Background:
Gyulai’s Austrians were on the left bank of the Pleisse River, to the west of Leipzig. Although ordered to attack, the main intent of his demonstration was to take pressure off the fighting on the right bank and possibly draw off some French reserves. For Napoleon, Lindenau was the only plausible withdrawal route for his entire army, yet the Allies did not grasp the obvious, and chose not to reinforce Gyulai.
At 5 am the Austrians moved against Bertrand’s prepared French IV Corps. This corps had been in action since August and had been much weakened, but the soldiers now fought like veterans. A short cavalry clash sent the French cavalry screen back, but the Austrian cavalry could not overrun the French earthworks.
Around 10 am Austrian artillery was moved into position on the heights and began to bombard the French earthworks, but with little effect. The Austrian infantry, by this time, had pushed the French back to Plagwitz and Lindenau, and for a short time had even gained part of the villages.
A renewed French counter attack, supported by reinforcements, expelled the Austrians and drove them back to almost where they had started the battle.
The Setup:
We removed some of the villages on the Austrian base edge because we didn't have enough model buildings to represent these and they have no effect on the battle.
Reinforcements:
At the start of each turn, the French player makes a reinforcement roll using 3 dice. This determines what, if any, reinforcement unit that can be placed onto the bridge hex. The bridge hex must not have a unit on it for the reinforcement unit to be placed.
Reinforcement roll:
2 Infantry symbols = one Line Infantry unit
3 Infantry symbols = one Light Infantry unit
2 Cavalry symbols = one Light Cavalry unit
3 Cavalry symbols = one Heavy Cavalry unit
2 Artillery symbols = one Foot Artillery unit
3 Artillery symbols = one Horse Artillery unit
Any other die roll symbol combination yields no reinforcing unit
The Battle:
The battle started with an Austrian attack on the French left flank. The French had a good position in the village and this combined with the necessary of fighting through the woods was too much for the Austrians.
The Austrians had left their light cavalry unsupported in the centre, so the French took the opportunity to attack an destroy them, but themselves taking casualties too.
The Austrians tried to take back the initiative by attacking the French right flank.
While at the same time even attacking on the French left flank.
General Morand entered the fray at the head of the French infantry in the village, and yet again the Austrians were defeated and pushed back.
The fighting on the French right intensified with both sides pushing forward more troops.
The Austrian Jaegers crept forward to the edge of the wood and started to bring a heavy fire to bare on the French defenders.
The French responded by clearing the woods with a bayonet charge.
But they took heavy losses from the Austrians supporting the Jaegers.
The Austrians made one last big effort, but couldn't shift the French defenders.
Now the Austrians were exhausted, and the French redoubts in the center still stood firm. A good victory for France!
