The Combat of Möckern
5th April 1813
Aftermath
That night Bülow's forces were concentrated at Büden, Borstell's & Berg's at Vehlitz and Yorck's at Dannigkow. Eugène, on receiving a (false) report that the allies had crossed the Elbe at Rosslau, withdrew on Magdeburg and crossed the river the next day. The day's fighting had cost the French about 750 killed & wounded (the wounded included Generals Grenier and Grundler) and the loss of one gun and 100 prisoners. The allies had lost about 1000 men, but had undoubtedly won the day. A few days later Eugène would make a final retreat, to the lower Saale, before the arrival of his stepfather would bring the French once more (briefly) into the ascendant.
The allied victory at Möckern, whilst militarily insignificant, gave a tremendous morale boost to the allied cause. The Prussian army, that had known only defeat at Napoleon's hands, had risen and thrown back the invader. The Befreiungskrieg had begun in earnest.
Conclusions & Comments
Eugène did not have a good day at Möckern. With superior numbers, a defensive position and interior lines he should have been able to throw off Wittgenstein's attack easily. Exhausted by nine months of continuous campaigning and suffering from a bout of rheumatism, he had lost all offensive spirit. A more energetic commander might have crushed Wittgenstein's force and delivered a significant check to the allied cause; as it was, his heart was never really in the move to the right bank, and retreat was inevitable.
Wittgenstein had attacked a superior enemy with four dispersed and uncoordinated columns. Against all reasonable expectations, this gamble had paid off - though more by luck than judgement. Nonetheless, he was able to milk the prestige of this victory to gain supreme command of the allied forces in the upcoming campaign.
The soldiers of both sides, in each case made up primarily of raw recruits, conducted themselves well under fire. This was to prove a feature of the 1813 campaign.
Wargaming the Battle
The individual combats around Dannigkow, Vehlitz and Zeddenick would each make a self-contained scenario for a tactical set of rules like General de Brigade or Chef de Battaillon. The results of the three engagements could be combined to determine the success of the overall operation.
Alternatively, the whole engagment might be fought out with your favourite grand tactical rules. This could be more of a "what if" scenario, with the action developing into a major battle. The French, though superior in numbers, should be hampered by difficult terrain which makes it difficult to bring them into action. The French commander should also receive reconnaissance reports that make him fear movements on his flank and rear. A variation would be to play a game based on 6th April, assuming Eugène had not chosen to withdraw.
