Game 104 : Aspern-Essling May 22nd 1809

 This is a well known battle which was a prelude to the Battle of Wagram in 1809. The French, unusually, find themselves outnumbered and must hold their perimeter in order to be able to conduct an organised withdrawal safely.

The battle starts with Austrian infantry attacks on both villages. The Centre starts quietly because both sides have reserve troops arriving. The cavalry, from both sides, migrates to the centre as the villages make it very difficult for cavalry to manoeuvre freely. The above pic shows the opening Austrian moves against Aspern. The main feature of this village is the church which is a good defensive position. The main Austrian lines are off to the right of the pic. The left of the pic is blocked by a tributary of the Danube and although there is a ford, the ground leads to nothing by marshy ground and woods.

This is the initial Austrian attack on Essling. The Granary can be clearly seen and is an extremely tough nut to take. Although the outcome was close at one point in the battle, the Granary remained in French hands throughout.

The Centre becomes occupied by the Reserve Cavalry of both sides as the battle grows. Both sides use it to link their flank formations and both sides are prudent where it comes to advancing, because doing so without progress on one or both flanks will lead to a piecemeal type approach.

After stiff resistance, the French yield the church at Aspern. They then launch a frontal attack to attack on two sides. The French react by feeding out their smallest Cuirassier Division which forces the Austrians to halt and form square for protection. This gains the French time to reorganise and counter-attack at Aspern.

The Austrians are at their high point at Aspern. The fight would escalte and fierce fighting would occur around the village just below the church. This would eventually end in secure French hands and then the French would try to retake Aspern. Time, and darkness, would see the Austrians hold onto the church.

The Austrians have advanced with Grenzers through the garden area that flanks the Granary. The Granary is now being attacked from three sides and the French have just now organised their counter-attack to relieve the pressure on the Granary and retake the rest of the village.

This shows the area as you pan around from the Granary to the French right flank. The Austrians hold two of the three village areas. The French would eventually retake the middle area but not the far area as nightfall would stop all fighting.

The French have thrown back the Grenzers in the garden and have also forced back the Austrians from off the right of this pic. The Granary is now safe. The Austrians now launch the Grenadiers into the battle to retake the garden area and renew the pressure on the Granary.

The height of the infantry battle at Aspern. Both sides have committed "Divisions" to try and gain control of the village. The end result would be an Austrian repulse, except the church, which remained securely in Austrian hands.

The height of the battle at Essling. The French will control all the village except for the far village section. Both sides are also having to watch the attrition of their forces as neither side has really had any time to reorganise.

Whilst all the village fighting is occurring, both sides decide to contest the centre. Success for either side will result in an advantage at the villages, as they will threaten the inside flanks of the enemy and so restrict enemy tactical options.

The cavalry reserves clash and end up committing all of their reserves. The result was that the French killed more but Austrian morale held. Both sides withdrew to their lines to rally and regroup.

Nightfall would now descend on the field of battle. 

French Formations	Losses %			Austrian Formations	Losses%
	Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery		Infantry	Cavalry	Artillery
NAPOLEON				CHARLES	-	-	12
Massena				Hiller
Molitor	8	-	6	Nordmann	22	0	0
LeGrand	5	-	0	Kottulinsky	30	4	0
Boudet	31	-	0	Vincent	28	0	0
St Cyr	14	-	34
Marulaz	-	3	50	Bellegarde
Lasalle	-	26	13	Fresnel	1	26	0
				Vogelsang	4	-	0
Lannes				Ulm	0	-	53
Tharreau	3	-	19	Nostitz	13	-	28
Claparede	41	-	54
St Hilaire	33	-	3	Hohenzollern
				Brady	12	0	0
Guard				Weber	27	-	0
Curial	1	-	-
Dorsenne	0	-	-	Rosenberg
Arrighi	-	52	-	Klenau	16	26	8
				Dedovitch	17	0	0
Bessieres
Espagne	-	23	0	Hohenloe
St Sulspice	-	12	21	Rohan	3	22	-
Nansouty	-	10	42	Hohenloe	3	-	100
Guard Art	-	-	7	Liechtenstein
				Hesse-Homburg	-	16	33
				Kienmayer	-	0	21
				Lindenau	4	-	6
				Aspre	34	-	31

I've listed the losses as per normal. To remind people, losses of 30% effectively mean the formation is combat ineffective. The artillery, on both sides, suffered significant losses. mostly gun crews.

A great game was had by all and the rogue's gallery line up benefitted by what we call the new bus shelter that is in front of the Situation room. It faces south and so is a great sun trap for spring and summer beer drinking outside. I know my priorities!!