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Battle of Luckau

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Battle of Luckau
Part of the German campaign of the Sixth Coalition

German map of the Spring-Campaign 1813 in Germany.
Date4 June 1813[1]
Location51°51′00″N 13°43′00″E / 51.85000°N 13.71667°E / 51.85000; 13.71667
Result Coalition victory[1]
Belligerents
 France  Prussia
 Russia
Commanders and leaders
First French Empire Nicolas Oudinot Kingdom of Prussia Friedrich Wilhelm von Bülow
Strength
18,000[1] 21,400[1]
Casualties and losses
2,200 killed, wounded or captured[1] 800 killed or wounded[1]
Battle of Luckau is located in Europe
Battle of Luckau
Location within Europe
Map
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200km
125miles
19
Siege of Hamburg from 24 December 1813 to 12 May 1814
18
Battle of Sehested from 10 December 1813
17
Battle of Hanau from 30 to 31 October 1813
Leipzig
16
Battle of Leipzig from 16 to 19 October 1813
15
Battle of Wartenburg on 3 October 1813
14
Combat of Roßlau on 29 September 1813
13
Battle of Altenburg on 28 September 1813
12
Battle of the Göhrdeon 16 September 1813
11
Battle of Dennewitz on 6 September 1813
10
Battle of Kulm from 29 to 30 August 1813
9
Battle of Dresden from 26 to 27 August 1813
8
Battle of the Katzbach on 26 August 1813
7
Battle of Großbeeren on 23 August 1813
6
5
Battle of Haynau on 26 May 1813
4
Battle of Bautzen (1813) from 20 to 21 May 1813
3
Battle of Lützen (1813) on 2 May 1813
2
Battle of Möckern on 5 April 1813
1
Siege of Danzig (1813) from 16 January to 29 November 1813
  current battle
  Napoleon in command
  Napoleon not in command

The Battle of Luckau was fought at Luckau in Brandenburg on 4 June 1813 during the War of the Sixth Coalition. Prussian and Russian forces under General Friedrich Wilhelm von Bülow defeated part of a French-Allied corps under Marshal Nicolas Oudinot.[1]

Background

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After the French victory over the coalition armies at Bautzen on 21 May, Napoleon sent the XII Corps under the command of Oudinot north toward Berlin to protect against the activities of Bülow. On 27 May, after the two forces clashed along the Black Elster River at Hoyerswerda, Bülow's corps withdrew and scattered northwest to Jüterbog and north to the vicinity of Cottbus. On 3 June, Bülow moved his forces from Cottbus northwest to Luckau in an attempt to linkup with his forces at Jüterbog. When Oudinot discovered that Bülow had moved to Luckau, he went to intercept.[2]

Battle

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Oudinot's vanguard reached Luckau at 9 a.m. on 4 June and immediately attacked.[2] Oudinot commanded the XII Corps and brought only General of Division Michel Marie Pacthod's 13th Division into action. This unit consisted of two brigades under Generals of Brigade Bernard Pourailly and Antoine Gruyer. Pourailly led the 7th Battalion of the 6th Line Infantry Regiment, the 3rd and 4th Battalions of the 7th Line, the 4th Battalion of the 1st Light, and the 4th Battalion of the 10th Line. Gruyer directed the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions of the 101st Line Infantry Regiment, and the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 1st Neapolitan Light Infantry Regiment. Also engaged in the fight were two foot artillery batteries and two squadrons each of the Bavarian and Hesse-Darmstadt Chevau-léger Regiments.[3]

The French were initially successful in forcing the allies back into the walled portion of the town.[2] Bülow's force consisted of 16 and a half battalions, 10 squadrons, 1 Cossack Pulk, and 58 guns. His 15,800 men included a Russian brigade led by General-major Harpe and a Prussian brigade commanded by Prince Ludwig von Hesse-Homburg.

The French attempted to attack the walls and breakthrough, but were unsuccessful. Bülow took advantage of the situation, reinforced his cavalry, and initiated an attack on the French flanks. After a fight that lasted throughout the afternoon, Oudinot withdrew 40 kilometres (25 mi) southwest to Übigau near Dresden.[2][3]

The Russians and Prussians lost about 800 killed and wounded in the action. The French and their allies suffered 1,500 killed and wounded. In addition, Bülow's soldiers captured 700 men, one cannon, and two ammunition wagons.[4]

Aftermath

[edit]

On 4 June 1813, both sides had agreed to the seven-week Truce of Pläswitz. In August, Napoleon's order to take the Prussian capital of Berlin led to the Battle of Großbeeren.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bodart 1908, p. 451.
  2. ^ a b c d Rickard & 17 Apr 2017.
  3. ^ a b Smith 1998, pp. 424–425.
  4. ^ Smith 1998, p. 425.

References

[edit]
  • Bodart, Gaston (1908). Militär-historisches Kriegs-Lexikon (1618-1905). Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  • Rickard, J (17 April 2017). Combat of Luckau, 6 June 1813. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
  • Smith, Digby (1998). The Napoleonic Wars Data Book. London: Greenhill. ISBN 1-85367-276-9.

Further reading

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Preceded by
Siege of Tarragona (1813)
Napoleonic Wars
Battle of Luckau
Succeeded by
Battle of Vitoria