Battle of Leipzig Phase 2 18–19 October 1813

After a quiet day on 17 October, the Allied forces (the Sixth Coalition) launched a series of attacks on French forces. It took until afternoon before all six units were engaged and the French army was fully encircled. After nine hours of intense and bloody fighting, French troops were slowly forced to retreat towards Leipzig. During the night of 19 October, the French army began a westward evacuation across the one surviving bridge, over the Elster River. Further units withdrew from Connewitz, Stotteritz, Probstheida and Schonefeld. The following day the Allied forces attacked the retreating French and engaged in bloody street to street combat with the French troops still in Leipzig. The Battle of Leipzig ended in a firm Allied victory, compounded by the French accidentally blowing up the bridge over the Elster, while it was still heavy with their own soldiers. This caused many to drown, with the survivors defeated and captured.