Game 82 : Marengo 13th June 1800 : part II

This was the restart of the battle. We left the battle where the French had been forced back to their original starting lines by the outnumbering Austrians. Both sides now received reinforcements such that the forces on both sides were more comparable in numbers. The first battle had been a game where it was gentle probing, skilled defence by giving ground and ensuring flanks were protected. This game started a bit more like a "yeehah" because both sides had substantial forces and both sdies were determined to carry the day.

Immediate action on the Austrian right flank where the cavalry from the previous day clashed. The Austrians had the numbers, but the French held their positions. The result was to stymy any French advance on this flank for some time.

The French soon cleared the village, however, by sheer numbers before the Austrians could reinforce with sufficient numbers of their own. The Austrians responded by setting up a constant harassing fire with Jaegers whilst more forces were gathered.

The French responded by launching their own infantry into attack to force back the Jaegers and permanently secure the village.

To aid this attack, the French also advance through the vineyard but were met with significant numbers of Austrians. Volley fire became the order of the day and, along with skirmishers, the firefight slowly edged in favour of the Austrians. The French were halted, but there was no easy way for the Austrians to exploit this success and advance themselves. A stalemate began to develop that would not change.

Marengo itself was heavily reinforced by the Austrians. The French did make assaults, but Austrian numbers repulsed these. Again, trying to take advantage and exploit these successes is difficult to conjure up with infantry that always fight in line (in this early part of the Nap wars we don't have columns as a combat formation)

Moving to the other flank, it was pure pandemonium. Men everywhere, cavalry charging everywhere and infantry advancing aggressively on both sides. The action was protracted with no great success of breakthrough for either side. Again, an impasse prevailed.

Another massed cavalry action on the left flank that again saw Austrian numbers prevail but the French easily hold their ground. Infantry had to be careful not to get in the way of these massed brawls as their flanks were horribly exposed if any enemy cavalry could affect a breakthrough.

Just to the left of Marengo, the attacks form both sides grind to a halt. It is far too dangerous for either side to launch infantry attacks in the open because of the proximity of the various cavalry units and the support fire being provided by the artillery arms of both sides.

It was fast becoming the same story across all of the battlefield. Both sides would make local successful attacks, but reserves would throw these back to roughly where they started from.

Marengo itself remained in Austrian hands. The French were content to hold the area in front of Marengo with the result that neither side made any progress. It was at this point that we called the game. We had managed another 20+ turns of quite sustained fighting. It would be hard to call the eventual outcome. I could see why both sides would wish to retire, reform and recover and I could see why both side would not want to quit the field, the balance was so marginal.

French Formations	Losses %			Austrian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
				Zach
Victor	-	-	15	O’Reilly	-	-	0
1st Brigade	8	-	-	1st Brigade	9	-	-
2nd Brigade	16	-	-	2nd Brigade	24	-	-
3rd Brigade	0	-	-	Cavalry Brigade	-	44	-
Cavalry Brigade	-	31	-
				Ott	-	-	40
Lannes	-	-	38	1st Brigade	30	-	-
1st Brigade	18	-	-	2nd Brigade	4	-	-
2nd Brigade	21	-	-	3rd Brigade	1	-	-
3rd Brigade	1	-	-	Cavalry Brigade	-	10	-
Lapoype				Frimont	-	-	38
1st Brigade	0	-	-	1st Brigade	7	-	-
2nd Brigade	0	-	-	Cavalry Brigade	-	13	-
Desaix	-	-	23	Hadick	-	-	13
1st Brigade	8	-	-	1st Brigade	0	-	-
2nd Brigade	12	-	-	2nd Brigade	6	-	-
3rd Brigade	16	-	-	3rd Cavalry Brigade	-	31	-
Cavalry Brigade	-	51	-
				Elsnitz	-	-	71
Murat	-	-	0	1st Cavalry Brigade	-	19	-
1st Cavalry Brigade	-	51	-	2nd Cavalry Brigade	-	8	-
2nd Cavalry Brigade	-	27	-	3rd Cavalry Brigade	-	38	-
3rd Cavalry Briagde	-	27	-
				Morzin	-	-	0
				1st Brigade	5	-	-
				2nd Brigade	8	-	-

The losses reflect the intense fighting, the cavalry on both sides being really roughly handled.

We also introduced more decadence, the afternoon G & T instead of beer for some. Progress??

Next game is going to 1815, Quatre Bras, new challenges!!

Game 81 : Marengo June 13th 1800 : part I

We are back to northern Italy in 1800. The French have attacked the advance guard of the Austrians. This is where we start the game. The French will attack, then be counter-attacked as the Austrians are heavily reinforced. The game will continue until the French arrive to hopefully reinforce their own, now isolated, advance guard.

The game will be fought over 2 weekends. This is from the 1st weekend where we played until the initial French forces were driven back, essentially to their start lines and have now been reinforced by the rest of their army.

This is looking along the battlefield from the south. The French advance from the right of the picture, the east. The Austrians start with 5 btns of light troops, an artillery battery and a regiment of cavalry. The French arrive with 16 btns of infantry, 2 artillery batteries a single regiment of cavalry.

This is looking directly at Marengo. The French advance will be on this road (from the bottom of the pic). The Austrians are spread very thinly, the Marengo garrison consisting of a single btn of Grenz.

To the left of Marengo are some vineyards where French light infantry advance to try and close the flank down. They were opposed by Austrian jaegers. The French had the numbers but the Austrians did not break until they had lost nearly half their numbers.

As the French advanced on Marengo, someone shouted "boo" and the Austrian Grenz fled after firing a single volley! The French are pursuing, to the stream wondering what to do next.

Austrian reinforcements pour onto the battlefield from their single entry point at the western end of the road and immediately attack Marengo. The French are eventually forced to relinquish their hold as volleys from 3 btns slowly dwindle their numbers.

The French are in full retreat and Austrian troops take up position to the right of Marengo. It is at this point that the French start to reinforce their long awaited for reinforcements, literally back at their start positions. We've now reached the end of the weekend and the first part of the battle. These games play out very differently to pitched battles with huge armies. This battle was played from first contact with very few actual formations in contact and fighting. It slowly escalates, flanks get turned, numbers tell and "hey presto" the games seem to play the same way as the battle occurred historically. We must the doing something right!!

French Formations	Losses %			Austrian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
				Melas
Victor	-	-	25	O’Reilly	-	-	29
1st Brigade	11	-	-	1st Brigade	8	-	-
2nd Brigade	11	-	-	2nd Brigade	29	-	-
3rd Brigade	24	-	-	Cavalry Brigade	-	4	-
4th Brigade	-	3	-
				Ott	-	-	4
				1st Brigade	4	-	-
				2nd Brigade	0	-	-
				3rd Brigade	0	-	-
				Cavalry Brigade	-	20	-

The casualties above represent those suffered during the first part of the engagement. ASs both armies have separated, with reinforcements tasking position in their respective lines, both armies have retrieved stragglers so using our rules, units have turned to their starting strengths (really view it as -have recovered their elan).

 Normal crowd of willing Generals to the slaughter. Next up is the continuation of the battle.