1813 The Prussian 4th Reserve Infantry Regiment at Leipzig

THE 4TH RESERVE INFANTRY REGIMENT

IN THE BATTLE OF LEIPZIG

18 October 1813

(A correction on Friccius’ “Geschichte des Krieges in den Jahren 1813 und 1814, p.483)

By: General-Auditor Friccius

translated by Geert van Uythoven

“(…) In my history of the war of 1813, in the description of the battle of Leipzig on p. 483, I have mentioned the brave attack of both musketeer battalions of the then 4th Reserve (now 16th) Infantry Regiment on Paunsdorf, and their further quick advance against Sellershausen. At this part of my book, as well as beneath on p. 564, I have also mentioned the retreat of both battalions, suffering great loss.

Having received a very valuable report of the commander of the 16th Infantry Regiment, Colonel von Bockum, I conclude with regrets that my description of the attack on Paunsdorf and Sellershausen is not complete and exact, as I did not mention a faith of arms of both brave battalions unknown to me until now – the capture by storm of two howitzers and a cannon. In addition, that I did not point out clearly enough, that the hasty retreat was caused only by the great danger these brave battalions found themselves, opposing a far superior enemy with the regimental commander an both battalion commanders wounded, under these circumstances without any close support.

Therefore, I find myself obliged even more, by making the report of Colonel von Bockum publicly known, to complete the assigned parts of my work. As this detailed description of the said attack on Paunsdorf and Sellershausen give a striking example of the brave determination of the then regimental commander, Major von Polczynski, and the bravery of the regiment he commanded, which had distinguished itself already earlier at Halle, Groβ-Beeren and Dennewitz, capturing in these battles not only three cannon and two howitzers, but also taking prisoner nearly a complete regiment at Dennewitz.

The mentioned report of Colonel von Bockum says as follows: ‘On 18 October at three o’clock in the afternoon, Major von Polczynski received the order from the crown prince of Sweden, to capture Paunsdorf with two battalions. Behind this village, enemy infantry masses with artillery was seen. He turned the village with the 1st battalion on the right, with the 7th and 8th company on the left, while he attacked the entrance with the 5th and 6th company. The village was captured with the first attack. On the other side of the village, the battalions received canister fire from a battery deployed at the road to Sellershausen. One moment the attack stalled, then the skirmishers and the 2nd battalion charged the battery and captured two howitzers and a cannon. As there were no horse tams available, nor advantage of the terrain, there was no other means to hold on to the booty then to continue the attack. Supported by the artillery, they pushed forward to Sellershausen and captured the village the moment it was set on fire by the artillery. Only now the enemy regained its senses. Attack from all sides and cut off, the 2nd battalion had to abandon Sellershausen; the skirmishers held on for a short while, to cover the retreat. When Major von Stutterheim arrived with six Züge of the 1st battalion, once again front was made and the enemy thrown back into Sellershausen. At this moment all three staff officers had been seriously wounded, three captains and three lieutenants already put out of action. The battalions, because of the fighting inside the villages, had for the greater part dispersed in skirmisher order, out in the open without any support, and had to retreat to Paunsdorf, after which place the battalions reformed.

To confirm what is described here, the regimental history and the testimonies of many officers can be brought forward; that the regiment remained in possession of the three captured guns, receiving the gratification for it; that Lieutenant von Kläden was seriously wounded in Sellershausen and taken prisoner: he was cut off during the retreat, the greater part of his men fought their way back with the bayonet. Captain von Beyer was the last one leaving Sellershausen with the skirmishers of the 2nd battalion. Portepée-Fähnrig (‘ensign’) von Görtzke (now captain of the regiment) was at his side, beside him Portepée-Fähnrig von Obstfelder was hit by three musket balls. A few men of the 2nd battalion had hidden themselves in Sellershausen, until it was captured again later. Two Züge of the 1st battalion and the fusilier battalion have participated, of which the latter on this occasion lost on of its ablest officers, Captain von Polborn.

General von Bülow was not able to support Major von Polczynski decently earlier, until the Brigades ‘Borstell’ and ‘Krafft’ had arrived. The great loss the regiment had suffered comes thus on the account of its reckless bravery only, with which it followed its leaders who, as at Groβ-Beeren and Dennewitz, did take lesser note of those which could support them, as those they still had to defeat’.

[Signed:] Friccius”

Source: Friccius, “Berichtigung”, in ‘Militair-Wochenblatt’, 27. Jahrgang No. 25, 24 June 1843 (Berlin 1843) pp. 203-204

For comparison: George Nafziger, “Napoleon at Leipzig, the Battle of the Nations 1813” (Chicago 1996) p. 223: “(…) With the beginning of this bombardment, Bülow ordered his forces to attack Paunsdorf. Three battalions from his left wing advanced, the 2/3rd East Prussian Regiment and the 1/,2/4th Reserve Regiment. As the attack developed these three battalions sent their schützen forward. To the left of the Prussian attack advanced the Austrian Jäger Battalion #6 of Bubna’s Division. The advancing schützen took heavy fire from Durutte’s battalion facing them, littering the field with their dead and wounded.

The defenders were supported by the remainder of Durutte’s 32nd Division, which stood to the west of the village, behind a substantial battery. Despite this, the attacking Prussians advanced their own batteries firing canister to support their advance. The Prussian 4th Reserve Regiment was joined by the Austrian 1/Peterwardeiner Grenz Regiment and supported by the British rockets. Durutte’s forces defending Paunsdorf were driven back towards Sellerhausen. Three field pieces were abandoned on the Wurzen road because their teams had been killed.

In their enthusiasm, the 1/,2/4th Reserve Infantry Regiment and the British rocket battery pursued the French back as far as Sellerhausen and united there, but quickly found themselves facing superior organized French forces. Captain Bogue was shot dead and the two Prussian battalions were driven back. The Prussian casualties were so heavy that they were unable to take further part in the battle on 18 October.”