03. Battle of Bayreuth - 6th May 1813

Bayreuth is held by the French - IV Corps, commanded by General de Division Comte Bertrand. Early this morning Russian cavalry were sighted to the north, advancing off the high ground from the direction of Hof. Bertrand, who was intending to make his own advance towards Zwickau, cancelled his plans for that move and hastily deployed a division towards Sossen where it has occupied a good defensive position. The Russian cavalry continue to advance, taking up positions on the high ground west of Sossen, bringing up horsed artillery and a brigade of jagers who move down the Hof road towards Sossen.

The French must hold Bayreuth town to win; the Russians, too, must capture and hold it to claim victory. Although the French LoCS runs south-west via Koslan and Kralowitz to Bamberg, cutting this road without also capturing the town will not secure the Russians a victory.

While the Kralowitz - Koslan - Bayreuth - Unhose valley fits the known terrain well, as does the rising ground to the north and north-west, the steep ridge and valley south of Bayreuth does not and therefore this whole section of the map is out of bounds and may not be entered except by routing troops. In the scenario there will be a line of objective stars to indicate the boundary of the playable area. The map above shows these joined by straight lines. Effectively this boundary excludes the highest points of the main SW-NE ridge and all the woods that crown it. Some lower shoulders of high ground are accessible.

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Although the town and garrison of Bayreuth was subjected to a powerful and prolonged artillery bombardment the Russians made no serious effort to wrest control of the place from Bertrand's IV Corps and as night fell the attackers withdrew under cover of a strong protective screen of Cossacks. The French cavalry, weaker in numbers, was unable to determine very much about the enemy strength or composition but a few of the Russian bodies and badly wounded found on the field next morning were from the Guard Jager Regiment.

One Russian column withdrew towards Hof, a second towards Zwickau.

The Russians suffered 40 killed and 300 wounded, the French 100 and 750.

The French remain in control of the town.