La Bataille d' Eggmuhl 1809

Austrians Line Fire Proves Deadly

Eggmühl Battle A Near Miss For Charles’

Here is our review of the Battle of Eggmühl, but it is told through the prism of our game, La Bataille d’ Eggmühl 1809 .

When Charles invaded Bavaria on April 10, 1809, Napoleon had not yet arrived in Germany. Overall command had been given to Berthier, but he could not organize the French with a coherent defense. The French were scattered throughout Bavaria and would not start to assume any cohesiveness until Napoleon arrived. He arrived on April 17 and immediately started to organize the French into an offensive army. On April 20, Napoleon defeated the Austrians at Abensberg. His victory, however, was subdued by the French capitulation of their garrison at Ratisbon on the same day as the Abensberg victory, where the French lost over 2000 troops. Napoleon ordered Davout’s III Corps and Lefebvre’s VII Corps to pursue what he thought were the remnants of the Austrian army on April 21. Unbeknownst to Napoleon, however, Charles was just assembling the bulk of his army. He would temporarily outnumber Davout and Lefebvre. (Davout would enter the northwest edge of the game map covered by forests. Lefebvre would shortly follow with his Bavarians and Demont’s reserve division just south of that, but still in very difficult terrain). Charles’ goal was to destroy Davout in detail before Napoleon arrived with the rest of his army. The Austrians would attempt separate Davout’s corps from Lefebvre’s corps which was protecting Davout’s southern flank. (Scenario One of the game is a recreation of this action where either side is faced with attempting to destroy their opponent and gaining an upper hand. Charles is able to bring two large Korps—commanded by Hohenzollern and Rosenburg—with plentiful amounts of light troops to delay Davout’s move into the woods-- into play. Charles’ goal was to destroy Davout in detail before Napoleon arrived with the rest of his army. The Austrians would attempt separate Davout’s corps from Lefebvre’s corps which was protecting Davout’s southern flank. (Scenario One of the game is a recreation of this action where either side is faced with attempting to destroy their opponent and gaining an upper hand. Charles is able to bring two large Korps— commanded by Hohenzollern and Rosenburg—with plentiful amounts of light troops to delay Davout’s move into the woods-- into play. Charles’ goal was to destroy Davout in detail before Napoleon arrived with the rest of his army. The Austrians would attempt separate Davout’s corps from Lefebvre’s corps which was protecting Davout’s southern flank. (Scenario One of the game is a recreation of this action where either side is faced with attempting to destroy their opponent and gaining an upper hand. Charles is able to bring two large Korps— commanded by Hohenzollern and Rosenburg—with plentiful amounts of light troops to delay Davout’s move into the woods-- into play. Charles Brings Two Large Korps Into Play

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