Rabenberg - October 1813

This week a report of our most recent Napoleonic engagement using the Volley & Bayonet rules and 6mm miniatures. This fictional engagement was set in October of 1813. With the summer truce at an end the allies, now bolstered by the Austrians, attempt to bring a portion of French army to battle using elements of  the Austro-Russian Army under command of Prince Schwarzenberg. Opposite however Napoleon had arrived on the field.

By 10am of the 3rd of October Napoleon had assembled three corps on the open ground near the town of Rabenberg. In the centre was Marmont's VI Corps. The corps comprised three infantry divisions, specifically the 20th under Compans, the 21st under Larange and the 22nd which was commanded by Friederichs. All three were drawn up facing south with the corps stretching from Rabenberg in the east to the town of Silberfurt in the west, the latter marking the French right flank initially. 

To the left of Marmont was Victor's II Corps. Numerically inferior the corps comprised Vial's 6th Division and Dubreton's 4th Infantry Division. It should be noted that the corps' 5th Division had been dispatched two days prior. Reinforcing the corps however was a converged cavalry brigade. 

Formed to the rear of Marmont's Corps was Napoleon's immediate reserve including several divisions of cavalry. These included the 1st Light Cavalry Division, the 3rd Dragoon Division and the 1st Cuirassier Division. In support was Curial's 2nd Old Guard Division, fitting as Napoleon was on hand. In all Napoleon had some 37,000 bayonets, 10,000 cavalry and 72 cannon. 

The French centre looking southeast. Marmont's VI Corps is forward & reserves behind.

On route was Lauriston's V Corps which was expected to arrive by noon. This corps comprised the 16th and 10th infantry divisions along with the 2nd Light Cavalry Division. It would add a further 13,000 bayonets, 2,500 cavalry and 28 cannon to the forces available. Alas, further forces were dispersed and unlikely to bolster French ranks until after dusk. Yet by noon Napoleon would have at his disposal some 50,000 infantry, 12,500 cavalry and 100 cannon.

Opposite, Schwarzenberg had at his immediate disposal two Austrian corps. Gyulai's II Armeekorps, some three divisions in strength. These formed opposite the French right and centre. On the Austrian right, opposite Victor's Corps, were two divisions from Klenau's IV Armeekorps. Combined there were some 43,500 Austrian bayonets and 96 cannon. Where the Austrians were clearly deficient was in cavalry, a mere 2,000 cavalry present initially. 

Marching to reinforce Schwarzenberg were additional Austrian cavalry under Klebersberg along with the converged grenadiers of Weissenwolf's Infantry Division. These would add a further 4,500 bayonets, 3,000 cavalry and 14 cannon. Further distant, but expected on the field soon after noon, was General Gorchakov's 1st Russian Corps. This corps, while numerically limited in manpower, was flush with cannon. To place this in context the Russian corps fielded just two infantry divisions and a Cossack cavalry division. Once deployed they would add a further 6,000 bayonets, 52 cannon and 2,500 Cossacks. In all Schwarzenberg would soon have at his disposal 54,000 bayonets, 7,500 cavalry and no less than 162 cannon.

While Napoleon made some minor redistributions of his troops around 10am he seemed unwilling to advance. In part this was due to the number of new recruits that filled the ranks of many infantry divisions. While their morale was high their limited drill meant they manoeuvred poorly. An early advance could mean they would be exposed to counterattack. Therefore, instead of advancing Napoleon awaited the arrival of Lauriston's V Corps. 

Schwarzenberg however showed no such caution. At 10:30am the dense Austrian regiments moved forward their drill book precision on full display as the white coated warriors advanced to the beat of the drum while black eagles flapped on their white and yellow standards in the gentle October breeze. Yet despite this initial advance the Austrian centre and left halted outside of effective artillery range. Much to Napoleon's surprise the Austrian centre was deploying defensively. 

The same could not be said for the Austrian right which, comprising Kenau's IV Armeekorps, pressed ever forward. Their target was Dubreton's 4th Infantry Division which formed the French left. For clarity Dubreton's division was drawn up between the town of Rabenberg and the meandering Eichen Bach. This stream effectively defined the French left and the Austrian extreme right. 

Dubreton's Division under attack. The Eichen Bach is to the left, Rabenberg to the right.

Victor had ordered Dubreton to deploy his three brigades forward while retaining a cavalry reserve of some 1,000 men to the rear. Also in reserve was II Corps' 12 pounders. Combined they provided Victor a degree tactical flexibility though reducing the defensive benefits the twelve heavy cannon would have provided had they been deployed forward.

Hohenlohe-Bartenstein's 2nd Austrian Division continued forward and hit the French with unprecedented elan. In the initial attacks the French brigades of Brun and Ferriere were badly mauled and forced back. So ferocious were the Austrian attacks that it seemed the French left would soon collapse. 

However, a French counterattack was forming and would be delivered against the left flank of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein's 2nd Division. Pinned by reforming elements of Dubreton's 4th Infantry Division, along with II Corps's heavy artillery and cavalry, the Austrians were now assailed from their flank. First to surge forward were the 1st Marine Regiment from Compen's 20th Infantry Division as well as the Grenadier Brigade from Curial's 2nd Guard Division. Later, Brigade Bronikowski's, from Vial's 6th Division, along with the Chasseur Brigade from Curial's Guard Division would add their weight to the attack. 

