The Battle of Donauworth & Heidenheim - Part 3

 The Battle at Midday: The French Reinforcements Arrive, where is Mack?

Turns 5-8

At the start of turn 5, the French morale is at 6 and the Austrian moral is at 3. At the end of turn 6, reinforcements can start arriving for both the Austrians and the French.

Shocked into action by the sudden Austrian counterattack, Marshal Marmont is finally able to get his corps moving again. However, he is now forced on to the defensive in the face of Austrians cavalry charges. Marmont sees that he is in the same situation the Austrian’s had faced earlier in the battle, with a gap in his lines and Austrian cavalry charging into the breach. Marmont issues orders instructing his 1^st Infantry Division redeploy and close the gap, the men of the 18^th Légère jump to the task wheeling about and marching towards the fray. The Batavian cavalry charges again as nearby French infantry open fire on the Austrian Dragoons. Hoping against all odds, the Batavian cavalry seek to force back one of the Austrian Dragoon brigades. This sacrificial charge fails to deal significant damage to the Austrian Dragoons and breaks the Batavian cavalry as result, dealing a blow to the French morale. Hopefully, this sacrifice has bought the French II Corps some time.

Figure 1 – The French II Corps Redeploys to Meet the Austrian Breakthrough.

While the fate of the Batavian cavalry is sealed, the French 6^th Hussars begin to withdraw from the field. Thankfully for Marshal Marmont, his remaining brigade of light cavalry (the 8^th Chasseurs à Cheval regiment) is able to move up into supporting distance to take over from the 6^th Hussars.

Figure 2 – The Batavian Cavalry Breaks in Their Attempt to Force Back the Austrian Dragoons

Exhausted from their earlier exertions and the ferocity of the cavalry actions, the engaged elements of the Austrian III Corps now hesitate to capitalize on their successes. Von Werneck is unable to get his men to do anything more than fire at the nearby French infantry. By this time in the battle, the remaining Austrian artillery has exhausted most of its ammunition supply and will be forced to withdraw from the battle once they run out. The efforts of the artillery crews are starting to tell as their accuracy and rate of fire starts to drop off.

Figure 3 – The Austrian III Corps Hesitates as the Remaining Austrian Artillery Withdraws.

Over by Donauworth, Jellačić joins the farmhouse garrison adding his skirmishing skills to the 2^nd Brigade of the Austrian I Corps, 1^st Infantry Division. Jellačić arrival is just in time to witness the grenzers of the 1^st Brigade of 1^st Infantry Division break and flee from the field opening up the way for the French III Corps 2^nd Infantry Division to assault the farmhouse properly. Jellačići is not concerned, in spite of this further hit to Austrian morale, as his 2^nd  Infantry Division and cavalry are forcing back the French III Corps 3^rd Infantry Division in the fields to the south causing one of the French brigades to break and flee the field, resulting in a loss of French morale.

Figure 4 – The Austrian I Corps Assault Continues.

The French III Corps’ light cavalry moves up to offer support for the remaining beleaguered French infantry as Marshal Davout coordinates the French response to building Austrian I Corps attack. 

Figure 5 - French Light Cavalry Masses for a Charge to Break the Austrian Attack.

While the Austrian’s attack towards the north produces results, Marshal Marmont is finally able to get his corps back on the offensive. This new burst of momentum sees Marmont issue orders to the French Cavalry Reserve, commanding that the as the heavy cavalry is to finish breaking the Austrian lines and finally take the town of Heidenheim from the Austrians.

Figure 6 - French Cavalry Reserve on the Move as the French II Corps Regains Their Momentum.

Von Werneck responds to this new threat by ordering his last intact infantry division to go on the offensive to try and throw off the French assault. The grenzers of the 1^st Brigade of the Austrian III Corps 3^rd Infantry Division step back into line as the entire division goes on the offensive. Standing before the advancing Austrian infantry is the ragged lines of the French II Corps 2^nd Infantry Division, already worn out from the Austrian artillery fire.

Figure 7 - Von Werneck Deploys His Last Reserves, Ordering Forward the 3^rd Infantry Division.

