BATTLE OF LEIPZIG 18 OCTOBER 1813
DOLITZ-PROBSTHEYDA

Background

The Battle of Leipzig was the decisive and biggest battle of the Napoleonic Wars~ lasting from 16 - 18 October~ involving some 195000 French and German Troops under Napoleon against 365000 Austrians~ Prussians, Russian and Swedish troops under the overall command of Schwarzenburg.

Following bitter, but ultimately indecisive fighting on the 16th a relative lull developed on the 17th. At around 2am, in heavy rain, the French pulled back from Vlteir positions in the south around Wachau that they had occupied on the 16th October to positions closer to Leipzig, although Napoleon still considered victory to be a viable proposition. For the attack on the 18th the Allied Armies planned an offensive using no less than six columns against every part of the French positions 

After savage fighting throughout 18 October, Napoleon realised that his attempt to hold Leipzig, particularly after the desertion in mid battle of the entire Saxon Corps was completely hopeless and withdrew toward Hanau and ultimately to France for his doomed struggle during the 1814 campaign.

~This scenario covers the fighting in the Dolitz - Probstheyda sector of the battlefield during 18th October. 

Phase 1: 8 AM - 2pm

Hessen Homburg's Assault on Dolitz

1. Hessen Homburg launched his initial attacks from a position on the high ground in the Dosen area using Bianchi's, Weissenwolfs and Liechtenstein's divisions. Meanwhile Wimpfenn and Grieff's division (the latter is off the table) moved up. Nostitz' cavalry supported the advance.

2. Shortly after 8am the fIrst attack on Dolitz which was garrisoned by Semele's division, commenced. The French, employing a tactic they had developed for village defence drew the allies into the village~ and then counter attacked into their flanks. The allies were
forced to pull back and regroup after suffering heavy casualties.

3. The second attack, preceded by an artillery bombardment, and with Prussian support forced the French out of both Dosen and Dolitz. The French then fell back to their main defensive position around Probstheyda.

Phase 2: 2PM - 4PM

1. The Prussians now launched an attack on Probstheyda. .However, the French position was well defended forcing the Prussians to launch no less than three attacks against it. Using the tactic they had employed in defending Dolitz, the French drew the Prussians into
house to house fighting while, simultaneously deploying infantry around the flanks of the village prior to counter attacking. 

Recent research by Scott Bowden (1) has demonstrated that the French used these tactics with great success; other examples being the action of Haslach - Jungmgen (1805), Auerstadt (1806) and the defence of Aspem/Essling (1809). Interestingly the Probstheyda example demonstrates that, despite the dramatic decline in quality of the French army after the Russian campaign of1812, the old tactics were still
feasible even with ill trained conscripts.

2. A further attack was attempted by Wurrtemburg's division, however it fared no better

Phase 3: 4PM - Nightfall

Following consultation between Schwarzenburg and the Czar, in which the former suggested that, if a further attack was to be attempted against the Probstehyda position it would be necessary to commit the Russian Guard. Not surprisingly, considering the weakened state of this formation, due to casualties suffered at Dresden and Kulm, the strength of the French position as well as Allied successes elsewhere on the battlefield the Czar sensibly, refused and the battle in this area concluded with a heavy artillery bombardment.

After the Battle

By nightfall the course of the battle had forced Napoleon back closer to Leipzig, and that his situation, especially considering the possibility that some of his other German allies might defect as the Saxon Corps had rendered both his tactical and strategic situation in Germany untenable.Therefore had no option at this stage but to retreat back into France to defend what remained of his empire in_1814.

The Battle of Leipzig was the decisive battle of the Napoleonic Wars and ensured the eventual defeat of the French. Considering its strategic position on the battlefield it was essential . for the French to hold Probstheyda, as failure to do would have meant an Allied advance into Leipzig itself during the afternoon or early evening of the 18th. . This would have resulted, at best in a precipitous French retreat across the Elster, and, at worst, the complete destruction of the French army.

The French did well to avoid this fate, but will they be so fortunate this time?

(1) The Glory Years 1805 - 1807: Napoleon and Austerlitz. Chicago :The Emperor's Press, 1997 pp. 54 - 55 for details of this tactic.

This demonstration game has been run up by the Nottngham War Games Club, which meets on Monday evenings at the Meadows Community Centre, Meadows, Nottingham

Dosen & Probstheyda buildings by Hovels

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