’s 35th Division, the complex would change several times and draw in a brigade of the Middle Guard and two brigades of the Old Guard.

Below, Russian units are thrown back after a series of counter attacks by French infantry. Mezentzov, Ourousov, Pissarev and Tchoglokov’s Divisions, the last being Grenadier Divisions, were to suffer heavy casualties.

The Old Guard fought with great determination yet the number of Russian and Austrian Grenadiers and Russian Guards available meant the task allocated to Napoleon’s veteran Grenadiers and Chasseurs was was all but impossible. 

Above, the Austrians and Russian Grenadiers and Russian Guard attack the fortified farm complex of Weibes Herrenhaus. Below, brigades of Old and Middle Guard counter-attack.

Meanwhile, further to the west a series of woods held by the French slowly drew in various Austrian infantry regiments as the afternoon progressed. Now, as the fighting around Weibes Herrenhaus intensified Austrian infantry and artillery, emboldened by recent gains, advanced to bombard the Merchand’s 39th Division. Behind Austrian Converged Grenadiers formed waiting for the order to surge forward.

Above, pressure on the French builds as Austrian form against the French right centre just prior to the deployment of Austrian cannon.

Unwilling to suffer another intense bombardment, that by the Russian cannon was unpleasant to say the least, Napoleon ordered an attack by St-Germain’s 2nd Cuirassier Division. This division included the Carabiners. 

At 6pm and with light fading 2,000 Cuirassiers and Carabiners charged the forming Austrian gun line. Panic overtook the Austrian gunners and some 30 Austrian guns were overrun or forced to retreat.

Now, as dusk gave way to darkness the butcher’s bill was calculated. Across the battlefield some 21,500 French were killed or wounded. Yet Allied casualties were similar with some 20,500 killed or wounded, the majority being Prussian or Russian. The Battle of Altensdorf had been a costly yet indecisive affair.

As to the game it was fought on a table measuring 6’x4’. We use half scale, so this equates to a table of 12’ x 8’ at full scale which represents a battlefield some eight miles in length. By the second day there were over 3,000 miniatures on the table. For those interested a short video of the engagement, which provides a different perspective of the game, can be found here. 

The miniatures illustrated are all from Heroics & Ros’ 6mm ranges and are from my own collection.