Bill, this scenario was not a case of the French playing defense or the Allies playing offense on the first day. The French attempted to engage the Allies, both in the north (Halle) and southwest of Leipzig (Markrandstadt and surrounding area), and eventually in the southeast (the bridge and ford at Rotha, and the ford at Grossdeuben). What follows is the Allied after action report perspective.
In the north, the Prussians and Russians defended against a determined French attack at Halle extending east to Sagisdorf. The Allies’ plan was to use the terrain to their advantage along with their eventual large advantage in cavalry. The large fields east of Halle were a perfect killing ground for artillery with limited avenues of advance otherwise. While Halle was abandoned by the Allies, the ground north of Halle had to be defended until the Russian left wing had fully arrived. The Prussians were assigned to the Halle sector as far east to include the woods near Buschdorf initially, but augmented by Russian artillery and a supporting Russian infantry brigade. The Russians held the ridge where the pike ran from Halle to Sucheisdorf and most of the woods northwest of Sagisdorf; it was in these woods where the some of the heaviest action occurred, with the Russians eventually holding against repeated French infantry assaults supported by light cavalry. This action finally concluded with dusk on the first day with the French still holding Halle. The Allies, with the remaining Russian left wing units having arrived, began maneuvering to the east with the plan to unite with von Bulow’s arriving Prussians on the second day.
In the southeast, two Russian line divisions and a large number of Cossacks were part of a ruse to keep the French attention focused on this sector after observing the French II and VI Corps and a large contingent of cavalry were still present. With the Cossacks screening the Russian infantry advanced on two separate routes ensuring the French could catch glimpses of their progress. This feint was to allow the remaining Russian and Austrian corps to cross the Pleisse and also the Elster, leaving a large part of the French army isolated in the south, more than a day’s march from Halle. The two Russian divisions and most of the Cossacks escaped by a hair back across the Pleisse before the French could catch up to them, blowing the bridges. One sharp action was fought at the ford at Grossdeuben where the French attempted to cross in force, but a division of Russian grenadiers supported by artillery was awaiting this anticipated move and pushed them back across the river. The action southwest of Leipzig began unexpectedly when the Austrian 1 Korps was marching north from Markrandstadt to seize a crossing over the Elster. In route, a large number of French Guard cavalry was observed moving west along the pike that runs somewhat parallel to the Elster, likely in route to Halle. Anticipating infantry would be following the cavalry, 1 Korps swung west toward Pissen and Witzsherdorf with the French cavalry in pursuit. I Korps managed to escape with all its supply wagons after crossing the stream that runs by these two villages and the French cavalry made haste for Markrandstadt where a larger confrontation was brewing. I Korps had detached a battalion and a light battery at Markrandstadt to keep any wandering cavalry scouts at a distance, but when a column of Young Guard was sighted marching on the pike toward them they departed to the west. What the French did not know was that two brigades of Prussians plus the Prussian Guard were concealed in the low ground around the villages of Quesitz and Dohlen, but could see some approaching Austrians arriving from the south. Those Austrians eventually arriving were the I, II, III, Reserve, and Cuirassier Korps. The Young Guard attempted an attack down the pike but without supporting cavalry the odds were too great. As the day wore on, the Guard Cavalry and VIII Corps cavalry arrived. The Old Guard also arrived to support the Young Guard and managed to stabilize the situation, but with the arrival of two additional Austrian Korps on the French left flank attacking in the direction of the woods east of Markrandstadt and the village of Gohrenz the situation looked dire. The Prussian Guard cavalry came within a hex of capturing Napoleon and his staff in the action near Markrandstadt. But just as the French Guard was finally withdrawing with significant losses in men and artillery, more French Guard cavalry arrived east of Markrandstadt. This began the big cavalry battle as the entire Russian heavy cavalry corps plus a division of hussars that had been battling along the Pleisse river earlier moved to engage the French cavalry. Again, the numbers were too great for the French to win. Finally, late in the day, the French V Corps arrived as well as Kellerman’s cavalry corps to cover the withdrawal east to Leipzig during the night.
The second day continued with fighting in the north where the French XI Corps was surrounded by von Bulow’s two Prussian Corps, thanks in part to the heavy rain and the inability of the infantry to fire their muskets. Further west, the action continued as the French III Corps attempted to regain the initiative against the Russians and Prussians. In the south, two Russian corps defended the Elster River crossings while the Russian Guard turned back another attempt at crossing the ford at Knauthain. At this point the game was called.
_________________ Feldmarschall Jeff Freiherr Mathes von Krain 50th (Stein) Infantry Regiment Dritte Brigade Austrian Korps
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