Game 98 : Battle of the Mincio River : February 8th 1814

 This battle is early in the 1814 campaign in Northern Italy. Both armies are trying to "get the jump" on their opponent to try and conduct a swift and conclusive campaign. Never happened, plans and all that! Its Austrians, some not too good, against Junot with a mixed bag of nationalities and abilities!

This was probably the most peculiar game we've played in a long time. Deployment was blind for both sides with defined areas where they could start. Immediately, the lead Austrian Division, on the opposite of the river to the rest of the army decided to attack a French Division in site to its right flank

This is the above attack. The only problem is that another French Division arrives immediately to its left flank, or now rear. This Austrian Division now has to escape and it takes time, hampered by poor command and control.

The Austrian Reserves to the rear and central of the main army then decided to attack a French flank Division on their left. When they found they couldn't "fit in" the line, they turned axis and went to support the Austrian Division on the far side of the river. At this point, the Austrians had a left, a sort of centre and no right flank.

The French exploit the fact there is no Austrian right flank and advance to keep the Austrian frontage compressed. The French Division that arrived on their right has stabilised its position and has fixed the Austrian left seen below.

Although the number of troops on this flank, for both sides, were not large, it had the effect of bottling up the Austrians. They had plenty of men, but no place to use them.

This pic shows virtually the entire Austrian army compressed in a small area. The French are literally herding them into a smaller and smaller space where they have no space to fight effectively.

The French left now advances with two full Divisions deployed. The centre is fixed and the French drive in with significant fire support and drive the Austrian back in disarray.

A pic taken from the opposite angle, the French assault is at the top of the pic. Austrian cavalry is now trapped behind the central village, also blocking the manoeuvring of their own infantry. Isolated artillery batteries are also now getting overrun.

The Austrians are now caving from their right and its is a piecemeal battle. The Austrians are also having problems in issuing orders for formations to retire, to at least create space for a rear guard. We called the game at this point.

French Formations	Losses %			Austrian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
Eugene			34	Bellegarde	-	-	71
Lecchi	7	6	0	Stanisavlevics	3	55	0
Bonnemains	-	1	8	Marziani	4	-	13
Grenier	-	28	46	Vescey	-	17	46
Rouyers	4	-	0	Perclat	12	-	38
Quesnel	14	-	9	Sommariva	0	0	15
Verdier	-	0	5	Wrede	9	-	13
Palombine	2	-	0
Fressinets	2	-	0

The casualties reflect the "oddness" of the battle. Artillery on both sides suffered badly, a lot of counter-battery at effective range! After that losses are really light, it would be prisoners that would have shown how badly the Austrians became trapped.

Rogue's gallery again. A good time was had by all. The next game will be Napoleonic, back to the Peninsular with a refight of Vimeiro over a possible 3-4 days. It will allow us either to fight it twice or fight a complete battle including any covered withdrawal.