Game 78 : Montebello 19th June 1800

We're back in Northern Italy at the beginning of the campaign. Both sides have deployed an Advanced Guard, both of which are keen to engage and make a reputation.

The battlefield is what can be best described as a straight "up and down" consisting to 2 villages. The actual village of Montebello is in the far distance, just visible at the end of the table. This view is the view the French get when advancing.

This is from the middle village above, looking at the French approach. The village also has a stream that runs directly behind it and is perpendicular to the battlefield. It is an impediment to artillery who must cross at the only bridge directly behind the village.

The Austrians start with a Division on table and will be reinforced by a further Division on turn one arriving from the board edge on the single road. The French start with all forces available. When all troops are arrived, the sides have rough parity in infantry, the Austrians an edge on gun numbers and the Austrians have a very large advantage on cavalry.

We used the system of variable morale where troops do not know their exact class until a first morale test is taken. I'll put the table in at the end of this account. As it is early war, columns of Attack, for both sides, do not exist.

The French only have a single cavalry regiment and so are forced to attack without cavalry support on at least one flank. Here Austrian Dragoons launch themselves against French infantry. The game was nearly over before it started as the Dragoons nearly rode down the infantry!!

On the other flank, the entire French cavalry of one regiment engage double their number of Austrian Hussars. The result of the fight was a draw, but the casualties sustained by the French cavalry meant it would retire for some time to regather its strength.

This is on the French left where there is some hilly terrain near to the village which is off to the right of the pic. Having to use lines as the only real combat formation, these manoeuvres and resulting combats became protracted. Nothing happens at great speed!!

This is from the Austrian right, the village to the left and the hills, mentioned above, to the right. A general firefight with exchange of volleys is taking place, each side hoping that the other side will have a unit fail morale and retreat and hopefully provide an opportunity.

This is the Austrian left. The French are advancing in lines and are also preparing to assault the village. The Austrians are holding the line but their casualties are mounting faster.

This gives a good view of the whole fight which was occurring along the whole front. The Austrians are being forced back on both flanks and are about to lose the village. At about this time, the Austrian commander realised that he would need to retire to extricate his forward forces and so a retreat began which was covered by the reinforcing Austrian Division. Getting troops into the fighting line at the right time and the right place is difficult when the only real combat formation is the line. It takes ages!!

The game is about to be called. The French have taken the lead village and the Austrians have successfully ordered the retire order. We had already played about 36 turns at this point and we declared a French tactical victory and the Austrians would use nightfall to retire in order. A very historical outcome and interesting game using virtually nothing but fighting lines.

French Formations	Losses %			Austrian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
				Zach
Lannes	-	-	0	O’Reilly	-	-	29
1st Brigade	15	-	-	Brigade	21	-	-
2nd Brigade	14	-	-	Brigade	-	28	-
Victor	-	-	4	Ott	-	-	43
1st Brigade	6	-	-	Brigade	11	-	-
2nd Brigade	5	-	-	Brigade	17	22	-
Murat
Cavalry Brigade	-	46	8

The casualties reflect the fighting where the French initially outnumbered the Austrian Infantry. The French cavalry played no  part in the battle after turn 2!! The Austrian artillery did suffer badly, eagle eyed French gunners.

 

d10 Roll	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
AUSTRIAN
Line Infantry	2nd	2nd	2nd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	Seas	Seas
Grenz	Mil	Mil	2nd	2nd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	Seas
Jaegers	1st	1st	1st	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Vet	Vet
Artillery	1st	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Sea	Vet
Cavalry	1st	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Sea	Seas	Seas	Vet
FRENCH
Line Infantry	2nd	1st	1st	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Vet	Vet
Light Infantry	1st	1st	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Vet	Vet	Vet
Foot Artillery	1st	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Vet	Vet	Vet	Vet
Horse Artillery	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Vet	Vet	Vet	Vet	Vet
Hussars	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Seas	Vet	Vet	Vet

This is the morale table. Prior to establishing the exact morale, units use the rating under the "5 column". This happens when units fire early in the battle before having to take a morale test.

 The gamers at leisure!! Next, it is back to a WWII jaunt.