French Grenadiers along with Bronikowski's Brigade surge forward.

Above and below the French counterattacks underway near Rabenberg. The town of Rabenberg was garrisoned by a single legere battalion. It should be noted that the town of Rabenberg was never attacked by the Austrians and as such it formed a useful anchor. Below, the situation viewed from the Austrian perspective.

The Austrian right flank which comprised Klenau's IV Armeekorps.

Later a cuirassier brigade from Bordesoulle's 1st Heavy Cavalry Division, along with Victor's light cavalry, would be thrown forward into the maelstrom on the French left. 

Over several desperate hours of fighting Hohenlohe-Bartenstein's 2nd Austrian Infantry Division would be first worn down and then collapse under these relentless French attacks. The French left had finally been stabilised.

A general view around 1pm looking east with the Austrians to the right.

Above the Austrian converged grenadiers can be seen arriving in the right foreground. On the left foreground is the town of Silberfurt while on the distant left is the town of Rabenberg. Below, a view from the Austrian centre looking north.

Gyulai's Austrian III Armeekorps with the Light Division deployed in reserve.

Meanwhile, on the French right the situation was less clear. Around noon Lauriston's V Corps began to deploy west of the Morgenfeld to Silberfurt Road and advance. It will be recalled that Lauriston's Corps comprised two infantry divisions, that of Maison and Bachhelet, along with Roussel d'Hurbal's 2nd Light Cavalry Division. 

Opposite, the Austrian Converged Grenadier Division as well as Klebersberg's Cavalry Division were deploying having begun to arrive around 12.30pm. The grenadiers under Weissenwolf, unhindered by the French, had moved rapidly forward in road column before deploying to field formations. Soon they would seized a small rise that effectively marked the Allied left and threatened the French right. While it is true the Russian Cossacks were deployed further to the Allied left they played no part in the battle, ignored by both friend and foe.

Lauriston determined to seize the initiative and moved Bachhelet's French 10th Division forward. Alas, comprised of provisional infantry the advance was slower than anticipated and Bachhelet was forced to halt his brigades some 400 yards short of the Austrians. The corps artillery, deployed in support, supplemented 10th Division's own cannon which had been dispersed among the infantry brigades. Together they engaged the Austrians drawn up on the gentle rise. Alas, their fire was generally ineffective. 

Around 3.30pm the Austrian grenadiers surged down the gentle slopes causing chaos among the French to their front. In the coming hours fighting surged back and forth as fresh infantry and cavalry were thrown forward. 

The engagement on the French right as French infantry and cavalry counterattack.

Around 5.30pm a brigade of Austrian Cuirassiers drawn from Klebersberg's Division charged forward. In so doing the outmatched the lighter Chasseurs of the French 1st Light Cavalry Division were decimated. Soon they were supported by addition Austrian cavalry.

With the situation on the French right already desperate, the commitment of Gorchakov's 1st Russian Corps, some two divisions in number, would likely result in French collapse. Indeed, to Lauriston the situation seemed almost untenable. However, rather than be thrown against the French right the Russian infantry, along with their artillery park, moved to the Austrian right.

This move was a result of the rapidly unravelling Allied right flank. It will be recalled that Hohenlohe-Bartenstein's 2nd Austrian Infantry Division had previously collapsed. Determined to keep the Allied right flank under pressure the Napoleon ordered the attacks here to continue. The Old Guard were particularly active though to were French Cuirassiers, light cavalry and elements of Compan's 20th Division. 

The French attacks against the Austrian right become general, Rabenberg is on the left.

The result was predictable, soon Meyer's 3rd Austrian Division was faltering with first one regiment then another giving ground or, in some cases, breaking in rout. Soon the Allied right had unravelled. Desperate to stabilise the position Schwarzenberg ordered elements of Folliot de Crenneville's Austrian Light Division to form a new line. However, it was the arrival of the Russians which finally stabilised the Allied position. Notable was the Russian artillery which once deployed would deter even the most determined French assault. While Schwarzenburg had clearly lost the initiative, his new line was strong. 

Equally time was against Napoleon. As dusk moved closer the French attacks slowed, until eventually they stopped. As night drew all possibility of further action ceased. Instead the commanders began to review  the casualty reports. Napoleon's left and right had suffered the most casualties though the careful use of reinforcements had meant that, apart from one light cavalry division, all French divisions were ready to continue the battle tomorrow. The same could not be said for the Allies. While the Austrian centre and Russian Divisions were fresh Klenau's IV Austrian Armeekorps had been completely shattered. Indeed the regiments that hours earlier had advanced with great elan had been decimated and would take days to reform. Reports filtering in spoke of fugitives fleeing well into the night with all discipline lost. It was clear Napoleon had gained a major victory and in addition Allied confidence had been shattered. The Emperor was well pleased.

So ended an outstanding engagement which kept all the six players involved, including one who was new to the rules and visiting from overseas. The scenario was developed using the "Road to Glory" scenario system included in the rules. In the system players randomly draw two cards from a deck then from these two select one. The French players selected "Returning Detachment - Right #15". In contrast the Allies selected "Build-up Echelon Left #8. As to the miniatures they are all from the Heroics & Ros 6mm range and are from my own collection. They are based for half scale where each massed infantry or cavalry stand is 1.5” square and 1” represents 200 yards. The table measured 4' x 3'.