French Opening Moves (refer to map 1)

Large Map 1: (very slow: 258K)

Suchet's Division from Lannes's V Corps attacks blindly through the fog and stalls in front of Closewitz, while Gazan's Division advances virtually unopposed through Lutzeroda and reaches Vierzehn-Heiligen. After making one of the most remarkable forced marches of the Napoleonic Wars, Augereau's VII Corps advances to the woods of Isserstadt, but stumbles into the Cospeda ravine and becomes hopelessly disorganized in the fog.

Lefebvre and the infantry of the French Imperial Guard force march across the Salle River at Jena and strike Tauentzein's Saxon/Prussian Division (holding Closewitz) in the flank. Tauentzein falls back under pressure and assumes a new position on the heights above Altengonna and Krippendorf. Soult's IV corps leaves Lannes V Corps to maintain the pressure on Tauentzein and moves out to the north and east where another Prussian force under Holtzendorf and Pritwitz has appeared.

Prussian Opening Moves (map 1)

The Prince von Hohenlohe has been ordered to cover the withdrawal of the main army (occuring approximately 20 hexes north of the area shown here). He currently occupies Cappelendorf with two fusilier battalions. The gunfire he hears coming from Closewitz is misinterpreted as a French probe of his lines, not the all-out assault it actually is. Not until Tauentzein's force is in full retreat does he realize his error. He orders Grawert's Division to move on Vierzehn-Heiligen.

The Prussians retake the village and Gazan's Division is driven back through Lutzeroda. Zechwitz's Division occupies Isserstadt and begins skirmishing with Augereau's men as they enter the Isserstadt woods. Holtzendorf advances to Tauentzein's aid and runs into Soult's forces at Lobsstedt. There, St. Hillaire's division of Soult's corps handily drives the Prussians back on Rodigen.

French Crisis (map 2)

Large Map 2: (very slow: 266K)

Marshal Ney, leading forces from his VI Corps, arrives on the Cospeda heights just as Gazan's Division is driven back from Vierzehn-Heiligen. Seeing Suchet's Division of Lannes corps becoming more isolated, Ney attacks and retakes the village. This occurs just as Grawert's Prussians deploy on the ridge above the town. Sensing an opportunity, Grawert sends his cavalry forward in a series of charges that isolate Ney's vanguard in the village. Grawert's infantry deploy on the ridge with parade-ground precision and begin volleying into Ney's hapless battalions.

Watching this crisis develop, Napoleon sends his escort squadrons of the Guard cavalry and Gazan's troops into the breech. Augereau is also ordered to support Ney's left. A terrific firefight develops as Ney, Gazan, and Suchet press the Prussians on the ridge between Alten Gone and Isserstadt. The French tiraillade totally frustrates the Prussians who remain in their regimental lines without taking any advantage of the terrain for cover.

Meanwhile, Soult has driven back Holtzendorf, who, after some stiff fighting, breaks for Apolda. St. Hilaire's Division continues to press on, but maneuvers to support Suchet's Division of Lannes' V Corps. He strikes Tauentzein in the flank and this force crumbles and also flees for Apolda. On the opposite flank, Zechwitz's Saxons are holding their own against the greater part of Augereau's VII Corps. The Saxons launch a counter-attack that manages to retake Isserstadt.

After about two hours, Grawert's Prussians start to melt away in the center and fall back to form a new but unsteady line around Klein Romstadt. This uncovers Zechwitz's flank and he is forced to also fall back. Murat sees the confusion developing in the Prussian ranks and gathers all the French cavalry at hand on the forward slope of the Dornberg. The French Imperial Guard impatiently remains in reserve on the Cospeda plateau.

Prussian Collapse (see map 3)

Large Map 3: (very slow: 274K)

The divisions of Tauentzein and Pritzwitz/Holzendorf continue to retreat past Apolda where they eventually fall into the Duke of Brunswick's army marching from Auerstadt. The resulting confusion sends Brunswick's column running towards Magdeburg. Grawert and Zechwitz attempt to conduct a fighting withdrawal, but Murat launches his collected squadrons from the Cavalry Reserve in a series of charges that breaks the Prussian defense. Ruchel's forces now makes a belated appearance, marching down the Weimar road. Instead of covering the Prussian retreat, he tries to turn the tide of battle. At first he is successful. Although his first line suffers terrible losses to the scattered French skirmishers and cannon, his second line prevails.

As the divisions of St. Hilaire and Gazan and Ney's battlegroup reorient their front and join Augereau's corps, Ruchel's assault sputters and then collapses, overwhelmed by the French superiority in numbers. The French heavy cavalry divisions of d'Hautpoul and Nansouty have just arrived from Roda after a march of some twelve miles. They eventually take over the pursuit of the Prussians on the French left, taking thousands of prisoners between Weimar and Erfurt. The French Imperial Guard remains in reserve.

More Jena review:

Review: Jena (by Clash of Arms)
Jena Today (Photos)

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