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General Situation, 7th of May 1813
After the Battle of Luetzen/Gross-Goerschen the Prussians spent the night in those two villages while the French fell back to Starsiedel and the Russians camped at Pegau. The next morning saw the Allies retreating but a French pursuit was impossible due to their weakness in cavalry.
The death of Marschal Bessieres has hit Napoleon and the French cavalry hard. Wittgenstein having wasted the Guard suffered the displeasure of the Czar, it is unlikely that he will be put in command again any time soon. Bluecher and his Prussian are trying to make good their losses, esp. those in the Guard, as fast as possible.
Of Course, Napoleon needs to refill his Regiments after suffering considerable losses. However, the Marines and Marie-Louises have fought well and have gained expertise and fighting-power. The Emperor is calling up new Forces and strenghtens the Grande Armee further.
The Allies in their turn are calling up troops from the North, Swedes under the command of Bernadotte.
Macdonald has been ordered to support the Army of the Elbe which is trying to cross the Elbe from the North. It plans to use Dessau-Rossau, Flaeming and Wittenberg as crossing sites. Bernadotte tries to intercept and stop or hinder the Crossing. At the same time a Russian Korps amply provided with Cossacks and Light Cavalry has been ordered to advance to the west south of Wittenberg in order to cut French lines of communication.
Eugene’s Army of the Elbe is tasked to cross the river Elbe, and join Napoleon’s 2nd Corps led by McDonald.
The Allies are tasked to stop Eugene from crossing.
Advance General Kleist! I will keep McDonald’s Corps busy , you MUST take the bridge at Fläming!
Battle of the Elbe Day 1
7th of May 1813
There are three bridges: in the east WITTENBERG (not visible on the left back table), FLÄMING in the center, and in the west ROSSLAU (on the right back table). The Elbe is fordable for cavalry and on certain places for infantry. Bernadotte´s Swedish division and Kleist´s Prussians against Eugene´s Corps are north of the Elbe, while MacDonald is fighting St Priest´s Russians in the south. Both sides started with troops on both sides of the river.
The Allies started in Wittenber and the Prussian pressed rapidly for Fläming and won the race for the bridge. Eugene responded with amassing 18 Divisions of infantry to form a mass charge and take wrestle the bridge away from the Prussians.
In the meantime a division of pontoon engineers from McDonad’s Corps are on their way erect a pontoon bridge in Rosslau.
Eugene’s Polish Divison on the left ist the rear-guard and must protect the crossing army at all costs.
Mon Empereur! The battle is over… The misserable Allies have stopped my corps from crossing the Elbe river and uniting with General McDonald!!
Battle of the Elbe Day 2
8th of May 1813
The Battle of the Elbe draged on to the next day. The French left flank comprised of Eugene’s Army of the Elbe Corps fought a brave rear guard action and held the allies at bay.
However, the situation was desperate. Eugene may have denied Bernadotte’s Swedes the high ground but suffered enourmous losses in an attempt to retake the village of Fläming and its vital bridge from Kleist’s Prussians. Only the bridge at Rosslau remains in French hands.
The pontoon bridge was finally constructed but by the time the first Battalion was to cross the Allies had where pushing Eugene across his whole line. To avoid further losses Eugene made the hard decision to abondon the crossing and move north towards Davout.