Further north, Marshal Davout’s III Corps’ momentum is undiminished by the Austrian attacks in the open fields. Davout’s entire light cavalry division charges into the fray, forcing back the Austrian cavalry that had so recently inflicted heavy casualties on the French infantry. 

Figure 8 – French Light Cavalry Charge and Force Back the Austrian Light Cavalry.

Around the farmhouse, brigades of the French III Corps 2^nd Infantry Division charge the Austrians in the fields on the northern side of the farmhouse. The French charge forces the Austrians out of field and back beyond the orchard, the charging infantry having succeeded where volleys of musket fire had failed to drive off the Austrians.

Figure 9 – The French Move to Flank the Farmhouse Before Assaulting the Prepared Austrian Defenders as the Austrian Cavalry Withdraws in the South.

Jellačić still has the ability to try and hold the farmhouse with the one last fresh brigade in his 1^st Infantry Division, but he notices a column of dust coming from the road to Crailsheim, which is the direction from which the French attack originated. This dust cloud can only signal one thing, the arrival of fresh French troops.  Jellačić orders his troops to abandon their previous objectives and to start withdrawing towards the river crossing before they are overwhelmed. Jellačić makes this choice because he does not believe that his corps has the ability to stop the assault of a much larger French force. To execute this order, the infantry of the Austrian I Corps 1^st Infantry Division and Cavalry Division begin falling back towards the Danube River crossing beyond the town of Donauworth while the fresher infantry of the Austrian I Corps 2^nd Infantry Division prepare to deal with the oncoming French light cavalry. While they execute this withdrawal in the face of the French attack, the Austrians are able to score another success as their parting volleys of musket fire cause the last brigade in the French III Corps 3^rd Infantry Division to break and flee the field which causes damage to the French morale.

Figure 10 – The Austrian I Corps Begin to Withdraw.

In spite of losing another brigade of infantry, French army morale increases as the French III Corps 1^st Infantry Division finally arrives on the field of battle. They suffer from a little bit of fatigue due to their forced march to arrive at the battlefield, but this fairly fresh division constitutes a serious threat to the Austrian army. 

Figure 11 - The First French Reinforcements Arrive

Unaware of the arrival of fresh French troops, von Werneck continues to engage the French II Corps around Heidenheim. Marshal Marmont’s troops manage to keep up their momentum and unleash volleys of musket fire into the advancing Austrians. The French II Corps 2^nd Infantry Division manages to form line to face the oncoming Austrian infantry under the cover of their skirmishing voltigeurs. In a badly timed twist of fate, the commander of the French Cavalry Reserve hesitates and orders a stop to his advancing Cuirassier division, depriving Marmont’s exhausted front line troops of a way to break the deadlock along the road to Heidenheim. Lacking the anticipated support of the French Cavalry Reserve, Marmont is forced to order the 8^th Chasseur Regiment to charge one of the Austrian Dragoon brigades. In a show of tremendous bravery, the charge of the 8^th Chasseur Regiment is able to force back the Austrian cavalry, once again opening a hole in the Austrian lines. At the same time the Austrian III Corps 4^th Infantry Division 3^rd Brigade of grenadiers breaks under the pressure of repeated volleys of musket fire from the hard fighting French III Corps 1^st Infantry Division. The grenadiers of von Werneck’s corps are not living up to their fame in this battle. This poor performance has a negative impact of Austrian morale, further weakening Austrian army morale to the point that it may break at any moment now.

Figure 12 – Converging Lines of Battle as the Austrian and French Forces Make Another Go at Breaking the Opposing Battle lines.

Managing to survive the breaking of the grenadier brigade, von Werneck makes his way to the town of Heidenheim. He sends orders that the #1 Regiment of Dragoons, the Archduke John Regiment, is to charge the advancing French infantry to hopefully buy more time. Von Werneck is still intent on fighting, but he is starting to run out of troops with which to throw at the French. Both the Austrian army and von Werneck need General Mack to arrive soon with the rest of the Austrian III Corps. 

Figure 13 – Austrian Troops Try to hold the Line.

Unfortunately for von Werneck, the Austrian Dragoons are not able to halt the French advance and the Dragoons are in turn forced to fallback and regroup. While this is happening, the Austrian III Corps 3^rd Infantry Division unleash their musket volleys on the opposing French line. The last remaining rounds of artillery ammunition are expended in support of this attack, which then forces the last Austrian artillery battery to withdraw from the battle as there is now nothing that they can do to offer further support. Even with this intense attack, the French infantry manage to stand their ground and offer up fierce resistance. There is still no sign of General Mack.

Figure 14 – Intense Volley Fire from both Sides.

To the north, Marshal Davout’s troops seem to waver due to exhaustion at the worst moment possible. Davout rides up and down the lines of the troops trying to get them into motion through sheer force of will, but to no avail. Jellačić takes advantage to this lull in battle, to further with draw his troops, they are almost able reach the river crossing point and escape the battle.

Figure 15 – The Austrian I Corps Withdrawing Through Donauworth

It is at this moment that things get even worse for the Austrian army, coming up from the road to Schorndorf (the town from which Marshal Marmont’s attack originated) arrives the fresh 1^st Dutch Infantry Division (though slightly fatigued from a forced march) along with the Emperor Napoleon himself. The arrival of the emperor on the field of battle produces a tremendous boost in French morale, but seems to also distract the troops of Marmont’s II Corps at the same time. Leading to a result of Marmont not being able to get his troops in motion to take advantage of the recent break in Austrian lines. The best that Marmont manages is to get his troops to keep on firing at the Austrians.

Side note: As part of the game mechanics in Blucher, each C-in-C and Sub Commander (corps commander) has a special trait/effect that they can use to represent personal skills or charisma that may have come into play on a battlefield. Napoleon has the effect of being a “Legend”, which causes the French army’s morale to be calculated as half of the number of brigades in the army instead of one third. This means that the French morale after the arrival of Napoleon and the two new infantry divisions effectively rose to be an 8 at this moment. Though that morale value may change as the battle continues.

Figure 16 – The Arrival of the Emperor Both Helps and Hinders the French Army.

Figure 17 - More French Reinforcements Arrive Lead by the Emperor Napoleon.

Even with the arrival of the Emperor Napoleon on the field, von Werneck is still dedicated to holding Heidenheim, in spite of the fact that his troops are very near the point of breaking. His only orders to his remaining troops is to hold where they can and pray that General Mack arrives soon.

Figure 18 – The Austrian Position Looks Bleak.

Even with the odds stacked against them, the Austrians are still a formidable fighting force, and they show this ability by breaking an infantry brigade in the French II Corps 2^nd Infantry Division. While the effect is minor at this point, the hole in the French lines is one that will need to be addressed. French cavalry begins to redeploy even as the Austrians celebrate this small victory.

Figure 19  - Austrian Musket Volleys Break a French Brigade.

Receiving word of the arrival of Napoleon on the battlefield, Marshal Davout is able to finally get his troops moving again. At the same time that Davout’s men regain their momentum, word arrives from Napoleon ordering Davout to send his newly arrived 1^st Infantry Division to Heidenheim. Napoleon is already thinking ahead and is aware of the fact that a faint dust cloud can be seen in the direction of Ulm, signaling the fact that there is an army of on the march. Davout relays the order and then turns to the pursuit of the Austrian I Corps.

Realizing that Austrians around Donauworth are attempting to retreat across the Danube River, Davout orders his light cavalry to continue their movement to cut across the road linking Donauworth and Heidenheim. Their goal now is to flank the retreating Austrians and try and prevent them from reaching the bridges. At the same time, the French III Corps 2^nd Division will march through the town on Donauworth, taking the town and pinning the Austrians between the two forces. This entire maneuver relies on hoping that Jellačić does not realize that the fresh French division he sees is not actually coming to attack him, because Jellačić’s corps is still a rather strong force to engage. Davout could really use his corps artillery at this time. Concentrated artillery fire on withdrawing Austrian infantry would be devastating.

Figure 20 – French Cavalry Flank the Town of Donauworth as the Austrians Continue to Retreat.

Jellačić, seeing the French cavalry begin to flank his withdrawing forces, orders his cavalry and 2^nd Infantry Division to redeploy to block any attacks while his troops attempt to cross the Danube River.

Figure 21 – The Austrian I Corps is Forced to Redeploy to Meet the Flanking French Light Cavalry.